Ellen Leslie
If watching a skating coach call one of her teenage students Miss Piggy is your idea of comedy, then Dear Michelle Kwan is the show for you.
Set in the 2010s, Dear Michelle Kwan follows teenage figure skaters Dahlia (Isabella Fay), Courtney (Skyler Sajewski), Iris (Hannah Breshears) and Marnina (Christie Spessard) who are rehearsing for their annual holiday show. Before their performances, they pray to their idol Michelle Kwan to bring them success.
When a blizzard traps them in the ice rink overnight, they have big dreams of hosting an epic slumber party. Their coach (Jasmyn Molaei) soon squashes this down, demanding they practice all night for their showcase. As tensions rise, their prayers to Michelle Kwan become ritualistic, and things become darker than they could ever imagine.
What promises to be a dark comedy launching us into the bizarre world of competitive figure skating is actually a chaotic hodgepodge of slapstick comedy, tasteless jokes, and overdramatised performances. The figure skating team are emotionally and physically abused by their inappropriate coach, but as these are turned into comedic moments, they become wince-inducing.
The issues affecting the girls are overshadowed by juvenile humour, and they ultimately lack impact. Marinia’s repeated sneezing, resulting in a fake green snot splatter would fit better in a children’s show. There’s no real character development or explanation of how their issues affect them: it’s all left aside in favour of dramatic screaming and farcical comedy.
It’s a shame that the so-called comedic elements of Dear Michelle Kwan let it down, as the storyline is strong. There are heartfelt and tender moments in there. More of this, and less cheap jokes would greatly benefit the play. It’s as if two concepts have been collaged together, creating a disjointed mishmash that doesn’t work.
The performers are incredibly talented. Their skating is very realistic, aided by the inclusion of skates scraping on ice within the soundtrack. The small playing space is somewhat limiting, meaning some of the dancing had to be compressed for fear of kicking each other, or an audience member.
Billing something as a dark comedy is not an excuse to bring offensive, insensitive content to the stage. Yes, the events are fictional and exaggerated, but the issues behind them are very real. Children who figure skate – and participate in other elite sports – are frequently body shamed, bullied and subjected to pain as punishments by their coaches. To take this trauma and exploit it for a laugh is extremely crass.
Recommended drink: A triple axel: vodka, triple sec, peach schnapps, orange juice and tonic water.
You can catch Dear Michelle Kwan at theSpace Triplex from 7-29 August at 15:05 (50 mins). Tickets are available through the EdFringe Online Box Office.
Image credit: Two Fish Photos
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