tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-960555058990073772024-03-18T19:48:27.082-07:00Finster FindsI write about a lot of things... mostly my life, my kids, what bugs me and, of course, THEATRE...Finsterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06571040830138200042noreply@blogger.comBlogger1112125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-96055505899007377.post-35335291637314487552024-03-11T16:53:00.000-07:002024-03-11T16:53:40.262-07:00A Monstrously Exciting Season on the Horizon for Northern Light Theatre!<p>There were quite a few hints about what might be included in <a href="https://northernlighttheatre.com/" target="_blank">Northern Light Theatre's</a> upcoming season rolling our in advance of their Season Launch last Monday. Quotes from thrillers and murder mystery authors had me preparing for a spooky and scary line-up. I'm always down for what Northern Light Theatre is offering. They consistently choose the unusual and challenging and deliver with complete design concepts. Unlike other theatres in town, you are more likely to see something that surprises you and makes you think about something you haven't before. </p><p>The new season, titled <b><i>Making A Monster,</i></b> presents three plays featuring characters possessing qualities of modern monsters in our midst!</p><p>"<i>This season, NLT wants to examine the human capacity to be monstrous to other human beings</i>", says Artistic Director <b>Trevor Schmidt</b>. "<i>We want to ask ourselves and our audience what keeps us from behaving cruelly- and we want there to be discussion. Nobody is immune to terrible actions. We’re all prone to regressive processes. It’s very easy to enter the dark abyss where evil dwells. We all have the capacity to be monsters.</i>"</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjbQCohs9pgfpra_OFDBm22Wu1JcIk4YJtiYMyHjDfLqOHYjs3PezwxuZg1CIltpgq8olFTraweI5Hg8gX7JS_OjSFanQkrzyI-t6Pqxn-1t3pcb-D2z7sVBOtpnzPR5XYh3tky0oy-bjwEYgtOZJU_vWFu53ePcE6zcoBXROjerdvG-gU8I7toGqAGtut/s2000/NLT2425%2001%20Monstress%20Website%202000x1200-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="2000" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjbQCohs9pgfpra_OFDBm22Wu1JcIk4YJtiYMyHjDfLqOHYjs3PezwxuZg1CIltpgq8olFTraweI5Hg8gX7JS_OjSFanQkrzyI-t6Pqxn-1t3pcb-D2z7sVBOtpnzPR5XYh3tky0oy-bjwEYgtOZJU_vWFu53ePcE6zcoBXROjerdvG-gU8I7toGqAGtut/s320/NLT2425%2001%20Monstress%20Website%202000x1200-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>The first show is a World Premiere, <i><b><a href="https://northernlighttheatre.com/2024-2025-season/monstress/" target="_blank">Monstress</a></b></i> by Trevor Schmidt, starring Julia van Dam and Sydney Williams. A twist on the Frankenstein story (with a reading evocative of the recent Oscar-nominated film <i>Poor Things)</i>, one wonders where this will go and who the real monster will turn out to be. I'm looking forward to see the dynamic between the two women - disgraced scientist and horrible creation - and the inevitable conflicts inherent in that relationship. <p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGf1fFiS55Mljc35g1aj9eX7INPn-X1_G2MrXn0aov9fMU9cT4IvxafXzPfqHc2xHIh26VMMkG_8Z3v-gx9glFOKU_oL4zZXZOwjipI-xQO5yPt4anOj94aux6nDzMkdMOmHbrxD7hLxXsOn-sA_xE-wC9YN7W8nYbqhvPRFRBX8_CX2x6M_0J09GzovU7/s2000/NLT2425%2002%20Angry%20Alan%20Website%202000x1200-2%20(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="2000" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGf1fFiS55Mljc35g1aj9eX7INPn-X1_G2MrXn0aov9fMU9cT4IvxafXzPfqHc2xHIh26VMMkG_8Z3v-gx9glFOKU_oL4zZXZOwjipI-xQO5yPt4anOj94aux6nDzMkdMOmHbrxD7hLxXsOn-sA_xE-wC9YN7W8nYbqhvPRFRBX8_CX2x6M_0J09GzovU7/s320/NLT2425%2002%20Angry%20Alan%20Website%202000x1200-2%20(1).jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Next is the play that sparked the season's theme, <i><b><a href="https://northernlighttheatre.com/2024-2025-season/angry-alan/" target="_blank">Angry Alan</a></b></i> by Penelope Skinner, starring Cody Porter. Porter plays the utterly miserable Roger, third assistant manager at a Safeway grocery store. With his life at crisis point, Roger is close to bursting. But when he stumbles upon Angry Alan - an online activist- he finally feels someone is speaking his language. Schmidt said that this was the show that started the search for more monstrous plays and he wondered if it was going to get them in trouble. It explores what happens when an ordinarily tolerant, but dissatisfied man is radicalized by false reasoning online, and begins to blame feminism for all that is wrong in his life. I'm looking forward to squirming in my seat next season. This is most likely the one that's going to make me do so!<p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWqViykAI0O38indKm_rKdwT0JbZU7zbW1shlaw9jepm4Cly-U_nBvhKa_bv5vGwX2-dc80QRpc1L6M7xFJB0qWWFF6Qa8Lsi4-Pwks3F1esqH94VZ6SE0JDQUEc6Lfe9UH8jn-3g9JLZJp-eZrG38IRLwSzM-SEz5hw6M6Yl1B_sTikMgF5YTGPWAniq6/s2000/NLT2425%2003%20Radiant%20Vermin%20Website%202000x120-3%20(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="2000" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWqViykAI0O38indKm_rKdwT0JbZU7zbW1shlaw9jepm4Cly-U_nBvhKa_bv5vGwX2-dc80QRpc1L6M7xFJB0qWWFF6Qa8Lsi4-Pwks3F1esqH94VZ6SE0JDQUEc6Lfe9UH8jn-3g9JLZJp-eZrG38IRLwSzM-SEz5hw6M6Yl1B_sTikMgF5YTGPWAniq6/s320/NLT2425%2003%20Radiant%20Vermin%20Website%202000x120-3%20(1).jpg" width="320" /></a></div>The season will wrap up with <i><b><a href="https://northernlighttheatre.com/2024-2025-season/radiant-vermin/" target="_blank">Radiant Vermin</a></b></i> by Philip Ridley, starring new grads Rain Matkin, and Eli Yaschuk, along with NLT favourite Holly Turner. In the modern age of out-of-reach property acquisition, it tells the story of an engaging young couple, Ollie and Jill, who had to do some shocking things to get their dream home. A wickedly comic satire about a young couple offered a 'too good to be true' way onto the property ladder. The scene presented hints at a Faustian bargain, or perhaps a deadly game show. It looks to be the kind of show to make you laugh out loud,... but guiltily. <p></p><p>I'm looking forward to meeting the monsters up on NLT's stage next season, be they real or imagined, or perhaps living right next door! </p><p><b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Subscriptions for all three shows are now on sale through Northern Light Theatre's website </span><a href="https://bottomlinepro.us3.list-manage.com/track/click?u=11e0175929ad1ec0c91063ec5&id=390f8aaa28&e=2b873986f7" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" style="background-color: white; color: #007c89; font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; outline: none !important;" target="_blank">northernlighttheatre.com</a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">. Subscriptions start at $80 VIP pricing until June 1, and single tickets go on sale August 1, 2024.</span></b></p>Finsterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06571040830138200042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-96055505899007377.post-4110285939941637092024-01-21T20:41:00.000-08:002024-01-21T20:41:59.719-08:00Sometimes it's hard to be nice... Lessons Learned with Donna Orbits the Moon and Spinsters in #yegtheatre this week... <p>I caught two thought-provoking (and funny) shows this weekend. </p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgKr9L5asIThfzpgfoh8SPulHHPlANWSn88IC9Z8qfuONki7xMAroYKHGih7gvRglLESYL6_2CusZ4wxTvP6y5bjw5yCkuDWitXON2RDNmHHAmi3vhvdd6satNJYy0SvZVehOfYrh30BSFD_PBIq68Wf9qBKFdx_FJjImWE5OnTRZexXv-OBRfghZdjO9Hx" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="4016" data-original-width="6016" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgKr9L5asIThfzpgfoh8SPulHHPlANWSn88IC9Z8qfuONki7xMAroYKHGih7gvRglLESYL6_2CusZ4wxTvP6y5bjw5yCkuDWitXON2RDNmHHAmi3vhvdd6satNJYy0SvZVehOfYrh30BSFD_PBIq68Wf9qBKFdx_FJjImWE5OnTRZexXv-OBRfghZdjO9Hx" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Patricia Darbasie in <i>Donna Orbits the Moon</i>, <br />Brianne Jang BB Collective Photography</span></td></tr></tbody></table>The first, <i><b><a href="https://northernlighttheatre.com/2023-2024-season/donna-orbits-the-moon/" target="_blank">Donna Orbits the Moon</a></b></i> presented by Northern Light Theatre, was a one-woman show with the impressive Patricia Darbasie as Donna, a woman finding herself reacting with intense rage to inconveniences in her life. We are not exactly sure at the beginning why these moments are provoking such anger and violence, but there's something in the way that Donna tells the story that we are totally on her side. Indeed when I read a description online before seeing the show, I immediately connected. Too often we are expected to smile and be accommodating and the desire to say "<i><b>No!</b></i>" is often very strong with me. <i>I see you, Donna! </i>But there's something more to Donna's rage. There's a concrete reason she's suppressing and the reveal is deftly revealed in a touching and emotionally moving way (Directed by Trevor Schmidt). I appreciated the layered humour, and the beautiful lighting (Rae McCallum) and projections (Matt Schuurman) that echoed Donna's fracturing as she moved through her journey and we learned the whole story. It's funny, because Donna does some really bizarre things, but it is also heart-breaking and poignant, when we find out exactly why. I also enjoyed that the play was set in Minnesota, near Duluth, as that's a place close to my heart. </p><p><b><i>Donna Orbits the Moon </i></b>runs to February 3rd. Tickets are $38 but there are PWYC and 2for1 nights. Tickets can be purchased <a href="https://tickets.northernlighttheatre.com/event/420:2/" target="_blank">here</a>. </p><p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAPYgFAjNWmiFqiJr-wCw8e9AHOZ5CpZbr6jSuztiaW1RT6VYhZyl46tuZFIjIpo71ESH_hOFEf0m_nFyzAmvx2zIBrauKGO85Q3CH9t70wQFa8Ulwl3c8iY8Ul3FOMGXhUCJg7LR6qcNoHsaTBJqnT5lmMiEENTr4Ka_8HEVqPgJvtESz3oXhKuavfCom/s800/spinsters.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAPYgFAjNWmiFqiJr-wCw8e9AHOZ5CpZbr6jSuztiaW1RT6VYhZyl46tuZFIjIpo71ESH_hOFEf0m_nFyzAmvx2zIBrauKGO85Q3CH9t70wQFa8Ulwl3c8iY8Ul3FOMGXhUCJg7LR6qcNoHsaTBJqnT5lmMiEENTr4Ka_8HEVqPgJvtESz3oXhKuavfCom/s320/spinsters.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Christine Lesiak and Tara Travis in <i>The Spinsters</i>, <br />Marc J Chalifoux Photography & Video</span></td></tr></tbody></table>The next night I went to <b><i><a href="https://smallmatters.ca/shows/the-spinsters/" target="_blank">The Spinsters</a></i></b> presented by Small Matters Productions. On it's surface it's the story of Cinderella's step-sisters (<i>they take umbrage at the label ugly stepsisters</i>) played by Christine Lesiak and Tara Travis. The stepsisters are larger than life and very funny and they engage with the audience cleverly with tongue-in-cheek cattiness. The story is relayed through wonderfully creative puppet shows, along with the spinsters own retelling. They have opinions about how they have been portrayed and they aren't impressed with much of it! The costumes and Production design (Adam Dickson & Ian Walker) are ridiculously clever and mind-blowing. There's literally a pocket for everything! And the puppetry is similarly fun (Jeny Cassady). But this show is more than just fun - you will laugh, but there's also a big uh-oh moment to add weight and make you think a lot after the show. </p><p><i><b>The Spinsters </b></i>runs to January 27th. Tickets are $25 plus fees, but there are some special events throughout the run. Tickets can be purchased<a href="https://tickets.fringetheatre.ca/event/601:4669/" target="_blank"> </a><b><a href="https://tickets.fringetheatre.ca/event/601:4669/" target="_blank">here.</a> </b> </p><p>With both these shows on my mind, I was thinking a lot about the expectations and perceptions of women in our world. How we have to behave a certain way and pushing back against those expectations gets us labelled or chastised, and even when we do what we've been told to do, we can still end up victims. I thought a lot about the Sarah Polley book of essays I read over the holidays, <i>Run Towards the Danger</i>, and how she reflects on her experience with Jian Ghomeshi and other events in her life that were shaped by her need to please or be considered 'good'. I'm still thinking about both shows and how I want to be in the world, and sometimes I think I might want to be like Donna and have a little rage, or like the Spinsters and not always be so very, very nice. </p>Finsterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06571040830138200042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-96055505899007377.post-11275884144561081402023-11-09T09:47:00.005-08:002023-11-09T09:47:57.835-08:00MOB at WWPT - When words online do more damage than sticks and stones... <p> Last night I took in <a href="https://www.workshopwest.org/s45-mob" target="_blank"><b><i>MOB</i></b></a> presented by <a href="https://www.workshopwest.org/" target="_blank">Workshop West (WWPT)</a>. 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. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinKuDpLwRVhyphenhypheny5G1zO4QTRjI1GaKOVsm6X_xzkvuEmks9va-7HyYNtM1yLAxLunWmRdWTDnHGsxYiK7OTPXT_3d31E-um0mw3YXEyoXWcWOSbBSy1sdKMhDQ9HrZlaZ-Os_RCadHemlCo4uQeEi8no5oTwk4cijjMbg-JCZl-ooPeA6HF6SyL9fOoI1Y2_/s806/mob2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="562" data-original-width="806" height="279" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinKuDpLwRVhyphenhypheny5G1zO4QTRjI1GaKOVsm6X_xzkvuEmks9va-7HyYNtM1yLAxLunWmRdWTDnHGsxYiK7OTPXT_3d31E-um0mw3YXEyoXWcWOSbBSy1sdKMhDQ9HrZlaZ-Os_RCadHemlCo4uQeEi8no5oTwk4cijjMbg-JCZl-ooPeA6HF6SyL9fOoI1Y2_/w400-h279/mob2.png" width="400" /></a></div><p>It's a tough watch, but really, really good. You have to have the stomach for it. The online warning (<i>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</i>) 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. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3GaTcmW0rjwlZ4rqHL8jpklC1YDDlU2hqW8HKj1y0GJ7-GFWLkFtBzbwKlw4dgiw0c5rfqiEXWKyLdqRrOabMOaOjeV1pSTGx-TYt3-VJUjEor6u18mg9InN_V8A3C1TJ-CetVZZdycTQbwjwlqOrawE_jpym8umi6M6e0vGFECgByQRarfqMPVw2wKp9/s802/mob.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="590" data-original-width="802" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3GaTcmW0rjwlZ4rqHL8jpklC1YDDlU2hqW8HKj1y0GJ7-GFWLkFtBzbwKlw4dgiw0c5rfqiEXWKyLdqRrOabMOaOjeV1pSTGx-TYt3-VJUjEor6u18mg9InN_V8A3C1TJ-CetVZZdycTQbwjwlqOrawE_jpym8umi6M6e0vGFECgByQRarfqMPVw2wKp9/s320/mob.png" width="320" /></a></div><p>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 (<i>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</i>). 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... </p><p><b><i><a href="https://www.workshopwest.org/s45-mob" target="_blank">MOB</a></i></b> plays at the Gateway Theatre until November 12th. Tickets range from $32-$53. You can purchase tickets <b><a href="https://www.showpass.com/o/workshop-west-playwrights-theatre/" target="_blank">here</a>.