Toronto Fringe: Beautiful, lyrical, engaging storytelling in Vanessa Smythe’s In Case We Disappear

So many great storytellers at Toronto Fringe this year – and I was very excited to see Vanessa Smythe’s solo show In Case We Disappear at the Tarragon Theatre Extra Space last night. I’d seen her perform excerpts of the show, and this was my first time seeing it in its entirety.

Standing with the microphone, Smythe tells us about the boy who made who love poetry, an imagined conversation with a guy at Shoeless Joe’s, her little brother’s grade 8 graduation and a drunken Facebook booty call, among others.

A present and engaging performer, Smythe weaves her words through spoken word rhythms and sing song musical stylings, taking the audience right along with her. We forget that that one story was an imagined conversation. And we cry with joy over her big sister’s pride and support – and with how it’s always a little bittersweet when the young people in our lives grow up. (Or is that just me?) My point is – Smythe’s words affect you. Deeply. The stories resonate, inspire and move – and make you laugh.

Part spoken word, part storytelling, In Case We Disappear is a poignant and fun collection of stories, and a beautiful, lyrical and genuine performance from Vanessa Smythe.

In Case We Disappear is another show that’s set to head to Edinburgh Fringe. The show has two more performances in Toronto Fringe: July 10 at 12:00 p.m. and July 11 at 1:45 p.m. It was sold out last night, so book ahead for this one.