MOB at WWPT - When words online do more damage than sticks and stones...

 Last night I took in MOB presented by Workshop West (WWPT). When first announced, I was going because the phenomenal Kristin Johnston was in it but I couldn't tell much about the show from the promotional material. A chance conversation a few weeks ago with another theatre artist about the show's subject matter made me even more interested. The show deals with the fallout after a woman is relentlessly harassed online by anonymous trolls that spew the vilest of the vile at her and she has no legal way to shut them down. Her solution is both an escape from her ruined life and attempt to seek some sort of redress. 

It's a tough watch, but really, really good. You have to have the stomach for it. The online warning (While keeping you and our actors safe, this show contains coarse language, sexual themes, nudity, violence, emotionally charged scenarios, and may deal with subjects which are personally challenging to you. We use strobe effects and water-based theatrical fog throughout) is completely true, and depending on someone's personal connection to the situations revealed, it may affect people with a range of reactions. The performances from the cast of three (Johnston as Sophie, Graham Mothersill as Martin, and Davina Stewart as Louise) are all excellent and complex. A terrific Set, created by designer Beyata Hackborn, works so well with the lighting (Alison Yanota) and those combined with the Sound design by Darrin Hagen. The mood and tone created by how those elements work together is outstanding. It's a wild ride with a an ending that is both awful and satisfying (and then makes you feel a bit awful for enjoying it). This is a show to definitely see this season and particularly if you, like myself, spend a lot of your time online. It's the cautionary tale of today. 

I think I connected so strongly to this show because I have been exposed to a certain amount of online vitriol in my former job as Marketing Manager for a local theatre (cancel a lecture for a national right-wing speaker with no justification and see what kind of online response that provokes - as the person reading and dealing with the online feedback on that, I went home and woke up with an upset stomach for weeks). As a individual, I have expressed what I thought were small, unimportant opinions on things and had rudeness and mocking from online acquaintances written at me. Many of those people wouldn't think they were doing anything wrong. I'm sure I have posted rude things myself when angry or upset. I try not to, but it's quite likely I have. The online world sometimes feels unreal, but the impact of our words there is very, very real... 

MOB plays at the Gateway Theatre until November 12th. Tickets range from $32-$53. You can purchase tickets here.

Little Shop of Horrors gets me in the mood for Hallowe'en!

I spent a fun afternoon out at The Citadel Theatre watching Little Shop of Horrors. I’ve never seen it onstage before and while some things were different than what I was expecting (having only the move for reference) I had a great time! I forgot how it ended, so that was a surprise! Ha ha ha! I loved hearing Suddenly Seymour and Somewhere that's Green (two of my favourite musical theatre songs) and both were delivered excellently! Tenaj Williams was a terrific Seymour, and John Ullyatt was hilarious in his many identities! Great to groove to the doo-wop! Audrey Two was also a hi-light (both the vocals and the puppetry!)! Only drawbacks were that the band was occasionally too loud and it was hard to hear lyrics in some of the bigger energy songs, and some of the lighting was oddly dark and even though I was in row B, I had trouble seeing all of the production numbers when there was a spotlight on a featured singer.

I guess Hallowe’en is a “come in costume” night. Definitely the right show for this time of year!

Little Shop of Horrors runs until November 19th in the Shoctor Theatre at the Citadel. Tickets range from $40-130 and are available here. 

Four Shows in One Week! Am I a Madwoman?!?! From Northern Light Theatre to The Citadel to Walterdale Theatre to Jubilations Dinner Theatre - talk about a theatrical rollercoaster!

October is my birthday month, so it is fitting that I took in four shows this past week, starting on my actual birthday! Those who know me, know that theatre is the thing I love the most (outside my friends and family)! 