</b></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Finsterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06571040830138200042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-96055505899007377.post-64983334262969400532023-10-29T17:12:00.003-07:002023-10-29T17:12:38.237-07:00Little Shop of Horrors gets me in the mood for Hallowe'en! <p>I spent a fun afternoon out at <a href="https://citadeltheatre.com/shows-events/mainstage/" target="_blank">The Citadel Theatre </a>watching <i><b><a href="https://citadeltheatre.com/shows/23-24-littleshop/" target="_blank">Little Shop of Horrors</a></b></i>. 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 <i>Suddenly Seymour</i> and <i>Somewhere that's Green</i> (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.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEidCaEqwWSeW62F9lpuwSWYKXmlgsxq8JrAhs6pFEtScKxdP_L_O8Wom4lspiPVHtxNXf3Nm-2nl1JxF22KyXyGZJzgDiaUnZ5nqWlSlXVjmp2PTrlUzgvZy84PUfXvlc-ndP7gI61XWLDNEkJf3SRp_ndgaDuRcvEnQqxh0SrGxg2vh2A5fA0L5jIjm4bZ" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="920" data-original-width="1289" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEidCaEqwWSeW62F9lpuwSWYKXmlgsxq8JrAhs6pFEtScKxdP_L_O8Wom4lspiPVHtxNXf3Nm-2nl1JxF22KyXyGZJzgDiaUnZ5nqWlSlXVjmp2PTrlUzgvZy84PUfXvlc-ndP7gI61XWLDNEkJf3SRp_ndgaDuRcvEnQqxh0SrGxg2vh2A5fA0L5jIjm4bZ=w400-h285" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><p>I guess Hallowe’en is a “come in costume” night. Definitely the right show for this time of year!</p><p><i><b>Little Shop of Horrors</b></i> runs until November 19th in the Shoctor Theatre at the Citadel. Tickets range from $40-130 and are available<b><a href="https://secure.citadeltheatre.com/events" target="_blank"> here. </a></b></p>Finsterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06571040830138200042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-96055505899007377.post-8842538799616924202023-10-14T13:31:00.004-07:002023-10-14T13:31:46.717-07:00Four 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!<p>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)! </p><p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUtOnrUAPQk2tY6ywG12gCBMPR4EUumNNvRpPVgjOPFuZPvhrIXInWsY9C06F-vQZmAj0EWjsdAaqJ112lReWY1L7KxVP4d3sczQmjdSthLxE1Gm2SI4FWsrRnOIMFY2_mHQSJ4ARm8fAQg7LigvVxWXmUSco7wvliZl-7b44R4a2YWvNjGoTt9p1IawZm/s5949/NLT%2023-24%20A%20Phoenix%20Too%20Frequent%2004%20Brianne%20Jang.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3971" data-original-width="5949" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUtOnrUAPQk2tY6ywG12gCBMPR4EUumNNvRpPVgjOPFuZPvhrIXInWsY9C06F-vQZmAj0EWjsdAaqJ112lReWY1L7KxVP4d3sczQmjdSthLxE1Gm2SI4FWsrRnOIMFY2_mHQSJ4ARm8fAQg7LigvVxWXmUSco7wvliZl-7b44R4a2YWvNjGoTt9p1IawZm/s320/NLT%2023-24%20A%20Phoenix%20Too%20Frequent%2004%20Brianne%20Jang.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Photo Credit Brianne Jang</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />On my actual birthday I took in Opening Night of Northern Light Theatre's <b><i><a href="https://northernlighttheatre.com/2023-2024-season/a-phoenix-too-frequent/" target="_blank">A Phoenix Too Frequent</a></i></b> 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! </p><p>Tickets for <i><b>A Phoenix Too Frequent</b></i> are $38.85 and available <b><a href="https://tickets.northernlighttheatre.com/event/420:1/" target="_blank">here</a></b>. There is also a PWYC on Sunday, October 15th and a 2for1 night on Tuesday, October 17th. The show runs to October 21st. </p><p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitZ4Z4rPxxIeEhSj6_4DYp0tKROn6Z7ckDGbApbIqlxp0nffe6sURkDZkPH6voHJpTZhgyQ61dN8R-15fuFALb2RckelJw3UPGSsUR-mRci024iFz_BOArp-92kh2iJehVx2j9i5-A3TpzNZRrH_RpB6SgbI81ZiP1juOB3mcdrXvCaPjlRYv7wwXhAZQp/s1362/earnest.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="885" data-original-width="1362" height="208" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitZ4Z4rPxxIeEhSj6_4DYp0tKROn6Z7ckDGbApbIqlxp0nffe6sURkDZkPH6voHJpTZhgyQ61dN8R-15fuFALb2RckelJw3UPGSsUR-mRci024iFz_BOArp-92kh2iJehVx2j9i5-A3TpzNZRrH_RpB6SgbI81ZiP1juOB3mcdrXvCaPjlRYv7wwXhAZQp/s320/earnest.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Photo Credit: Nanc Price</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />The Next evening, I took in <b><i><a href="https://citadeltheatre.com/shows/23-24-earnest/" target="_blank">The Importance of Being Earnest </a></i></b>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 <i>(although, I kind of wished the two young men were switched - but that might have more to do with my vision of the roles)</i>. </p><p>Tickets for <b><i>The Importance of Being Earnest </i></b>are $40-130 and are available <b><a href="https://secure.citadeltheatre.com/events" target="_blank">here</a></b>. It runs until Sunday, October 15th. </p><p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ9O5a-gfPP_9k-LWO3UIKDUXSP3wxTP9uALg75WOhgaM7ojGbBAf4dsoBTu2ZzpkkhWwE_YIkwoqG9n_KNXO-f3OQ-lgB3SADuhUuygITihurkxo19YGziEjeMwrtYSPpYPNiDcH44yofjy0c8M4iIhjPvB2iadR5cw6JUbQyN95T3m91o90mFSZ3dZ0w/s1280/IMG_4561.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="854" data-original-width="1280" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ9O5a-gfPP_9k-LWO3UIKDUXSP3wxTP9uALg75WOhgaM7ojGbBAf4dsoBTu2ZzpkkhWwE_YIkwoqG9n_KNXO-f3OQ-lgB3SADuhUuygITihurkxo19YGziEjeMwrtYSPpYPNiDcH44yofjy0c8M4iIhjPvB2iadR5cw6JUbQyN95T3m91o90mFSZ3dZ0w/s320/IMG_4561.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Photo Credit: Scott Henderson, Henderson Images</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />After all that silliness, I switched it up next with Walterdale Theatre's production of <b><i><a href="https://www.walterdaletheatre.com/current-season/all-my-sons/" target="_blank">All My Sons</a></i></b> by Arthur Miller, directed by John Anderson. It was great to see this piece onstage. I have seen Miller's <i>Death of a Salesmen</i> several times, <i>The Crucible </i>twice and <i>A View From the Bridge </i>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. </p><p><b><i>All My Sons</i></b> runs to October 21st and tickets are $25 and are available <b><a href="https://walterdaletheatre.square.site/" target="_blank">here</a></b>. There is also a PWYC evening on Wednesday, October 18th. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpAq_ngFQSbM7eA6O8NzEzUqw3PqG6JPGj1eEAjYX3Kxcc1caf5-DPsxOXpG1SZufhxwAqhMqV3VJ-LYKU4Q6xchsm_qnPDovdcmjdnFqKaHZM664zGrfshVzHmKSDp8y1c4wgRhGxOn2UFIMc6GtrdReWIRT0mSj5Ip8otVlyIKeTW7RI-yhTBsm5WUNF/s238/rock%20and%20roll.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="180" data-original-width="238" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpAq_ngFQSbM7eA6O8NzEzUqw3PqG6JPGj1eEAjYX3Kxcc1caf5-DPsxOXpG1SZufhxwAqhMqV3VJ-LYKU4Q6xchsm_qnPDovdcmjdnFqKaHZM664zGrfshVzHmKSDp8y1c4wgRhGxOn2UFIMc6GtrdReWIRT0mSj5Ip8otVlyIKeTW7RI-yhTBsm5WUNF/s1600/rock%20and%20roll.jpg" width="238" /></a></div><br />And finally, a message out of the blue from an old high school friend yesterday afternoon had me taking in <b><i><a href="https://jubilations.ca/edmonton-venue/old-time-rock-roll/">Old Time Rock 'N Roll</a></i></b> 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. <p></p><p><i><b>Old Time Rock 'N Roll </b></i>runs to November 5th and tickets start at $75.95 (and include dinner) and are available<a href="https://jubilations.ca/edmonton-shows/" target="_blank"> <b>here.</b> </a></p><p>#yegtheatre #yegarts #allmysons #phoenixtoofrequent</p>Finsterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06571040830138200042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-96055505899007377.post-86765581592070355232023-08-27T08:10:00.003-07:002023-08-27T08:10:55.913-07:00Fringe #42 - Final Day of the Fringe - Last Reflections! <p>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<i><b> DomestiKATE</b></i> 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. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBGs8phgkFUXJJEw83548F3OKbYFIzJE5Cb47m9Zr7MIGXEXo7_oLCLSvalJeDuhKRfO2lIr-9VLtvKYfcN-mT-UdKYEHexVR769Gd6E1lGTtjSPegPtjIZIkS4gBbHdIE6N-YBuwP1lE1KJE0Bl87MtQ7G1gC9ieInUjJAiDcy3qmShfo1Vu6l4v8XGfB/s450/05-29-2023-143809-1669.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="450" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBGs8phgkFUXJJEw83548F3OKbYFIzJE5Cb47m9Zr7MIGXEXo7_oLCLSvalJeDuhKRfO2lIr-9VLtvKYfcN-mT-UdKYEHexVR769Gd6E1lGTtjSPegPtjIZIkS4gBbHdIE6N-YBuwP1lE1KJE0Bl87MtQ7G1gC9ieInUjJAiDcy3qmShfo1Vu6l4v8XGfB/s320/05-29-2023-143809-1669.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />Then, in late afternoon, a few of the ladies of Penelopiad and I caught <a href="https://tickets.fringetheatre.ca/event/601:5128/601:33713/" target="_blank">The Clockmaker</a>. 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!<p></p><p>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!</p><p>Happy Fringing!</p>Finsterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06571040830138200042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-96055505899007377.post-52372613223277176062023-08-26T08:43:00.001-07:002023-08-26T08:43:19.555-07:00Fringe #42 - Winding Down... Friday, August 25... <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR7M0pkUUjn0xxKnEfpzw8rgsR62o_ZLPhCluLM2CfIrcVK1hSsA5TIhbBUQQfNBy2cWAELMDQ8E-rndYQT7gzc9v0y2VEdw-ioJcuvVMuEhRgl_c5cOK2VnnM1NLzRHDcnvsmcP-N6X465KaTsgSywCQwEj-ExSLXcXpI4geTzqTMBUVU01cAXFe8lRVE/s843/369055752_6771302536253474_2309327219256902813_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="843" data-original-width="843" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR7M0pkUUjn0xxKnEfpzw8rgsR62o_ZLPhCluLM2CfIrcVK1hSsA5TIhbBUQQfNBy2cWAELMDQ8E-rndYQT7gzc9v0y2VEdw-ioJcuvVMuEhRgl_c5cOK2VnnM1NLzRHDcnvsmcP-N6X465KaTsgSywCQwEj-ExSLXcXpI4geTzqTMBUVU01cAXFe8lRVE/w320-h320/369055752_6771302536253474_2309327219256902813_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>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. <p></p><p>First up was <i><b><a href="https://tickets.fringetheatre.ca/event/601:5064/">Lizard Boy: The Musical</a>!</b></i> 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! </p><p>Next, after a long visit and some mini-donuts, I took in <b><i><a href="https://tickets.fringetheatre.ca/event/601:5061/601:33213/">Underbelly </a></i></b>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!</p><p><br /></p>Finsterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06571040830138200042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-96055505899007377.post-41657026008864895332023-08-25T08:36:00.000-07:002023-08-25T08:36:04.281-07:00Fringe #42 - Thursday, August 24th - My La Cite Day! and Word of Mouth<p>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!</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcBZCf_l4hiokKvzczjIt_eW2TiIEuGYj6kWBh_FN2qTwU7ixJdRj9YQTZn0vE10XfBRkliIjZ3vWPv887Nu2UczKZ1SyAt0dvv1FNdtjFzSyQSATrr1S7w6OTkLbyI8ezt0xTqY3iD52aI4zJOP8C-ly1XO4_2pSLXd3y5NYS3S3Jscohmq0GBccWGWUB/s1920/369896849_833696228541536_3263906091419355927_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1920" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcBZCf_l4hiokKvzczjIt_eW2TiIEuGYj6kWBh_FN2qTwU7ixJdRj9YQTZn0vE10XfBRkliIjZ3vWPv887Nu2UczKZ1SyAt0dvv1FNdtjFzSyQSATrr1S7w6OTkLbyI8ezt0xTqY3iD52aI4zJOP8C-ly1XO4_2pSLXd3y5NYS3S3Jscohmq0GBccWGWUB/w320-h160/369896849_833696228541536_3263906091419355927_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>It was a Twisted Christmas in August with <b><i><a href="https://tickets.fringetheatre.ca/event/601:5093/" target="_blank">Krampus</a></i></b>! 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!<p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipDabEgrfTSHMZMVPLZ9DIkyicl5o2vf7IE7NjqQ-EtyrMudVA9PPF7InqkpmP_5_XzpeVuDq7aQG1lpzpnjwqBWSML7l5IwZRU1TUWkGG-ekQFcm9hCRCM8sNWDS0XHnOZ-dJQ4QwRvNUVibwHE2OHbXO-1igdZHtHq00ADTny3blkXWcSCLs39be1iqp/s450/05-27-2023-142915-7356.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="450" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipDabEgrfTSHMZMVPLZ9DIkyicl5o2vf7IE7NjqQ-EtyrMudVA9PPF7InqkpmP_5_XzpeVuDq7aQG1lpzpnjwqBWSML7l5IwZRU1TUWkGG-ekQFcm9hCRCM8sNWDS0XHnOZ-dJQ4QwRvNUVibwHE2OHbXO-1igdZHtHq00ADTny3blkXWcSCLs39be1iqp/w200-h200/05-27-2023-142915-7356.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>I then took in Ken Brown's <i><b><a href="https://tickets.fringetheatre.ca/event/601:5074/" target="_blank">Life After Life After Hockey</a></b></i>. 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. <p></p><p>I next saw <b><i><a href="https://tickets.fringetheatre.ca/event/601:5135/" target="_blank">Makings of a Voice </a></i></b>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. </p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6NzZlfVSYHo0Yf4YIatHOAg34r4P1FN2P50V31C7PyRNUYKeqVlc1aafSdoq2h_HY0LRv33dv3D6RdojV5TIQoZm2G49IxKrVs-2SO9dWsr0bxOl05A9XPRtvNWT57ltnrWRxA6TUa1s8YdqszHTjGRek2zJCF18a2TmN9tqDFFsE9Eya7Zdrc5r9whAe/s376/word%20of%20mouth.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="338" data-original-width="376" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6NzZlfVSYHo0Yf4YIatHOAg34r4P1FN2P50V31C7PyRNUYKeqVlc1aafSdoq2h_HY0LRv33dv3D6RdojV5TIQoZm2G49IxKrVs-2SO9dWsr0bxOl05A9XPRtvNWT57ltnrWRxA6TUa1s8YdqszHTjGRek2zJCF18a2TmN9tqDFFsE9Eya7Zdrc5r9whAe/w200-h180/word%20of%20mouth.png" width="200" /></a></div><b>WORD OF MOUTH - Thursday, August 24</b><p></p><p class="yiv8084107171p1" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18.4px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; outline: none !important; text-align: center;"><span class="yiv8084107171s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 18.36px; outline: none !important;"><i>This Won't Hurt, I Promise</i></span></p><p class="yiv8084107171p1" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18.4px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; outline: none !important; text-align: center;"><span class="yiv8084107171s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 18.36px; outline: none !important;"><i>Thank You For Coming to my TED Talk</i></span></p><p class="yiv8084107171p1" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18.4px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; outline: none !important; text-align: center;"><span class="yiv8084107171s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 18.36px; outline: none !important;"><i>Sea Wall</i></span></p><p class="yiv8084107171p1" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18.4px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; outline: none !important; text-align: center;"><span class="yiv8084107171s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 18.36px; outline: none !important;"><i>God is a Scottish Drag Queen</i></span></p><p class="yiv8084107171p1" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18.4px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; outline: none !important; text-align: center;"><span class="yiv8084107171s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 18.36px; outline: none !important;"><i>Love, Kurt</i></span></p><p class="yiv8084107171p1" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18.4px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; outline: none !important; text-align: center;"><span class="yiv8084107171s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 18.36px; outline: none !important;"><i>Long Night of the American Dream</i></span></p><p