Theatre review: Me Love BINGO!: Best in Snow is fun and games with a message, but its story lags
Audience participates in real BINGO, with special guests, puppets, and prizes
Kyle Loven in Me Love BINGO!: Best in Snow. Photo by Moonrider Productions
The Arts Club presents Me Love BINGO!: Best in Snow at the Newmont Stage at the BMO Theatre Centre until January 1
ME LOVE BINGO!: Best in Snow is a well-intentioned commentary on self-acceptance and diversity, written, directed, and starring queer artist Kyle Loven. The twist here is that the show is disguised as a BINGO game and quirky holiday variety show. There’s inventiveness here and lovely heart in the production’s message. However, the show lags, and it could use further development and polish in merging its messaging and concept together.
The premise is a lot of fun. Audiences are handed a BINGO card when they enter the auditorium of the Newmont Stage at the BMO Theatre Centre, which has been transformed into a festive hall. Set designer Ted Roberts has done a wonderful job creating an intentionally over-the-top, holiday BINGO land, with giant Christmas gift-shaped lights hanging from the ceiling, a sparkly onstage show curtain with large stage lights adorning the proscenium, and twinkly lights wrapped around microphone stands. Audiences on the main floor get to sit at either long communal tables, or at smaller tables at the very front. Even before the show starts, there’s fun-filled excitement in the air, with audience members interacting with each other, and Loven and his assistant, the lovely Leslie Dos Remedios, immersing themselves in the crowd of theatregoers to welcome them.
When the show begins, we find ourselves in an actual BINGO game. Loven calls the numbers and Dos Remedios assists while lighting up the room up with her wonderfully warm personality. Throughout the evening, there are numerous rounds of BINGO (I counted four on opening night), as well as some fun game show-inspired audience challenges. And there are prizes too! As the game proceeds, there's a festive, supportive atmosphere, with audience members cheering for one other.
Along the way, we realize we’re actually watching a story unfold onstage. Loven is adept at subtly interjecting plot elements from the start of the presentation, with all of them coming into play later in the night. Along the way, there are some quirky surprise elements during the show, such as special guests (usually puppets).
The show is inventive, however, the Loven could flesh out his story more fully. There could be more setup before we get to the heart of it: him trying to overcome a personal struggle with mental health and self-worth. That’s undoubtedly an important topic that many of us can relate to—but as part of this, Loven can come across as introverted. As a result, there's a lack of connection with the audience, who are ready to support and cheer for him. Elsewhere, Dos Remedios shares a couple of touching personal stories that really engage.
The pacing of the show also drags. Perhaps it could do with fewer surprise guests, and some tightening up into a single act. The first act has moments of upbeat fun, but there are also a few times where awkward pauses interrupt the rhythm.
Still, there are some compelling messages here—especially the ones around how brutal the holidays can be for queer kids. Throughout the show, in between the games and puppet appearances, Loven discusses how the holidays are traditionally a time where stereotypical, idealized visions of society are blasted everywhere, and for many people who don't see themselves represented in those pictures, it can be disheartening. Loven should be applauded for his advocacy in making the holidays a festive time where everyone has a seat at the table.
What Loven has done with Me Love BINGO! is well-intentioned, inventive, and unique. Now that the structure is there, it would be great to see him connect with the audience more, and tighten up and polish the show to really make it shine.
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