Photo Credit Brianne Jang

On my actual birthday I took in Opening Night of Northern Light Theatre's A Phoenix Too Frequent by Christopher Fry. The set-up features a young widow (Julia van Dam as Dynamene) and her servant (Ellen Chorley as Doto) dramatically mourning the mistress's recently deceased husband. It takes place in his tomb as they wait to die to join him. You begin to realize very quickly that it's not all serious business. Chorley is quite funny as the servant who's there for her mistress, but not quite as committed to the whole process and easily distracted. Enter a young and handsome Legionnaire (Brennan Campbell as Tegeus) who spotted the light from the tomb while on guard and came to check things out. He's handsome, Dynamene is also young and beautifully and suddenly the whole plan to join her husband in Hades gets reevaluated. It's a very unusual and sexy rom-com with laughs and twists and turns that lead to a satisfying ending! 

Tickets for A Phoenix Too Frequent are $38.85 and available here. There is also a PWYC on Sunday, October 15th and a 2for1 night on Tuesday, October 17th. The show runs to October 21st. 

Photo Credit: Nanc Price

The Next evening, I took in The Importance of Being Earnest at The Citadel Theatre. I'm very familiar with the show - perhaps one of the best comedies ever written - since i directed it years ago and have seen it elsewhere a couple of times. Everyone should take in the show, sometime in their life because it's so well written and so funny. The Citadel production has relocated the story to the 1950s, which works and provides beautiful stage pictures and costumes. Standouts in this production are Nadien Chu as Lady Bracknell, Amelia Sargisson as Gwendolyn Fairfax and Jeff Lillico as Jack Worthington (although, I kind of wished the two young men were switched - but that might have more to do with my vision of the roles). 

Tickets for The Importance of Being Earnest are $40-130 and are available here. It runs until Sunday, October 15th. 

Photo Credit: Scott Henderson, Henderson Images

After all that silliness, I switched it up next with Walterdale Theatre's production of All My Sons by Arthur Miller, directed by John Anderson. It was great to see this piece onstage. I have seen Miller's Death of a Salesmen several times, The Crucible twice and A View From the Bridge and I am admirer of his work. This play also has terrific characters and tackles important questions about social responsibility, honesty, and family loyalty. Inspired by a true story about faulty materials for aircrafts being provided to the military during WW II and taking place shortly after, it centers around the family of Joe Keller (Dave Wolkowski) who was implicated but then exonerated in the case. Joe's partner Steve Deever instead takes the fall for the crime. However, it is not in the factory or a courtroom that the story takes place, but the Keller backyard, where the Keller and Deever families spent many summers together. Steve’s daughter, Ann (Jasmine Hopfe), was all but engaged to Chris’s  brother, Larry, before Larry was killed in the war. Now she has returned from exile in New York, hoping to marry the besotted Chris (Franco Correa) instead. The Keller matriarch, Kate (Ursula Pattloch) refuses to accept that Larry is dead and believes he will one day return home and that Ann is still his girl. It's complicated. The first act of the Walterdale production sets up all the pieces for a second act where it will inevitably come crashing down. It ends with an emotional bang and the last 20 minutes had me sitting on the edge of my seat. Overall it's a fine production, with an outstanding performance by Correa, and I've had several people tell me they plan to go back for a second watch. 

All My Sons runs to October 21st and tickets are $25 and are available here. There is also a PWYC evening on Wednesday, October 18th. 

And finally, a message out of the blue from an old high school friend yesterday afternoon had me taking in Old Time Rock 'N Roll at Jubilations Dinner Theatre. The show was a fun little romp as told by an older man reminiscing about his high school days and his first real love through the late 50s into the 70s. The cast of 6 (plus a few extras) were great singers and dancers and they committed 150% to the hijinks required! I really enjoyed all the song choices, and while I'm not that old, I did know ALL THE SONGS from the way back! We also had a good meal and great servers (thanks Edna and crew) and a wonderful visit. I have been to Jubilations before and it's always a lot of fun. 

Old Time Rock 'N Roll runs to November 5th and tickets start at $75.95 (and include dinner) and are available here. 

