Review by Greg Gorton
Annalise Knight, despite her young age, has certainly experienced the rollercoaster of life. She reached the heights of the peaks of snow slopes, and the lows of traumatic brain injury. She discovered a new passion during a moment of ennui, and the darkness of medical misdiagnosis when she knew something was terribly wrong. Ultimately, though, Knight has found a strength she wasn’t sure she had to begin with, and wants to share that strength with us.
The opening of The White Powder That Changed My Life is one of the funniest little comedy cabaret moments I have experienced. Even though every element of it was signposted, the jubilant performance that had a slight element of cheekiness made it impossible not to smile at Knight’s enthusiasm. By the end of the first “act” of this production we are fully along with her and her love for snow (no, not that snow, the real stuff).
That’s why the turn is so powerful. In an instant, the production is not so much about joy as about fear and pain. It’s about a serious medical issue and how it permanently affects your life. The change in tone hits hard, and is extremely effective. White Powder turns more into an informative show, a mini-lecture almost, about post-concussive syndrome and how it can change a lift.
That’s not to say the show becomes dull in its darkness, however. While Knight’s explanations are a little dry, and it does go on a little before the next moments of optimism, even her “lecture” is one full of optimism - Knight is positive that she is getting the word out in the best way possible. Considering how much I still remember about it all, I think she might be right.
Being a musical theatre nerd, Knight fills the show with her own takes on pop and musical numbers, some of which are quite hilarious. I could fully imagine her leaning more into these for future shows, and even incorporating them further into the more educational aspects of the production. While I am no musical expert, and cannot speak to her prowess, I can say my toes were tapping with every beat, and I was happily joining along during the low-pressure audience participation moments.
Over the years I’ve seen a lot of shows that centre on the performer’s illness, accident, or other physical trauma. And I mean a lot. Most fall flat, due to little entertainment, too depressing a presentation of the topic, and resolutions that offer no hope. Annalise Knight bucks this trend in a spectacular way. This is a show about gritty determination and optimism. It’s a show that teaches us that trauma isn’t the last step in life, just one of many stumbling blocks we face but can get up from. It isn’t a show where you cry about a traumatic event, but cheer for the comedian who won’t let it stop them.
If you want more optimism, and some very fun takes on songs you know and love, definitely go see The White Powder That Changed My Life.
