Lizzie Moffatt, Kenny Grenier, Mackenzie Kelly, Cassie Davidson and Allison Ehrlich from ‘Girls’ Night Cabin Fever’, Photo by Ryan Maxwell
Presented by Ghouls and Girls Theatre
I had a feeling I would like Girls’ Night Cabin Fever, but I was not expecting it to be such near-perfect Fringe fare! The premise is a staple of the horror-comedy genre: friends gathered at a cabin in the woods; from concept to execution, though, this show is full of razor-sharp creative decisions.
At first, each of our main ladies is a clichè. There’s Liz (Cassie Davidson), the uptight and controlling upstart business strategist; Charlie (Lizzie Moffatt), a decisive nurse with plenty of folksy nuggets of wisdom; and Ember (Mackenzie Kelly), an overly enthusiastic social media influencer. As they settle into this less than accommodating cabin (no bathroom—yikes!) and indulge in local gossip, we get a good sense of their history and fraught dynamic. Davidson’s script even works in some solid world-building that establishes some of the quirky locals from their hometown.
When a violent storm knocks the lights out, we leap into glorious, full-on genre mode. Director Michael Williamson’s decision not to conventionally light most of the play, relying on the on-stage flashlights and tiny LED lanterns, is brilliant. The intimacy of the Tarragon Extraspace allows for this authentic, murky atmosphere to sell the mood without obscuring the action.
When a stranger suddenly appears in the cabin, the resulting skirmishes are legitimately spooky and hilarious, in equal measure. Quickly gaining the upper hand, our trio of friends interrogate the tied up intruder and eventually befriend him. When we finally come to know Evan, Kenny Grenier makes him a very appealing, eccentric oddball. “PeePaw’s Sticky Jam” is a phrase that will stay with me forever, I think.
When a rolling pin blow to the head turns out to be a bigger concern than anticipated, the stakes are raised and our group must use their wits to solve their predicament. Along the way, there’s a little romance, a lot of laughs, and the momentum never gives out. There isn’t a wasted line or gesture as story beats are hit with precision and our characters get increasingly richer.
And Allison Ehrlich’s brief appearance as Marsha is a hilariously creepy portrait of parasocial intensity!
This is masterfully crafted mayhem. Loved. Every. Second.
Girls’ Night Cabin Fever
@ Toronto Fringe Festival
running July 3 to 14, 2024
Tarragon Theatre Extraspace (30 Bridgman Ave)
running time: 60 minutes
