Heist/Boy's Night Out – hit and miss storytelling

Heist / Boys Night Out

An offer of two shows in one. Dylan Kilgour and Jake Spencer each perform a 50-minute piece, luring you in with "pay for one, stay the second for free."

Switching order every showing, this night saw Boy's Night Out first up on the bill.  In his 50 minutes, Spencer reminisces about days gone by with tales of high school, old girlfriends and fights that started in the graveyard.  Watching the eager actor sitting on the bar stool on the stage in front of me, I could see that he was the underdog - the guy who will never become the alpha male - and knows it. I wanted to root for him.  Unfortunately, it was storytelling at its most chaotic - an aimless monologue with no start or end, and nothing to hold onto in between.  I kept waiting for the punch line of the joke, the climax of the story, the purpose of the piece - none of which materialized. Boy's Night Out never hit its mark.

I decided to stay for the bonus show.  Round two brought a change of tempo with Heist.  With a quick pace, Kilgour masterfully weaves a tale about pipe dreams and lady luck, with a few colourful characters and little-known facts thrown in for good measure.  I felt myself reacting to each twist and turn presented: gripping the seat, chuckling aloud, groaning, anticipating the next line.  This was storytelling done right.

One out of two ain't bad…

Heist/Boy's Night Out was produced, written and performed by Jake Spencer and Dylan Kilgour, Vancouver BC

 

For more information and reviews from fellow fringers scamper here.

By Ashleigh Dalton