#yegtheatre #yegarts #allmysons #phoenixtoofrequent

Fringe #42 - Final Day of the Fringe - Last Reflections!

Yesterday was another 2 show day. At this point, I need to pace myself since I am not as young as I used to be! I first took in DomestiKATE which was a really fun little show featuring Kate Ryan (not that Kate Ryan, the other one!) who is a phenomenal hula-hoop artist. It was aimed at the little ones primarily, but it was still a very fun show and Ryan was very funny in addition to skilled with her hula-hoops. She also did some cool quick changes and there was well-managed and entertaining audience participation. No more chances to catch that one as I caught her last show. 

Then, in late afternoon, a few of the ladies of Penelopiad and I caught The Clockmaker. It's a very cool script, about a clockmaker, but so much more. I don't want to give too much away. There are scenes of domestic violence so a warning for folks, but these are well choreographed and necessary to the story. The story itself is a love story dealing with what makes a good man and what are the moments in our lives that are important. This production features an excellent cast of 4 and it's very well done. I recommend! There's still one chance to catch it tonight at 8 pm!

This is the last day of Fringe. I left it open but I am looking at catching a few shows today! There's still so many more to catch!

Happy Fringing!

Fringe #42 - Winding Down... Friday, August 25...

Only managed two shows yesterday, but lots of good visiting on the grounds in between! It's hard to keep the momentum going, so I am pacing myself. 

First up was Lizard Boy: The Musical! It's another weird musical so right up my alley! It was very well done with three excellent singer-actors telling the comic book infused rom-com story of the Lizard Boy and an impending dragon-apocalypse. Of course, there's a villain to fight and a love story. Told with humour and terrific tunes it was great fun! There's also one of the best projection sets I have ever seen at Fringe that leant the comic book WOW to the fight scenes! 

Next, after a long visit and some mini-donuts, I took in Underbelly at Walterdale. I didn't know what to expect and I don't really think anyone could expect this show. It was a very funny and clever clown show with some cool tech and a monster. There were some technical difficulties that actually enhanced the show as the performer ably dealt with them. There's audience participation. All in all a fun, but weird 40-45 minutes!

Fringe #42 - Thursday, August 24th - My La Cite Day! and Word of Mouth

I spent Thursday at La Cite - starting with a lovely Croque Monsieur (at which my French immersion raised son giggled at and told me means "Mr. Crunchy") at Cafe Bicyclette - delicious!

It was a Twisted Christmas in August with Krampus! What a ride! This show is simply terrific. The folks at Straight Edge have been honing their musical writing skills over the past few years and this is producing some super solid scripts. Combine that with outstanding casts and you get a top-notch production. It's silly, irreverent, dark and very, very funny! The cast of 5 +1 are all perfectly committed to their characters and all have super strong voices well-suited to the music. They are also able to sing and dance their songs in character and with delightful humour! I say, move over A Christmas Carol, there's a new show in town. I would love it if this was remounted somewhere in December. It would be the Christmas show I'd seek out!

I then took in Ken Brown's Life After Life After Hockey. I'd never seen Life After Hockey but it wasn't necessary. It was a fascinating journey through Ken's life up to and after the creation of Life After Hockey and the blessings and challenges that experience had on his life. It was also a story of the Edmonton Arts Scene and the development and history of the Fringe from Ken's perspective. It was interspersed with music (Dana Wylie and others). The stories were engaging and I teared up thinking this was a show that my brothers would also connect with nostalgically for for very different reasons that me. There's enough hockey for those who come for that, and enough theatre/fringe for those who come for that. A really enjoyable show. I also encourage any playwrights who want to write a personal story play to check it out because Ken is definitely the master of that. 

