Fraz Vs The Future - The Time Machine is Out of Whack!

Winnipeg’s random band name productions presents Fraz Wiest in his 60 minute one man show “Fraz vs The Future”. It is being staged at one of my favorite venues -- the lovely intimate Studio 1398 on Granville Island. I was a little disappointed that there was no programme for some cheat notes, and that they chose to close the black curtain over the big, beautiful, bay window, even though the play takes place in the present, and lighting and special effects are at an absolute minimum.

It’s all about Fraz. He strides onstage with a towel and a water bottle (which he frequently uses) and these are not essentially theatrical props, as much as survival tools for the performer to complete his hour-long comic manic marathon still standing.

Fraz is in a one-piece khaki zippered jumpsuit, which was reminiscent of being an extra on “Stargate”. Throughout his performance, he reminded me of an older Sheldon Cooper from the “Big Bang Theory”, and Kramer from “Seinfeld”, but mostly of bearded Christopher Lloyd from “Back to the Future”.

He has been sent back from the not-too-distant future to the worst week of his life to make amends, Apparently the time machine was out of whack & the space-time continuum was compromised, so he ended up here instead. His mission, from what I could glean, is to atone for and improve his lack of internet use and social media skills. These things don’t Pinterest him. He describes how “The future has its way with us” and “Everything is automatic”. He pokes fun at Twitter, Instagram, texting, emoticons and “Futurebook”. How one is unable to read sarcasm, and who are really the weird wired aliens & unfeeling robots? Look around at the person next to you.

Fraz’s frenetic performance fully engages the audience, who were LOL-ing often. The piece is very well-rehearsed, and he has the material down pat, obviously having done it at many times which showed through.

 ”Warning Will Robinson Danger Danger!” “before the machines take us over.”

 Maybe the message here is that on many Internet websites, one often shares a viewed experience, while live theatre is all about viewing a shared experience.

 Definitely worth seeing -- and thinking about.