‘It’s Okay, I’m Dealing With It’ explores the highs and lows of experiencing vulnerability in a way that will leave you teary eyed, with a face aching from laughter. We were introduced to Chess and Cristina on a brightly lit stage, where they tell us through voice, dance and song an incredibly relatable list of pointers on how to be more ‘okay’. This not only made my cheeks hurt from laughing in the first 10 minutes, but also highlighted how silly these small routines or ‘treats’ we give ourselves can seem in the face of bigger problems.

Life is often described as a roller coaster ride, but I felt as though Chess and Cristina led us more gently through an ‘It’s a Small World’ style tour of responses to vulnerability. It was as if the audience was a fly on the wall, seeing and feeling the ups and downs in someone’s life unfold. Each section flowed so seamlessly that I was caught off guard by sudden sadness and stories that reminded me of personal experiences, only to be lifted again in no time by the pair’s perfect comedic timing. The journey was truly relatable in a way that had everybody in the audience laughing, gasping or applauding in response to the parts resonated with them most. This was not only hugely entertaining in itself, but also makes you realise that you are in fact not alone in these ridiculous scenarios in life.

I found it really refreshing to see two clearly beautifully trained dancers use their skills not to show off how great they were, but to make an audience really feel something. A solo with water like fluidity so clearly demonstrated the feeling of being exposed, and the pair’s expression of emotion through their body as well as their faces were so authentic that you could feel them yourself.

The most moving aspect of the entire piece for me was the honesty. There wasn’t a trace of ego; the presence of the pair on stage was real, pure and unapologetic. I’m sure that it was for this exact reason that the whole audience was totally rooting for them, how often does a show have everyone dancing together by the end?

Top Image: The Hiccup Project