I next saw Makings of a Voice with Dana Wylie. It's a beautiful song cycle reflecting on motherhood and it's inherent challenges and the feelings of failure that often come along with that. Dana also reflects on her personal and familial history as she seeks to define herself in the role of mother which she is not entirely comfortable with. It's raw and honest and the music is sublime. And while I do not have the same feelings about motherhood, it was interesting and eye-opening to hear Dana's story. 

WORD OF MOUTH - Thursday, August 24

This Won't Hurt, I Promise

Thank You For Coming to my TED Talk

Sea Wall

God is a Scottish Drag Queen

Love, Kurt

Long Night of the American Dream

Martin Dockery 

Chase Padgett

Titanical : the musical

Morningside Road

Muse
The Clockmaker
Breaking Bard
Millennial Sex Witch

Tiger Lady
The Approach

Fringe #42 - Wednesday, Aug 23rd - A Music Filled Day! And WORD OF MOUTH!

Undiscovered Country - A really cool little concert of a show. It's a play and talk concert in the style of Hawksley Workman but the stories are a little weirder and more dystopian. It was mesmerizing and I'm still trying to figure it out, but I don't think you're supposed to be able to. So wonderful to see Chris Bullough onstage as I feel it's been too long. Actually had a long conversation with a lady in the line-up about the actors we haven't seen much on Edmonton stages lately and how we hope we will be seeing them more again. Anyhow, this show was pretty cool - subtle and enigmatic. 

Tiger Lady - This is the show that I heard mentioned the most in my Word of Mouth conversations and it is not hard to see why. The cast of 6 fills the stage of the Westbury with physical action and a world created through low-tech magic! They combine music, movement, storytelling and puppetry and dp all of these things excellently. There's audience participation but not in a cheesy way, but rather we are all part of the show! A must-see - I hope it makes the holdovers because I think it's been selling out the Westbury - even at the more hard to sell time slots! 

Amor de Cosmos - I was very happy and excited to see this show! It tells a strange story from Canadian politics about Amor de Cosmos who reinvented himself many times. It's a bit of a whirlwind, with music by Lindsay Walker and performed by Cody Porter. I think it could be expanded (in fact, I think it had to be cut down from it's Toronto run time to fit the Edmonton timeslot). The music is catchy and Cody is a likable performer who ably conjures the title character as well as many other political figures of the time!

WORD OF MOUTH - Wednesday, August 23

Tango in the Dark

Sea Wall (Top recommendation)

Morningside Road

The Approach

Epidermis Circus

Love, Kurt

Train One to Coal Valley

Muse

Il Tabaro

Bathsheba and the Books

The Makings of a Voice (Dana Wylie)

Krampus

Life After Life After Hockey

Donating Sperm to my Sisters Wife

Tiger Lady

Chase Padgett: Nashville Hurricane

Jimmy Hogg: The Potato King

Paco Erhard: How To Monetize Free Hugs

Rat Academy

Anatomica 

Let’s Talk About Your Death

Absolute Magic

The War Comic

Martin Dockery (both shows)

Jon Bennett: Fire in the Meth Lab

Fringe #42 - Tuesday, August 22 - Getting all the Answers... and more WORD OF MOUTH recommendations!

I had a very mixed bag of shows today - the best kind of Fringe Day! I started the afternoon at a 1950s Graduation with the The Marvelous Wonderettes - Caps and Gowns! I hadn't seen any of the other shows from this series, but that was not necessary as the story and characters wee clearly defined! The music is terrific - a lovely blast from the past - with tight harmonies and solid voices! The show is humorous and flows nicely from song to song with jokes and funny situations in between. A great way to start the day! 

I went in a very different direction checking out The Mine. While taking place in almost exactly the same year as the previous one, this show is much darker as it dealt with three Soviet miners trapped underground in a cave-in. Each of the miners has different concerns and hopes and dreams and they share these over the long wait for rescue, while they also try to dig their way out. Tensions between them build and... well, I do not want to give spoilers! 

