Kristen Schaal's Audacious Act: Horse, Unicorn, Swan Lake

Kristen Schaal, known for her past fringe comedy work, is now performing as Crystal Shell, a character who is half-horse and half-woman. This character harbors a deep desire to become a unicorn and perform Tchaikovsky's Swan Lake. The production, a two-hander with John Roberts, presents a narrative that is both endearing and perplexing, reminiscent of a child's imaginative play.

Crystal's journey begins confined within a cardboard horsebox, shyly introducing herself and her unusual origin story—the offspring of a human mother and a stallion named Shimmer. The act includes reciting non-sequitur poems and attempting to catch fairies. A pivotal moment arrives with the appearance of Crystal's father, played by Roberts, which adds another dynamic to the unfolding story.

The performance, while audaciously random in its narrative, offers subtle suggestions of Crystal's late blooming as a metaphor for personal growth or even menopause. Ultimately, the show provides little direct illumination but abundant sparkle, as Schaal's alter ego grows her own unicorn horn, leaving a past of timidity behind her and showcasing Schaal's signature idiosyncratic comedic style.