Do not stop. Just go to see Laura Piccinin’s production of GO, a hike full of heart, comedy, and charm

Full disclosure, I do not hike. As a city boy, my version of hiking is walking from Regent Park to Parkdale. However, even I can understand the appeal of hiking. The nature, the views, the accomplishment, the adventure- all the romanticism that’s shattered and exposed to hilarious effect in Laura Piccinin’s solo show about the hike no one asked her to do. Piccinin’s 90 minute exposé of her adventures, hardships, friendships, lessons, and life on a specific east coast hike is layered with vulnerability and quips.

The key highlight is Piccinin herself. She is charming, funny, has great comedic timing, keeps a tight performance, and displays a level of emotional vulnerability that balances out with her quick wit. There are so many small moments that, like a well constructed joke, she hits with pinpoint accuracy not just in writing but also in delivery that allows stories to land with just the right amount of energy. My personal favourite anecdotes revolve around a hypothetical car theft and the inherent trust someone receives when they have a rainbow bracelet.

The text itself has good variety and touches on some deep and honest topics. Topics such as lost friendships, mistreatment of women in medicine, fear, courage, and discouragement. The audience is hard pressed to find at least one topic they do not have a personal connection to. Mine was the topic of doing something just to have the win for you (seriously catch me unhealthily chasing the number 1 leaderboard spot on a Peloton low impact ride. Yes, that is the one where you are not supposed to care about the leaderboard, but in my defence, Golden was playing). The text does tend to drag on at certain points and have story beats that feel repeated in a way that do not feel like new discoveries or changes are being made. In the hands of a performer not as adept or as funny and quick as Piccinin, these dragging moments would feel much more prominent. It does make this critic wonder if this 90 minute show might have some room to get even tighter and remove those dragging moments.

But when you hike it all together (I do not know if that is an actual saying), this story is a great vehicle to display Laura Piccinin’s comedic talent and her effectiveness in taking her personal experiences and translating them to the stage. It is a story about challenge, vulnerability, and learning. The quips come fast, and the comedic moments are hit with pinpoint accuracy. So put on your theatre hiking shoes and go see GO.