What I liked
I was floored by the talent in VanLyfe. Unlike poor Sunny’s van, the actors worked together like a well-oiled machine. Each actor really felt like they inhabited their character. There wasn’t a weak link in the bunch, though I found Elliot Evans’ performance as Sunny to be particularly notable. The story was riveting and really spotlighted the most vulnerable members of our society with such compassion and truth. With well-written dialogue and a nice balance of humor and heartbreaking moments, VanLyfe really felt like it was showing the audience a snippet of someone’s actual life. It had me going through a range of emotions throughout the play… Becca Khalil’s portrayal of Willow’s breakdown made me cry, while multiple audience members (including myself) pushing the van into a new spot at the end filled me with hope. I loved that we were able to be part of the story in so many innovative ways. I love the mission of this show and its commitment to helping society. I feel like I left VanLyfe actually being a better person and not many shows feel that transformative. Bravo, cast and crew of VanLyfe!
I also appreciate that the creators provided canopies and drinks since the performance was outside during the summer, though it just added to the immersion! Let’s all be kind to our neighbors.
What I didn't like
I can’t think of much. There was a wonderful moment at the end where some of the actors talked about their real-life experiences being unhoused. It felt fairly clear but maybe there’s a way to make it even more obvious that these are the actor’s true personal stories rather than someone else’s real experience being relayed by an actor (like from an interview) or a fictional part of the play. Again, felt pretty clear anyway but that part was a really lovely touch and wouldn’t want anyone to feel confused and miss the impact.
My overall impression
VanLyfe was an incredible immersive experience with a clever set, a skilled cast of actors, and an amazing story. It was one of my favorite shows of the whole Fringe festival.