class="yiv8084107171p1" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18.4px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; outline: none !important; text-align: center;"><span class="yiv8084107171s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 18.36px; outline: none !important;"><i>Martin Dockery </i></span></p><p class="yiv8084107171p1" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18.4px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; outline: none !important; text-align: center;"><span class="yiv8084107171s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 18.36px; outline: none !important;"><i>Chase Padgett</i></span></p><p class="yiv8084107171p1" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18.4px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; outline: none !important; text-align: center;"><span class="yiv8084107171s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 18.36px; outline: none !important;"><i>Titanical : the musical</i></span></p><p class="yiv8084107171p1" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18.4px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; outline: none !important; text-align: center;"><span class="yiv8084107171s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 18.36px; outline: none !important;"><i>Morningside Road</i></span></p><p class="yiv8084107171p1" style="background-color: white; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; outline: none !important; text-align: center;"><span class="yiv8084107171s1" style="outline: none !important;"><i><span style="color: #1d2228; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><span style="font-size: 18.36px;">Muse</span></span><br /><span style="color: #1d2228; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><span style="font-size: 18.36px;">The Clockmaker</span></span><br /><span style="color: #1d2228; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><span style="font-size: 18.36px;">Breaking Bard</span></span><br /><span style="color: #1d2228; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><span style="font-size: 18.36px;">Millennial Sex Witch</span></span></i></span></p><p class="yiv8084107171p1" style="background-color: white; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; outline: none !important; text-align: center;"><span class="yiv8084107171s1" style="outline: none !important;"><i><span style="color: #1d2228; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><span style="font-size: 18.36px;">Tiger Lady<br />The Approach<br /><br /></span></span></i></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p>Finsterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06571040830138200042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-96055505899007377.post-5733566453098306152023-08-24T08:40:00.006-07:002023-08-25T08:06:36.855-07:00Fringe #42 - Wednesday, Aug 23rd - A Music Filled Day! And WORD OF MOUTH!<p><b><i><a href="https://tickets.fringetheatre.ca/event/601:5183/601:33899/" target="_blank"></a></i></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSDg20bZXgg_KTEF17iGToL71UsZcuvhinuBVs0Nlhu33ZpSjx4224PV2SEyizfeopoTlIlfX9foHk6o5ziaI_Zl7kuRQXknABAh7mU2a4wwZpB0i_CVD8CbvyW0A1CLsixn1HkE7J-YUoC0XnEz6ZVWA9Rq25Om_lS-14NXHM93vMC-xI-xERKBcaM7id/s450/08-09-2023-031606-5496.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="450" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSDg20bZXgg_KTEF17iGToL71UsZcuvhinuBVs0Nlhu33ZpSjx4224PV2SEyizfeopoTlIlfX9foHk6o5ziaI_Zl7kuRQXknABAh7mU2a4wwZpB0i_CVD8CbvyW0A1CLsixn1HkE7J-YUoC0XnEz6ZVWA9Rq25Om_lS-14NXHM93vMC-xI-xERKBcaM7id/w200-h200/08-09-2023-031606-5496.jpg" width="200" /></a></i></b></div><b><i><br /><a href="https://tickets.fringetheatre.ca/event/601:5183/601:33899/" target="_blank">Undiscovered Country </a></i></b>- 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. <p></p><p><b><i><a href="https://tickets.fringetheatre.ca/event/601:5060/" target="_blank"></a></i></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5Sz10w5owc7pJEgWgIMHtfVyImnrbMY9dWgSIjFbeorU6DrflGMkfznjCsrW4oiuK1Kks0b1a5-SFFEKl2E-YKl40jHPTvV5h4Wy8OQgLwdsi7RtRoQn5V04ILad1mCrepYVfxsWJGrdkWilRpaUItWlzdelBFa6UmL8574fPeRbDwHKQZKwvwkx6UDRn/s450/04-27-2023-115952-1080.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="450" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5Sz10w5owc7pJEgWgIMHtfVyImnrbMY9dWgSIjFbeorU6DrflGMkfznjCsrW4oiuK1Kks0b1a5-SFFEKl2E-YKl40jHPTvV5h4Wy8OQgLwdsi7RtRoQn5V04ILad1mCrepYVfxsWJGrdkWilRpaUItWlzdelBFa6UmL8574fPeRbDwHKQZKwvwkx6UDRn/w200-h200/04-27-2023-115952-1080.jpg" width="200" /></a></i></b></div><b><i><br /><a href="https://tickets.fringetheatre.ca/event/601:5060/" target="_blank">Tiger Lady</a> </i></b>- 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! <p></p><p><b><i><a href="https://tickets.fringetheatre.ca/event/601:5167/">Amor de Cosmos </a></i></b>- 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!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVKsTiPD2GT8Zo2ZCkDHtBFhuoQcPP-f2hTVqHT8t0lAUkvCQN76KoPCTNhHGSG2jl1D4k77LflADX7UqeI_GEoAq-J1FsnEw-pGKx2WDr9BNeexAosQuenjqR4mYWqeQHz6VXFEKtR9cQQT6HQ386-xBZ3DsHOemRfVrD8alAcBf4IzCK_Kqu3lGBQQTJ/s376/word%20of%20mouth.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="338" data-original-width="376" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVKsTiPD2GT8Zo2ZCkDHtBFhuoQcPP-f2hTVqHT8t0lAUkvCQN76KoPCTNhHGSG2jl1D4k77LflADX7UqeI_GEoAq-J1FsnEw-pGKx2WDr9BNeexAosQuenjqR4mYWqeQHz6VXFEKtR9cQQT6HQ386-xBZ3DsHOemRfVrD8alAcBf4IzCK_Kqu3lGBQQTJ/w200-h180/word%20of%20mouth.png" width="200" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">WORD OF MOUTH - <span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Wednesday, August 23</span></span></b></p><p class="yiv9474825111p2" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18.4px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; outline: none; text-align: center;"><span class="yiv9474825111s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 18.36px; outline: none;"><i>Tango in the Dark</i></span></p><p class="yiv9474825111p2" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18.4px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; outline: none; text-align: center;"><span class="yiv9474825111s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 18.36px; outline: none;"><i>Sea Wall (Top recommendation)</i></span></p><p class="yiv9474825111p2" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18.4px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; outline: none; text-align: center;"><span class="yiv9474825111s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 18.36px; outline: none;"><i>Morningside Road</i></span></p><p class="yiv9474825111p2" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18.4px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; outline: none; text-align: center;"><span class="yiv9474825111s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 18.36px; outline: none;"><i>The Approach</i></span></p><p class="yiv9474825111p2" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18.4px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; outline: none; text-align: center;"><span class="yiv9474825111s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 18.36px; outline: none;"><i>Epidermis Circus</i></span></p><p class="yiv9474825111p2" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18.4px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; outline: none; text-align: center;"><span class="yiv9474825111s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 18.36px; outline: none;"><i>Love, Kurt</i></span></p><p class="yiv9474825111p2" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18.4px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; outline: none; text-align: center;"><span class="yiv9474825111s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 18.36px; outline: none;"><i>Train One to Coal Valley</i></span></p><p class="yiv9474825111p2" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18.4px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; outline: none; text-align: center;"><span class="yiv9474825111s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 18.36px; outline: none;"><i>Muse</i></span></p><p class="yiv9474825111p2" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18.4px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; outline: none; text-align: center;"><span class="yiv9474825111s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 18.36px; outline: none;"><i>Il Tabaro</i></span></p><p class="yiv9474825111p2" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18.4px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; outline: none; text-align: center;"><span class="yiv9474825111s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 18.36px; outline: none;"><i>Bathsheba and the Books</i></span></p><p class="yiv9474825111p2" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18.4px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; outline: none; text-align: center;"><span class="yiv9474825111s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 18.36px; outline: none;"><i>The Makings of a Voice (Dana Wylie)</i></span></p><p class="yiv9474825111p2" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18.4px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; outline: none; text-align: center;"><span class="yiv9474825111s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 18.36px; outline: none;"><i>Krampus</i></span></p><p class="yiv9474825111p2" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18.4px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; outline: none; text-align: center;"><span class="yiv9474825111s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 18.36px; outline: none;"><i>Life After Life After Hockey</i></span></p><p class="yiv9474825111p2" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18.4px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; outline: none; text-align: center;"><span class="yiv9474825111s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 18.36px; outline: none;"><i>Donating Sperm to my Sisters Wife</i></span></p><p class="yiv9474825111p2" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18.4px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; outline: none; text-align: center;"><span class="yiv9474825111s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 18.36px; outline: none;"><i>Tiger Lady</i></span></p><p class="yiv9474825111p2" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18.4px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; outline: none; text-align: center;"><span class="yiv9474825111s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 18.36px; outline: none;"><i>Chase Padgett: Nashville Hurricane</i></span></p><p class="yiv9474825111p2" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18.4px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; outline: none; text-align: center;"><span class="yiv9474825111s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 18.36px; outline: none;"><i>Jimmy Hogg: The Potato King</i></span></p><p class="yiv9474825111p2" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18.4px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; outline: none; text-align: center;"><span class="yiv9474825111s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 18.36px; outline: none;"><i>Paco Erhard: How To Monetize Free Hugs</i></span></p><p class="yiv9474825111p2" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18.4px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; outline: none; text-align: center;"><span class="yiv9474825111s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 18.36px; outline: none;"><i>Rat Academy</i></span></p><p class="yiv9474825111p2" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18.4px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; outline: none; text-align: center;"><span class="yiv9474825111s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 18.36px; outline: none;"><i>Anatomica </i></span></p><p class="yiv9474825111p2" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18.4px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; outline: none; text-align: center;"><span class="yiv9474825111s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 18.36px; outline: none;"><i>Let’s Talk About Your Death</i></span></p><p class="yiv9474825111p2" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18.4px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; outline: none; text-align: center;"><span class="yiv9474825111s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 18.36px; outline: none;"><i>Absolute Magic</i></span></p><p class="yiv9474825111p2" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18.4px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; outline: none; text-align: center;"><span class="yiv9474825111s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 18.36px; outline: none;"><i>The War Comic</i></span></p><p class="yiv9474825111p2" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18.4px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; outline: none; text-align: center;"><span class="yiv9474825111s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 18.36px; outline: none;"><i>Martin Dockery (both shows)</i></span></p><p class="yiv9474825111p2" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18.4px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; outline: none; text-align: center;"><span class="yiv9474825111s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 18.36px; outline: none;"><i>Jon Bennett: Fire in the Meth Lab</i></span></p>Finsterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06571040830138200042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-96055505899007377.post-22558172422232099522023-08-23T09:06:00.007-07:002023-08-23T09:06:55.783-07:00Fringe #42 - Tuesday, August 22 - Getting all the Answers... and more WORD OF MOUTH recommendations!<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhygUf_BLNdBCdArb05x5g1BirDfJyhEyPsEjnEWcjaGAeZCBVkcWpiyKy9EsYLRhPTOFLHggkYBYlEbrrnLUlwghmVuxAxu0ik7_WZ9UwF1sLvsOdvRaq1CeMkOzNdr1CNZIWX9AwMk7FsV6aZuSjYBI2mtPRp8NBZaphWRaHNd8GDLp2OUJUvySp3peWG/s843/369244099_791926626115645_6361695572575355404_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="843" data-original-width="843" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhygUf_BLNdBCdArb05x5g1BirDfJyhEyPsEjnEWcjaGAeZCBVkcWpiyKy9EsYLRhPTOFLHggkYBYlEbrrnLUlwghmVuxAxu0ik7_WZ9UwF1sLvsOdvRaq1CeMkOzNdr1CNZIWX9AwMk7FsV6aZuSjYBI2mtPRp8NBZaphWRaHNd8GDLp2OUJUvySp3peWG/w200-h200/369244099_791926626115645_6361695572575355404_n.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>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 <a href="https://tickets.fringetheatre.ca/event/601:5057/" style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">The Marvelous Wonderettes - Caps and Gowns!</a> 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! <p></p><p>I went in a very different direction checking out <i><b><a href="https://tickets.fringetheatre.ca/event/601:4983/" target="_blank">The Mine.