Ottawa Fringe: A Modest Attempt showcases pressure of competition in the Internet era

Darcy Smith’s one-man show, A Modest Attempt is a project very personal in nature. Beginning with taking questions from the audience about the show, a light-hearted atmosphere is immediately established. He then grounds his story in his background from childhood with both the Internet and theatre; the two intersect heavily in this performance, as its main conceit is the tricks Smith does to impress audiences on the World Wide Web. The anecdotes Smith relays of his earlier years, such as dialling up to use the internet in the late 1990s and the resultant convulsions he performs due to the hair-raising sound of the connection loading, are communicated with good humour.

After the performer biography, of course, comes the tricks. A succession of tricks from contortionist movements to clown miming are presented, only to be one-upped by videos of ‘professionals’ on Youtube (which are projected by a screen onstage). It is the momentary deflation Smith expresses upon seeing another person do something better than him that the more serious side of the production comes out. His exasperated sentiment of “I have to win” underscores the pressure that competition can bring upon those who engage in it. It is also reflective of how feelings of inadequacy and competitiveness are amplified online, where one can become an instant star through a single video. Amidst all the gimmicks and funny barbs with audience members (some of whom Smith was familiar with the night I went), A Modest Attempt contains an exercise in reconciliation with the worth in one’s own efforts at performance, imperfect though they might be. As it happens, there may be no more appropriate venue than the Fringe to impart this lesson.

A Modest Attempt continues until June 23 at Studio 1201 in the OAG as part of the Ottawa Fringe Festival. For information and tickets, see https://ottawafringe.com/shows/a-modest-attempt/