What I liked
SAM is Sam Labrecque’s story of Valley Girl Who Came To Hollywood With A Dream. Hollywood and the entertainment industry, to put it blithely, can be challenging. To put it more bluntly, it tends to be f*cking awful, cruel, manipulative, expensive, exploitative, harmful, and callus. SAM takes on on her journey from bright-eyed to beaten-down, and finally to finding her own voice, her own ‘brand,’ and the confidence to take her creative pursuits by the horns.
Labrecque’s comic timing and precision cannot be commended enough. Particularly impressive as a self-directed piece, her understanding of pacing, beats, and how to keep the audience right where she wants them is next level. From the original songs (lyrics by Labrecque, music composed and superbly performed by Edith Mudge) to the parody lyrics that she incorporates, this piece is inventive, impactful, and inspiring. Not to mention hilarious.
What I didn't like
As is often the case with Fringe, the most notable challenges were those of the format itself. Absurdly quick load-in and load-out and audio level inconsistencies plague nearly everything I’ve ever seen at Fringe, and no matter the skill, talent, or expertise of the producers and performers, those issues are simply part of the game.
And in spite of the inherent challenges, SAM is an absolute romp. Tickets are almost sold out, so get yours very literally right this second.
My overall impression
SAM is a heartfelt, deeply honest, hilariously crafted tour de force brilliantly showcasing Sam Labrecque’s skills on all fronts. Producer, writer, director, lyricist, graphic designer, and solo performer, Labrecque absolutely stuns.
