Toronto Fringe Review: Rum and Vodka

by El Gato

RUM AND VODKA
as reviewed by El Gato!

If you’re planning on seeing Cart/Horse’s production of Rum and Vodka, I advise you go drinking the night before. Or just spend a couple of days at a Fringe Fest. I find that even by second-hand binging, you end up feeling grrrreat the next day. Ready for a show about a young guy on a three-day drinking binge in which he manages to throughly ruin oh-so-much of his life. It’s totally inspiring. Actually, it’s just totally inspired — this is a damn fine show.

I’d shown up at the theatre with five minutes to spare, was feeling hungover as hell, tired, sore and bitter. I’d Fringed hard on arrival, and kept that up for the week. As a result, Matthew Gorman’s work in this show totally had me. But watching the more less-wrecked-people-around-me’s reaction, I can tell he had a strong pull for them too.

Gorman is a pro. Even as he manages to trainwreck his job, his family… Hell. I’m not sure if he’s going to jail after all this — whatever: he gets you into this right off the top. It’s amazing. You connect. You love watching this guy. And even as he digs himself deeper and deeper — and piling up responsibility on everyone else around him — you still want to like him. Or I did. Maybe that says something about me.He does this incredible loosening up throughout. He actually warms to the audience as he drinks, he opens up. It’s partially in the writing, of course — I find that McPherson as a playwright is a master of that — but Gorman has a charm, an ease, that really plays into this kind of show. Absolutely brilliant.

It’s funny, seeing this show in a Fringe Fest. This whole notion of escapist bingeing… Kinda sounds like the order of the day. And the idea that one little thing, one tiny piece that you’re missing can cure your life… Doesn’t that sound EXACTLY like “X the Musical”
trying to hug the Mirvishes?

No offense musicals. I just tease. I still love.

I just love Rum and Vodka more.

FIVE ON FIVE! Drunk with applause!