One of the most surprising elements of It Is What It Is was the ability of the actors to project an understanding of the depth and complexity of their subject matter, which was occasionally quite dark. I found some of the monologues to be impressive in their frankness and insight compared to those I’ve seen by elder, (presumably) more experienced performers. Some of the later drama was a little heavy-handed and cheesy, but not overwhelmingly so. As well, there were at least a few good one-liners.
On game shows, contestants are sometimes offered a choice of prizes between, say, a new washer-dryer set or whatever is in The Mystery Box. If you are the kind of person who always chooses The Mystery Box because you love the thrill of not knowing what you’re going to get, then the show Late Night Cabaret is for you. The show runs every night of the festival and features a different set of performers from other Fringe shows. Like The Mystery Box, every performance offers a tempting surprise, and you never know who might be there.
