Being Norwegian

A solid performance by an authentic 2-actor cast. You definitely feel the yearning and the loneliness of the characters, and the subtle longing of the strangers is a nice palate cleanser for the typical Fringe piece. It's an interesting selection of this overseas play, and while the script seems a little flat, perhaps that's just the writing "being Norwegian".

The actors make this play worthwhile, and it'll be interesting to see how they remount this at the Varscona. A Fringe recommend.

Being Norwegian is a genuine gem! Real, honest, and vulnerable. Cody Porter(Sean) and Clarice Eckford (Lisa) are unafraid to sit in darker moments, while still landing wonderful comedic timing. It offers an intimate, relatable look at a new couple's honest connection.

I always want to taken in one of Amy’s plays, because she makes such gloriously interesting choices. I know I will never be disappointed and this was another winner. There is not a moment wasted in this lovely two-hander one-act play. What first appears to be a dismally low-rent Fringe set becomes the perfect setting for this wee jewel of a meet up between two lost souls putting on brave faces and trying to connect. The energy of the actors is impressive, and they do a remarkable script proud.

In a festival full of improv, parodies, musicals, confessional solo shows and everything in between, it’s honestly refreshing to see a tight 45-minute character-driven two-hander featuring veteran performers.

Clarice Eckford and Cody Porter give lived-in performances in this Amy DeFelice-directed production of David Greig’s 2007 play that’s essentially about two lonely people finding each other in the darkness.

But of course it’s not as easy as meeting in the pub and tumbling into bed.

Instead of mind blown, can I say heart blown?

Being Norwegian is a fresh respite from all of the knee-slapping, outrageous and off-kilter comedy that is so rife at the festival this year. Everyone is trying to tickle the funny bone.

This program is heart-wrenching. Thoughtful. Awkward. Sloppy. Imperfect in a world that expects societal perfection.

This 45-minute show offers a small glimpse into two people's lives that intersected one night, and how loneliness and guardedness can become vulnerability and connection through courage.

Thank you for this beautifully scripted, mature presentation. I cried, and I was glad to do so.

Funny and heartwarming. The two actors were great, taking us on a journey that starts as an awkward first date and ends in an unexpected connection. Worth seeing!

The play starts with awkward first date vibes (which is tough to watch but this is intentional as the actors here play it perfectly) but ends with real heart.

Some reviews have criticized this play for its unexpected tangent mid way through. I disagree. The scene plays out and the audience is genuinely on their toes wondering “whoa, where is this going?”. That is the magic of the Fringe.

Trust these two actors, they stick the landing. I will see anything they are in at future Fringes. This is well worth your time and money. See it before the end of the festival, you will not be disappointed.

Fabulous performances by both actors. It was so awkward, especially at the beginning of the show- it took some time to realize it was ok to laugh at the absurdity of it all. I have literally been on so many dates that felt just like this. My only complaint was that it was over too soon, I definitely could have watched another 30 minutes of their story.

This is a great two hander with stellar acting. It’s human. Relatable. Unexpected. And funny! It’s only 45 mins so you can jump in, be transported, and then away you go to your next adventure but you’ll still be thinking about this one. I love everything this director does and this is another gooder.

Great acting. A refreshing and thoughtful performance of heartwarming vulnerability and humour that lands big laughs.

A perfectly formed 45-minute rom-com with two people who have somehow gotten flung off the grid into solitude.... (read full 12thnight.ca review)

Very short but good writing and well-performed traditional 2-hand piece at the Fringe.

A dialogue-heavy two-hander of disparate characters just talking for an hour among a sparse set is a pretty common topic for a play. However, that style of play hinges on two important elements: strong writing and strong acting.

For the former, this was lacking. The female character was so jarringly wacky without seeming serving any overarching idea or theme. I couldn’t quite tell if they were going for manic pixie dream girl or just random dialogue. There was a truly bizarre moment where she broke down into a panic attack, only to end with a joke? The plot went nowhere, no line of dialogue was particularly clever, and I was neither moved nor charmed.

For the latter, I felt the performances were solid. They lacked the chemistry that seemed necessary for this script, but there were individually good and I appreciated their commitment to the lines and physicality of the show.

Overall, I think a play with no plot needs to be very clever with the dialogue and exemplary with the acting and it just didn’t get there for me.

Stellar performance by two amazing actors. The show itself is exactly what it promises in the synopsis.

I would recommend it just for the acting alone. The show itself was good. Not the best.

A show with a "Norwegian sense of humour." When humour and darkness are properly balanced, it makes for a beautiful show. Amy DeFelice's direction of David Greig's 'Being Norwegian' was all of that and more. Sean, played by Cody Porter, gets to learn all about Lisa, played by Clarice Eckford, and what makes her Norwegian. Oh boy, "...there's something different about her."

Lisa's outgoing and strong personality contrasts well with Sean's defensive and nervous style. The two actors played this dynamic beautifully, making each interaction feel real. Oftentimes, I thought I was watching a real conversation take place. The chemistry, movement, and flow of words created a real environment.

The shift from comedy to darker emotions was done so professionally and effectively. The build-up of tension wasn't sudden; the tension developed naturally, as though it was a real situation between two people who had just met. As I write this review, I've seen six Fringe shows, and so far, this is my personal favourite of the six. I highly recommend seeing 'Being Norwegian'.