My last show of the day was Lady Porn presented by Whizgiggling Productions. This was a smart and sharp look behind the scenes at making of a 'feminist' porn film set. It's funny and intelligent, as it analyzes the good intentions of the safe set weighed against the wants of the financial backers. It makes you wonder if there is any such thing as a 'feminist' porn. I must admit of all the shows I've seen so far, this one has left me thinking the most. Not specifically about porn, but about good intentions in many situations which get over-ridden by expediency, money concerns and really a lack of desire to actually change even though that's what's been expressed. I'm obviously still thinking about it! 

WORD OF MOUTH - Tuesday, August 22nd

Tango in the Dark            Seawall            Old-ish            Morningside Road

Tales From the Hospital            Muse            90 Lies An Hour            Charade

Forest of Truth            Stigma, Pistil and Style            Multi Vs.            Lady Porn 

Puck Bunnies            Lesbihonest            Epidermis Circus

Fringe #42 - Monday, August 21 - Two more shows, visiting and WORD OF MOUTH!

I only took in two shows today, I had tentative plans for a third but hadn't bought the ticket and when I got around to it the show (Cabaret of Murder) was Sold Out so I was out of luck there. Let that be a lesson to you all - do not count on tickets being available at the last minute, especially for the shows you want to see. It pays to buy in advance to avoid disappointment. So even though I didn't get to see that show, I did run into friends on the Fringe Site and had a couple of wonderful visits. Fringe is mostly theatre, but not only theatre and I must admit it is the best place for seeing friends and having a quick catch up! I had a good visit with my friend Kristin whose show Lady Porn is on at the Fringe this year (I hear it's hilarious and am going to see it tomorrow!) and my friend Lucas whose show The Clockmaker is also on this year (It has twice made my WORD OF MOUTH list, but I can't fit it in until the last slot of the Fringe on Sunday night!). 

What I did get to see were two very funny shows, both of which I recommend you check out. First I saw In Waking Life at the Yardbird. It was very, very funny. I picked it because it was the Pick of the Toronto Fringe and it's not hard to see why. It's family friendly, but clever and combines improv with script featuring the Synsk Sisters: two charming psychics who have come here to fix all of your problems. They use many devices to do this: from astrology, to the Magic 8 Ball, to paper Fortune Tellers, and a Crystal Ball. They also have their own problems that emerge while delving into the problems and questions of the audience. Both actors are quick on their feet and always in character and it was delightful! Check it out! 

Next up was Puck Bunnies from Guys in Disguise. So funny, and very good. I always love how they creatively layer in social issues without lecturing and some of it hit very close to home. But don't worry, it's not preachy. The trio of Tammy, Tina and Tanya show the many sides of the hockey player girlfriend - the Puck Bunnies who are there to support the players no matter what. These are girls who might wear a pussy hat but feel if you get the right boyfriend (on the team) then you don't have to really do feminism. As I said, it's more than just the laughs and the double entendres, it's clever, tightly delivered and the costumes and make-up are so on-point! A definite DON'T MISS for me and clearly for many others. This is not a show you can wait to get tickets to. It was packed today and I expect will be for all their shows! 

WORD OF MOUTH - Monday, August 21st

DomestiKATE: Comedy Circus Show

The Clockmaker

Shakespeare's Sirens

The Noteworthy Life of Howard Barnes

Anatolia Speaks
Life After Life After Hockey

Gordon's Big Bald Head

Titanical the Musical
The Family Crow
what the hell was that!?

Finding Your Voice

Let's Talk About Your Death
Tree

Fringe #42 - Sunday, August 20, 2023 - Couple More Shows and Sunday's WORD OF MOUTH!

Caught a few more shows on Sunday afternoon. 

I started with FIJI which is both funny and dark and very well done, but probably not for the squeamish or prudish. I don't want to spoiler it so I will say that Chris Cook and Vance Avery are very funny as well as very intense in this twisted rom com. You laugh a lot but there's also quite a bit of squirming in your seat. 

