Whether you’ve used dating sites like Lavalife, Plenty of Fish, or are currently perusing a dating app called Tinder, you’ll know that dating is not always smooth sailing. 'Adventures in Dating' is a rip-roaring romantic comedy by Rob Tymec that takes dating to a whole new level of crazy, with only two actors (played brilliantly by Rob Tymec and Teagan Smallhorn) portraying over 20 characters between them.
We caught the show on Saturday night (May 11) at Windsor’s Shadowbox Theatre.
There will always be winners and losers, and sadly Jeff is on a pretty consistent losing streak going on first dates with women who might have been left too long on the crazy train. His choice of restaurant remains the same each time, and so when each date goes badly, he can still frequent other restaurants without the bad memories attached. What an optimist! While dealing with dates ranging from a chatty Cathy and an OCD-er to an aggressive feminist who literally knocks him off his feet, Jeff still musters the strength to get through these dates and plot his next one.
Jeff’s salvation throughout these dates is often his waitress hero, Jen. She comes to his rescue a handful of times with words of encouragement and slivers of wisdom. Their bond begins to deepen with each date under his belt. She brings to the table a whole new perspective, as well as a red tablecloth. However, she’s also mending a broken heart and jumps on the bandwagon of serial dating. Tables are turned (rather switched to blue this time), as she reminisces about her “first” date experiences. Her luck is just as bad as Jeff’s, dealing with a gym rat hopped up on protein shakes to a sci-fi geek who is outraged at Jen’s comment of mistaking Star Trek with Doctor Who.
The characters are engaging, funny, and downright quirky. Rob and Teagan are so impressive transitioning from one character to the next. The chemistry together on stage is wonderful, and unless you have been blessed with only amazing dating experiences, the play is quite relatable. It personally felt at times that I was reliving my past dating life.
You can catch 'Adventures in Dating' at the Shadowbox Theatre here in Windsor, ON.
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