Wednesday, August 19, 2026 - Fringe Unforgettable!

First up today was A Hellmark Christmas Musical Parody written and directed by David Son! I always love the fact that people take the risk to launch a brand new play or (even more impressive) musical at Fringe. Some are more successful than others, and this in one that is truly a delight! As the title suggests it follows the trope of a Hallmark Christmas romance with big city business gal Krystle Frost (Francesca Scarpella - who has an incredible voice and excellent comic timing!) returning to her small town 'for work' at the demands of her tyrannical boss (Jeremey Zimmerman - who makes big choices resulting in big fun on stage!). She's accompanied by the business social media influencer, Bexley (Mana Middleton - also very funny with a great voice). Anyhow, once there things start to go weird - It's Hellmark, not Hallmark so obviously somewhere in there is a deal with the devil and lots of killing. The whole cast (Francesca Scarpella, Chelsea Laport, Mana Middleton, Ali Foster-Balloun, Sunshine Mauricio, Seth Gilfillan, Andrew Cormier, Jeremey Zimmerman) is terrific in playing multiple roles and executing Son's choreography. They know it's not to be taken seriously, but they commit to the bit and it's quite hilarious. There are unexpected things that keep it from being predictable (I won't spoil - but the lady sitting next to me practically jumped out of her seat at one jump scare!). Music Direcotr Grace Huang has some wonderful voices to work with in this group as each of them can easily handle a solo and the harmonies are tight! A clever script and terrific tunes! 

I then took in Matt & Ben presented by Nacho Pals Theatre at the Sugar Swing. I was very happy to see this show on the docket as it had been done many years ago and I didn't mange to get tickets but the premise sounded so intriguing. Angela James-Findlay and Mélissa Masse play Matt Damon and Ben Affleck respectively who are surprised when an awesome script (literally) falls from the sky into their lives. The title? Good Will Hunting... Yeah... that one. Anyhow, they debate over using it and we see tensions and differences between the two. Damon's the smart one, Affleck is charming but not so bright and maybe less talented? Anyhow, it's a very fun script and James-Findlay and Masse work so well against each other. A solid play that's super funny and features dream sequence visits from Gwyneth Paltrow and J.D. Salinger. I recommend you check this out. A terrific script with two excellent performances!

Happy Fringing all! 

Word of Mouth - Wednesday, August 19, 2026

So... Tuesday I hit a little wall and didn't talk to many folks... but yesterday I was back at it! Here are the Word of Mouth Recommendations I received. Some of these shows were mentioned multiple times by different people!

Jon Bennett: Playing With Men

The Late Great Mormon Drag Queen

Off Book the musical

Vaping Gay

Chase Padgett: The Next Guy

The Edmonton Queen

Gordon’s Big Bald Head

Stop Kiss

Story Story Lie

An Electrified Bard's Tale

Punch Up

In My Room

52 Stories

A Hellmark Christmas Musical Parody

Confirmed Bachelor

Gore

A Hollywood Horror Story

ERIKA MACDONALD: Tea TIME

Witch with Her Skirt on Fire

False Profits

Merkin Sisters

Jimmy Hogg: Mashed

Afeni

Not Quite Sherlock

Bil & Skeeter Break the Ocean

Tall Tale Storytelling

So in going through this before posting, I noticed that there are some shows that no longer have any more performances this Fringe - I imagine they are moving on to the Vancouver Fringe - so I am sorry I didn't hear about them sooner! Don't worry though, there are still a lot of other shows you can see! 

Happy Fringing!

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!