I followed that up with The Cabin on Bald Dune which is set in an isolated cabin on a remote island on the East Coast. One woman has brought another to the island for a business opportunity but things may not exactly be as they seem. It's also very well done, with Kristi Hansen and Jenny McKillop as the two women. Hansen is manically intimidating and McKillop's journey to "what is going on here?" is nicely built until she cracks. It's got a nice Hitchcockian flavour to it's tone. I won't tell you any more than that.

I wrapped up the day with a very silly Sherlock show - Sherlock Holmes and the Inane Investigation - which drew many laughs from the audience. It was indeed an inane investigation and this Sherlock is not necessarily the 'on top of it all' Sherlock that most of us are familiar with - Which is part of the humour of the show. 

WORD OF MOUTH - SUNDAY, AUGUST 20th

Gordon’s Big Bald Head          Edgar Perry        Puck Bunnies

Breaking Bard     Martin Dockery        Agent Thunder

Sherlock Holmes Experience        Grand Beaver

Bathsheba and the Books        Multi Vs.        The Clockmaker

DomestiKATE: Comedy Circus Show         ‘James and Jamesy’ - Easy as Pie

The Noteworthy Life of Howard Barnes        I Wish My Life Were like a Musical

AWOL      Il Tabarro    Il Duo: The Reunion Tour

Morningside Road

Fringe #42 - Sat, Aug 19 - Three Great Musicals and More WORD OF MOUTH Recommendations!

I saw three great musicals on Saturday. They were very different, but enjoyable in their own ways! First I took in Morningside Road, a new musical by Mhairi Berg and Simon Abbott. It was so beautiful. having written a play about a similar topic I thought the way that the story was told was very well done. The music is lovely and sung very well - tight harmonies and gorgeous voices. At the end, I estimate 50% of the audience (if not more) was in tears and there was an instant standing ovation. This is a terrific pick! 

Next up was The Noteworthy Life of Howard Barnes which in the spirit Schmigadoon, the lead character Howard wakes up to find himself living in a a musical and wanting to get out of it. It was a super fun ride of a show. It hit on so any musical theatre tropes and references what feels like a thousand specific shows. The Musical Theatre afficionado should not miss this show! I loved how they really leaned into all the ridiculousness because that's the only way this kind of show works - and it does! The voices are generally strong, but more importantly 100% committed! 

I wrapped up my day with Scoobie Doosical - the Scoobie Doo inspired musical. It's the most Fringey show I've seen yet! Yes, the gangs all there! But it's all the other things the remarkable Rebecca Merkley and company have thrown into it. It too has references to other musicals, as well as The Spice Girls, and stand up comedy. You truly never know what is going to happen and when it does happen, you are howling with laughter! Again, the commitment level from this team is super high and that's what makes it work so well. 

WORD OF MOUTH - Saturday, August 19

Horse Face

The Cabin on Bald Dune

Edgar Perry

AWOL

Tiger Lady - Most Recommended

Breaking Bard

Die Nasty

Aliya Kanani: Where You From, From?

Talk Treaty to Me

Jesus felt

Krampus

Fiji - (It's a "what the - ?!?! kind of show" - the patron wanted a disclaimer)

Life after life after…

Finding Your Voice (Dana Wylie)

Clown Macbeth 

Millennial Sex Witch

Insert Clown here
Il Tabaro

Puck Bunnies
Breaking Bard

Fringe #42 - First Few Shows and First Word of Mouth for the Festival

I've seen the first 4 shows of my Fringe and they were a bit of a mixed bag - which is cool and probably what Fringe should be!

First, I saw i carry your heart with me, an intensely personal, one-woman show about a woman whose mother died of breast cancer at 36 (when the author was in her early teens) and her journey to process (ad not processing) the grief. There's a lot to unpack as the show zips from childbirth, to childhood memories, to reflections from other family members to actual recordings of the mother. At the end of it I really liked the author's mother and felt that if the purpose was to celebrate an amazing person, that goal was achieved. The script needs a bit of tightening and shaping, but it's honest and heartfelt, and it was the first show and as a former Fringe performer, I know shows tend to get tighter throughout the week. 

