Review: A MODERN GUIDE TO HEROISM & SIDEKICKERY, VAULT Festival

Michelle Zahner lands at VAULT Festival in a flurry of lycra, capes, masks, and different identities. Her first solo show, A Modern Guide to Heroism & Sidekickery takes the superhero trope and applies it to an everyday woman.

In a city struggling with the presence of pigeons, a new hero rises out of circumstances rather than proper need. The Shadow goes from keeping watch over pretty penthouses to legitimate paladin thanks to the articles written by a lonely paperboy.

He does, however, embellish her actions, putting her in a difficult situation: all of a sudden, she's expected to solve problems that go beyond her rational abilities. The piece is a heartening and silly tale of acceptance infused with good-hearted fun.

Zahner is unstoppable as the low-budget heroine. Directed by Caitlin Strongarm, she's constantly jumping from character to character to deliver an engaging and meaningful lesson.

Tongue-in-cheek and sassy humour mixed with the lack of fourth wall and a slight participatory nature let the audience in the story, creating camaraderie and in-jokes between the two parties.

The play is a bit all over the place but she makes up for it with warmth and charm. Zahner champions the hero in us all, showing how ordinary actions can have an impact too and there's no need to have intricate devices or a butler to change the world.

Keep up with the future of A Modern Guide to Heroism & Sidekickery and Michelle Zahner's work here.

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