ONE MORE TIME

HonourablyUnstable—School of Contemporary Dancers

Satan is our host for a high-stakes game show where a cast of unwitting contestants compete for attention. The sketch-like characters are varied, each embodying a distinctly 21st-century personality flaw, and the game show format provides plenty of opportunities for comedy.

The production, however, is uneven. Hesitant line deliveries and occasionally confusing dialogue make it difficult to tell where the script ends and the improvisation begins. If much of the show is improvised, the cast would benefit from greater confidence; if it’s scripted, tighter rehearsals would help sharpen the pacing. The central premise is strong, but the middle sags, leaving obvious opportunities for callbacks and stronger comic payoffs on the table.

Themes of manipulation and autonomy are present throughout, but they don’t fully crystallize until they are literally shouted out at the end. As a result, the finale asks the audience to invest in a metaphor that never quite comes into focus. Some overly enthusiastic audience members, on the day this show was reviewed, often pulled focus from the performers, who ironically found themselves struggling periodically to reclaim control of the show.

Ashley Frantik