While I didn't notice this when I scheduled my week, the next show I took in was Let's Talk About Your Death, and we did! Featuring a Machine of Death that tells you how you will die, the show is funny and sharp, combining script with improvised moments with the audience. David Johnston plays a dual role as the House Manger and Dr. Elliot Morris, host of a TV show talking about... (you guessed it) Death!  He completely owns the stage and is quite hilarious. There's a lot of laughs in this piece but it ultimately ends with poignance and heart and a lovely message. 

Third up was Edgar Perry from The Coldhearts - combining music, clever lighting, and many inventive ways of storytelling this show is about not one, but two Edgar Allan Poes during his time in the military. It's a continuation of a previous show which I didn't realize and it took me a few minutes to figure out what was going on, but I went with it. It's clear that much of the audience was familiar with some of the references that I was not. But they were delightfully artistic and great storytellers and the lighting is very cool. 

I then saw Always Because: The Adventures of Maggie and Meghan - a sketch comedy, story-telling show about Maggie and Meghan, a lesbian couple celebrating their third anniversary by doing a Fringe show. It was funny and honestly personal and while I didn't relate to all of it, I'm pretty sure most of the audience did and I enjoy seeing shows about things outside my perspective. 

I also had the opportunity to chat with a few folks for the WORD OF MOUTH portion of the blog. It's early days and pouring out, so many people have not seen much yet, so the list is short (for now). Here are the Word of Mouth shows from today:

Underbelly
Talk Treaty to Me
Let's Get Back to the Phones
Fiji 
Sad Girl Songs: A Comedy Show
Jesus Teaches Us Things
Sweet Jesus - The Gospel According to Felt

If you see me on the grounds, feel free to share your Word of Mouth recommendations to me! 

Fringe #42 - Kicks Off Tonight!

The Fringe starts tonight! I'll be kicking it off with one show - i carry your heart with me at the Sugar Swing Ballroom. Told by a woman whose mother died of breast cancer at the age of 36, this show is likely to have some serious and sad moments so I am only seeing the one show tonight. I imagine there will also be joyful reflections, but those are just as likely to make me cry. 

I like to mix it up with my Fringe so although my Fringe this year is heavy on musicals, I have both comedies and dramas on my list. I will even pop in some improv and sketch comedy if the schedule has a convenient opening. I really want to try to fit in Plays by Bots if I can because the one I saw last year was so funny I was tearing up laughing. I'm also hoping to catch Marv n' Berry Presents: Clearly, A Pyramid Scheme and/or Scratch. 

Friday, I will be seeing Edgar Perry and Let's Talk About Your Death. The former was recommended to me by a friend whose judgement I trust. The latter features David Johnston who I am looking froward to seeing again. I think that it also will have some serious tones, but also provide some humour and release. 

I've only got the two shows planned for Friday right now, so if you know of a great show on around 3:30 or 4:30 pm - let me know! I've left these little gaps in my schedule to fill in when I hear of something I might want to see!

Happy Fringing Folks! 

Countdown to Fringe #42 - life, the universe and everything...

 For me there are a few companies I ALWAYS go to at the Fringe.

Why?

• Because they make me laugh
• Because they do new work and it's never the same old thing
• Because they pay attention to detail
• Because they always strive for excellence

Not all my favourite companies are presenting this year, but two are: Guys in Disguise (Puck Bunnies) and Whizgiggling (Lady Porn). 

I'm very excited about seeing Puck Bunnies this year. True Story: The first time they did it was had that really bad smoke from fires and I was very nauseous with severe headaches for several days of the Fringe so I missed it (I had a ticket so they still got paid!). I heard it was hilarious, and as a sister of three Hockey Playing brothers, I am hoping that I will be able to tap into all the inside jokes. I also went to high school in a city that had an AJHL Team and likely knew girls who would 'fit the description'. 

