Alison (Margaret Legere) is a second year law student at Dalhousie University. Despite being smart and beautiful, she’s extremely introverted (At least that’s how I’d describe a girl whose closest friend is the long-deceased poet and wit Dorothy Parker) and struggling to find her identity. A new roommate (Kathryn McCormack) introduces her to the concept of empowering herself with her own “hotness”. But when nude pictures of Alison are posted on the internet without her permission, she discovers that trading on her own sexuality can be a double-edged sword.
Playwright Natasha MacLellan has a keen ear for snappy dialogue and humour. (The meet-cute scene between Alison and a charming but geeky English professor played by Paul Van Dyck is a real standout) The introduction of Dorothy Parker (Karen Bassett) as a character works very well for illuminating Alison’s struggles.
This play uses the small confines of the Plutonium Playhouse effectively. Scene changes are visually interesting. The use of projections to display Alison’s internet exposure is clever and startling.
There are moments in the play that come off as a little preachy, but for the most part, the concepts explored are timely and interesting, especially for our culture that seems so often to confuse infamy with fame.
WHERE: Plutonium Playhouse, 2315 Hunter St., at Cunard
WHEN: Wednesday to Sunday, 8 p.m.; and 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday
TICKETS: $20, at Plutonium Playhouse, 423-4653