</a></b></i> 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! </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIckImZtOdDRMjbF5WcrW6ny8HUQYOsTTRfGT3b4ED1BF3_su9uO-YKJi44Mc8JhizKiiy2de-hx5n3CVbClvTkFSdKBySlr9GHGbFrlpASCJmlhgMJ_FVQk1Gxr08a04oAKQSYS1NSRbjR-vcKZ2-UesZllnyf81ndLxmZLfIuP1maaxLJnK_kbqzJwdJ/s843/366716524_10167802987950507_8458114881743975363_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="843" data-original-width="843" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIckImZtOdDRMjbF5WcrW6ny8HUQYOsTTRfGT3b4ED1BF3_su9uO-YKJi44Mc8JhizKiiy2de-hx5n3CVbClvTkFSdKBySlr9GHGbFrlpASCJmlhgMJ_FVQk1Gxr08a04oAKQSYS1NSRbjR-vcKZ2-UesZllnyf81ndLxmZLfIuP1maaxLJnK_kbqzJwdJ/w200-h200/366716524_10167802987950507_8458114881743975363_n.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>My last show of the day was <b><a href="https://tickets.fringetheatre.ca/event/601:5134/" target="_blank"><i>Lady Porn</i></a></b> 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! <p></p><p><br /></p><p class="yiv2535362610p2" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18.4px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; outline: none !important;"><span class="yiv2535362610s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 18.36px; outline: none !important;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEi5dSVaqaDbfKNYngvrw_tNfAGSMUsCJYck2HP31f7URD-xWx7yyd2JcR6XV-JNqV_SoWcb0SYsqo7tJH2tf5f_y7MJSJXSQ9g7_WPF4iOVC9WzO4zTjJ6xe17Nh5O0pSDNNoQr1wf1B3fSxQDil8ncyhaYmRfvbS7G8589dRQ4RdqZfYLZjpO6flnoqV/s376/word%20of%20mouth.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="338" data-original-width="376" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEi5dSVaqaDbfKNYngvrw_tNfAGSMUsCJYck2HP31f7URD-xWx7yyd2JcR6XV-JNqV_SoWcb0SYsqo7tJH2tf5f_y7MJSJXSQ9g7_WPF4iOVC9WzO4zTjJ6xe17Nh5O0pSDNNoQr1wf1B3fSxQDil8ncyhaYmRfvbS7G8589dRQ4RdqZfYLZjpO6flnoqV/w200-h180/word%20of%20mouth.png" width="200" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b>WORD OF MOUTH - Tuesday, August 22nd</b></div><p></p><p class="yiv2535362610p2" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18.4px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; outline: none !important; text-align: center;"><span class="yiv2535362610s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 18.36px; outline: none !important;"><i>Tango in the Dark </i></span><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 18.36px;"><i>Seawall </i></span><span class="yiv2535362610s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 18.36px; outline: none !important;"><i>Old-ish </i></span><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 18.36px;"><i>Morningside Road</i></span></p><p class="yiv2535362610p2" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18.4px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; outline: none !important; text-align: center;"><span class="yiv2535362610s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 18.36px; outline: none !important;"><i>Tales From the Hospital </i></span><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 18.36px;"><i>Muse </i></span><span class="yiv2535362610s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 18.36px; outline: none !important;"><i>90 Lies An Hour </i></span><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 18.36px;"><i>Charade</i></span></p><p class="yiv2535362610p2" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18.4px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; outline: none !important; text-align: center;"><span class="yiv2535362610s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 18.36px; outline: none !important;"><i>Forest of Truth </i></span><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 18.36px;"><i>Stigma, Pistil and Style </i></span><span class="yiv2535362610s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 18.36px; outline: none !important;"><i>Multi Vs. </i></span><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 18.36px;"><i>Lady Porn </i></span></p><p class="yiv2535362610p2" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18.4px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; outline: none !important; text-align: center;"><span class="yiv2535362610s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 18.36px; outline: none !important;"><i>Puck Bunnies </i></span><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 18.36px;"><i>Lesbihonest </i></span><i style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 18.36px;">Epidermis Circus</i></p>Finsterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06571040830138200042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-96055505899007377.post-71405081020111713772023-08-21T18:57:00.005-07:002023-08-21T18:57:33.774-07:00Fringe #42 - Monday, August 21 - Two more shows, visiting and WORD OF MOUTH!<p>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 (<i><b><a href="https://tickets.fringetheatre.ca/event/601:5083/" target="_blank">Cabaret of Murder</a></b></i>) was<b> Sold Out</b> 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 <b>mostly theatre</b>, 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 <i><b><a href="https://tickets.fringetheatre.ca/event/601:5134/" target="_blank">Lady Porn</a></b></i> is on at the Fringe this year (<i>I hear it's hilarious and am going to see it tomorrow!</i>) and my friend Lucas whose show <b><i><a href="https://tickets.fringetheatre.ca/event/601:5128/" target="_blank">The Clockmaker </a></i></b>is also on this year (<i>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!</i>). </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjqKkvISJQxYv13XJ0ouWPPvWMIUXId9ppMmkrULCJiLETf8LbOl-0tqN-ZBiM6VUpYLgIlM_8yMjM5oYKDnPSsTQkHdNNYo7_ET_Im6eeicmjtNjQZWQ2fUm2m-PO4NWH3t7eHSvh3guhlU-Sh0o7OKqAfzU3aBJ6mcvPCpWn0riZztZg3Smx4q4JbPnfg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="450" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjqKkvISJQxYv13XJ0ouWPPvWMIUXId9ppMmkrULCJiLETf8LbOl-0tqN-ZBiM6VUpYLgIlM_8yMjM5oYKDnPSsTQkHdNNYo7_ET_Im6eeicmjtNjQZWQ2fUm2m-PO4NWH3t7eHSvh3guhlU-Sh0o7OKqAfzU3aBJ6mcvPCpWn0riZztZg3Smx4q4JbPnfg" width="240" /></a></div><br />What I did get to see were two very funny shows, both of which I recommend you check out. First I saw <b><i><a href="https://tickets.fringetheatre.ca/event/601:4978/" target="_blank">In Waking Life </a></i></b>at the Yardbird. It was very, very funny. I picked it because it was the <b>Pick of the Toronto Fringe</b> 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! <p></p><p><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi09ciaJws0SZ1ayRv8peyGyiMfJfdRqjfOg_gqYoupyfmo--GBjJpG9zH90Qs5vhCDlkNcFtita-Jo5B0__faNZdKVapbKF0hCVBrKWKL24EJu8yHS0ISH607Q6LvnMk9isIr2sOwNf_W-Is6UvXlaFzz5S1poD2dSNmsomaIUab3RDvSfpYTnjogZ-iuJ/s1080/368247721_6648186378579547_4920188071911145331_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="765" data-original-width="1080" height="227" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi09ciaJws0SZ1ayRv8peyGyiMfJfdRqjfOg_gqYoupyfmo--GBjJpG9zH90Qs5vhCDlkNcFtita-Jo5B0__faNZdKVapbKF0hCVBrKWKL24EJu8yHS0ISH607Q6LvnMk9isIr2sOwNf_W-Is6UvXlaFzz5S1poD2dSNmsomaIUab3RDvSfpYTnjogZ-iuJ/s320/368247721_6648186378579547_4920188071911145331_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Next up was <i><b><a href="https://tickets.fringetheatre.ca/event/601:5085/" target="_blank">Puck Bunnies</a></b></i> 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! <p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtktoGMGcso3TY_5Q4i_C8J9HaBWQyVzSZH7NK9A8cOnOIXvPm0SM70Wa8hrEYCF-JMQxAAIlmXzracwzhxWzg0AWt3CTa75UNoRwHlTn8oKHtx8xY8QAkWdJUBpkwuQOzvOuPwDKl22_BpDchHPSq1UhBJZpsGyb4OByz-zBCLPL3QGWlnHy-0YNJzFFq/s376/word%20of%20mouth.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="338" data-original-width="376" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtktoGMGcso3TY_5Q4i_C8J9HaBWQyVzSZH7NK9A8cOnOIXvPm0SM70Wa8hrEYCF-JMQxAAIlmXzracwzhxWzg0AWt3CTa75UNoRwHlTn8oKHtx8xY8QAkWdJUBpkwuQOzvOuPwDKl22_BpDchHPSq1UhBJZpsGyb4OByz-zBCLPL3QGWlnHy-0YNJzFFq/s320/word%20of%20mouth.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">WORD OF MOUTH - Monday, August 21st</span></b></div><p></p><p></p><div style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: medium;">DomestiKATE: Comedy Circus Show</span></b></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: medium;">The Clockmaker</span></b></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Shakespeare's Sirens</span></b></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: medium;">The Noteworthy Life of Howard Barnes</span></b></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Anatolia Speaks<br />Life After Life After Hockey<br /></span></i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Gordon's Big Bald Head</span></b></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Titanical the Musical</b><br /><b>The Family Crow</b><br /><b>what the hell was that!?</b></span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Finding Your Voice</span></b></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Let's Talk About Your Death<br />Tree</span></b></i></div><p></p>Finsterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06571040830138200042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-96055505899007377.post-4906034187307726692023-08-21T09:09:00.002-07:002023-08-21T09:09:22.408-07:00Fringe #42 - Sunday, August 20, 2023 - Couple More Shows and Sunday's WORD OF MOUTH!<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiYSWpbpmdEvrWsC3bLZaEhEWy9GBVENU90ZYj-p94eKgaLYPWXFPdr84SJ9qQPvZwiOqAfTbTJjScnmrQxxwhtinod6F1oWTEHBhU6uHC899LrNoDj6n5kmKNj7EBwOZ0xM_yA0BM9mr7TBEIZ7R602xNqyYDZicojfSFLCYWmxwsoWzAiJmRwM3kBckS9" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="450" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiYSWpbpmdEvrWsC3bLZaEhEWy9GBVENU90ZYj-p94eKgaLYPWXFPdr84SJ9qQPvZwiOqAfTbTJjScnmrQxxwhtinod6F1oWTEHBhU6uHC899LrNoDj6n5kmKNj7EBwOZ0xM_yA0BM9mr7TBEIZ7R602xNqyYDZicojfSFLCYWmxwsoWzAiJmRwM3kBckS9" width="240" /></a></div><br />Caught a few more shows on Sunday afternoon. <p></p><p>I started with <b><i><a href="https://tickets.fringetheatre.ca/event/601:4969/" target="_blank">FIJI</a></i></b> 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. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEia8KkJXNTDudGHTUSbjaw1Cb3Eu28TzqtX-RdVHbH9mXtjQ-y89-o4uYqrTXiPWJHAUbaMtBKkl3rG5DWErKMgp2d5wWZ-qbsucEy8h239Tx9ZJ10kcdVxNsLY4yxiaJGDAyROsY9HSaW9eNcWocqSMiYUzxq6-v5ac_xv8KOQiJAzR2IejN9fA4LYBxeY" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="450" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEia8KkJXNTDudGHTUSbjaw1Cb3Eu28TzqtX-RdVHbH9mXtjQ-y89-o4uYqrTXiPWJHAUbaMtBKkl3rG5DWErKMgp2d5wWZ-qbsucEy8h239Tx9ZJ10kcdVxNsLY4yxiaJGDAyROsY9HSaW9eNcWocqSMiYUzxq6-v5ac_xv8KOQiJAzR2IejN9fA4LYBxeY" width="240" /></a></div>I followed that up with <b><i><a href="https://tickets.fringetheatre.ca/event/601:5098/" target="_blank">The Cabin on Bald Dune</a></i></b> 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 "<i>what is going on here?</i>" 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.<p></p><p>I wrapped up the day with a very silly Sherlock show - <b><i><a href="https://tickets.fringetheatre.ca/event/601:4955/" target="_blank">Sherlock Holmes and the Inane Investigation </a></i></b>- which drew many laughs from the audience. It was indeed an inane investigation and this Sherlock is not necessarily the '<i>on top of it all</i>' Sherlock that most of us are familiar with - Which is part of the humour of the show. </p><p style="text-align: center;"><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtxFuKjch95c4pCiOMCGrGskxi-uNpxsZ-uvz2G7fRr50JwqEW42AdbF4p0doUxEhSM9J23ePrPpc120S6au5Yhg5f3fAkuE-Z-c1oILrOgn3WvKL6j_YbVbFMYxfttsgaozHv6XkIsYfXRjWvNiIqGtdH93vJLVlQeTxXDe1CvaCZvU1RHmoM_s9xLjP1/s376/word%20of%20mouth.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="338" data-original-width="376" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtxFuKjch95c4pCiOMCGrGskxi-uNpxsZ-uvz2G7fRr50JwqEW42AdbF4p0doUxEhSM9J23ePrPpc120S6au5Yhg5f3fAkuE-Z-c1oILrOgn3WvKL6j_YbVbFMYxfttsgaozHv6XkIsYfXRjWvNiIqGtdH93vJLVlQeTxXDe1CvaCZvU1RHmoM_s9xLjP1/s320/word%20of%20mouth.png" width="320" /></a></b></div><b><br />WORD OF MOUTH - SUNDAY, AUGUST 20th</b><p></p><p class="yiv4659901652p3" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18.4px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; outline: none !important; text-align: center;"><span class="yiv4659901652s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 18.36px; outline: none !important;"><b><i>Gordon’s Big Bald Head<span> <span> </span><span> </span></span></i></b></span><b style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 18.36px;"><i>Edgar Perry<span> </span><span> </span><span><span> </span></span></i></b><b style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 18.36px;"><i>Puck Bunnies</i></b></p><p class="yiv4659901652p3" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18.4px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; outline: none !important; text-align: center;"><span class="yiv4659901652s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 18.36px; outline: none !important;"><b><i>Breaking Bard<span> </span><span><span> </span></span></i></b></span><b style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 18.36px;"><i>Martin Dockery<span> </span><span> </span><span> </span></i></b><b style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 18.36px;"><i>Agent Thunder</i></b></p><p class="yiv4659901652p3" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18.4px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; outline: none !important; text-align: center;"><span class="yiv4659901652s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 18.36px; outline: none !important;"><b><i>Sherlock Holmes Experience<span> </span><span> </span></i></b></span><b style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 18.36px;"><i>Grand Beaver</i></b></p><p class="yiv4659901652p3" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18.4px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; outline: none !important; text-align: center;"><span class="yiv4659901652s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 18.36px; outline: none !important;"><b><i>Bathsheba and the Books<span> </span><span> </span><span> </span></i></b></span><b style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 18.36px;"><i>Multi Vs.