But it's also a Guys in Disguise show. On the surface it's drag, but their shows are much more than that. Yes, there's quite a few double and triple entendres, but there's always something sweet and touching and very thoughtful about their scripts that make it more than just a laugh-out-loud show. And they never fail on the costume and production design! It's always outstanding!

Whizgiggling Productions is the company that has brought the hilarious The Best Little Newfoundland Christmas Pageant...Ever! to Edmonton for the last decade or so. They have more recently brought the Destination plays to the Fringe. Destination Wedding was presented during the scaled down Fringe that happened after the one that never was. Three excellent local actors (Michelle Todd, Kristin Johnston and Cheryl Jameson) anchor this group with direction and playwrighting from the fabulous Trevor Schmidt. They followed up with Destination Vegas last year, and this year they are bringing us Lady Porn. I'm not sure what to expect, except I know that we're likely to see some outrageous characters and a hilarious storyline. Something tells me it's also not for kids! 

Anyhow, I have my tickets for both these and I can't wait for the belly laughs! 

Preparing for Fringe #42 - life, the universe and everything...

My husband joked that I looked like a college student studying for an exam as he watched me working through the Fringe Program, applying post-it notes, and marking shows with stars and circles, filling out possibilities for each separate day of the festival on a separate post-it. Hey! It's serious business for me! There are so many shows I want to see and only so much time. Sometimes it's the jigsaw puzzle that makes it possible for me to see your show... sometimes the puzzle means I can't. But I will see at least 22 shows this year and likely a few more as I have 3 days at the end left blank for 'shows with buzz' and fingers crossed that they don't all Sell-Out before I am able to purchase!

First things first - you can find out all things Fringe here: https://www.fringetheatre.ca/  - so if you're new to this adventure there's many helpful tips available to help you navigate AND that's where you can buy tickets!

If you know that you might see 10 shows (or 5 with a friend) I encourage you to purchase a Frequent Fringer Pass. It's the best deal. I buy a Double Fringer Pass because I know I will see more than 20 (in all likelihood). There are occasionally deals (pump up the volume tickets and half-price day of tickets), but those are unpredictable, so you can't depend on them. 

Anyhow, what musicals am I seeing? 

I will be seeing quite a few musicals as I enjoy those and I especially like new musicals. The ones at Fringe tend towards weird, and I like that. I will be taking in Krampus (because I love everything I've seen Straightedge Theatre do, and... Krampus!!); Edgar Perry (Recommended to me by a friend I trust who has seen other shows by this company); Scoobie Doosical (by the uber talented Rebecca Merkley!); Morningside Road (I've heard a lot of buzz about this one so I am checking it out); The Noteworthy Life of Howard Barnes (a new musical about someone who discovers themselves IN a musical - yes, please!); and The Marvelous Wonderettes - Caps and Gowns! (I've never been able to make it to one of their shows before but I've heard good things and I think it will be reminiscent of Shout!). 

There's also Amor de Cosmos: A Delusional Musical (the talented Lindsay Walker and Cody Porter! How can you go wrong?!? plus it got great reviews at the Toronto Fringe!); Undiscovered Country (Chris Bullough - who we do NOT see enough of on Edmonton Stages!! - you can bet I am checking this out!); and Lizard Boy: The Musical (Another new musical that sounds weird - right up my alley - plus some fabulous people involved!). 

So... it would appear almost half my tickets will be for musicals this year - and there isn't even a SATCO show! I'll post tomorrow talking about my non-musical choices and a few others that I hope to squeeze in if time allows! 

Remember, if you see me on the Fringe Grounds, feel free to share with me your "Word of Mouth" recommendations! I can't possibly see all the shows but I love hearing what you recommend and sharing those titles with everyone!