Review: (Toronto) Solo - a Boy's Journey (Fringe)

Boy's Life
by Lisa McKeown
@lisammckeown

Jerry Brodey’s one-man show about the struggles men face when transitioning to adulthood is well-structured and executed. From his guitar-playing to his storytelling, Brodey is obviously very comfortable in front of the audience and we are immediately interested in what he wants to tell us. 

The story itself is in part based on a true story of a friend of his who he met at that transitional time of his youth, who became a social worker and left behind a story of two troubled young men. This story clearly means a lot to him, and that comes across well in his performance. The two teenagers and Ben embark on a Solo journey that begins with clashing frustrations and personalities, and ends up revealing hard emotional truths. He uses a number of techniques, from various scenes with the three men in which he distinguishes the characters through his voice and characterization, to puppetry and mask work displaying a mythological raccoon character whose outside perspective gives the story more dimension. Brodey’s technique is good and his storytelling is honest, not shying away from the dingier aspects of human nature, allowing for a touching and satisfying story. 

Solo: A Boy's Journey is at the Toronto Fringe