Ottawa Fringe : Not: A Bev ODa Memoir is a creative political parody with depth
Not: A Bev Oda Memoir Photo thanks to the Ottawa Fringe Festival
Clara Madrenas’s one-woman production of Not: A Bev Oda Memoir is easily one of the most inventive and genuinely funny parody skits on offer at the Fringe this season. The London, ON-based performer duly entertains at singing, guitar playing and acting, making for a thoroughly enjoyable performance. The focus is not simply on humour, however, as the land acknowledgment and encouragement to the audience to think about what they can do to further Indigenous reconciliation by Madrenas at the beginning provides a serious undertone to the show. Such an acknowledgement is important, Madrenas says, since “this play is about Canada.” That it certainly is, and much more too, in its insightful remarks on contemporary political culture in North America. …