Fetch

Fetch was a classic Cat Walsh script, full of allusion and ambiguity and excruciating tension and the hint of offstage horror. Steven Sobolewski directed with Shyanne Duquette and Abby Krushel as the two versions of Hannah Morgan. The kind of play worth seeing again to pick up on clues.

In the funhouse of memory, a a thriller that turns the puzzle of identity into a kind of horror story.... (check out the full 12thnight review)

I’m so glad I added this to my schedule. This play is DENSE! I am first and foremost extremely impressed by the two actors who memorized what must’ve been dozens and dozens of pages. The back and forth was maintained at a quick clip which feels unbelievable given how many lines there were. There were no transitions. Both actors were on stage at all times, taking turns, for a little over an hour.

I love to dwell in ambiguity. It took me a hot second to understand what was happening, but once I did I was committed. The story was plenty compelling and the parallel structure was absolutely the kind of thing I love to see in a play. It did start to feel long near the end, and some tension was lost, but it’s hard to gauge what could be cut because it was going so fast that I was really just focussing on keeping up! I wanted a bit more breathing room around some of the lines to give them time to sink in. But then, the delayed reaction/processing felt appropriate for the temporal ambiguity of it all. This is the kind of play I would love to see published so I could read the script with a bit more time to chew on things.

I was likewise impressed by the development of the two characters, who were so lovingly detailed in a way that feels rare at the Fringe, where improv comedy seems to reign supreme (at least by show count). I was riveted just by getting to know these two.

The sound design was clever and just enough. I took bets with my audience partner on what we thought the sound was playing intermittently through the preshow. It returned a few more times during the show, always to decent effect. Admittedly, I didn’t pay enough attention to lighting and sound with this one because I was so focussed on the performances and dialogue.

This is a small thing, but I also loved the blocking and how the characters swapped items seamlessly. I don’t want to spoil anything, but the stuffed toy getting passed to and fro was wonderfully smooth. It certainly had to be, what with the pace of dialogue.

I don’t often want to rewatch Fringe plays, even if they’ve returned after a few years. I prefer to experience a variety of new works each year. However, this is one of the few plays from this year that I’d very much like to revisit in the future.

Fetch is a dramatic and comedic production inspired by the premise Schrödinger’s cat thought experiment. It explores identity and alternate realities through two characters named Hannah Morgan, who look identical but have different life histories. The result is a fascinating mind bender that constantly makes you question what is real. Just when you think you have figured things out, the story throws another twist your way. Despite its complex ideas, Fetch never failed to keep me hooked from beginning to end. The balance between comedy and drama keeps the story engaging while giving the audience moments to process its more confusing and thought-provoking ideas. The two Hannahs create an intriguing mystery that makes you want to keep watching to discover how their stories connect. Fetch is creative, unpredictable, and definitely a show that will leave you thinking. I would recommend it to anyone who appreciates a tragic drama with depth and patches of sci-fi and illusion. Sydney Koke, AYTC

A "Best and Worst" Review

The Best: The script... in part. During the first half, actor Shyanne Duquette delivered the scripted quips and callbacks with delightful wide-eyed innocence. Quite a few chuckles from the audience.

The Worst: The script... in part. There were SO. MANY. WORDS. ("Too many notes"?) The drag was real, especially in the last half.

Overall: There is a flair on Netflix called "Slow Burn." I think this show is a perfect example of that.