Review by anonymous
June 07, 2017 certified reviewerWhat I liked
Depression/suicide is a hard topic to broach, let alone openly discuss. Perhaps there is no other medium to best assess this issue than comedy. The underlying virtue of comedy is it’s integrity; it cuts through society’s euphemisms, tip-toeing, and safe zones to honestly assess the myriad of issues facing our world today. That is what makes Unrealistic Expectations special. Using comedy, it provides an easy way into the depression/suicide conversation and it sustains your attention — by putting the impulses, lines of thought, and conclusions of a clinically depressed person into simple, humorous, and digestible terms. It applies pop culture allusions, snappy dialogue, fantastical asides, and a personified “dark conscience” to accomplish this. And it does all of this excellently.
Unrealistic Expectations isn’t just humorous, just moving, just thought-provoking, just plain fun. It’s all of these things. Simply put, go see it. You’ll be better for it.
What I didn't like
Only a fair warning to those who don’t like fantastical or allegorical asides to illustrate broader ideas.
My overall impression
Unrealistic Expectations tackles the darkest of subject matter with intellect, humor, and grace. Buoyed by solid performances from it’s quartet of actors, and writing replete with pop culture allusions, wry witticisms, and Sorkin-esque repartee, this play delivers on it’s promise — and then some. It’s an honest, moving, thought-provoking, and, yes, hilarious rumination on a young person’s struggle with depression and suicide. You could spend your $10 on another show at Fringe, but you would be sorely mistaken.