<span> </span><span> </span><span> The </span></i></b><b style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 18.36px;"><i>Clockmaker</i></b></p><p class="yiv4659901652p3" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18.4px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; outline: none !important; text-align: center;"><span class="yiv4659901652s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 18.36px; outline: none !important;"><b><i>DomestiKATE: Comedy Circus Show<span> </span><span> </span><span> </span></i></b></span><b style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 18.36px;"><i>‘James and Jamesy’ - Easy as Pie</i></b></p><p class="yiv4659901652p3" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18.4px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; outline: none !important; text-align: center;"><span class="yiv4659901652s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 18.36px; outline: none !important;"><b><i>The Noteworthy Life of Howard Barnes<span> </span><span> </span><span> </span></i></b></span><b style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 18.36px;"><i>I Wish My Life Were like a Musical</i></b></p><p class="yiv4659901652p3" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18.4px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; outline: none !important; text-align: center;"><span class="yiv4659901652s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 18.36px; outline: none !important;"><b><i>AWOL<span> </span><span> </span></i></b></span><b style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 18.36px;"><i>Il Tabarro<span> </span><span> </span></i></b><b style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 18.36px;"><i>Il Duo: The Reunion Tour</i></b></p><p class="yiv4659901652p3" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18.4px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; outline: none !important; text-align: center;"><span class="yiv4659901652s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 18.36px; outline: none !important;"><b><i>Morningside Road</i></b></span></p><p><br /></p>Finsterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06571040830138200042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-96055505899007377.post-87306332301726814662023-08-20T08:47:00.000-07:002023-08-20T08:47:00.398-07:00Fringe #42 - Sat, Aug 19 - Three Great Musicals and More WORD OF MOUTH Recommendations! <p>I saw three great musicals on Saturday. They were very different, but enjoyable in their own ways! First I took in <b><i><a href="https://tickets.fringetheatre.ca/event/601:5011/" target="_blank">Morningside Road</a></i></b>, 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! </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEii8CocdYK_NDJ5DxrFGe4CViKJeFFMW8XBc7qCws2JhLqwYud8_QJJhT1M9Oq1iIyo_qjQ-zdn8HBXedsZu61MjtjA7GsKDTmmySN9uvxm27BevwODmY7zsADU_pR18v-3BPZ_iqsMOu3wIsLX7TtFrSAF89cuCHo_tazGpKn3gXoiLKKkhMAJdgfRhLqV" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1440" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEii8CocdYK_NDJ5DxrFGe4CViKJeFFMW8XBc7qCws2JhLqwYud8_QJJhT1M9Oq1iIyo_qjQ-zdn8HBXedsZu61MjtjA7GsKDTmmySN9uvxm27BevwODmY7zsADU_pR18v-3BPZ_iqsMOu3wIsLX7TtFrSAF89cuCHo_tazGpKn3gXoiLKKkhMAJdgfRhLqV" width="320" /></a></div><br />Next up was <b><i><a href="https://tickets.fringetheatre.ca/event/601:5099/" target="_blank">The Noteworthy Life of Howard Barnes</a></i></b> 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! <p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEioC4jNGND4CgsB3LeYO-lIsW38B1TaDYsEpKXggtEodJH7Ua7NkQa1QXYNjkamyHOOfXslDoPyMSRQnqMaxrumIih6Qto1QGmtE56Zk_7lQ6x96Roe9w0ZFvC9cDLLFjp86mCAKe9qjoYLY7315tWFN-YNldJK7emi3jU9Lo3J1_YFW4Dj_1sSFKqNeEmZ" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="902" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEioC4jNGND4CgsB3LeYO-lIsW38B1TaDYsEpKXggtEodJH7Ua7NkQa1QXYNjkamyHOOfXslDoPyMSRQnqMaxrumIih6Qto1QGmtE56Zk_7lQ6x96Roe9w0ZFvC9cDLLFjp86mCAKe9qjoYLY7315tWFN-YNldJK7emi3jU9Lo3J1_YFW4Dj_1sSFKqNeEmZ" width="320" /></a></div><br />I wrapped up my day with <b><i><a href="https://tickets.fringetheatre.ca/event/601:5095/" target="_blank">Scoobie Doosical</a></i></b> - 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. <p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOFKb2OVWLFbqIwH3Npy2pU6CPbvB_96SR8Ueig67Jc_4gzrDxtC5hpbPJLzDl6vLvcNZ6-ms5JPbdXuSAJXxEAnK74nYt0kw8TrJoN0Rp5iMcHihJPb93PjKxKqosudikJyU5AalbHu1BipyEKfqbct7LmrJ_UipPbZugsUaTQPHzL-9cmhjeAOY0dx8M/s376/word%20of%20mouth.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="338" data-original-width="376" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOFKb2OVWLFbqIwH3Npy2pU6CPbvB_96SR8Ueig67Jc_4gzrDxtC5hpbPJLzDl6vLvcNZ6-ms5JPbdXuSAJXxEAnK74nYt0kw8TrJoN0Rp5iMcHihJPb93PjKxKqosudikJyU5AalbHu1BipyEKfqbct7LmrJ_UipPbZugsUaTQPHzL-9cmhjeAOY0dx8M/s320/word%20of%20mouth.png" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /><b><br /></b></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><b>WORD OF MOUTH - <span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228;">Saturday, August 19</span></b></span></p><p class="yiv9310443455p1" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18.4px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; outline: none !important;"><span class="yiv9310443455s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 18.36px; outline: none !important;"><i><b>Horse Face</b></i></span></p><p class="yiv9310443455p1" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18.4px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; outline: none !important;"><span class="yiv9310443455s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 18.36px; outline: none !important;"><i><b>The Cabin on Bald Dune</b></i></span></p><p class="yiv9310443455p1" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18.4px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; outline: none !important;"><span class="yiv9310443455s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 18.36px; outline: none !important;"><i><b>Edgar Perry</b></i></span></p><p class="yiv9310443455p1" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18.4px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; outline: none !important;"><span class="yiv9310443455s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 18.36px; outline: none !important;"><i><b>AWOL</b></i></span></p><p class="yiv9310443455p1" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18.4px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; outline: none !important;"><span class="yiv9310443455s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 18.36px; outline: none !important;"><i style="font-weight: bold;">Tiger Lady </i>- Most Recommended</span></p><p class="yiv9310443455p1" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18.4px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; outline: none !important;"><span class="yiv9310443455s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 18.36px; outline: none !important;"><i><b>Breaking Bard</b></i></span></p><p class="yiv9310443455p1" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18.4px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; outline: none !important;"><span class="yiv9310443455s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 18.36px; outline: none !important;"><i><b>Die Nasty</b></i></span></p><p class="yiv9310443455p1" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18.4px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; outline: none !important;"><span class="yiv9310443455s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 18.36px; outline: none !important;"><i><b>Aliya Kanani: Where You From, From?</b></i></span></p><p class="yiv9310443455p1" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18.4px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; outline: none !important;"><span class="yiv9310443455s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 18.36px; outline: none !important;"><i><b>Talk Treaty to Me</b></i></span></p><p class="yiv9310443455p1" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18.4px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; outline: none !important;"><span class="yiv9310443455s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 18.36px; outline: none !important;"><i><b>Jesus felt</b></i></span></p><p class="yiv9310443455p1" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18.4px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; outline: none !important;"><span class="yiv9310443455s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 18.36px; outline: none !important;"><i><b>Krampus</b></i></span></p><p class="yiv9310443455p1" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18.4px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; outline: none !important;"><span class="yiv9310443455s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 18.36px; outline: none !important;"><i style="font-weight: bold;">Fiji - </i>(It's a "what the - ?!?! kind of show" - the patron wanted a disclaimer)</span></p><p class="yiv9310443455p1" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18.4px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; outline: none !important;"><span class="yiv9310443455s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 18.36px; outline: none !important;"><i><b>Life after life after…</b></i></span></p><p class="yiv9310443455p1" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18.4px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; outline: none !important;"><span class="yiv9310443455s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 18.36px; outline: none !important;"><i><b>Finding Your Voice (Dana Wylie)</b></i></span></p><p class="yiv9310443455p1" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18.4px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; outline: none !important;"><span class="yiv9310443455s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 18.36px; outline: none !important;"><i><b>Clown Macbeth </b></i></span></p><p class="yiv9310443455p1" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18.4px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; outline: none !important;"><span class="yiv9310443455s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 18.36px; outline: none !important;"><i><b>Millennial Sex Witch</b></i></span></p><p class="yiv9310443455p1" style="background-color: white; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; outline: none !important;"><span class="yiv9310443455s1" style="color: #1d2228; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 18.36px; outline: none !important;"><i><b>Insert Clown here<br /></b></i></span><span style="color: #1d2228; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><span style="font-size: 18.36px;"><b><i>Il Tabaro</i></b></span></span></p><p class="yiv9310443455p1" style="background-color: white; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; outline: none !important;"><span class="yiv9310443455s1" style="outline: none !important;"><span style="color: #1d2228; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><span style="font-size: 18.36px;"><b><i>Puck Bunnies<br />Breaking Bard</i></b></span></span></span></p><div class="x1h91t0o xkh2ocl x78zum5 xdt5ytf x13a6bvl x193iq5w x1c4vz4f xcrg951 x1sxyh0 x1nvil2r" role="none" style="align-items: inherit; align-self: stretch; color: #1c1e21; display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 0; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; justify-content: flex-end; max-width: 100%; padding-left: calc(var(--mwp-message-list-profile-start-padding,8px) - 2px); padding-right: 8px;"><div aria-hidden="true" class="xuk3077 x78zum5 x2lah0s x1fgtraw xgd8bvy" style="align-items: flex-end; display: flex; flex-shrink: 0; font-family: inherit; height: 28px; width: 28px;"><span class="x4k7w5x x1h91t0o x1h9r5lt x1jfb8zj xv2umb2 x1beo9mf xaigb6o x12ejxvf x3igimt xarpa2k xedcshv x1lytzrv x1t2pt76 x7ja8zs x1qrby5j" style="align-items: inherit; align-self: inherit; display: inherit; flex-direction: inherit; flex: inherit; font-family: inherit; height: inherit; max-height: inherit; max-width: inherit; min-height: inherit; min-width: inherit; place-content: inherit; width: inherit;"><br /></span></div></div><br /><p></p>Finsterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06571040830138200042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-96055505899007377.post-48329541342222717962023-08-18T18:01:00.002-07:002023-08-19T08:10:09.436-07:00Fringe #42 - First Few Shows and First Word of Mouth for the Festival<p>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!</p><p>First, I saw<b><i><a href="https://tickets.fringetheatre.ca/event/601:4998/" target="_blank"> i carry your heart with me</a></i></b>, 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. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjbvXFgVZHOMDrAjMt4RqHcqby9LfjOFovsiU9hRx3771iOMC5AP9nmF8h-kZkSlljhRV-ZQm9CIpgX8UlLxqtMYFG9aUVrhXj0Bm0S1hn3YVcPXoAJK5_RQTa_NekzCUJcoQ--SrpTsW-yD1kjvx3B9bRfY-SDSZHbFxhr6J-84r6P8jrEwk9LP0xDUeSC" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="450" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjbvXFgVZHOMDrAjMt4RqHcqby9LfjOFovsiU9hRx3771iOMC5AP9nmF8h-kZkSlljhRV-ZQm9CIpgX8UlLxqtMYFG9aUVrhXj0Bm0S1hn3YVcPXoAJK5_RQTa_NekzCUJcoQ--SrpTsW-yD1kjvx3B9bRfY-SDSZHbFxhr6J-84r6P8jrEwk9LP0xDUeSC" width="240" /></a></div><br />While I didn't notice this when I scheduled my week, the next show I took in was<b><i><a href="https://tickets.fringetheatre.ca/event/601:5126/" target="_blank"> Let's Talk About Your Death</a></i></b>, 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. <p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhFLIgzVtzFHep3IwYu_dPCUk__PNhjVFik4KbO1dLtTZ2fBA7wJ-S7i0X3dnjE9BVAF9Y1mGdubyfgIwx_wvqzqId1eYic_Tr9naW8hLwl1DQfsVzD0dLUK-aWk23J5xMY6VqVm6z2E9nOUS5VNhRRriUrG8isTl4c6HNj_L1Tr_soFmdwdHED9zzW2502" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="450" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhFLIgzVtzFHep3IwYu_dPCUk__PNhjVFik4KbO1dLtTZ2fBA7wJ-S7i0X3dnjE9BVAF9Y1mGdubyfgIwx_wvqzqId1eYic_Tr9naW8hLwl1DQfsVzD0dLUK-aWk23J5xMY6VqVm6z2E9nOUS5VNhRRriUrG8isTl4c6HNj_L1Tr_soFmdwdHED9zzW2502" width="240" /></a></div>Third up was <b><i><a href="https://tickets.fringetheatre.ca/event/601:5137/">Edgar Perry</a></i></b> 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. <p></p><p>I then saw <i><b><a href="https://tickets.fringetheatre.ca/event/601:4956/">Always Because: The Adventures of Maggie and Meghan</a></b></i> - 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. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgJnBD_ieflip4qn-ILejVNRESgNHpBp4Oy7jueQo3mg3Pravl9J9Eov3iE2iYyg__Ui8W0CXlsB4ypzcixd6zv38y9Jphd39k3v8PFmq8wwlGaozt8PhTcqvy1QYjPcVvnVX5VB92wgpLXyyohmHUdD08raZ0k7ubPULZdM0H9TRf4Lh2lp271LC7vinZl" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="338" data-original-width="376" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgJnBD_ieflip4qn-ILejVNRESgNHpBp4Oy7jueQo3mg3Pravl9J9Eov3iE2iYyg__Ui8W0CXlsB4ypzcixd6zv38y9Jphd39k3v8PFmq8wwlGaozt8PhTcqvy1QYjPcVvnVX5VB92wgpLXyyohmHUdD08raZ0k7ubPULZdM0H9TRf4Lh2lp271LC7vinZl" width="267" /></a></div><br />I also had the opportunity to chat with a few folks for the <b>WORD OF MOUTH</b> 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:<p></p><p><i><b>Underbelly</b><br /><b>Talk Treaty to Me</b><br /><b>Let's Get Back to the Phones</b><br /><b>Fiji </b><br /><b>Sad Girl Songs: A Comedy Show</b><br /><b>Jesus Teaches Us Things</b><br /><b>Sweet Jesus - The Gospel According to Felt</b></i></p><p>If you see me on the grounds, feel free to share your Word of Mouth recommendations to me! </p>Finsterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06571040830138200042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-96055505899007377.post-26840277548173548962023-08-17T09:06:00.004-07:002023-08-17T09:06:36.397-07:00Fringe #42 - Kicks Off Tonight!