Alex and Michael and Hannah

This could be a great show in time, but not quite yet.

Aside from the minor qualms of off-cue sounds, the (seemingly) unnecessary running crew, and scenes that weren't wholly necessary, I think the biggest flaw in this production is its writing. The performers were committed to their characters, but unfortunately the dialogue did not give them much to work with. The pacing also seemed much too quick and never allowed the characters to settle into the emotional impact of what was happening in the story. Speaking of, the root problem was muddy. Is the story about Hannah's journey with polyamory or her familial relationship, or body issues, or her demanding job?

From a last minute twist that came out of left field (and didn't resolve anything, really), the writing needs some TLC for any future productions.

On the flip side, queer stories are abound at Fringe and I appreciate that this show in particular touched on polyamory and navigating new waters, something that is not commonly seen onstage. With tightening and a close look at the dialogue, again, this show could be something great some day.

This show is not quite there yet.

There was a lot of good on display: it was surprisingly well-lit and the lighting cues really did help sell scene transitions, all three leads compellingly sold their lines, and I believed every character on stage. While queer representation is always plentiful at the Fringe, ethical polyamory is something that rarely gets showcased.

Unfortunately, the script needs work, much of it was stilted and in the back half it felt more like an early-2000s DeviantArt or LiveJournal fanfic than a cohesive play.

There was also an entirely baffling directorial decision to play nearly the entirely of Fatboy Slim's Eat, Sleep, Rave, Repeat at the start of the show with the house lights up and nothing happening on stage. Everyone around me was confused, and I'm shocked this section wasn't cut after the first couple shows.

I wasn't bored, and the show was reasonably engaging, but ultimately its ambitions were much higher than what it achieved.

An amazing show!

mixed feelings. I think there’s potential here, but the script currently feels fan-ficy and not super developed. needs a good editor to give it a clean look over. might be worth something but definitely not at its best form yet.

acting was good. the lead actress was the standout but nothing wrong with her supporting players. made some iffy dialogue better.

design was quite developed for a fringe show. good set, and surprisingly developed lighting for a fringe show I was very impressed by it. sound was good too. only design complaint (more directing) is that I really don’t like seeing stage hands onstage and a lot of their appearances were not necessary.

decent bones but still not super great. all is not lost though.

Have you ever wondered what balancing a job, a difficult family, and a polyamorous relationship looks like? If so, Alex and Michael and Hannah might be the show for you. This play comprised of 4 actors is both a love story and a peek into the struggles of life, and how one balances their own happiness with their family’s approval.

Although, to me, this show read as quite cringey and felt uncomfortable to watch at times, it has phenomenal actors, effective use of sets and audio, and a great score. Each actor was thoroughly convincing in their role and truly helped bring this story to life.

This show also does a great job of addressing expectations — both of oneself and from family, and how the feeling of being genuinely loved can allow one to finally feel confident just being oneself.

This show gives the audience a glimpse into what life in a polyamorous relationship in Alberta can look and feel like — both the struggles and the joy that can come with it.

This show took on a challenging subject (intersexual polyamory) but is unable to give it the gravity that it deserves. Relationships are formed so quickly that they don’t seem real and then it adds conservative reactions on top of it. All in all it’s too much for 60 minutes and what it becomes is just awkward.

The performances are fine. The writing is just not great. Much of the dialogue is unnatural and then out of nowhere comes sexually charged language. Sadly, an unsuspecting audience is caught off guard, leading to childish gasping and giggling.

Also, there is far too much stage business going on with props that needed stage hands to manage (they got almost as much stage time as some of the actors).

All in all, if you have a limited fringe budget (time more than money) give this one a miss.

I found it a delight to watch this play. The show demonstrates the importance of kindness and respect in relationships by contrasting the less conventional but very caring relationship onstage with the status quo but with red flags relationship that another character describes. The performers did an excellent job of portraying the relationships growing over a span of time while moving fluidly through the scenes to keep everything moving along; it feels pared down to the essentials, but yet not rushed, still leaving room for sweet, kind, and funny moments.

Definitely shared an interesting perspective on poly relationships. I liked the quick pace of the show, tight storyline, good lighting and some comedies in between.

Alex and Michael and Hannah is a touching story about chosen family and believing those people who show you that you are loved. Funny and sexy with characters who make you laugh and family members whose idea of 'supportive' really isn't.