Identity Crisis Revival Hopes to be a Darkly Comic Existential Journey of Self Discovery

By Ezekiel McAdams

June 12 2024

Saskatoon actor and clown, Alyssa Billingsley is revamping and mounting a second iteration of her previous Fringe play, from her company Prizm Productions. Identity Crisis that originally premiered at the Saskatoon Fringe Festival in summer of 2022.

This current iteration will be performed at the Winnipeg Fringe Festival from July 17-28 and the Edmonton Fringe Festival from August 15-25th 2024.

Identity Crisis focuses on Gemini, a virtual pet and is a darkly comic, piece of experimental theatre that is about an existential journey of self discovery.

Billingsley is a graduate of Grant MacEwan University’s Theatre Arts program. She also trained at L’École de Clown et Comédie Physique as well as the Pochincho Clown style with John Turner. Turner was previously at Manitoulin Conservatory of Creation and Performance and now One North Clown and Creation.

Billingsley recently performed as Flotsam in Persephone Theatre’s production of Disney’s The Little Mermaid which closed the 49th season.

The initial idea behind Identity Crisis came to Billingsley during the COVID pandemic and lockdown. “I had already wanted to do a solo show and an independent work before Covid but it was the catalyst that stopped me from constantly auditioning for things and start focus on my creating my own stuff and I did two digital cabarets from where I’m living” she said.

However. it was an earlier interaction and recommendation from a Grant MacEwan classmate that stuck with Billingsley. “Honestly the original inspiration came way back when I went out of theatre school and I didn’t have any monologues and I was really struggling had problems finding monologues for shows and my friend, Amanda, who was my theatre school classmate who has great director and artistic instincts handed me The Pochsy Plays by Karen Hines and she said ‘I think you would resonate with this.’ and it was the beginning of the end.” Billingsley laughs.

Karen Hines is an actor, director that has been associated with directing the clown duo, Mump and Smoot as well as her own company, Pochsy Productions.

One of the styles that Billingsley borrowed elements from is, Neo buffon, which is originally based on the teachings of a clown, Gaulier, “There are iterations that can be abelist and problematic but basically it’s a character with a point to make and deliver but is also charming and sweet.” Billingsley explains.“For those people that know Pochsy well, what I’m doing is so very different but that’s the original inspiration.” She continued.

Billingsley is excited to revisit this production as she felt it wasn’t quite finished. “The show didn’t felt finished to me, it was unclear, there were many narratives happening, so I feel that the show’s message could be clearer. But I‘m so very proud of what I created honestly, that was my first solo, independent live show at the Fringe. I had great collaborators but it was very complex and confusing to write an abstract piece and I’m not usually super abstract, I’m very physical comedy, just ad lib with the audience but there’s an aspect of the show that really requires precision and clarity and that’s a part I really wanted to try to lift out.” she said.

While more confident about the vision of this iteration, Billingsley wishes to have a director on the upcoming Fringe tours. “I don’t really have a director and actors want directors. I desperately want a director. I used Kenn McLeod’s direction, he directed me the first time and I had dramaturgy from Charlie Peters this time.” she said.

Identity Crisis can be been seen at the Winnipeg Fringe Festival from the dates of July 17-28 as well as the Edmonton Fringe Festival from August 15-25th. Tickets can be bought online here for Winnipeg Fringe Festival or here for Edmonton Fringe Festival or at the venues.

“If you like dark comedy, physical comedy, astrology, if you like any one of those things, this show will likely or hopefully appeal to you. I’m hoping people will have a wild theatre experience.”