Meatloaf Jesus

Fringe Description: Queer · Intimate · Multicultural

Presented by ash street productions, the brief show description states simply: "Two young men's friendship leads to an awakening that, once realized, leads both down life altering paths."

To reflect my experience of this performance, a list of juxtapositions for Meatloaf Jesus is as follows:

Girls
Boys
Women
Men
Sex
Drugs
Alcohol
Pot
Pipeline
Abuse
Gretzky
Belonging
Friendship
Identity
Big Hair
1980’s
Meatloaf
Jesus

These juxtapositions encompass a coming of age story as told by the one of the characters returning to the location of his youth. The time is the 1980’s and the place is Edmonton. A sparsely set stage, memorable music and good acting tell the story of how we can move on from our youth, but it will always be there suspended in its own time, marked by events that have impact on us all. 

By MJ Ankenman