featured Montreal Theatre Varia

Festival St-Ambroise Fringe de Montreal: 0 Days Without Crying

When life does not turn out the way it was expected, when faced with disappointment, heart-ache, and depression, what can be done? Curl up in a ball? Challenge one-self? Try to find the ludicrousness and humour in the situation? Or a mix of all three?

0 Days Without Crying is a one-woman comedy that tackles with brutal honesty the challenges of mental illness and overcoming unrealistic expectations of life and love. The show is about Jess (Caterina Incisa), a twenty-something trying to confront and conquer her sadness about the past and anxiety for the future. She sets out a goal to fall in love with herself in three-months. She tries to accept her body by working as a nude model for an art class. She sees a therapist, attends a support group, and fantasizes about her doctor. The results are quite funny as she skewers the self-help game with its’ pretentious books and silly slogans. She poignantly argues with the side of her psyche that tries to put her down. Jess has a fighting spirit which may be her saving grace.

Ms. Incisa is terrific. She makes Jess endearing and relatable. She moves effortlessly from Jess to the other characters that occupy her messy world. Speaking of messy, the set reflects her state of mind with laundry, books, and tissues littering the stage. The effects are good as they create set changes with minimal modifications.

Sometimes the solution to life’s speed bumps (or imagined dead ends) is to try different solutions, perhaps all at the same time. Whatever the plan, the goal is to keep fighting.

Shows are for ages 16+.

Photo credit: Saima Ahmed

0 Days Without Crying: Presented by Bangers and Mash at Festival St-Ambroise Fringe de Montreal. Performed and Written by Caterina Incisa. Directed by Laura Buchanan. Show times are June 15 at 10:30 pm, June 17 at 1:00 pm, and June 18 at 6:15 pm; 12- Studio Jean-Valcourt du Conservatoire, 4750 av. Henri-Julien. Tickets $12.50 to $10.50. Call 514-849-3378 or go to www.montrealfringe.ca  .

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *