GO
Reviewed by Paul Copcutt
The vibe is reflection, gratitude and facing our fears.
This is a play that needs to sit with you for a while, or at least it did for this patron. Ironically, it was by taking a page (pun intended) from creator Laura Piccinin’s own foundation for the show, and doing some journaling of my own, that the true realizations and lessons of the performance hit me.
Given the summer 2021 journal dates Laura shares during her monologue, one assumes there’s a connection between COVID and her 336 km quest to complete Newfoundland's East Coast Trail. While she doesn’t explicitly state it, the timing—and the fact that the journey turns into the East Coast TRIAL (the title of her book), gives you a good idea of what the narrative covers.
The stories, the people she meets, and her physicality on stage all contribute to a humorously told story that builds real empathy for a woman traveling alone. It also highlights the unsolicited opinions of people she encountered along the way who tried to "protect" her by scaring her ("Avoid the murderers!") or urging her to turn back or “it’s okay not to finish”.
That brings us to one of my key takeaways: relating our everyday fears to a massive trek or travel experience, and choosing to do it anyway for the immense rewards on the other side.
My initial reaction was that the show was a bit long. 90 minutes is a significant time investment for a Fringe show. But further reflection reminded me that back in 2021, time was the one thing we all gained back, allowing us to appreciate a slower pace. We made promises to do things differently. How quickly we forget.
While a bit of script tightening could benefit the show, and the picking up and putting down of the backpack felt slightly repetitive and perhaps unnecessary, the core messages came through and some of the on stage movements added to the storytelling.
I jotted down several great reflections from Laura. Many can seem like mantras or social media quotes, though that clearly wasn't her intent. My personal favourite: Sometimes we turn an adventure into a goal or a mission so much that we lose sight of the enjoyment. I was in danger of doing just that by viewing the show strictly through a reviewer’s lens. Thankfully, her primary prop, the journal, brought me back to the moment.
On a personal note, I loved the many references to Newfoundland culture and hospitality. Heading there myself this summer, I now know I can always ask for directions and rest assured "I'll be there when I see it!" Perhaps that’s the real takeaway from this performance for us all.
Venue Note: The air conditioning at Mills Hardware can be noisy (and chilly, so bring a sweater!). Since Laura’s delivery is soft at times, sit near the front to catch every line without straining.
Age Suitability: Parental Guidance (ages 13+)
Warnings: Coarse Language
Venue: Mills Hardware
Genre: Theatre—Comedy, Storytelling/Solo Show
Creator & Performer
Laura Piccinin
