PLAY THE FOOL FESTIVAL - A Little Clowning around in Edmonton!

Play the Fool Festival, Edmonton’s Theatre Festival for Clown & Physical Comedy, returns this week on Sept 27th – 30th at The Backstage Theatre and ATB Financial Arts Barns. It's the third year for the theatre festival and there are so many different shows you can check out.

I had a stroll through their website (click here) and here are a few shows that jumped out at me (please check out the age recommendations as most of the shows are aimed at adult audiences):

Shipwrecked - Calgary
Created and Performed By: Chad Bryant and Chris Gamble

Shipwrecked on a desert island, Swill and Lavy find a mysterious treasure map. Will the map lead to their salvation or doom? Calgary-based comedy theatre artists Chad Bryant (Swill) and Chris Gamble (Lavy) team up with Jacqueline Russell from Sizzle & Spark (The Sama Kutra & Hushabye) to bring a new Pochinko-style clown duo to the stage.

The Daily Deal with Lady - Edmonton
Created and Performed By: Lindsay Ruth Hunt

Lady launches her career as a home-shopping network celebrity! Join her live in-studio audience and prepare to be wowed. And to buy her much-sought-after product. Lindsay Ruth Hunt has a background in improvisational theatre and sketch comedy, including being a founding member of both The General Fools and Uberkill.

The Performance - Edmonton
Created and Performed By: Candace Berlinguette and Michael Kennard

A down and out pianist and singer attempt to regain their former glory. Candace Berlinguette is a theatre creator, actor, producer and teacher. Michael Kennard is an award winning theatre creator and one half of the clown duo Mump and Smoot.

Lady Be Good - Edmonton
Created and Performed By: Erin Pettifor and Gabby Bernard

Equality is here! Sit back and relax with your diverse friend group and enjoy Lady Be Good, darkly satirical pageant that celebrates us all. Erin Pettifor and Gabby Bernard are recent graduates from the BFA acting program at the University of Alberta.

These are just a few of the shows on the docket - I recommend a trip to the website (click here) to check out what else is on the docket. There is also a Cabaret Series that you should check out for a great variety of acts.

The Play the Fool Festival is curated by Christine Lesiak, creator and performer of the 2018 Fringe holdover hit For Science!, and it features over 30 physical comedy artists from across Canada and from Edmonton, including: Michael Kennard of Mump & Smoot with Candace Berlinguette in The Performance; Vancouver-based award-winning character artist Candice Roberts’ gender-bending Larry show; Cabaret Calgary Productions’ cheeky, produce-inspired burlesque act, Fruitbowl; and an All-Ages Spectacular with local favorites.

I encourage you all to check out a sneak peek of festival acts at the FREE Opening Night Gala Teaser Cabaret on Thursday, September 27th at 7 p.m., with live music from the Mary Lee Bird Band. Admission for the Opening night gala is first-come-first-served at the door, with front-of-the-line guaranteed seating for Festival Pass Holders arriving by 6:45 pm.

Tickets & Passes
Passes: $100.00 adults, $85.00 seniors & students
Passes include access to all shows + Priority Seating | LIMITED SUPPLY
Tickets: $10-$20.00 general admission | $10-$116.00 senior/student
Passes and tickets available at https://playthefool.ca
Please note, most festival shows are rated 13+ or 18+

Broadway Across Canada presents The Book of Mormon... So much laughing!

This week, Broadway Across Canada brought back The Book of Mormon to the Northern Jubilee Auditorium. I was lucky enough to see it when it was here playing to Sold Out houses a few years ago, and the packed theatre on Wednesday night indicates that it is still a very popular choice! The laughs from the audience and the rapid standing ovation were also great indicators of a terrific night out!

I think I enjoyed seeing the show even more this time. On first glance, The Book of Mormon requires a couple of cautions. There is explicit language and many of the things discussed are quite shocking, but it did come from the South Park guys, so I think that in itself tells you that it's going to go to places you have to be prepared for.

The production itself was outstanding. Led by Kevin Clay (Elder Price) and Conner Peirson (Elder Cunningham), the entire cast was buoyant and dynamic and 100% committed to the demands of the show. The vocals are on point and the dancing was terrific. I was so entertained by the choreography (Casey Nicholaw). It's not often I want a long dance break, but I did with this show! Clay and Peirson are perfectly cast as Price and Cunningham. Clay embodies the 'perfect Mormon' and his version of I Believe just soars. Peirson's elastic physicality and vocal gymnastics kept me in stitches. Kayla Pecchioni as Nabulungi, has a beautiful voice and she brought true honesty and innocence to the role. I don't think the show works without having that truthfulness (the audience has to care about her disappointment), so it was lovely to see.

After the show, my son and I had a very engaging discussion about what it's really all about. Yes, it's very funny and inappropriate, but it's important to remember that many of the things that it talks about are really happening in the world. And although it seems to be making fun of Mormons, it's really a comment on all North Americans and first world citizens. We are very spoiled compared to most of the rest of the world and I think everyone should be leaving the show thinking about that, after all, as the show says, it's a metaphor...

The Book of Mormon runs to September 23.
Click here for tickets.