“Did you know that the leading cause of death is growing up?”
Or so the audience learns at the debut performance of !mpulse Theatre’s, “Lost Boy,” written by and starring Matthew Bittroff and under the direction of Jayce Mckenzie. As is often a requirement in a one-man play, Bittroff assumes a multitude of roles. He plays the Boy narrator with gentle and doe-eyed wonder, complimented by his childhood hero and villian, Super Awesome Man (SAM) and Dr. Teachersaurus. The latter character being an evil doctor-turned-teacher-turned-Tyrannosaurus.
Upon meeting SAM while tackling his first childhood quest, they bond over an attempt to obtain cookies from Counter Mountain. Soon after there are a range of adventures between the boy and SAM as they thwart Dr. Teachersaurus, following the Boy’s maturation into adulthood. However, it is apparent that these fictitious characters are not able to seamlessly accompany the Boy into his adult world. While the Boy struggles to face the schoolyard bully, Eugene, or while the he prepares himself for his first date with Irene with the Pigtails (not to be mistaken with Irene with the Lazy Eye), his childhood comrades have less advice to offer.
The one-man depiction of these characters is carried off with subtlety and precision by Bittroff. His decrepit deformity while playing Dr. Teachersaurus is humorous and the McDonald’s love story depicted between SAM and the Bionic Woman is comically heart-warming. However, the level of physical clarity could be increased to enhance plot understanding. I felt the audience was lost at some points while following the plot and character transitions. Overall, Bittroff is a diverse and effervescent local talent. It is remarkable to watch him work on the minimalist stage at the Princess Theatre with only strategic spotlights colouring the scenes. There is no hiding on this stage and Bittroff does not shy away from the challenge.
Upcoming Performances:
August 20th @ 9:30pm
August 21st @ 4:30pm
August 22nd @ 9:30pm
August 24rd @ 4:30pm
August 25th @ 9:30pm
Learn more about this Fringe production at YegLive.ca
-miss. sable
