500 Nights of Winter is a one-man show by Adelaidian Gene Phoa, which is a sweet and delightful performance that is loosely based on Phoa's romantic adventures while on a student exchange program in Denmark.

An acoustic rom-com that is delivered through the art of spoken word and song, Phoa is natural and candid in his elocution, as he takes his audiences on a poignant journey of experiencing his first love, the moments of frustrations where he realizes that it, indeed, isn't all sunshine and roses when you meet that special someone who gives you butterflies in your tummy, his consequential first heartbreak, the following periods of trepidation, and an eventual chapter of growth and maturity that comes along upon meeting someone new, fresh, and better suited for him.

Phoa balances a mix of linear storytelling with song and was able to match the mood rather effortlessly. There were lots of strong emotions that were narrated to explain the story of his love journey with Winter, in addition to going through his personal journey of self-discovery. The feelings that Phoa experienced from being around Winter were excellently amplified through his guitar and voice, which had pop, rock, and folk vibes. Phoa is able to nail the notes with a passion for music that shines right through his words, his facial expressions, and his ability to bounce between the different genres.

While this performance was about a romantic story with no happy ending, just like the movie, it paved way for a beautiful new beginning that Phoa was able to demonstrate in the form of heartfelt duet with Courteney Hooper, who was able to add a twist of anticipation, hope, and surprise through her sweet-as-nectar voice. It is also quite apparent from the moments of the duet performance about the chemistry that fills the space with an aura of camaraderie, intimacy, and respect that is admirable to watch unfold.

While I opted to watch this from home (which was a wonderful new experience and a fantastic new way to enjoy Fringe from the comfort of your own home), I can only imagine the gorgeous star-studded night that blanketed over the open air theatre by the International Rose Garden in the Botanic Gardens. The ambience of the space would undoubtedly complement the vibe of the show, which promised to offer an initial chill that pushed audiences to warm up eventually with the moral of this piece of performing arts.

For someone who is brand new to performing at Adelaide Fringe, Phoa did a fantastic job in bringing everything together - by using minimal props and/or costume changes and focusing solely on his ability to deliver to his audiences a story that is far too relatable, along with adding his own musical style to the mix.

500 Nights of Winter will explore a range of strong and deep emotions that are unpacked through the art of storytelling and song. This show is an example of what falling in (and out of) love is like, with its raw elements that will grab your attention and the upbeat music to showcase that despite a few bumps along the way, it is a wonderful journey to find that someone who makes it all worth it in the end.