Have you ever had a moment in your life that was so traumatic you wish you could forget? Or have you ever tried to recall a great memory but couldn’t remember all the details? Through fascinating multimedia, strong performance and versatile movement, Sook-Yin Lee and Benjamin Kamino explore these questions of remembering and forgetting as they bare it all in the SummerWorks show, How Can I Forget?.

Imagine entering someone’s mind. What would it look like and how would it feel? You’d likely see the person’s thoughts, memories, events and emotions. There may be some chaos and confusion initially, but once it was sorted out, you may become intrigued and slowly begin to relate to the person’s inner chaos and turmoil. That is how I can best describe watching How Can I Forget?.  Initially confused by the mishmash of events that were thrown at me, yet eventually feeling deeply intrigued and engaged by what I was watching. I was mesmerized by the savvy use of multimedia, the haunting shadows and the performances by Sook-Yin Lee and Benjamin Kamino.

The moment things began to make a little more sense for me was when the dialogue began and we were taken back to when Sook-Yin Lee was six-years old walking by herself in the Circus Circus casino in Las Vegas. I could personally relate to this part of the story as I too was six years old when I went to Circus Circus and I remember it fondly for its lively shows! At this point, Lee is taking us back into some of her good and not-so-good memories. As this is happening, co-star Benjamin Kamino goes into repetitive movement and displays great athleticism.

As the show progressed, there were some endearing and compelling moments between Kamino and Lee. Though it was sometimes hard to tell what kind of relationship they were in, the connection they had on stage was believable, honest and strong. The final touches to the show included a candid interview between Lee and Kamino and an enjoyable dance routine. Both were definite unexpected highlights.

There were many little surprises in How Can I Forget?. It is a thought-provoking concept developed by Sook-Yin Lee that will leave you mulling over some of the material you’ve just watched. If you are looking for something unique and entertaining at this year’s SummerWorks festival, then check out How Can I Forget?.

Details:

• How Can I Forget? is playing at the Lower Ossington Theatre.
• Show Times: Saturday August 10, 10:00 pm; Sunday August 11, 2:30 pm; Thursday August 15, 10:00 pm
• All individual SummerWorks tickets are $15 at the door (cash only).
• Tickets are available online, by phone at 416-915-6747 and at the Lower Ossington Box Office (100A Ossington Avenue, first floor) Aug. 6-18 10AM-7PM (Advance tickets are $15 + service fee)
• Several money-saving passes are available if you plan to see at least 3 shows