Rory Ledbetter had a gambling problem. And A Mind Full of Dopamine is his account of it, complete with a harmonica to break up the scenes.
Ledbetter worked at a coffee shop, slinging java by day and playing high stakes poker games by night. He takes the audience through the first time he goes to a casino and wins big. It’s just him and his harmonica, the only set on stage is a chair. Ledbetter leads you through, from the sound of the clinking chips and the snap of the cards. He takes you by the hand through his addiction, where all he wants is to have that rush just one more time.
If you aren’t as familiar with poker hands, this performance may be a little harder to follow, but you will by no means be lost. Ledbetter is has a strong voice throughout the narrative and breaks it up with sweet sounds of the harmonica. A Mind Full of Dopamine is a bit of a hard story to go through because it is hard to go through the dark recesses of addiction with Ledbetter. But it’s a journey worth taking.
A Mind Full of Dopamine is part of the Calgary Fringe Festival. There are 4 more chances to see it. More information is available online.