Who Drinks Mocktails on the Beach?!

How do you write a character who starts charming and who you hate by the end, who you love and worry about, who just like a real life love with someone both beautiful and troubled you cannot quite name the moment when it all should have been clear to you...

I have no idea. But Sara Mayfield knows how. This show shows the pain behind fun, the care behind carefree.

Mayfield's writing is alive, and her performance leaves nothing behind, controlling the stage well with a character so out of control. She sets up an eclectic series of dominos, toppling them with an impassioned nudge in the final moment to reveal a powerful picture of self-understanding.

Sara Mayfield brings heart and vulnerability to a story about isolation and not looking your problems too closely in the face. Her portrayal of casual social alcoholism and the journey to making a change will resonate with everyone, especially anyone who has turned to karaoke as the last possible outlet for your grief and disappointment—though I get the sense that Sara has most people beat in the vocals department. The writing is sharp and nuanced, with the Fleabag-esque main character always coming achingly close to “getting it” — Sara Mayfield is playing her own unreliable narrator. come in with your thinking hats on—blink and you might miss some very well-earned and rewarding character growth.

Saw this show on a whim and it's a great show! Great voice! Funny but with heart. 10/10 recomend to everyone!

My favorite character in literature the intelligent, introspective but oblivious woman who looks back gently on a previous self who might have made some questionable decisions

Sara Mayfield ( I think ) does a masterful job in the tightly scripted, beautifully choreographed and technically brilliant story of a young woman who might have been slightly overserved and suffers the consequences with her head held high.

As a paean to her talent even the aside in the afterword “ I can do a 60 minute play but I can’t memorize a 5 minute speech.” made me laugh. I would like to see more of her work.

Sara Mayfield delivers a performance that is charming, eminently watchable, and all too relatable.

Seeing “Candace” struggle reminds us of our own failings but that change is possible if we stop to reflect. Or at least it was a good reminder for me.

So yeah, huge recommendation. I laughed, I cried… I tried to forget my own cringeworthy mistakes.

Sara tells a really vulnerable and heartfelt story about a likeable but flawed protagonist. I think we can all relate to the frustration that our main character is going through. Sometimes I struggled with sightlines in the venue when she was sitting down so try to get up near the front if you can!

Centred around the hard truths of finding the balance between staying loyal to an old friend, or just walking away, “Who Drinks Mocktails on the Beach” is a raw, funny, and honest look at the ebbs and flows of friendships, and the emotional toll they can have on us. Mayfield’s performance is exceptional, and - from beauty & class to awkward & embarrassed - she puts everything on the table for us to not only see, but experience right along with her. Her emotions, charisma, well executed tech, and simple (yet very effective) staging put the audience right there with her in every moment and scene she takes us on. As a veteran theatre artist and observer, I can honestly say this production is one of the best solo shows and Fringe productions I have ever seen. I can’t wait to see more of Mayfield’s work in the future.

Ever been to a destination wedding and felt some existential dread as your life regrets flash before your eyes throughout the trip? If not, you're in luck because that's exactly what the lead character, Candace goes through in "Who Drinks Mocktails on the Beach?". Directed by Damon Bradley Jang, this one-woman Fleabag-style show, which, if you don't know, centres storytelling by combining narration with frequent fourth-wall breaks, starring Sara Mayfield as Candace is as comedic as it is heart-wrenching.

The vacation starts at the airport, where we are first introduced to Candace. A college party-girl attending her best friend Jacki's wedding in Cancun, she reveals details about herself as the story goes on. Everything from Jacki's cat and how she met her fiancee Ken is told to us from Candace's point of view. Additionally, the wedding is not without drama as she meets a stranger and gets a little too drunk. Also, the play features some 2000's pop-punk performances to break up the story. As the show progresses, you begin to piece together things about Candace's mysterious past and self-image, such as her lack of human connection, reliance on alcohol, and grief for her animal friends.

Mayfield is an amazing lead. Her vocals are strong when the pop-punk ballads come on, she's hilarious, and she's comfortable with the audience. This show doesn't necessarily have a splash-zone, but she does love interacting with the viewers in small ways like eye-contact and brief questions; she's very loveable. Her storytelling is clear and easy to follow, and the humour blends into the rest of the script very smoothly. When writing the show (Sara is the playwright!), Mayfield clearly put a lot of intent into what moments were purely emotional and which ones were more comedic; which made the heavy moments in the play hit even harder.

All the props in the show fit into Candace's large black tote, which honestly is a huge advantage that makes the use of props in general feel really natural as opposed to picking something up behind a curtain or from a stagehand for example. The lighting was intentional, adding to the beachfront atmosphere. However, the star of the show tech-wise was hands down the sound effects. Every single possible sound effect was thought of and included. Airport ambiance, phone notifications, camera clicks, even the music in Candace's airpods. On top of that, all of the SFX cues were perfectly timed with Mayfield's miming. It was so satisfying to watch.

Overall, Candace makes for a loveable protagonist in "Who Drinks Mocktails on the Beach?". The show is not only technically impressive, but Mayfield is a certified star on stage. Her ability to play a character who's such a ball of sunshine who's also simultaneously experiencing insane inner turmoil is astounding. Mayfield's performance will make you smile and come close to tears all within the play's 55 minute runtime.

Sara Mayfield exudes confidence on stage, but the comedic and heartfelt moments don't quite hit the mark. The performance struggles to fully engage our interest in the story, leaving room for a more impactful delivery.

This show about a past best friend of the bride going to her destination wedding in Mexico was funny, relatable, and also pulled at the heart strings. There is a Spotify soundtrack to go with the show my teenage self needs to download. I saw myself so much in the main character that it made me start questioning if I have a problem, but “it’s not a problem unless it’s a problem”. This one woman show never dragged or lulled. It was entertaining from start to end. Recommend!

Incredibly well performed. A fun, brilliant and peromance. This perfomer is going somewhere other than just Vancouver!

A little bit of everything - audience interaction, great soundtrack fusion w the actor, very clever costuming, insightful, relatable story. The actors crafty maneuvering between characters and eras was written/performed with perfect charity. I’d see this again - great production.!

Sara tells a story of coping with friendship and life decisions. Her wonderfully played Candice character is both funny and serious, extravert and introvert, innocent and reflective, happy and sad, which I believe is a bit like all of us. Her use of songs, music, sound and light support her performance perfectly, making it so memorable and a must see show in the true spirit of rhe Fringe Festival!