- Metanoia Theatre Co.
Parasocial follows two popular video game streamers, Mia and Zach, as they navigate the ups and downs of streaming life. In an attempt to amass more followers, Mia joins Zach’s stream but soon begins to notice unsettling behaviour from a seemingly devoted fan. Someone who acts like they know her, comments on her personal life, and even learns where she works. At first, she brushes it off as harmless, but the obsession deepens and the stalker’s actions grow more intrusive.
Parasocial explores online privacy, vulnerability and the dark side of being an internet personality, highlighting how the blurred lines between public persona and personal life can have devastating consequences.
While the premise of this show sounds promising, I found the writing and acting fell very flat. I know this is an incredibly important message in 2025, but it felt more like a skit presented in a public school trying to appeal to the young crowd – stretched out to nearly 40 minutes. The nerves and jitters of the actors was palpable, and I was left a bit puzzled at what the playwright was saying with this piece. I would say pass on this one, if you were considering it.
A really good show! Both of the performers were fantastic! The story was nice modern tale with a modern message which was brought to life elegantly. Highly recommend.
As a gamer mom who attend with my teen gamer girls, this show resonated with all of us. The messaging here is very relevant to the current landscape of online gaming. That said, you don’t need to be a gamer here to appreciate and echo the message. Online privacy and understanding the risks with sharing personal informal no matter how trivial is very important. Most especially for our youth who have grown up with the internet being a regular part of their daily lives. Highly recommend this show. Writer and actors all did a phenomenal job.
A compelling piece of theatre for the modern age! I loved the journey these performers took me on, supported impeccably by audio/visual magic. A beautifully designed, well written & poignant piece.
Metanoia, you nailed it. The message came through loud and clear.
Another great play by Rebecca Driedger! A very well written portrayal of the dangers of being a public figure online with very relevant commentary. The actors were amazing and had great on-stage chemistry. The graphics were also amazing!
The performances are great, both actors bring depth and realism to their roles, with impeccable timing that heightens the tension throughout. Their chemistry feels natural, making the play’s emotional shifts all the more impactful.
A thought provoking piece, Parasocial powerfully explores the blurred lines between public and private life in the digital age.
The show had a great story line that touches upon the dangers of the streaming world – also the actors really sold the message. I am not a gamer or someone that engages with streaming but it had me hooked!
I love video games so this was a great choice for me. It was also wonderful for my friend who doesn’t game at all. It doesn’t feel like it is written exclusively for a gamer audience, which made it super accessible.
A good story and a great message, will definitely try to see again!