Vancouver Fringe Fest review: There’s poignancy in My Aim Is True's relationships

Alison is 18. Her mom, Olivia, refuses to get treatment for her recently diagnosed cancer. Her new boyfriend, Jack, is selflessly devoted, but mom doesn’t like him. There’s poignancy in the relationships, but since there’s no clear dramatic arc, it’s hard to get invested in the story. Playwright Meghan Bell weaves some clever songs (with music by Chris Ho) and an interesting exegesis of Elvis Costello’s “Alison” into the script, which helps to leaven its bleakness somewhat, but we could use a bit more comic relief, like when the habitually acid-bitter Olivia peels herself off the couch to belt out a song about her dreams of dancing with Harrison Ford.

At the Revue Stage on September 7 (5 p.m.), 9 (7:15 p.m.), 10 (5:15 p.m.), 12 (10:05 p.m.), 14 (8:15 p.m.), and 15 (2 p.m.).