Beth & Josie: Exposed, at the 2025 Edmonton International Fringe Theatre Festival. Photo by Yours Truly Reviews and recommendations are unbiased and products are independently selected. Postmedia may earn an affiliate commission from purchases made through links on this page.
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Stage 16 Sue Paterson Theatre at Campus Saint-Jean (8406 91 Ave.)
Group therapy would be the two-word review of this wonderfully nurturing, Deep South rover sharing of stories magnificently hosted by the magnetic trans performer Josie Ivy Nixon, aka JUICE the Trauma Clown.
Before you even roll in and here Im asking you to be real in advance youre given the opportunity to write down a dark secret about yourself. Mine was the rather lame and slightly burned-out I enjoy reviewing bad plays more than good ones, which withered within audience confessions of familial disconnection and even apathy about others dying, each note given a considered and often hilarious response by the emcee.
I do not believe therapists should be the only ones to be able to capitalise on our trauma, JUICE joked, later noting, I am not your therapist; I am your community.
The Trauma Clown would have been enough for a whole hour, but the shows format is more complex.
With a rotating opening act in this case self-effacing Orlandoan Bobby Wesley telling a relatable tale of clumsy and emotionally scarring virginity loss headliner Beth Marshall unfurls her own origin story of dating a Black football player in high school in a nest of 80s racism that would have felt hyperbolic before the tiring era of Trump or as JUICE calls the great divider, Mango Mussolini.
I wont spoil anything more save that the host is absolutely right in everything they said, most especially that we need to stick together and that showing up for your friends is supposed to be fing hard.
If youre feeling a little isolated in the addictive screen-glow of a post-congregation world, lord do I recommend this confessional for you.
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