The premise of Adam Clarke’s new play Human Weakness is a fun one: a twisted game show where former couples compete against one another in a life or death battle to prove which one has been winning at life since their breakup.
Clare Waqué plays Theresa, a mostly functioning, acrid alcoholic who sabotages herself and Mark Penny plays Chris, her passive aggressive and petty ex boyfriend. Brian Downey is best when channelling demonic Rod Roddy as the host. The play examines how far hurt and anger can go to drive ordinary people to act like lunatics in attempt to destroy and exact revenge on someone else.
I think that Clarke and Director Matthew Downey can push this play into even darker, more satirical and Absurdist territory to really expose the disturbing truths of the toll of vindictiveness in a way that can be fun, silly (as this show absolutely is) but also even more disturbing and insightful into the human condition. I loved the cat puppet. I wanted more quirky moments like that sprinkled throughout.
TWISI RATING: 
Human Weakness plays at the Bus Stop Theatre (2203 Gottingen Street) as part of the Atlantic Fringe Festival at the following times:
Saturday Sept 7th at 6:00pm
Sunday Sept 8th at 6:00pm
Tickets are $7.00 and are available in advance online at this website or 30 minutes before each show at the venue on the day of the performance. All tickets bought in person must be purchased with either cash or credit. For more information please visit this website or call 902.422.7604 between 10:00am and 5:00pm.
