One Night Only
Created by Nicholas Eddie
Produced by duhdumduhdum productions
55m
Content warning: Mental health
By Nathan Erb
Transcend existential dread as you experience (yes, it is an experience) the wonderfully inventive and comedic One Night Only.
What can even be said about this show? It feels almost impossible to capture its essence in words. While the narrative itself is pretty straightforward, the man who struggles with the terrors of modern life, going on elaborately entertaining tangents to avoid the elephant in the room, is the show’s heart. At times nihilistic, at other moments sincere, One Night Only promises to take its audience through the entire spectrum of human emotion with intention and confidence. Despite its intense subject matter, the performance skills on display will set the viewer at ease.
Perhaps One Night Only could be best described as a poem of sorts, in that its coherence is intentionally loose and based on a theme. One will never truly know what to expect. And when the viewer might have a hint of an idea of what might happen, they will have their expectations presented to them and shattered. The creator is always five steps ahead, but it never feels like a trick. Though broad, the variety of performances in this show maintains a heartfelt sentiment that allows for complete immersion. And, of course, it doesn’t hurt that the audience plays a role in the story. But don’t be shy; the audience is a collective, and individuals are not singled out.
One Night Only might be the story of a single night, but it is also emblematic of an entire cultural moment.
One Night Only is playing at Arts Court Theatre until June 25, 2023. Visit https://ottawafringe.com/fringe/ for the schedule and box office info. Read more reviews at https://apt613.ca/category/festival/fringe/.
.gif)
