Review: UNLUCKY ME, Bread and Roses Theatre

Photo credit: Georgina Nethercott Akers

There’s clearly a meaningful story at the heart of Unlucky Me, and we respect any company putting new work on its feet. But in its current form, this show feels undercooked.

The play follows Lucky Flynn, played by Jayden Crawford, a man reeling from a string of misfortunes after his brother’s murder, who must lean on his sister and girlfriend while confronting past mistakes and avoiding a lingering figure from his past in his struggle to find a way forward.

The biggest issue is urgency, especially in the climax. Moments that should feel dangerous or emotionally charged just don’t land. In one scene, a character is captured and taken as a prisoner, only to immediately stand up and have a long, calm conversation with their captor. That kind of staging drains the tension rather than building it.

There are also a few times where we found ourselves wondering if a line had been dropped, which pulled us out of the story. Some of the dialogue feels circular, particularly when the fourth wall is broken for a handful of lines that doesn’t add much. If an actor is going to disrupt the world of the play, it needs to serve a clear purpose. Here, it feels unnecessary.

The final three scenes repeat the message in a way that feels like over-explaining instead of trusting that an audience understands what they’ve seen without spelling it out again and again.

The play, directed by Kym Nash, who also acts in it, would really benefit from an external eye, someone to tighten the structure, sharpen the stakes, and help steer the ship. Quick fixes would also go a long way. Tightening transitions, for example, and simply waiting for the blackout before exiting so scenes don’t feel dropped. With such a minimal set, it might even be more effective to shift a chair or adjust the space in full view rather than relying on repeated dark transitions, which end up slowing the pace instead of supporting it.

There’s potential in Unlucky Me, and some committed performances, the main standout being Emily Serdahl as Jane who is the only one with truly like she had something to lose, but right now, it lacks the clarity and momentum it needs to fully connect.

With more development, it could be much stronger. As it stands, it’s a work in progress.

** Two stars

Reviewed by: Beatriz Ferreira