Opening Pandora’s Box

Reminiscent of Bridget Jones and Fleabag, Amanda Bridge (Ruth Alexander) has an entire lifetime of disaster, comedy, and romance to share. This one-woman musical is, without a doubt, one of my favourite productions at the Fringe this year. When I walked into the theater, I did not expect much from this show. Surprisingly, I was slapped in the face with one woman’s heartbreaking and witty story.

The audience follows Amanda Bridge as she navigates the ups and downs of her life across Europe. After having her tarot cards read, she embarks on a search for her one true love. On the way, she experiences multiple failed relationships and not-so-successful gigs as a pianist. She tries picking up the pieces of her miserable life together, but plummets to her end in the water.

In this heart-rending and scintillating production, Alexander clearly displays the exemplary level of talent and craft she has. From the second Alexander stepped on stage, you could tell her performance would shine just as bright as her sparkly silver blazer. In a 75-minute show, it is easy to lose track of the story as an audience member. However, Alexander’s storytelling and voice are extremely coherent and engaging. It feels as if you were experiencing the same moments with Amanda Bridge. Watching Alexander sing, act, and play the piano really makes you wonder: what can’t this woman do? Her voice is exquisite when she sings and when she smoothly changes from one character to another. Her voice heightens the emotional depth of every song. In particular, the first part of the song during the wedding scene was so touching it made couples in the audience give each other loving glances. There are not enough words to describe the perfection that is this production. This show is definitely one to remember.