ONE STEP AT A TIME - VAN FRINGE 2018

One Step at a Time is a fun, playful, and entertaining way to get to know the writer and actor of this one-man show, James Melcher. Melcher’s stage persona is warm and inviting – I found myself completely enfolded and engrossed in his stories about growing up, learning, meditating, and making choices. I feel like I came out learning from Melcher’s self-reflection and self-discoveries. For example, I love the way he describes and contextualizes opportunities to make choices and will try to apply this to my own life: making a decision as an opportunity to stop, commit, and learn something, regardless of the outcome of the decision.

Sonja’s Favourite Bits:

• Melcher’s Marilyn Monroe impression (as a child and adult).
• Melcher’s demonstrations of walking meditation and mimicking his mother’s walk in old age – the parallel really emphasized the show’s title and grounded the title as more than metaphorical or symbolic language.
• A large part of the show’s content concerns his relationship with his mother, which was heartwarming.

Missed the Mark for Sonja:

• This show is a charming storytelling experience, but I am unsure what the show’s main takeaway is.

One Step at a Time is playing at Studio 1398 September 6 - 16 as part of the 2018 Vancouver Fringe Festival.

~ reviewed by Sonja Cvoric