We all learn that the way to balance on a bike is to keep moving when the training wheels come off. But when the wobbles send you crashing down, what if you couldn’t climb back in the saddle? And do you have the feeling of pedaling furiously but staying put?  Courier is a curious mix of clever comedy and a surgical stab into mental stability.

On the surface the mission seems straightforward: deliver the food to said address. It is a real treat to watch Piers MacKenzie take this scintillating script and perform all the multiple characters, slipping between them with delightful ease. That is, until they begin to appear as themselves. And each of them has a different story to tell than the ones we heard from him.

If this sounds confusing, the set-up is strong enough to handle the multiple realities and multidimensional time zones that are woven together in this fascinating show. But then that foundation is called into question too. The challenge is to decide who is telling the truth, and who is being delusional. Or are there many truths existing alongside each other?

Iconic characters like Santa and Jesus Christ get referenced and keep cropping up. Piers plays the female characters with such consummate skill they are both hilarious and mesmerizing. His banter with the six-year-old – also excellently played of course by him -reveals some childhood traumas that may underpin some of the action in other scenes.

The themes of insecurity and loneliness, isolation and disconnection are currently our most critical issues, and this show shines a spotlight into dark corners of our human psyche. But Piers professionalism guarantees a safe ride. When we take some unexpected turns down unfamiliar streets, or even get lost, he assures that we will stay balanced and keep moving relentlessly on.

Poignant, powerful and perfectly crafted, like the best theatre this story reflects to each of us just what we need to see. It holds a mirror up, and we also feel like we are looking through the looking glass into some private lives that are super ordinary. By telling his tale with such witty, compelling personal detail we gain a glimpse of the universal traits that we all have in common. It’s a major achievement to help us realize we share so much. I recommend ‘Courier’ as an essential Fringe ’25 experience.