Philip Sawaia reviews Gada Jane’s Becoming Psychic at Montréal Fringe 2026 — the rare psychic story told by someone actually asking whether she’s psychic. Curious, skeptical, and humane; the text still deserves a review or two.
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A three-star review of Gada Jane’s Becoming Psychic at Montréal Fringe 2026 — the real definition of a Fringe show, and a psychic story told by someone actually asking whether she’s psychic.
Whether you’re a believer in the supernatural and spirits, or not, this show definitely has a little bit of everything for everyone!
Becoming Psychic is the real definition of a Fringe show: it has one chair, some very simple projections, and one person on stage. Very simply put, it is based on the real life of Gada Jane, as she discovers she has psychic abilities when she first starts talking to statues in a church. Jane walks us through every step: from researching what is happening to her, to meeting with other psychics, to finally practicing her newly acquired skills… and seeing that it actually works! Whether you believe her or not by the end of the show is completely up to you, but one thing is for sure: after listening to Jane, you will forever wonder.
While we are used to the stereotypical stories of psychics and mediums who are always so certain about their destiny and so full of ego, Gada Jane approaches the subject in a way that feels refreshing and new: with a lot of curiosity and skepticism! She touches on the subject of mental health and psychosis in a very delicate way, reassuring the audience that she really did think about all the possibilities. Her humanity really showed through her words.
Gada Jane has a very natural pacing, and watching her perform feels like hearing a friend tell a story at a party. However, that can also be an indication of an immature actor, or a lack of proper training. The show, while talking about a situation that might feel distressing, feels very light, and the text has lots of opportunity for humour. Whether those jokes land or not will depend on who is watching. The information given to us was very scattered, and went back and forth quite often. The text also deserved a review or two in order to truly polish the extra side stories, the details about her life, and even the jokes themselves.
Audience participation is a lot of audiences’ worst nightmare (mine included), but when Jane asks us to join in, it is merely a suggestion. Her audience participation shows up in short meditations, which feel very well placed in the show, and are very welcome. After all, every theatre person knows the importance of a collective breath!
Overall, Gada Jane gave us a great performance with wonderful pacing that felt natural. She has a great stage presence, but the actual text could have used some polishing, especially when giving details or inserting one too many jokes in the same part. I am beyond excited to see her on stage again and follow her growth as an artist!
Becoming Psychic — Montréal Fringe 2026
Created and performed by Gada Jane
Reviewed by Philip Sawaia
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