Michael Gougis

A quiet burn of a solo show that leaves you wondering - and that, to me, is what good theater does. Increasingly compelling as it progresses, as events unfold that seem easy to understand but as you think about them, you're not entirely sure how to interpret them. Confidently presented and staged, it's the story that drives this performance, and it asks questions that ask more questions as you think more about it. It is the layers of meaning that keep me thinking about this, and a performance that can keep your attention after you have left the theater is one worth seeing. A quiet gem in this year's festival.

Think of it this way: You're a grave digger during the Black Death, all alone, trying to make sense of a world where death is all around you. What happens in your mind? Your soul? "Hereafter" is a journey through the thoughts of a very real human being trying to make sense of a situation that is simply inhumane. It is funny, heartbreaking, insightful, and real. A one-person show that deserves a spot on your Festival must-see list.

"Intrusive Thoughts" left me pondering my views of myself and my sense of justice in the world. I want to think that my dark thoughts of revenge and punishment for evildoers are objective and universal, yet I was left thinking of how easy it is for people to construct self-justifying rationalizations for acts that are rooted in traumas and past events that they aren't even aware of. Intense performance, and something that left me thinking afterward.

Bremner is an amazing storyteller and vocalist, and this show veers from one element to the next, grabbing you in the first instance and then hurling you into the next chapter. "Onwards!" charges along, then pauses for introspection, then hits the gas again, leaving the audience as a passenger on a mesmerizing ride where you're never quite sure where you are going. Worth it for Bremner's vocals alone, everything else simply makes it more and more intoxicating.

"The Debate" was a performance and piece that challenged you to follow along, spinning its narrative in the language of the absurd. It resonated with me on an emotional level rather than a literal one, and it was exactly what I want to see when I go to Fringe shows. Highly recommended.