A Most Unimportant Criminal: a flawed treat

Colette Nichol is Our Heorine
Victoria: A clown, Our Heroine, has to defend her sexually charged life when she reaches the Pearly Gates in this fun solo show. Vancouver playwright and actress Colette Nichol plays eight absurd characters—including a prude British grandmother, a Johnny Cochrane-style lawyer and God in need of therapy—but her singing voice is also a winning factor here.
 

And the dramatic moments of A Most Unimportant Criminal are beautiful; despite all the craziness, there are flashes that add a much-needed human touch, like when Our Heroine realizes that she’s just “a lonely girl trying to get un-lonely.” At 55 minutes, the story does sag in places and, at times, confuses the audience enough for our clown to even comment on it. And beware, you shy and immovable types: Criminal also tends to rely (too) heavily on audience participation. But while this very adult-themed production has its flaws, Nichol’s performance is a treat to watch.

Find showtime information here.

By James Roxby