Ottawa Fringe Festival 2016: Fugee’s excellent script and mostly well-oiled performances speak to the heart

TWA (Third Wall Academy, Ottawa), Academic Hall

Kill someone when you’re 14 years old, and your own life – likely now one of crippling self-hatred, anger and isolation — is in many ways over. Back up a bit to see why you committed the act and you’ll probably find it was almost predestined by events over which you had no control. That’s pretty much the case of Ivory Coast-born Kojo (Patrick Bugby), a child soldier and orphan who becomes a refugee among other abandoned child refugees (eight other student actors playing multiple roles) and who sees his own life, once a joyful thing of family and tall trees and potential, shrink to almost nothing. The script by British playwright and screenwriter Abi Morgan is powerful, its execution by this ensemble of under-20 performers mostly well-oiled and passionate. There are problems – characters are not always developed; the high-pitched screams of one actor are painful overkill – but under director James Richardson, Fugee speaks to the heart.

The Ottawa Fringe Festival continues until June 26. Tickets/information: Box offices and venues, 613-232-6162, ottawafringe.com