Fight or Flight makes its world debut at the Fringe all the way from the United States, offering an immersive, non-linear story that recounts an intimate perspective on the relationship between two trans men in Texas. Running at a compact thirty-five minutes, Fight or Flight is part queer love story, part courtroom drama in which the audience acts as a jury and is given the weight of responsibility for the play’s conclusion. Upon being handed a cream-coloured envelope, I immediately had the sense that this would be no ordinary story, but instead one that would be moulded by my own choices as an audience member.
As the beginnings of the central love story blossomed, the muffled airplane announcements interspersed within the action gave the audience the impression that something indecipherable was lurking behind the unsuspecting meet-cute—a sense of impending doom, whose origin became clearer as the show progressed.
Fight or Flight is written and directed by Alexander “Wilson” Noe, who also stars as one of the two leads, Niro Claudius. Alongside him are Augustus Cessar, played by Eric Griffin, and the omniscient narrator, played by Suzie Brady. Produced by Noe Productions, this show sings with authenticity, ensuring a poignant performance from an ensemble who are passionate about representing trans stories on stage. The narrative focuses on the strained marriage of two men who, despite shared interests and an instant spark, realise over time that their different upbringings and support systems create rifts that cannot be so easily ignored.
Indeed, the central conflict lies not just in the deterioration of a romantic relationship, but also the debilitating effects of transphobia, racism, domestic violence, and the deeply troubling changing political world within the United States. Fight or Flight touches on the many recently passed state and federal bills that have severely threatened the rights of the transgender community not just in the United States, but also globally.
Fight or Flight’s narrative is one forged by topical issues and the struggles of culpability, fate, and blame. This succinct, personal, and moving drama had me itching to go and see it again to see how the characters’ fates may have looked had the audience voted for something different.
Fight or Flight is running until 15 August at theSpace @ Surgeon’s Hall. Buy tickets here.
Image by Noe Productions, provided to The Student as press material.