<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhXMYDE9Z_usino2PWDwfBEF7UilUVI6QLz4YYET_0rmNBtOlBqo0yd8UdiVvqBEu3ofTblhcaJgbXtj6u1JrEvoM8hk2rkQzao9LPcGYpiGEgZPYed34pk5pnbAT9gFIPgC3FtVO6cf1qvyMzaGCXUCc1vTMmZmMXK6V6naDFCHBYqdRRINsck8VpN3w5r" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="450" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhXMYDE9Z_usino2PWDwfBEF7UilUVI6QLz4YYET_0rmNBtOlBqo0yd8UdiVvqBEu3ofTblhcaJgbXtj6u1JrEvoM8hk2rkQzao9LPcGYpiGEgZPYed34pk5pnbAT9gFIPgC3FtVO6cf1qvyMzaGCXUCc1vTMmZmMXK6V6naDFCHBYqdRRINsck8VpN3w5r=w200-h200" width="200" /></a></div>The Fringe starts tonight! I'll be kicking it off with one show - <i><a href="https://tickets.fringetheatre.ca/event/601:4998/" target="_blank">i carry your heart with me</a></i> 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. <p></p><p>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 <i style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="https://tickets.fringetheatre.ca/event/601:5070/" target="_blank">Plays by Bots</a> </i>if I can because the one I saw last year was so funny I was tearing up laughing. I'm also hoping to catch <a href="https://tickets.fringetheatre.ca/event/601:5063/" style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">Marv n' Berry Presents: Clearly, A Pyramid Scheme</a> and/or<i style="font-weight: bold;"> <a href="https://tickets.fringetheatre.ca/event/601:5059/" target="_blank">Scratch.</a> </i></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEifE_QMIXNXlOUh9lK7hyhfo6uGw254p0u9pEamG8EzojuJx1Lq09o_IQnAhCTxQ-J4nwK_CCvrL2F1K3KtUu0LG02EVXk2p0FQav1YY1uLonKREJMq48LlfZ4NHFrtMAU5bJ6Pz0Z1UZeN1fvA1jmUMJaFanMyIiPBTgs4DK2-JfNmr6Q0v1xYwqDPcHdc" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="450" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEifE_QMIXNXlOUh9lK7hyhfo6uGw254p0u9pEamG8EzojuJx1Lq09o_IQnAhCTxQ-J4nwK_CCvrL2F1K3KtUu0LG02EVXk2p0FQav1YY1uLonKREJMq48LlfZ4NHFrtMAU5bJ6Pz0Z1UZeN1fvA1jmUMJaFanMyIiPBTgs4DK2-JfNmr6Q0v1xYwqDPcHdc=w200-h200" width="200" /></a></div><br />Friday, I will be seeing <b><i><a href="https://tickets.fringetheatre.ca/event/601:5137/" target="_blank">Edgar Perry</a></i></b> and <i><b><a href="https://tickets.fringetheatre.ca/event/601:5126/" target="_blank">Let's Talk About Your Death</a></b></i>. 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. <p></p><p>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!</p><p><b><span style="color: #ffa400; font-size: medium;">Happy Fringing Folks! </span></b></p>Finsterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06571040830138200042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-96055505899007377.post-46724016834928807912023-08-16T13:40:00.004-07:002023-08-16T13:40:40.811-07:00Countdown to Fringe #42 - life, the universe and everything... <p> For me there are a few companies I ALWAYS go to at the Fringe.</p><p>Why?</p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Because they make me laugh</li><li>Because they do new work and it's never the same old thing</li><li>Because they pay attention to detail</li><li>Because they always strive for excellence</li></ul><div>Not all my favourite companies are presenting this year, but two are: Guys in Disguise (<b><i><a href="https://tickets.fringetheatre.ca/event/601:5085/" target="_blank">Puck Bunnies</a></i></b>) and Whizgiggling (<b><i><a href="https://tickets.fringetheatre.ca/event/601:5134/" target="_blank">Lady Porn</a></i></b>). </div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgzefxjdKswgI1PiW58uHpcZx6JXifRyzA2ttglO9jnvpbL5nVoVpslFAGQBCUDT8JcHFTm5pZYSI3iaIgXZWgSUypxOZqpzWd1S78ikETi27B4QNi-mWyhfLAMv7oJenAKbdZiBX2pYHrOkDWAQQzNPBcm3PCx_PQFS6T-Gg9opia5UMYKWljVZObVYJsc" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1272" data-original-width="840" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgzefxjdKswgI1PiW58uHpcZx6JXifRyzA2ttglO9jnvpbL5nVoVpslFAGQBCUDT8JcHFTm5pZYSI3iaIgXZWgSUypxOZqpzWd1S78ikETi27B4QNi-mWyhfLAMv7oJenAKbdZiBX2pYHrOkDWAQQzNPBcm3PCx_PQFS6T-Gg9opia5UMYKWljVZObVYJsc=w211-h320" width="211" /></a></div>I'm very excited about seeing<i><b> Puck Bunnies</b></i> 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'. </div><div><br /></div><div>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!</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjk51I02CtKEe04M1_dI4Uvx6gYlYB3qybG6J7XbsT5FShZwEMs9b-6B9EDHIofCMbA4H-AHW4YGu1oYBXg0lyn0wISNVKmppKlyuvBqQI_F0GVnLXo2hnZj54pMaX7CygAC5px1VJ_V1OzvIeMmw9Rt1ruZ9oO_lDVk65Ah_0zWSb1pz7YVoioGS8GNpeL" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="450" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjk51I02CtKEe04M1_dI4Uvx6gYlYB3qybG6J7XbsT5FShZwEMs9b-6B9EDHIofCMbA4H-AHW4YGu1oYBXg0lyn0wISNVKmppKlyuvBqQI_F0GVnLXo2hnZj54pMaX7CygAC5px1VJ_V1OzvIeMmw9Rt1ruZ9oO_lDVk65Ah_0zWSb1pz7YVoioGS8GNpeL" width="240" /></a></div>Whizgiggling Productions is the company that has brought the hilarious <i style="font-weight: bold;">The Best Little Newfoundland Christmas Pageant...Ever!</i> to Edmonton for the last decade or so. They have more recently brought the Destination plays to the Fringe. <b><i>Destination Wedding </i></b>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 <i><b>Destination Vegas </b></i>last year, and this year they are bringing us <i><b>Lady Porn</b></i>. 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! </div><div><br /></div><div>Anyhow, I have my tickets for both these and I can't wait for the belly laughs! <br /><br /></div><p></p>Finsterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06571040830138200042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-96055505899007377.post-17759272923919242022023-08-15T15:50:00.003-07:002023-08-15T15:50:42.289-07:00Preparing for Fringe #42 - life, the universe and everything... <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgNkoyaxi54D3TD1hIpuwG7kedyq7_6B5S9CkSbgAunx8DC-zstdAwfE405nwnoLh8DyWfdA8ZAJeV9SoDLUIwfEzEHUeAWL47Sp6A5Zf96xHqZDwstQ0fF52uzUozwCuad0Ne6WF5oHHP6OfwMLN9MClq9fR7qTRKa_UdU1fXTDO4MaKzK7BknNMddaDNB" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="663" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgNkoyaxi54D3TD1hIpuwG7kedyq7_6B5S9CkSbgAunx8DC-zstdAwfE405nwnoLh8DyWfdA8ZAJeV9SoDLUIwfEzEHUeAWL47Sp6A5Zf96xHqZDwstQ0fF52uzUozwCuad0Ne6WF5oHHP6OfwMLN9MClq9fR7qTRKa_UdU1fXTDO4MaKzK7BknNMddaDNB=w207-h320" width="207" /></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;">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!</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>First things first </b>- you can find out all things Fringe here: <a href="https://www.fringetheatre.ca/" target="_blank"><b>https://www.fringetheatre.ca/ </b></a> - 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!</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">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. </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj8WxMHegbUfIx2a-8oiX44kwFJSUP7yUnh7Ig6mRrJITVx1phXXvx8qlBN_sRGRAekNOqi2sFLVMaM3MKkMkphF9IdzAye6eLvBGm_gWbQGCia_U4r3enaSWb4FTNJ5ieLRFn7lgznPh6Oz2TgBEVw7scRn-oRlmv8n7YH53O13hxX2pjl5wgCKa3oZYfW" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img alt="" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="1280" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj8WxMHegbUfIx2a-8oiX44kwFJSUP7yUnh7Ig6mRrJITVx1phXXvx8qlBN_sRGRAekNOqi2sFLVMaM3MKkMkphF9IdzAye6eLvBGm_gWbQGCia_U4r3enaSWb4FTNJ5ieLRFn7lgznPh6Oz2TgBEVw7scRn-oRlmv8n7YH53O13hxX2pjl5wgCKa3oZYfW" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Anyhow, what musicals am I seeing? </b></span><p></p><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">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 <b><i><a href="https://tickets.fringetheatre.ca/event/601:5093/" target="_blank">Krampus</a></i></b> (because I love everything I've seen Straightedge Theatre do, and... Krampus!!); <i><a href="https://tickets.fringetheatre.ca/event/601:5095/" target="_blank"><b>Edgar Perry</b> </a></i>(Recommended to me by a friend I trust who has seen other shows by this company); <b><i><a href="https://tickets.fringetheatre.ca/event/601:5095/" target="_blank">Scoobie Doosical</a></i></b> (by the uber talented Rebecca Merkley!); <a href="https://tickets.fringetheatre.ca/event/601:5011/" target="_blank"><b><i>Morningside Road </i></b></a>(I've heard a lot of buzz about this one so I am checking it out); <i><b>The</b></i> <b><i><a href="https://tickets.fringetheatre.ca/event/601:5099/" target="_blank">Noteworthy Life of Howard Barnes</a></i></b> (a new musical about someone who discovers themselves IN a musical - yes, please!); and <a href="https://tickets.fringetheatre.ca/event/601:5057/" style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">The Marvelous Wonderettes - Caps and Gowns!</a> (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 <i>Shout</i>!). </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhwWa_5MIfV7LJtB74XeV3fUdVa1KGRc7bj61ICCwujU9Y_ZWKAY6XTzwv8br2EXMFSFSjtWHUv89nPJIKhuTVMrKDePtTn5ez70vfDtzRsSBFpsd5lURCgAjPhax29fHFBOzMRFALvI28xXTHqv4GMCEMkAxmRNz6cn122Dt3CaxMOkyJRayfgb9RF-ubI" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img alt="" data-original-height="843" data-original-width="843" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhwWa_5MIfV7LJtB74XeV3fUdVa1KGRc7bj61ICCwujU9Y_ZWKAY6XTzwv8br2EXMFSFSjtWHUv89nPJIKhuTVMrKDePtTn5ez70vfDtzRsSBFpsd5lURCgAjPhax29fHFBOzMRFALvI28xXTHqv4GMCEMkAxmRNz6cn122Dt3CaxMOkyJRayfgb9RF-ubI" width="240" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />There's also <b><i><a href="https://tickets.fringetheatre.ca/event/601:5167/" target="_blank">Amor de Cosmos: A Delusional Musical</a></i></b> (the talented Lindsay Walker and Cody Porter! How can you go wrong?!? plus it got great reviews at the Toronto Fringe!); <b><i><a href="https://tickets.fringetheatre.ca/event/601:5183/" target="_blank">Undiscovered Country</a></i></b> (Chris Bullough - who we do NOT see enough of on Edmonton Stages!! - you can bet I am checking this out!); and <a href="https://tickets.fringetheatre.ca/event/601:5064/" target="_blank"><b><i>Lizard Boy: The Musical </i></b></a>(Another new musical that sounds weird - right up my alley - plus some fabulous people involved!). </span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjoHFWPdUpWYnsFyH_Nv6SiIvlB6g-MLvrTIqAmf1t0Qumm4nv0CLT3-y6yIOYDiE-KwIAu3fBRxCKvNLCtFAriql3KomZ16jG5yAz37431cFGC1CoS68ZXmoUR62p6UV53fyk0xXtSjgyJVBEQVubTVfRWuPUmaOuxvtm1mntMFhnvgh77IzuX3FTsKW_m" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img alt="" data-original-height="421" data-original-width="960" height="140" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjoHFWPdUpWYnsFyH_Nv6SiIvlB6g-MLvrTIqAmf1t0Qumm4nv0CLT3-y6yIOYDiE-KwIAu3fBRxCKvNLCtFAriql3KomZ16jG5yAz37431cFGC1CoS68ZXmoUR62p6UV53fyk0xXtSjgyJVBEQVubTVfRWuPUmaOuxvtm1mntMFhnvgh77IzuX3FTsKW_m" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;">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! </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Remember, if you see me on the Fringe Grounds, feel free to share with me your <b>"Word of Mouth"</b> recommendations! I can't possibly see all the shows but I love hearing what you recommend and sharing those titles with everyone!</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><br /></p>Finsterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06571040830138200042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-96055505899007377.post-69387897673768657102023-05-26T22:34:00.004-07:002023-05-26T22:34:19.480-07:00A Week of Edmonton Theatre - Three Terrific New Works! Anahita's Republic (Autash), Subscribe and Like (WWPT) and Listen, Listen (Teatro Live!)<p>I've just come home from seeing the third of three new works on Edmonton stages this week! There's nothing my theatre heart loves more than new Canadian works and all three were also written by Albertan playwrights, so that's even better! There was also a great deal of variety in the pieces so it was a but of a rollercoaster of theatrical offerings!</p><p><b><i><a href="https://anahitasrepublic.ca/">Anahita's Republic</a></i></b> by Hengameh E. Rice (Autash Productions)</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjfHgyMxlx3zjcjsZ44lqnbd3pIhJvO6WiXEn0lEMXi_L1xAYH_fpbExeRTfBd3AaxRZ-omBUN-0TM96R9AMTEyeEWvH89Qo8smpYum8BJmdXR7vN18kfOweakQiXubQ7SoI1DUH1rRpqehCaKnJmoEXo-q-lOtBnk_f5XqQpfTnb_nAYwi7ana34RbCQ" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjfHgyMxlx3zjcjsZ44lqnbd3pIhJvO6WiXEn0lEMXi_L1xAYH_fpbExeRTfBd3AaxRZ-omBUN-0TM96R9AMTEyeEWvH89Qo8smpYum8BJmdXR7vN18kfOweakQiXubQ7SoI1DUH1rRpqehCaKnJmoEXo-q-lOtBnk_f5XqQpfTnb_nAYwi7ana34RbCQ=w320-h320" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p>Now running at the Backstage Theatre (Fringe Theatre Adventures), <i>Anahita's Republic</i> is a play I have been long invested in. It's set in Iran, in a compound where the strong willed and sharply intelligent Anahita (Roya Yazdanmehr) is able to live her life the way she wants to. She's safe to reject the hijab and run the family business, using her brother Cyrus (Yassine El Fassi El Fihri) as her public face. All the while she works to challenge the regime and gain freedoms for women. The play shines a light on a part of the world we may speculate about but not really know. Yazdanmehr gives a passionate and invested performance, and when it looks like she may lose control of her carefully curated world, you can hear the desperation in her anguished pleas. <i>Anahita's Republic</i> is a play that makes you think when you both watch it and in the days that follow seeing it. It makes you think about what you have and what you might do if it were taken away from you. It also makes you reflect on what it might be like to live in a world where all you want is to have the same things that your brother has - the things he takes for granted and even casually rejects - but you can't have them because you are a woman. The cast is rounded out by Omid (Jennie George), a young women whose arrival upsets the balance of Anahita's life, and Omid's father Masood (played wonderfully by Michael Peng) who further complicates the situation with wants of his own. The show is nicely paced and the stakes stack up imperceptibly until things reach a breaking point. It's a tight 90 minute show directed with subtlety by Brian Dooley. </p><p><b><i>Anahita's Republic</i></b> runs to June 4th at the Backstage Theatre.