REVIEW: Can’t Talk Right Now - An Ordinary Hour, Extraordinary Weight

©️Can't Talk Right Now Production, Photo by Echo

If you had just one hour before a possible life-changing verdict, where would your mind wander? Can’t Talk Right Now takes on this fragile premise as Aggy waits for her medical results. In that suspended hour, she talks to her boyfriend, scrolls on her phone, imagines her stories, and wonders how she might live if given only six more weeks.

As a sing-through musical, the piece demands strong vocals, precision, and emotional range. Jen Cassidy rises to this challenge with a performance that is both committed and nuanced. Some of the higher notes sounded dry at times, but the overall consistency across an unbroken hour of music was deeply impressive.

Written by Molly O’Gorman, the lyrics are the heartbeat of the show. Carefully rhymed and brimming with observational wit, they balance humour and fragility with ease. There are moments that make the audience laugh in recognition, before sliding back into poignancy.

Storytelling-wise, this sing-through musical flows naturally as one piece. At times, a subtle reminder on the hospital setting could heighten the tension, gently guiding the audience back to the stakes and keeping the narrative thread even more focused.

The staging consists of a landscape of white pillows, white foams, and blank pages, creating a world that is tender and fragile. It mirrors the delicacy of Aggy’s situation: an ordinary young woman facing extraordinary uncertainty.

Lighting, designed by Xuan Ge, follows her emotions closely, elaborates on each stage of her mind. When technical condition allows, a gentler hand might serve the story better - slower fades and softer hues could let the audience sit longer with her hesitation and fear.

Ultimately, Can’t Talk Right Now is a tender reflection on life, hope, and uncertainty. As we follow Aggy through moments of fear, fleeting hope, and determination, we are reminded that even in ordinary lives, the most fragile hours can hold an extraordinary weight.

★★★★

https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/can-t-talk-right-now

Credits:

Cast: Jen Cassidy
Director: Tabitha Gibb
Producer: Sijia Li, Molly O’Gorman
Composer & Lyrics: Molly O’Gorman
Lighting designer: Xuan Ge
Set designer: Kiera Tzu-Chi Huang
Design&Socials: Ieva Wade