Holy O
2025 Edmonton International Fringe Theatre Festival
Aug. 19, 2025, 6:33 a.m.
🦑
Ten-tickles My Fancy

Sin has Never Been so Fun - Sydney Boisvert

Holy O is an award-winning immersive dramedy that delivers both laughter and deep reflection. From the very beginning, the audience was fully engaged, eagerly playing along and acting as “saints” guiding Vera, a young woman torn between her dream of becoming a nun and her attachment to the pleasures of her past. This interaction pushed me outside my comfort zone, but in a thoroughly enjoyable way. It was playful, funny, and surprisingly connective, making the entire experience feel less like a performance and more like a shared story.

The performer portraying Vera commanded the space with energy and humor while also knowing when to slow down and introduce sincerity. Her recollections about the objects tied to her past added a tender, human layer that balanced the comedy. She welcomed the audience with warmth and charisma, making us feel not only included but essential to the unfolding of her story.

The narrative struck a balance between comedy and drama, embracing absurdity at times yet always returning to meaningful questions about faith, sexuality, and self-discovery. The staging enhanced this tension beautifully, set in an intimate yet slightly chaotic apartment that reflected Vera’s internal struggle.

In conclusion, Holy O is more than just entertainment, it’s a wild, participatory exploration of what it means to reconcile desire and devotion. This is not a passive viewing experience; it’s a shared journey. If you're open to being drawn into the action and reflecting, while laughing along the way, this is a show you won’t want to miss.