<br />Tickets are $44 but there are Pay-What-You-Can tickets available for every show. <a href="https://tickets.fringetheatre.ca/event/601:4550/" target="_blank"><b>You can buy your tickets here</b></a>. </p><p><b><i><a href="https://www.workshopwest.org/subscribe-or-like" target="_blank">Subscribe or Like</a></i></b> by Liam Salmon (Workshop West Playwrights' Theatre)</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhAwgAGFBkkChvC71pN4XRfgOcnXFdq3QaVa3_aruax6yQQiOCtG9kvlIlrcc4omKO6TJiNA7RiYVwip-c_zB6M5607G1U6o0am2C2VpS2afuVlrRwSrmL8ywTSB6UYfly5yh-FtMdd-qS1sy7-HVER-ahJwrxh5XEQPfnDNHdger6HjIbbZ2JTIr4hwQ" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="441" data-original-width="526" height="269" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhAwgAGFBkkChvC71pN4XRfgOcnXFdq3QaVa3_aruax6yQQiOCtG9kvlIlrcc4omKO6TJiNA7RiYVwip-c_zB6M5607G1U6o0am2C2VpS2afuVlrRwSrmL8ywTSB6UYfly5yh-FtMdd-qS1sy7-HVER-ahJwrxh5XEQPfnDNHdger6HjIbbZ2JTIr4hwQ=w320-h269" width="320" /></a></div>So... this was an unexpected show for me. I knew it likely had something to do with social media, because of the title, and I speculated there was a romantic/relationship angle because of the casting and the images I had seen online prior to seeing the show, but that's about all I knew going in. It was both funny and sad. It was also terrifying and inevitable. It's a memory play about Rachel and Miles who start a YouTube channel and travel down the path of needing the likes and views and subscribers to validate what they are doing. Their need to generate those reactions becomes obsessive for one of them, and ultimately destructive for the relationship. This show had me unable to look away even though part of my brain was saying I can't watch. Gabby Bernard and Geoffrey Simon Brown have real onstage chemistry that makes you believe why they are together as well as why they pull apart from each other. He is puppy-dog-like, which is adorable, but hey, he also eats your shoes. She is thoughtful and deep and caring, but over-invested and drained, and it's hard to be the not-fun one. It's a complicated interplay, but believable. <p></p><p>As someone who spends a lot of time on social media, I totally got this show. I have over the last few years reevaluated my online role and needs. I know what it is like to track your likes and views so I understand the obsession. After seeing the show, my friends and I spent a half hour discussing it and how we related and I have come back to it several times today. I imagine it will haunt me for a little while longer. It's completely relevant in our world today and as a cautionary tale, it suggests that even if you aren't thinking about the impacts of social media on our psyches, you probably should be. </p><p>Subscribe or Like runs to June 11th at the Geateway Theatre. <br />Tickets are $27 - $43. Tuesdays are 2-for-1 at the Door. <br /><b><a href="https://www.showpass.com/o/workshop-west-playwrights-theatre/?gad=1&gclid=CjwKCAjwxr2iBhBJEiwAdXECw7h4gFcgDO_6EeFrTl68y4pUeBA6xLlmduW11SXkKO-q1CzutWMGhxoC0WIQAvD_BwE" target="_blank">You can Purchase your tickets here</a></b>. </p><p><b><i><a href="https://teatrolive.com/" target="_blank">Listen, Listen</a></i></b> by Elyne Quan (Teatro Live!)</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiPwU0Xqf7nmXWY-9HKdltaPdbTc6riDxxnTqqWPa7zChuzDwmURt-KH3gLUpswfP5XYKcbpoYHodiwgOHBOKr_5Pk43NfTWQiWFo0oTn2--G3J6kRyn5bhUY6laXxESqP-Kq-K5fsR0JZJoojFQJclBRIvJ5PXM64dMo4ghNRRwN5b8IYR1OVAn5Pzew" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="250" data-original-width="250" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiPwU0Xqf7nmXWY-9HKdltaPdbTc6riDxxnTqqWPa7zChuzDwmURt-KH3gLUpswfP5XYKcbpoYHodiwgOHBOKr_5Pk43NfTWQiWFo0oTn2--G3J6kRyn5bhUY6laXxESqP-Kq-K5fsR0JZJoojFQJclBRIvJ5PXM64dMo4ghNRRwN5b8IYR1OVAn5Pzew=w320-h320" width="320" /></a></div>It was so much fun to laugh at this show tonight! The premise was simple, but what started out a something simple (a customer's request) snowballs quickly into the world of the absurd. Led onstage by the physically elastic Farren Timoteo, the cast of four (Nadien Chu, Alexander Ariate and Nikki Hulowski) are delightful to watch. I think they were having as much fun as we were in the audience!<p></p><p>It's quick paced (kudos to director Belinda Cornish) and moves so smoothly that I was surprised that the first act was an hour. It literally flew by! The soundtrack is terrific (<i>I would like a mixed tape of it, please!</i>) and the music, costumes (Leona Brausen) and set (Chantel Fortin) transported me and everyone else to the 80s (t<i>he best decade</i>) for a super silly story pitting customer against service worker! It's a show that you can't help but enjoy and laugh at. Everyone onstage is excellent. As to Timoteo, my companion for the evening speculated the role was written for him as his physical comedy was perfection. The rest of the cast all have their moments too - Chu's slow-motion fight scene is hilarious; Ariate's three wildly different characters have their moments; and Hulowski not only plays the smartest cute girl at the mall food court, but she also channels the entire secretarial pool from the movie <i>Working Girl</i> (sorry, Executive Assistants). So much fun and absolutely perfect for a summer evening! </p><p><b><i>Listen, Listen </i></b>runs until June 11th at the Varscona Theatre. <br />Tickets are $30 - $42. Tuesdays are Pay-What-You-Can at the door. <br /><b><a href="https://tickets.teatroq.com/purchase/tickets/show/341299343854141514" target="_blank">You can purchase your tickets here</a></b>. </p><p><br /></p>Finsterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06571040830138200042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-96055505899007377.post-49959834564129426192023-05-20T12:13:00.000-07:002023-05-20T12:13:46.437-07:00Prison Dancer at the Citadel - Always cool to see new works at a Regional Theatre<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8N16wTI1TryceNeuAE-YDV5FXlv1uxwa4j99ANTPbDkzccyz5YLt1FY6OYhrgxiu1KzZ1md9TZI7fkw-nlHWFxCftkpHHR4J-HVLwoysqdbRun2dJcPMI7ZidvWJUZ0kgjpKN8K48bTEsaQx8XAR2c8LHd4VKFz7t96ReSO8H9-i8_jaSRmAtlQtEDA/s2560/vwi839EU-scaled.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1707" data-original-width="2560" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8N16wTI1TryceNeuAE-YDV5FXlv1uxwa4j99ANTPbDkzccyz5YLt1FY6OYhrgxiu1KzZ1md9TZI7fkw-nlHWFxCftkpHHR4J-HVLwoysqdbRun2dJcPMI7ZidvWJUZ0kgjpKN8K48bTEsaQx8XAR2c8LHd4VKFz7t96ReSO8H9-i8_jaSRmAtlQtEDA/w400-h266/vwi839EU-scaled.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Photo Credit: Nanc Price</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This week I caught Prison Dancer at the Citadel Theatre. It's a new work with Music and Lyrics by Romeo Candido, Book by Romeo Candido and Carmen De Jesus and Directed by Nina Lee Aquino. The Citadel was planning on doing this a couple of years ago but it was delayed by the shut-downs. Now it's up on their Shoctor stage and literally getting the audience up and dancing! I admit, when I first heard of the show I thought it was going to be in the smaller Rice Theatre, like other niche musicals have played (<i>Gay Heritage Project, Craigslist Cantata, Bittergirl</i>) so I was surprised to see it was on the much larger Shoctor. With the set and big dance numbers it made sense when I saw it. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It's a fun show in many ways, but seeks gravitas with the fact that prison life (particularly in the Philippines) is not easy. It is fun, because the prisoners have to find a way to find joy in their otherwise bleak and sometimes violent lives. It is fun, as well, because the music is pop-infused and delivered by good voices along with enthusiastic and athletic dance moves! There are some really great voices in the cast, the standouts being Daren Dyhengco as Christian Serrano and Diana Del Rosario as Christian's girlfriend on the outside, Cherish. Their songs were my favourites, both their solos and their duet. Their story also had the most hope, which a prison story definitely needs. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">There were a few issues, it's clearly a new work, well on it's way, but hopefully this run in Edmonton will allow for a depending and strengthening of the script which lags a bit in places and is a little cliché in others. I also had issue with the sound balance, particularly in the first half of the show. Too often the band was too loud and I couldn't hear the vocalists. When you throw in accents and very rapid lyrics, it made for a challenge in knowing what was being said. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">That being said, I was entertained and invested and it was fun to dance with a full house at the end of the show! There were a lot of younger audiences members who definitely were having a fabulous time form start to finish so I highly recommend for those of an age where you're still going out to dance AND for those who want to invest in new work, particularly new Canadian work. I can tell this show has a future and I will be pleased to say I saw it at the beginning!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Prison Dancer runs to May 28, 2023 at the Citadel Theatre. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">They range from $33-126.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://secure.citadeltheatre.com/overview/7269"><b>Tickets can be purchased here.</b></a></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div>Finsterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06571040830138200042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-96055505899007377.post-58252544386383345732022-08-18T13:30:00.007-07:002022-08-18T13:32:40.415-07:00Word of Mouth Tuesday and Wednesday! Fringe 2022<div class="separator"><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; clear: right; float: right; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; margin-top: 0px;"></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">My apologies for the lateness on this one… I’ve been Fringing hard and needed to breathe! It’s been a glorious Fringe though! Lots of new titles on this list. Trust the recommendation of the random strangers I met in line ups and go catch a show!</span></p></div><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 3px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Crack in the Mirror</span></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Butcher</span></span></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Mark of the Minotaur</span></span></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2"><span style="font-family: inherit;">History of the World in 7 Days</span></span></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Drag Me to the Opera</span></span></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2"><span style="font-family: inherit;">God is a Scottish Drag Queen</span></span></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Charade</span></span></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Lemon</span></span></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Fags in Space</span></span></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Crisp Trepidation </span></span></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Re: Construct</span></span></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Salsa Lesson</span></span></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Chase Padgett</span></span></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2"><span style="font-family: inherit;">For Science! </span></span></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Josie and Grace</span></span></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Juliet: A Revenge Comedy</span></span></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Mules</span></span></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Robert will Show You the Door</span></span></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Blueberries are Assholes</span></span></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Ladies of Jazz</span></p>Finsterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06571040830138200042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-96055505899007377.post-49278636415973041002022-08-16T10:53:00.007-07:002022-08-16T10:53:39.727-07:00I've seen 17 Shows so far... And we aren't even Halfway done! Woot!<p>So, I have seen 17 shows so far, I have at least 11 more to see and I might increase that if I have the stamina! Here's just a few quick reactions to some of the shows that I've seen so far:</p><p><b><i></i></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiJn4Bj2RgjNc5qTZw27Cc0r6xSfpxhEVLSp2cwYUoJGPXhgL2-fgKF6IPzLrfmOBXOjPL9nK2LMVh2MMc4l7OZj7R8wysVTrlryytlhaH9rJX-4J-4qsvqjkFMby4HSzj71zUpPS8z-uU07WlPvk_BUoR3yjjCcwwH56hJM24kdANVl7zzWlM2cz2lTg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="450" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiJn4Bj2RgjNc5qTZw27Cc0r6xSfpxhEVLSp2cwYUoJGPXhgL2-fgKF6IPzLrfmOBXOjPL9nK2LMVh2MMc4l7OZj7R8wysVTrlryytlhaH9rJX-4J-4qsvqjkFMby4HSzj71zUpPS8z-uU07WlPvk_BUoR3yjjCcwwH56hJM24kdANVl7zzWlM2cz2lTg=w200-h200" width="200" /></a></i></b></div><b><i>Jesus Teaches Us Things</i></b> - Hilarious! This is the most fun you will ever have at a Sunday School class taught by none-other-than Jesus! We may have strayed from the official curriculum a bit, but boy was it fun! Lots of great songs, audience participation (low risk and totally up to you), jokes that are hilarious but not hateful! Can't go wrong with that! <p></p><p><b><i>The Big Sad </i></b>- A really well crafted children's show for the wee ones (<i>I'm thinking 4-8 years - 3 if your child is particularly verbal</i>). It's about grief, but actually a lot of fun. The company also does brilliant work teaching the audience how to interact with the participation elements before the 'show' starts so that everyone can have a good time and participate appropriately if they feel comfortable. </p><p><b><i>Hunchback Variations</i></b> - Definitely one for the 'theatre people' like me! It's absurd, funny, smart and performed by two excellent actors. I had a great discussion about it with my son when I got home. Does it help if you've read or seen The Cherry Orchard, I'm not sure? Maybe it will make you want to read it... </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEicIc17llhhhLFvqkplCUWE-xKWrsu4JEGTOIT0MRQQKFTbeLWh07Yxa6g2J6VEm1ftKXVYOM4vQd_IJFmVu-RmL1jy5udeyoWsRKzTsMFc5p_1tWaoYJdbWKCBJM3f7nNZI0RRx3z5Wo4D6c8lTFsw0eS-hVfCeguFIMGdJyXZVkm7XCB1w_yOpXssrQ" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1325" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEicIc17llhhhLFvqkplCUWE-xKWrsu4JEGTOIT0MRQQKFTbeLWh07Yxa6g2J6VEm1ftKXVYOM4vQd_IJFmVu-RmL1jy5udeyoWsRKzTsMFc5p_1tWaoYJdbWKCBJM3f7nNZI0RRx3z5Wo4D6c8lTFsw0eS-hVfCeguFIMGdJyXZVkm7XCB1w_yOpXssrQ" width="155" /></a></div><p></p><p><b><i>Plays by Bots -</i></b> Every show is different. The Rapid Fire Theatre folks start each show with a brand new sight-unseen script written by an A.I. called Dramatron, who is a playwright with a very distinctive and hilarious voice and these improvisors go big with the choices presented. Partway through the script runs out and they improvise an ending. I was laughing so hard! I'm hoping to go back to see another show!