4% Rye

Amidst some of the wild spectacle of the large-budget Fringe productions, it's a special thing to attend an intimate storytelling experience where you just get to listen to someone tell you about a time in their life.

4% Rye is touching, heartfelt, honest, and a genuinely human experience. Non-binary stories are important, this show is important, and I think you should go see it.

This show is an earnest testament to the power of community, the joy of art, the love that it takes to survive, and the power of index cards.

We've all had that one year in our lives that was a turning point for us; filled with new beginnings, revelations, and out-of-left-field complications. 4% Rye is a personal, autobiographical show that tells the story of its star, Rye Fournier's, experience with this phenomenon over the course of 2022 to 2023. A layered show that goes into a variety of topics such as grief, academics, and health problems, it is ultimately a testament to perseverance and the art of never giving up as a young adult.

The story begins at the start of the scholastic year at Rye's university, September 1st, 2022. As the show progresses, the months pass and Rye encounters several roadblocks. Firstly, they have transitioned and are now under a new name. As school goes on and tragedy strikes, Rye struggles to complete assignments on time. Also, their curious new dietary restrictions and previous joint pain have come into light this year, adding more levels of stress into our protagonist's everyday life. It's a show that juggles a lot of different parts of Rye's life all at once. At times, the sheer amount of things going on in Rye's life that are presented in the show are nearly too much to swallow; making for a slightly overwhelming viewing experience.

Rye Fournier's passion in regards to the show's subject matter and their overall performance are honestly the best parts of the entire experience. It feels very intimate listening to such personal life stories, and Rye explains their emotions with such grace that it makes one very emphatic with them. The star, who directed and wrote the show as well, is genuinely sweet, honest, and relatable. However, there were a few moments where I was taken out of the story due to Rye looking over at what can be presumed to be an onstage script to keep them on track. It ruined the immersion at times but, that never took away from how personable of a performer Rye is.

In terms of tech, while there were a few audio issues and late prop cues, the three whiteboards on stage did help audiences comprehend and remember what was going on in Rye's life at the time with brightly coloured signs. Additionally, the on-stage calendar was a wonderful touch; with the act of flipping it over to the next day in the timeline being very charming and memorable.

All in all, Rye Fournier is an amiable lead and 4% Rye is on the right track, but some small adjustments could make the play even better. Regardless, this was still a decently enjoyable show, especially when considering that it was put together mostly solo. I was left charmed by Fournier as a talented force in the local arts, and I would love to see them in other theatrical works.