Orlando Fringe 2026 review: ‘With What We Have Left’

With What We Have Left at Orlando Fringe Credit: Courtesy Photo

With What We Have Left turns communication into a game, a challenge, and ultimately a shared act of trust. In this unscripted, totally improvised, solo experiment, the performer (Elaina Alspach) steps onstage with only a loosely guiding framework of the production, a shrinking word count, and the audience as an active collaborator for what will unfold next.

What makes this piece entirely engaging is the deliberate scarcity. The soloist has a very limited word allowance that goes down on a ticker in audience view with every word she says. This makes the audience interaction just that much more interesting. With the limited speech and the physical obstacles preventing communication, the performance becomes more inventive, relying on the audience to read out scripts, pantomime and clever workarounds. I felt that the point of this performance was a reminder to be intentional of what you say.

The result is funny, tender and surprisingly moving. At times it feels like a game of charades, just with higher stakes, landing on the things we wish we could say but never do. Each night’s version of this performance will be different, as it entirely relies on the type of audience engagement it receives. For lovers of interactive and DIY theater, this might be right up your alley.

Very Good Dance Theatre (Davenport, FL)
Green Venue, Orlando Family Stage
60 minutes; 13 and up
Tickets: $15

Subscribe to Orlando Weekly newsletters.