Toronto Fringe Review: Crosstown

It’s not every day that one gets to experience a one-man show where every character is fully fledged out and palpable, but that is just one of the many wonderful things about the strong performance Anand Rajaram gave in Crosstown. An adaptation of the novel Crosstown by Richard Scrimger, the eponymously named show made its world premiere on July 5th at the Tarragon Theatre. 

The play, set in Toronto, features a plethora of characters ranging in ages, genders and accents (West Indian, German and Scottish, to name a few) that Rajaram seamlessly weaved in and out of, from one line to the next, while having each voice be distinct. To have the dialogue be clear, without the vast array of roles overlapping or blending in a disorderly fashion really aided in avoiding any confusion on the audience’s part. The masterful skill with which Rajaram was able to move from one character to the next, separating not only the differences in voice, but also mannerisms and quirks, was truly great to behold. His command over the characters willed them to come to life, which made painting of the various scenes so vivid. The audience could not help but to be fully engrossed in the stories that we were privy to for 85 minutes. 

Speaking on serious subject matter like abortion, the class disparity in Toronto, treatment of Canadian Indigenous peoples, substance abuse issues, racism, displacement, the unhoused crisis, gun violence and more, the atmosphere in the room and way in which the material was presented and subsequently received could have been heavy. However, Rajaram’s earnest delivery and means of conveying several precarious situations at hand rendered the content digestible and not overwhelming. While the show is billed as a drama (and undeniably is), there are comedic elements that serve in keeping the overall tone not as dark as it may seem. This is in part due to the writing, but also The Second City alum’s clear skill in storytelling and acting that allow the humour to not feel misplaced or alien to the scene, but instead welcomed and cohesive with the whole. Rajaram’s execution enables the viewer to see a character’s circumstances from different perspectives and consider how these individuals are representative of people encountered daily, known and unknown. 

The similarities and juxtapositions between the sets of stories begets greater contemplation of the message(s) one may take from the play. How we view the aforementioned subject matter, the varying relationships we have with one another and the land on which we live, questions of self, one’s life path, how we respond to others, and the hidden things that we have in common with others are just some of the thoughts that may emerge as a result of encountering such a powerful play. Not only will you be highly entertained by Rajaram’s performance, but the feelings and thoughts that arise by being present will implore you to reflect both inwardly and outwardly – a true success.

Crosstown was performed July 5-14 at the Toronto Fringe Festival.