Fringe Full of Stars - Sunday, August 17 - What a Terrific 3-Show Day!

Boston Dip

I started the day at the Sugar Swing Venue with Nachopals Theatre's production of Boston Dip (they presented last Fringe's hilarious Dick Piston Hotel Detective in Prague-Nosis). It's a delightfully funny farce set at a Ball where everyone wants to learn the Boston Dip, the newest move in the waltz. The cast of seven (Dave McKay, Christine Gold, Melissa Masse, Lauren Tamke, Lucas Anders, Ethan Handford, & Dalton Terhorst) are great fun to watch with some of them wanting to romance and be romanced, and others wanting to gain a fortune and others simply wanting to learn the dance moves. And of course, there's one person trying to figure out who's who, what's going on, and is his wife cheating on him and if so, who is her suitor!? There's a lot of wonderful physical comedy and mistaken identity and like any good farce, the good have their happy endings and the scoundrels are all found out! 

A Kind of Electra

The next show I saw was a happy accident. I had a gap in my schedule and happened to be dropping by Walterdale Theatre and saw the line-up outside. I asked what show it was and realized that a friend of mine had recommended it after she had seen it earlier in the week, so I grabbed a last minute ticket. What good fortune for me (the gods were smiling!). It was so very good! It's a must-see piece of theatre. The cast of three (Caitlin Stasey, Hayden Ezzy, & Tiffany Elle) tell the story of Electra and Orestes in a refreshing and captivating way. They are all wonderful actors, with incredible characterization and physicality, and you cannot look away. It's funny, intense and has an unexpected twist that raises it up beyond a simple retelling of the Greek myth. There are only four more performances of the show and I encourage you all to pop it in those holes you have left in your Fringe schedule. It will be completely worth it! 

"Speed!" A 1940s Radio Drama

I mentioned in a preview article that I was looking forward to seeing this show and it did not disappoint! It's hard to talk about it without giving away a lot of the funny stuff, but I will do my best! Imagine a 1940s Radio Play of Speed! featuring Keanu Reeves, Orson Welles, and taking place during World War II when anyone can be drafted at any moment! It's all hands on deck to create a huge pantheon of characters and sound effects, BUT things go wrong and that makes it all the more hilarious. This company commits to the bit and embrace the style and characterization required for a 1940s Radio play, all while re-telling the story of Speed! Your sides will ache with all the laughing! Mine did!

A Show to Consider as You Plan Your Fringe... Boston Dip!

Boston Dip at the Sugarswing Ballroom

From the company that brought the hilarious Dick Piston: Hotel Detective to the 2024 Fringe. 

Tickets

Who's in the show: Lauren Tamke, Mélissa Masse, Dave McKay, Christine Gold, Lucas Anders, Dalton Terhorst, Ethan Handford - This is a terrific cast to attack this dance-comedy. I've worked with Lauren and Lucas before in The 39 Steps at Walterdale and have seen them onstage killing it in other roles. Mélissa was hysterical in Dick Piston last summer and I've seen Ethan twice now at Walterdale Theatre (It's a Wonderful Life and Shakespeare In Love) where he raised the bar in both productions with his comedic skills! 

Who's Behind the Scenes: John Anderson (Director), Afrah Collier-Potts (SM), Rebecca Cave (Lights, Op), Mélissa Masse (Costumes), Sabrina Thievin (Dance Choreo), Lauren Tamke (Fight Choreo) - Definitely an experienced team that looks after all the details. I have worked with most of them and seen the work of others. You know this will be a show that is READY for an audience!

Why Should You Go See It? What's great about the festival is its variety, and the Nacho Pals team is very happy to offer an ensemble production to the Fringe's diverse menu. The play is a farce, full of entertaining and eccentric characters. The message and ending is a warm and happy one, which feels necessary at this time in the world. It's family friendly, and there's a lot of action to keep the pace moving. The result is a play that's active, on its feet, and fun to watch for all ages. The costumes are also colourful and gorgeous. Boston Dip brings a lot to the stage, but what will stand out most is the laughter and the tender, heartwarming pathos.

Final Fringe Reflections! Wrapping it up with Dick Piston and Accidental Beach!

I had a lovely Fringe 2024. I hope everyone else did too! I did a rough calculation and over the 11 days (10 at the site watching shows and drinking in atmosphere) I saw 21 shows, had hundreds of conversations with friends and strangers, ate more than my share of mini-donuts, had my G.O.C., went to the Next Act three times, and walked over 85,000 steps! I spent less than $500 for all this entertainment and activity so that's definitely a WIN!  

On the final Sunday I spent my day laughing, catching two local comedies! It was a great day to end the Fringe!

Dick Piston Hotel Detective in Prague-Nosis - This was a super fun show where, just like the titular Dick Piston, you weren't always sure what was going on! But that was the fun of it. The cast of 5 (plus the many-hatted sign holder ASM) were fabulous as they attacked this very funny, clever script. No one is quit who they seem to be, except maybe Dick Piston, but he's very confused trying to solve a hotel guest's robbery. There's a hypnotist magician, a man with no pants, an international film star (famous in Europe) and a jewel thief - OR IS THERE?! It zigged and zagged with clever wordplay and flashbacks and a twist no one sees coming, especially Dick Piston! This was the first Fringe for Nachopals Theatre and they hit is out of the park! 

Accidental Beach - Recreating 'an almost perfect musical' that they improvised during the past season, the 11 O'clock Number folks from Grindstone Theatre served up sand and laughs with this one. It was hilarious and they embraced the spirit of recreation. It's got it's twists and turns and amazing songs and lots of laughs. It was held over at the Varscona and it wasn't hard to see why. Clearly inspired by Edmonton's accidental beach, the cast merge Baywatch with a Mafia movie and Lizard babies for a show that's impossible not to laugh at! It was a terrific way to end Find Your Fringe! 

It was a fun way to end the summer! See you next August!