Tuesday, August 18th, 2026 - Fringe Unforgettable!

This Fringe day was brought to you by laughter as I took in a solo improv show and a sketch comedy show. The Improv show was SOLOVELA, AN IMPROVISED SOLO TELENOVELA which was exactly what it sounds like in the title! Diane Jorje (amusingly annoyed by having to be up so early to do a 12:15 pm show) interviewed two audience members about their lives, which she then crafts into an improvised telenovela. She has a rack of costume pieces to help delineate the many characters she plays, switching back and forth with ease and often extra-comic results when there are more than two people in the scene. The story has romance, villain's and helpful friends and the situation depends on the prompts from the audience. Jorje is a gifted improvisor and a charming and engaging performer who clearly owns the stage. I was also impressed with her follow-up with the audience members she interviewed to make sure that they felt okay about the "made-up story" she created from their provided details. They were sitting right behind me and from their laugher, I am pretty sure they were. 

Then I caught Sketchy Broads presents: Resting Bitumen Face which is an all-women (broads) sketch comedy troupe made up of some of Edmonton's best comedians and improvisors (Jules Balluffi, Jennie Emms, Lindsey Walker, Kristen J Welker, and Nikki Hulowski). The show was very funny with sketches ranging from the political to the raunchy. The title suggests some content will deal with oil, and it does. A few highlights include a parody of the Cell Block Tango from Chicago, a lesson in Art History, a tour of a sauna complete with a towel dance, and a very strange real estate home viewing. They wisely save the messiest scene for last! These broads are not afraid to go for the big joke and despite approaching some topics from a woman's perspective, there is nothing dainty or timid about their humour. Lots of big laughs and, from what I understand, Sold Out shows! Catch them quick! 

Happy Fringing everyone! See you on the Fringe Grounds!

Monday, August 17, 2026 - Fringe Unforgettable

Only two shows again today. I looked but the window I had was awkward and the only things in walking distance that fit were either Sold Out (so many Sold Out shows - great for artists! Yay!) or I had already bought a ticket for on another day.  But pacing myself this year isn't a bad thing as I am lower energy than usual AND it had the added benefit of some terrific conversations with friends I saw on the street! 

I started with the adorable In My Room at Grindstone. Starring Eli Yaschuk and Rain Matkin from last year's amazing Victor and Victoria's Terrifying Tale of Terrible Things, with Music Direction by Elaine Dunbar. Eli and Rain have such incredible chemistry with each other and it shines through in this show. Eli, for some reason, cannot seem to leave his room and Rain is his personal assistant, helping him get through whatever he's going through. The care of Eli involves singing songs and choreography and tucking him in and crafts! It's clear that Rain and in-room accompanist Elaine, really want Eli to leave the room. This show works because they are all committed to the bit, and the two of them are lovely singers, and they've built solid show with a beginning, middle and satisfying end. I really enjoyed it! 

Then I took in Being Norwegian, presented by Orange Cat productions. I was so glad to see a play! There seems to be a dearth of plays this year and those are my favourite! This one is directed by Amy DeFelice and stars Clarice Eckford and Cody Porter. It's a combination of artists that has worked well int he past and continues to do so in this piece. It's very solid and Porter and Eckford play off each other well. Playing two strangers who've met at a bar and come back to Sean's box-filled apartment, it's dark and funny as they each navigate the others presence. We learn that Sean has not unpacked although he's been in the apartment for a year and that he's estranged from his ex-wife and son. We learn that Lisa is Norwegian despite all other appearances to the contrary. Her Norwegian-ness becomes a gateway for their moving forward. Porter and Eckford each have a clear idea of their character and although we do not find out everything about their pasts it is obvious they know their own stories. I really enjoyed Porter's awkwardness as Sean, and this contrasted nicely with the lightness and adventurousness of Eckford's Lisa. It's a terrific little show and it comes to a very satisfying conclusion. 

All in all a good day! Happy Fringing everyone! 

Word of Mouth - Monday, August 17, 2026

I like the Monday of Fringe - by this time, folks have seen a few more shows and the Word of Mouth list grows! New and returning titles today! I also chatted with more folks of wider age ranges and I think that gets a nicer mix of shows!

Rodgers and Hammerstein's ROBOCOP: The Musical

Hellmark: Christmas Musical Parody

Seanchai

Queens of Romance

Confirmed Bachelor

Being Norwegian

Bittergirl 

Ghost Quartet

Jesus, Mary & Jo

Batboy

35 MM

The Last 1.5 Librarians North of Lethbridge 

Jimmy Hogg: MASHED

Cavalleria rusticana

#The Merkin Sisters: Backcombed

The Sad Saga of the Edmonton Interurban Railway

Shams by Rumi

Featuring Loretta

Colonial Circus

Gnomon's Land

The Shape of Seamen: a new comic opera

Butter Chicken Odyssey 

Queenage Wasteland

In My Room

Happy Fringing All! Remember if you see something you think should be added to the Word of Mouth list - let me know!

Word of Mouth - Sunday, August 16th, 2026

Some of today's Word of Mouth recommendations came from my eavesdropping on conversations around me in lines... but that makes me believe them even more! A few new titles and a few repeats! Check them out!

