Have you ever been scolded by the grammar police? Been jealous of a fellow bridesmaid? What about stood in between two people yelling about their opposing political opinions on a subway car? Sound familiar? If so, you would definitely relate to People Suck.
The witty and lovable musical, People Suck: a musical airing of grievances, made its return to the Toronto Fringe Festival this July, ten years after its 2015 premiere. The musical previously won Best of Fringe, Patron’s Pick and the Ed Mirvish Entrepreneurial Award. Full of smart lyrics and a little bit of sass, People Suck written by Peter Cavell and Megan Phillips, is packed with sometimes silly, sometimes very real situations in which, you guessed it, people suck!
Throughout the 90-minute runtime of the show, we explore a series of disconnected stories about the worst people and scenarios in society, including but not limited to settling in a marriage, dealing with a misogynistic boss who still doesn’t know your name, and never being able to orgasm no matter who you’re with.
While it gradually becomes more existential as the show goes on, it is easy to get swept up into the fun of it all. The five-person cast, made up of Megan Phillips, Christopher Johnson, Liana Bdéwi, Michelle Nash and David Silvestri, is full of energy. Standout performances come from Christopher Johnson and David Silvestri, who shone especially when paired together in scenes. Every cast member nailed their delivery.
The music is campy in classic theatre kid fashion. The staging and choreography are dynamic. And there are a few moments that reference other theatre favourites like Romeo and Juliet and Chicago.
This iteration of the show was also unique in that one of the main cast members, David Silvestri, was late due to TTC delays, and the show began without him. In a smart move on the team’s part, they added some additional narration from Peter Cavell at the top of the show explaining the situation without taking away from the show or confusing the audience. The first song included a performance from choreographer Kelsey Howatt, who stood in for Silvestri.
People Suck is a really enjoyable and memorable show, and I am looking forward to seeing what the team creates next. While the show and festival have come to a close, you can find them on Instagram @peoplesuckmusical.
Listen to the audio review here!
Photo courtesy of Alex Russel