4 Girls 4 Ever, written by Ned Cox and Alexandria Haber, directed by Jen Quinn
If you've ever wondered what it would be like to see a mashup of The Breakfast Club and Mamma Mia! then you're in luck, 4 Girls 4 Ever is exactly just that. The show features four tipsy women: Claire Brière—the "basket case", Debbie Moffett—the intelligent one as well as the comedic relief, Iris "Irish" McMurphy—the one with the crass, tough exterior, and Missy Owens—the "Annie" type from Community. The four Breakfast Club-like characters accidentally lock themselves in a classroom, resulting in an inevitable heart-to-heart between the four after a series of failed break-outs. The women also happen to have a personal theme song/jingle that they sing to celebrate their friendship, as well as a comical personalized dance that goes with it (Mamma Mia! anyone?).
4 Girls 4 Ever has its relatable moments, with anecdotes that hit close to home for some. These familiar scenarios humanize the characters in a way that allows you to immerse yourself into the play and empathize with the different challenges they faced.
The show was also not performed on a stage; in fact, there was no stage to be seen in the venue! This black box theatre setting and the set design (or lack thereof) encouraged the audience to experience the play as it was being experienced by the characters (the show takes place in an old, empty classroom with barely any furniture and we were right there in that classroom, locked in there with them).
If you're into a more intimate setting, a barrel of laughs, and The Breakfast Club, be sure to check out 4 Girls 4 Ever! You better act fast though, as some shows have already sold out!
For more information, check out the Montreal Fringe Festival website and enjoy the show at Espace Freestanding Room (4324 Saint-Laurent, #300) until June 20th.
--Marina Nguyen hosts FunkShui every Sunday at 2 PM EST on CJLO.