Philip Sawaia reviews Marshall Kahente Diabo’s Dolycule (directed by Bri Bedard) at Mile End Improv Theatre for Montréal Fringe 2026 — a dance solo about polyamory, told through three sheddings: the white gown, the clown pants, and the body itself.
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A four-star review of Marshall Kahente Diabo’s Dolycule at Mile End Improv Theatre, Montréal Fringe 2026 — a dance solo about polyamory, told in three sheddings and one closing tableau.
Marshall Kahente Diabo, Kanien’kehá:ka from Kahnawà:ke. Child of Barbara Kaneratonni Diabo, the choreographer with twenty-five years’ international practice, with whom Marshall has shared stage since childhood. Hoop dance, the tradition they carry, holds several bodies inside one at once: butterfly, eagle, flower, all in linked hoops. The show’s marketing asks tag yourself, which one are you? Are you all of them?? Philip reads it as polyamory. The other reading is available and does not cancel his.
Ed. A.W.
One thing that usually goes completely missed in my Fringe programme is a dance show. This year, I decided to change that. I made my way to the Mile End Improv Theatre to watch Dolycule, performed by Marshall Kahente Diabo and directed by Bri Bedard.
On stage, we find Marshall in a beautiful white gown that covers his entire body. He starts by making it look proper, almost perfect. He is graceful in his movements. Soft, sensitive. He reminds me of a ballerina in a music box.
Slowly, he starts to shed the gown, almost like a snake shedding its skin. Underneath the white gown is a completely colourful pair of pants. They could remind you of clown pants. In complete control of his body, and still in complete grace, his movements remind me of someone who is largely intoxicated after a night out.
Suddenly, he sheds another layer! He is in underwear. Vulnerable. There is nowhere else to hide. He lies down between two people. His two lovers?
Was all of that real? Were these the internal thoughts of the last figure lying in bed?
In the show, Diabo presents us with some possibilities of a polyamorous life. Polyamory is a complex conversation, and Marshall manages to depict very clear images of what it means to him, what he might want it to look like, or what it currently looks like. At the same time, he challenges the audience to think about how we are more alike than we think, monogamous or not. Whether we have one partner or four, relationship struggles are all the same.
The performer surprised me with how much ease he has in such different styles. Marshall is a multi-skilled dancer. He has the softness and sensitivity for slower and more fluid styles, while also having the determination for high-energy performances. One thing is for certain: no matter the style that was chosen, you could always feel the emotions conveyed by Diabo. The use of the lights gave us some clues about the intended emotions.
If you are anything like me and you tend to skip over dance shows, I urge you to change that! There is so much that can be said without words. All we need to do is attend a Fringe show to see it.
Maybe queer polyamory is for the faint of heart. For the emotional. For the deeply loving. For messy, experimental connection. A porcelain doll cracks under pressure. A clown doll’s too colourful to care. A ragdoll rips at the seams. Tag yourself, which one are you? Are you all of them??
Peut-être que le polyamour queer est fait pour les âmes sensibles. Pour les émotifs. Pour les amoureux profonds. Pour des connexions expérimentales. Une poupée de porcelaine se brise sous la pression. Une poupée clown, trop colorée pour s’en soucier. Une poupée de chiffon se déchire aux coutures. Laquelle êtes-vous? Les êtes-vous toutes??
Ce spectacle sera seulement présenté en anglais. | This show is presented in English only.
Chorégraphe et interprète | Choreographer and performer Marshall Kahente Diabo (they/them)
Metteur.euse en scène | Director Bri Bedard
Concepteur.trice.s | Designers Evan Sherwood, Riley Montminy-Tustin
Assistant.e des costume | Costume assistant Mathilda Johnson
Instagram @marshdiabo
Retardataires | Latecomers Non | No
Langue | Language Non-verbal
Venue Theatre VME / Mile End Improv
5337 Boul. Saint-Laurent, Montréal, QC H2T 1S5
Reviewed by Philip Sawaia.
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