On Tuesday, I had the opportunity to attend the first performance of Alberta Theatre Projects’ Legend Has it– and on their “Tweet Night,” no less! As a “drama kid,” whipping out my phone in the middle of the show to post about my experience on Twitter felt a little raunchy, and more than a little unorthodox. But “unorthodox” is by far the best way to describe the theatre’s newest production, which was created by Canadian actress Rebecca Northan and features some of Canada’s best in improvisation.
Oh, that’s right, did I forget to mention? At the beginning of each show, the actors select a random audience member to act as their protagonist. That is to say, every show is different. VERY different. There are definitely many points in the show that resemble a “choose-your-own-adventure” novel, during which I pictured several cast members waiting backstage, ready to grab the prop that matched our hero’s pick from the list of predetermined actions he could take. And while Northan did an excellent job of making these moments as un-gimmicky and uncontrived as possible, the show’s best points were those in which there were no “five objects” to choose from, or “three paths” to follow, when the actors poked fun at our hero, asked him boldly open-ended questions, and referred back to his comments in the play until they became private jokes shared with the audience. What I found most impressive about Rebecca Northan, who our hero chose to be his sidekick, is how deliberate she is about creating opportunities for these “golden” improv moments in such a way that they appear effortless, genuine, and wholly original. Sure, being chosen to go up onstage for the entire show sounds as humiliating as when your nose starts bleeding all over your crush’s science project (been there, done that), but it is actually a little more akin to being thrown out of an airplane strapped to the world’s most experienced skydiver: it’s terrifying, but she certainly won’t let you fail.
On the night I attended the show, I was surprised to discover that the audience was a mixed bag of young children, old couples, and young adults dressed in next-level halloween costumes, which I am told is called “cosplaying.” Props to Alberta Theatre Projects for successfully targeting the most diverse range of demographics ever; Legend Has it is advertised as a “heartwarming family holiday show” that is also perfect for fantasy fans, who are encouraged to bring their very expensive lightsabers. My friend and I scored a picture with two audience members dressed for intergalactic combat:
Our show’s hero was Ryan, a flamboyant man in his 20s from seat 11B. A woman next to me who was at the show with her 10 year-old son said that she had seen it done before with a very shy hero, and that it made for a completely different experience. Sure, some of Ryan’s remarks were a little more PG-13 than PG, and I noticed that a few kids with particularly pragmatic parents sometimes had their fingers stuck in their ears “just-in-case,” but the audience loved every minute of it. The actors onstage were able to diffuse everything with a politician-like poise that Donald Trump would envy, if he could comprehend it.
Basically, I’ve just stated that any one of these talented actors could be a presidential candidate, which is as good a reason as any to go see the show. That, and it’s hilarious, upbeat, and runs until December 31st. You can click here to look at showtimes and to buy tickets online. May the force be with you!
Check out blogger Ronica’s post for an interview with the artistic director of Alberta Theatre Projects, and to get a behind-the-scenes perspective on the show!