Undiscovered Country

Wowowowwowowow. WOW.

I didn't originally plan to see this show, as I had a different Roxy play on my schedule at the same time. However, I’d heard good things about it from 2 different theatre people and a friend was going so I decided this would be a safe bet.

This is probably my favourite show of the Fringe this year, ranked highly among this year's Edmonton theatre shows in general. In just about every way it's phenomenal. The script here was written with beautiful intention and many parts read like poetry. I loved the structure of the stories, moving from realism to fantastical fiction in moments where the character had to confront (or rather, not confront) difficult moments in their history. I loved that there were small subtleties in the first half that discerning audience members could pick up on, that exploded in the latter half.

The performance was phenomenal. Not only was this actor able to sing and play the guitar to great effect, but they were also able to differentiate clearly between characters and express both subtle and intense emotions. And for 90 minutes no less!!

The music was also so good woven into the stories. The lyrics were relevant to the plot/ characters, motifs made returns in later songs, and it didn't just feel like a random concert. Each song played a purpose. The actor's guitar playing was also very skillful, and I recommend sitting near the front so you can watch his hands when he plays. I loved to see control of the sound with effects pedals, which really worked with the lighting to build the atmosphere.

Likewise, the costumes were so perfect. No spoilers, but the change was simple and effective and though I already predicted what the twist would be after the flood scene (I was really, really paying attention during this show), I felt the payoff was still very effective and jarring and delightful and the costumes (and how they look in the light) were a big part of that.

I’m so glad that I went to see this play. I never saw it in the past because I don't care for country music and I thought I didn't care for one-man storytelling shows. Doesn't matter what you like or not. This show is outstanding and not to be missed.

We happen upon a man who appears to have all the trimmings of a country superstar. There are guitars and amps and pedals scattered across a rug in what could possibly be a lamplit garage or basement. The pre-show sprawl also includes the motionless body of our main man: Tyler Wainwright Jr. himself in a snazzy suit. He crustily wakes up, dons his hat and performs for us a personal mythology worthy of the Grand Ole Opry.

Writer/performer Chris Bullough is clearly a very skilled musician. He dips into many songwriting flavours: country sounds of old, tunes with grit, even dipping into contemporary rock textures and a lonesome folk ballad. You’ll get moments on the electric guitar and some on the acoustic – all mixed, layered and distorted live by Bullough. And boy, can that man wail!

He spins some obvious yarns and hilarious tall tales, but it’s not always easy to discern what is fact and what is fiction as everything unfolds. We bounce around his memories and brace for some truly strange left-hand turns. Though the imagery is dense at times, we still manage to understand the core of what Tyler is going through. Bullough is an artist who can handle dense classical text and poetic verbiage, and every beat of this performance feels deliberate, palpable and immediate.

I admittedly wasn’t completely satisfied in the final moments of the piece when the tone made a significant shift away the magical bubble we had sat in for the better part of the hour, but that didn’t detract from my overall enjoyment. I am normally allergic to country music, but Bullough’s songs were dramatically driven, varied and listenable. I hope he translates this to an audioplay or concept album, because this soundtrack and quality writing have some serious replay value.

A musical story full of twists you’d never see coming, Undiscovered Country is a never ending thriller reminiscent of stories like The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls with a country blues twist. Chris Bullough is a talented singer and storyteller that fully encaptures his audience and never lets them go for even a moment. This mind-bending show is perfect for those who love to pick a story apart at its seams and decide for themselves what makes one worthy of greatness.

Hot dang, what a gut-buster! Chris Bullough's charm and mastery mixes perfectly with his sometimes satirical, often heartfelt country tunes to deliver a comedy show that'll keep ya laughin' and swoonin' til the curtain falls. Decked out in one of the most exquisite suits ever to grace the stage, Bullough's Tyler Wainwright Jr. looks mighty handsome as he weaves an intricate tale of familial drama and celebrity-status shenanigans. With a guest appearance from the smell of Meuwly's smoker that couldn't have been better timed, even if stage management had decided to burn down the Roxy again, Undiscovered Country delivers an intimate and hilarious show brimming with a message that never tries to beat you over the head. The show lingers a bit longer than I'd have liked in the third quarter, and some small line issues rear their ugly heads throughout (maybe to be expected in a 90-minute solo show, and expertly handled by Bullough when they happen), but the ending is well worth the wait and stuck like a sweatin' pig. I can confidently say that this here is one counrty boy y'all don't wanna miss!