</p><p><i><b>Ride the Cyclone</b> </i>- (<i>Note: this is one of my favourite musicals so I know I am biased</i>) A funny and dark little musical about members of a school choir who die on a roller coaster and have to pleased their case for a second chance. I love the show (saw it twice when it was at the Citadel) and this production was so well done! Perfectly cast! The voices and the acting and the dancing - simply awesome! I'd love to catch this one again too! It's also not really for little kids... and I like that about it! </p><p><b><i></i></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhitqfn0nMwyKp1grd0SHg-lJulrzuKCBLVA9BJfzc9cMScUSck7NWF66Ug6jad0gTrBP6Xhcmstc0389lQIFNC59KDIXYA_YIxwkHs7KUIzOKraT7gH2VkZG9c8GTiVNFYG1D6R6_WaD-7mNVoAYIRri1AZcPNfJiLD41avwLZVCvqCEMArXj4KmY7Pw" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhitqfn0nMwyKp1grd0SHg-lJulrzuKCBLVA9BJfzc9cMScUSck7NWF66Ug6jad0gTrBP6Xhcmstc0389lQIFNC59KDIXYA_YIxwkHs7KUIzOKraT7gH2VkZG9c8GTiVNFYG1D6R6_WaD-7mNVoAYIRri1AZcPNfJiLD41avwLZVCvqCEMArXj4KmY7Pw" width="160" /></a></i></b></div><b><i><br />Destination Vegas </i></b>- I saw <i>Destination Wedding</i> last year and loved the script concept and the storytelling by three terrific actors. The same team (playwright and cast) goes to Vegas this year and things again get a little wild! Lots of laughs with the cast playing totally different characters in a new situation with even more at risk. How will it end?!?!? <p></p><p><b><i>The Dreamer's Cantata </i></b>- A truly lovely concert of works you likely haven't heard before set around the theme of dreamers and dreams. It's very polished and sharp and all four of the artists on stage are terrific! I only wish I had a program so I could find some of the those songs again! I might be emailing the director to get some song titles and composer names! </p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Now I'm off for 3 more shows today! Happy Fringing!</span></b></p><p><br /></p><p>You can purchase tickets to Fringe shows<b><a href="https://tickets.fringetheatre.ca/events/" target="_blank"> HERE.</a></b> </p>Finsterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06571040830138200042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-96055505899007377.post-50859815371956053872022-08-16T10:27:00.002-07:002022-08-16T10:27:36.210-07:00Word of Mouth - Monday, August 15 - Fringe 2022<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg1LiUsIvk-_wkTFZX3xJ9lL--OU3AOsp0bCE_Xu2NHWwjjJs8BEd1TrGUzdy7A2geq4wlIVJ-wfFzpV2wIXez5ZMTptuOwrmAv6oOlFX-iDm-CWXP8C3vG_WV8x6vvsMByxh2zuDhU7bf8273fLTudCEpN0FGuxQweiszo6hvq49zo9KxPXx8zg8__IQ" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="418" data-original-width="816" height="164" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg1LiUsIvk-_wkTFZX3xJ9lL--OU3AOsp0bCE_Xu2NHWwjjJs8BEd1TrGUzdy7A2geq4wlIVJ-wfFzpV2wIXez5ZMTptuOwrmAv6oOlFX-iDm-CWXP8C3vG_WV8x6vvsMByxh2zuDhU7bf8273fLTudCEpN0FGuxQweiszo6hvq49zo9KxPXx8zg8__IQ" width="320" /></a></div>We're starting to get a few repeats! That's awesome! If you still aren't sure what to see at the Fringe this year, this list was curated by asking random strangers (<i>and some folks that although they might be a bit strange, I would actually call them friends</i>) who I met in line-ups and asking them what they've seen that I should go check out! <br /><p></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 18.4px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 18.36px;"><b><i>Juliet: a Revenge comedy</i></b></span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 18.4px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 18.36px;"><b><i>The Flying Detective </i></b></span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 18.4px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 18.36px;"><b><i>The Ladies of Jazz</i></b></span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 18.4px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 18.36px;"><b><i>The Dreamer's Cantata</i></b></span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 18.4px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 18.36px;"><b><i>Ten (The Show)</i></b></span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 18.4px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 18.36px;"><b><i>Dirk Darrow: Magic of Future Past</i></b></span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 18.4px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 18.36px;"><b><i>Blueberries are Assholes</i></b></span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 18.4px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 18.36px;"><b><i>SqueezeBox Cabaret: Divas</i></b></span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 18.4px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 18.36px;"><b><i>Disney Delusion</i></b></span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 18.4px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 18.36px;"><b><i>Suor Angelica</i></b></span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 18.4px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 18.36px;"><b><i>Josie and Grace</i></b></span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 18.4px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 18.36px;"><b><i>Conjoined</i></b></span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 18.4px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 18.36px;"><b><i>Marv and Berry</i></b></span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 18.4px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 18.36px;"><b><i>A Life, with Surprises (and Songs)</i></b></span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 18.4px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 18.36px;"><b><i>Iago vs Hamlet</i></b></span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 18.4px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 18.36px;"><b><i>Horseface</i></b></span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 18.4px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 18.36px;"><b><i>Underbelly</i></b></span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 18.4px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 18.36px;"><b><i>Crack in the Mirror</i></b></span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 18.4px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 18.36px;"><b><i>Ghouls, Ghouls, Ghouls</i></b></span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 18.4px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 18.36px;"><b><i>Chase Padgett: Lucky Break</i></b></span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 18.4px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 18.36px;"><b><i>Salsa Lesson</i></b></span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 18.4px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 18.36px;"><b><i>Generic Male: Just What We Need Another Show About Men</i></b></span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 18.4px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 18.36px;"><br /></span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 18.4px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 18.36px;">As always, if you have other recommendations, please feel free to add them to the comments! I'm working my way through a few of these and hope you can find some cool stuff to see from this list OR use the Fringe's magic Eight Ball to help you choose!</span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 18.4px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 18.36px;"><br /></span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 18.4px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 18.36px;">Tickets can be purchased online <b><a href="https://tickets.fringetheatre.ca/events/" target="_blank">HERE. </a></b></span></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 18.4px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 23.8px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 18.36px;"></span><br /></p>Finsterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06571040830138200042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-96055505899007377.post-65591299882965033992022-08-15T11:21:00.001-07:002022-08-15T11:25:23.326-07:00Word of Mouth - Sunday, August 14 2022 - Destination Fringe!<p><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 18.36px;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjZqrEuu3Dg0DD2eNETsP-BDijR7B0ULIfSuD6NGqUZyFeyveFgIilK7dCwRoQ7PasJ6FxPT8oOygAnpw6mQU1gqOfieVjwgqxGyR6Ha-4XrasmLo4LRn_N7xUIuQTQu3lvb1B_weUilCexpKfShF0k6RPp54V4-Bs4iqgGu_T8LCn7atthMqonDnmvkw" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="338" data-original-width="376" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjZqrEuu3Dg0DD2eNETsP-BDijR7B0ULIfSuD6NGqUZyFeyveFgIilK7dCwRoQ7PasJ6FxPT8oOygAnpw6mQU1gqOfieVjwgqxGyR6Ha-4XrasmLo4LRn_N7xUIuQTQu3lvb1B_weUilCexpKfShF0k6RPp54V4-Bs4iqgGu_T8LCn7atthMqonDnmvkw" width="267" /></a></div><br />Another Fringe Day, another list of shows that were recommended to me by people I chatted with in lines! I talked to a wide demographic today, from 14 years to 60+ years, first time fringers and long-time fringers, and I think that's reflected in the recommendations I received! <p></p><p><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 18.36px;">Remember, if you have a Word of Mouth recommendation (shows you have seen that you really liked!) pop it in the comments!</span></p><p><i><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Chase Padgett: Lucky Break<br /></span><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><span>The Walk in the Snow: The True Story of Lise Meitner<br /></span></span><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">For Science<br /></span><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Ally Anne<br /></span><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Shot in the Dark<br /></span><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Hacking and Slashing<br /></span><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Butcher<br />Juliet: A Revenge Comedy<br /></span><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><span>The Flying Detective</span></span><br /><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><span>Eleanor's Story: An American Girl In Hitler's Germany</span><br /><span>Jesus Teaches Us Things</span><br /><span>Ride the Cyclone</span><br /><span>Thundercats<br /></span>Drag Me to the Opera<br />Epidermis Circus</span></span></b></i></p><p>I'm off to see three more shows today! If you want tickets to any of the above, you can purchase them <b><a href="https://tickets.fringetheatre.ca/events/" target="_blank">HERE.</a></b> Some of these are selling out and selling fast so don't delay (for example, a friend was going to join me for <i>Ride the Cyclone</i> last night but they waited to buy and it was sold out so they couldn't join me.)</p><p><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><br /><br /><br /></span></p>Finsterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06571040830138200042noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-96055505899007377.post-24214783494202730352022-08-14T08:47:00.004-07:002022-08-14T08:50:46.284-07:00 Word of Mouth - Saturday, August 13th! Happy Fringing!<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhAsm2beOOHVETjGYbzWy4bCgUdb6qkTMYylmJjTHw5rICoxrMV26iohlZ9vSqs-M92twQVV4pM-N0Xb5N-jo3l2Ow6y1AHg-kdVG_juZjrE5N8Pf3Swfeymddpua2Dj9vX9QN6Vh1xV9Rs9WbqEWkhlWo0jlVYQ6RkBacYmaUTiBdxFP1zxkjN5mSYbQ" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="285" data-original-width="474" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhAsm2beOOHVETjGYbzWy4bCgUdb6qkTMYylmJjTHw5rICoxrMV26iohlZ9vSqs-M92twQVV4pM-N0Xb5N-jo3l2Ow6y1AHg-kdVG_juZjrE5N8Pf3Swfeymddpua2Dj9vX9QN6Vh1xV9Rs9WbqEWkhlWo0jlVYQ6RkBacYmaUTiBdxFP1zxkjN5mSYbQ" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 18.36px;">Here's the low-down on my Word of Mouth recommendations from Saturday, August 13th! I was running around quite a bit so I didn't get to have as many line-up chats as I would have liked. Please feel feel to put your Word of Mouth recommendations in the comments! </span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 18.36px;"></span></p><p></p><p><b><i><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 18.36px;">Josie and Grace<br /></span><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 18.36px;">Queer Music History: A Concert<br /></span><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 18.36px;">Blueberries are Assholes<br /></span><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 18.36px;">Suor Angelica<br /></span><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 18.36px;">Jesus Teaches Us Things <br /></span><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 18.36px;">For Science<br /></span><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><span style="font-size: 18.36px;">Six Chick Flicks or a Legally Blonde Pretty Woman Dirty Danced on the Beaches while writing a Notebook on the Titanic<br /></span></span><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 18.36px;">Epidermis Circus<br /></span><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><span style="font-size: 18.36px;">Reyna: The Story of a Zapoteca Queen<br />Are you lovin' it?<br />Drag Me to the Opera<br />Crack in the Mirror<br />Happy as Larry<br />Plays by Bots</span></span></i></b></p><p><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><span style="font-size: 18.36px;">You can get all your Fringe tickets here: </span><a href="https://tickets.fringetheatre.ca/" style="font-size: 18.36px;" target="_blank">LINK</a></span></p><p>And a note: You will get electronic tickets if you can't make it to a ticket booth for a physical ticket! That's nice when you are going to something at a BYOV! </p>Finsterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06571040830138200042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-96055505899007377.post-33007235253618098002022-08-13T09:14:00.004-07:002022-08-13T09:14:53.566-07:00Edmonton Fringe: First Two Days - No Duds yet! <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgG9vKgPY3WbRF99KcqSxl5UYpjnHX_jrnmaYMvI8zAgGQTlDWQFGa2Fh3XycEenpIjzRrMe-XyFqTCb_JMdJaFcq_WpPEzV4TKyt1iMrYKIXyAfXuoV6xOh9tODrAE32lzNyOJkmjw3SUOs4JU44hcYDIRZ8B9y7sq0wGajJo4gZuySMPPc5_oTtPMBA" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="853" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgG9vKgPY3WbRF99KcqSxl5UYpjnHX_jrnmaYMvI8zAgGQTlDWQFGa2Fh3XycEenpIjzRrMe-XyFqTCb_JMdJaFcq_WpPEzV4TKyt1iMrYKIXyAfXuoV6xOh9tODrAE32lzNyOJkmjw3SUOs4JU44hcYDIRZ8B9y7sq0wGajJo4gZuySMPPc5_oTtPMBA" width="180" /></a></div><br />I've caught five shows so far - here are my super quick reactions!<div><br /></div><div><b><i>Fags in Space</i></b> - So very cute and adorable. Was happy to get ALL the nerd jokes, even the Doctor Who ones! This was a nice gentle and humorous rom-com about two young men who are destined to be together. </div><div><br /></div><div><b><i>Ghouls, Ghouls, Ghouls </i></b>- A fine mix of ghost stories and burlesque! Send in the Girls (or Ghouls, in this case) delivers for the burlesque fans out there with a spooky theme! </div><div><br /></div><div><b><i>Conjoined </i></b>- Great songs and singing in this show about conjoined twins who find challenges in being together all the time. A cool premise with a bit a of a twist ending! Josh Travnik is definitely one to watch! </div><div><br /></div><div><b><i>White Guy Onstage Talking </i></b>- I can't describe the show, but my friend said, "This was what I thought Fringe shows would be, before I saw an actual Fringe show!" I laughed so hard and I am betting that it will be hard to top the amount of laughter. It's weird and ridiculous and not what you expect... </div><div><br /></div><div><b><i>Charlie and the Siberian Monkey Goddess</i></b> - A very cool, solid little play about "Charlie Chaplin" and a psychiatrist... or are they? Clever script with an interesting twist at the end. </div>Finsterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06571040830138200042noreply@blogger.com0