Diane Flacks is once again on the Tarragon Theatre stage with her fifth solo show. Delving into everything from religion to relationships, drinking and drama, Guilt (A Love Story) takes it all on. Directed by Alisa Palmer, this incredibly compassionate look at the human condition, as told through Flacks’ experiences, is instantly recognizable and relatable, wrapped up in plenty of laughs.

With Guilt (A Love Story), Flacks primarily opens up about her divorce from her partner and the crushing guilt that came along with it. Taking us from the early days, through to the birth of their children, and finally to their separation, Flacks divulges these stories with an honesty and humour. Flacks adds little vignettes of certain situations to help drive her point home, like the post-natal yoga class, or becoming the raccoon she feels is trapped in her chest. Her text is also full of pop-culture references including TikTok dances, Seinfeld, and my absolute fave, RuPaul’s Drag Race. They add a degree of levity while providing a common touchstone to the deeply personal issues she’s discussing.

Despite the fact that the experiences Flacks is telling us about are uniquely her own, the material is extremely relatable. I found myself nodding along in agreement several many times, and it’s always comforting to know that you’re not alone in your emotional experiences. Because the whole show is direct address, it allows for the right degree of intimacy, but also invites us to relate to Flacks on an emotional level.

At first I wasn’t sure what the set design represented; I was unsure why she was going to be playing in a sandbox along with a mic stand, traffic cone, and caution tape. But her mention of building a house on a bed of sand suddenly made the whole thing make sense! Jung-Hye Kim’s design is full of little surprises which Flacks reveals as the play goes on, and visually embodies the feelings she working through. Leigh Ann Vardy’s lighting design paired with Deanna H. Choi’s sound design allow for clear delineation between the parts of Flacks’ story as well as adding to the aesthetic of her inner turmoils.

Flacks gives an engaging, passionate, and nuanced performance in this incredible solo show. Her stamina is amazing; throughout the play she’s constantly moving, and her physicality is amazing. She went to get herself a drink of water 3 times, and yet each time she would set it back down, too ready to continue on with her story to stop for a drink. It’s bold to share such intimate stories about your life, and I have to give her so much credit for not only being that vulnerable, but also being able to see the humour in it and bring that to light as well. She is dynamic, fun, and honest, the perfect combo for a solo show like Guilt.

Guilt (A Love Story) is a beautiful exploration of our deepest emotions and how those expectations we put on ourselves can manifest in our lives. Poignant and powerful, Flacks delivers an unforgettable performance. You won’t want to miss this delightful production. For more information and tickets, visit: https://tarragontheatre.com/plays/current-season/guilt-a-love-story/

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Cover photo by Cylla von Tedemann

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