Unsolicited: Good Advice Gone Dad

Reviewed by Arthur Bullock

The vibe is “self-reflection through humour.”

Most people wouldn’t think of asking for advice as a universal human experience. At a glance, it sounds too oddly specific and mundane to warrant that kind of label. Almost everyone has done it at some point, though, and that’s what Kristi Boulton’s Unsolicited is about: the many flavours of advice doled out by her dad, and the realization that some of it may have been wise after all.

Solo shows are a common sight at the Fringe, but Kristi’s version of it comes with a twist: a visual aid in the form of a slideshow. She’s clearly skilled enough to work without the help of technology, but the way she uses it adds so much to the performance. Photos to help the audience picture what she’s describing, a point-form list to add emphasis to a comedic point she’s making, and visual gags that are funny all on their own. It’s a clever twist that adds some flair to the usual solo show format.

The slides also help to keep the audience engaged, and that’s something Kristi is very good at. She excels at capturing the energy of how she felt in the moment as she retells it, expressing how it truly felt to be her back then. Rather than simply hearing about the story, you get to experience it vicariously with her. She makes good use of lighting to further engage the audience, colouring the room to match the story’s tone.

Now, a fair warning: this show runs the gamut of human emotion. You’ll see humour, awkwardness, shock, grief, fear, loss, and the multitude of ways in which they overlap. But Kristi will be there with you every step of the way, sharing the advice that has helped her learn how to live with it. 

My advice? See Unsolicited: Good Advice Gone Dad in the Elaine May Theatre at the Staircase.

Event Details

Age Suitability: Parental Guidance (ages 13+)

Genre: Theatre—Comedy, Sketch Comedy/Improv, Storytelling/Solo Show

Run Time: 60 mins

Writer, Director & Performer

Kristi Boulton

Producer

Marc Nascimento

Tech Extraordinaire

Rose Uscenica

Warnings

Sexual Content, Coarse Language