False Profits

Circumscribed: A True Tall Tale of One Father, Two Sons, and Thousands of Foreskins

Sketchy Broads presents: Resting Bitumen Face

Andrew Silverwood: Love Thy Neighbour

Bloody Fairy Tales: Paul Strickland

Field Zoology 301: Myths & Monsters

Chase & Tymisha's Cabaret of Courage

Lady Marmalade: A Parisian Spread

A Life In 60 Minutes

In My Room

Queenage Wasteland

Edmonton Queen

A Note: with some of these, it is likely they are close to being Sold Out, so you might want to check them out and book your tickets sooner rather than later! Don't be disappointed!

Tickets!

Sunday, August 16, 2026 - Fringe Unforgettable

So, as is tradition I’m spending my wedding anniversary at Fringe… ha ha ha… my husband is working so if he’d had the day off we might have done something but really we will celebrate the “big” anniversary (30 Years!!!!!!) next week when we both have the time! It’s certainly the first anniversary I’ve been fringing…

My day started with Hereafter at Acacia. It was not what I expected. I’m still not sure what it was trying to say. The plain language description says it’s a solo clown show about a gravedigger during the black plague. The program  description alludes to Hamlet’s gravedigger, so I think I was expecting more Shakespeare. Anyhow, it you like things that are a bit absurd and out of left field, you may really like this. Much of the audience was laughing for a great deal of it. There’s song (about the plague!) with some audience participation, there’s juggling (skulls?), there’s a lot of talk of death and purpose, there's even a conversation with God. The gravedigger (played by Evelyn Gray, also the playwright) is charming, engaging and committed. I just am not sure what it all meant…

Next I caught Alex and Michael and Hannah written and directed by Heather Morrow at the Gateway Theatre. Ostensibly about a polyamorous trio and how that complicates Hannah’s life and shifts her ideas about her own attractiveness and what she needs to be happy in her life, it is complicated by the expectations and judgement of her (somewhat estranged and very toxic) family. There’s an interesting juxtaposition of the trio's relationship with her sister's more traditional one, with the non-traditional relationship feeling like the more healthy situation. There’s also a lot of evidence of a very unhealthy extended family for Hannah (Melinda Jordan) who engages in fat-shaming and constant belittling. It’s not hard to see why Hannah chooses the loving support of Alex (Kingsley Leung) and Michael (Doran Werner) over her manipulative and judgemental family. I would have like a little more complication with the establishment of the relationship - it did feel remarkably easy and I can't imagine that there wouldn't have been more discussion and, to some degree, insecurity about it, especially considering Hannah's background. However, I lack any experience in this kind of situation, so maybe it really is that simple - ask and see what happens!

The day at Fringe ended early for me today as I’m heading to Trivia for a more informal celebration of the Anniversary! Happy Fringing! 

Saturday, August 15, 2026 - Fringe Unforgettable!

I caught two shows today and enjoyed a nice lunch with a friend who joined me for the first. Not only do I love Fringe for the shows, but I also enjoy seeing friends! It is definitely the time when I feel a part of the larger Edmonton artistic community. I think I have run into about 30 people that I know and love so far at Fringe, and that's a terrific perk to the festival! 

First up was Chase Padgett: The Next Guy. I have to say, that when I've done my Word of Mouth conversations, Chase Padgett is the name that comes up the most often. Most Fringes his shows appear on more than one day and usually it's been recommended by multiple people at different times throughout the day. So, I figured that this was the Fringe I should probably check out one of his shows. It did not disappoint! Padgett is a gifted story-teller and guitarist. He's funny, engaging and real. He told a story about dealing with the grief of his divorce and the path his life took afterwards. It's a path with mistakes and wrong turns and red flags that he ignores to his detriment but (fortunately) he overcomes these and survives. Woven into the story are songs that are sometimes touching, but usually very funny, and which demonstrate his excellent skills as a guitarist, songwriter and vocalist. Very enjoyable and I highly recommend, along with all the folks who have recommended his shows to me in the past! 

After my lunch at The Next Act with my friend, I took in the Guys in Disguise show, Go West, Young Man. Inspired by the true story of Canadian Drag Legend Craig Russell (Zachary Parsons-Lozinski) who showed up at Mae West's home in 1963 with a suitcase full of fan mail from Canada and is hired as her personal secretary. He uses the job as an opportunity to study her. It's very silly, and most funny when Andrea House takes the stage as the legendary Mae West. House is such a natural impressionist and comedienne and this role is firmly in her wheelhouse. There's a monkey (yes! played by the excellent mover Ainsley Hillyard) and a very well-muscled boyfriend (Paul Novak played by David McNally) that both Mae and Russell are attracted to. Mae eventually figures out that what Russell needs are a few lessons and the show culminates with her sending him on his way to be true to himself, something he's been unable to be before their encounter.  Like most biographical plays, I spent a little time afterwards reading up on Mae West and Craig Russell. 

It was a shorter day today. I currently have two shows booked for tomorrow, but have a few ideas for a third to squeeze into the mix! Happy Fringing Everyone!

Word of Mouth - Saturday, August 15, 2026

I picked up a few more Word of Mouth recommendations from today's line-ups! There's a nice variety of shows, and hopefully this brings a few shows to your attention that you were unaware of! 

Lumber

The Review by Martin Dockery 

Gordon's Big Bald Head

Chase & Tymisha's Cabaret of Courage

Afeni

False Profits

Rivercity the Musical

Houdini

Being Norwegian

Blackground

Cavalleria rusticana

I'm glad that I have tickets for a couple of these and might pick up a few more based on the chats that I had! Perhaps I will see you there! Remember, if you see me on site, feel free to come and tell me your recommendations and I will add them to the list!