Fringe Full of Stars - Thursday, August 21, 2025 - Peter Pan, Opera, A White Tiger and Jeopardy!

Quiz Icarus

This was definitely a show for ME! As many of you know (maybe you don't, but if you follow me on Instagram - you KNOW) I am a big Trivia buff. My husband and I (and sometimes my youngest son) play trivia on a regular basis - minimum twice a week, but sometimes more. We're also BIG Jeopardy fans and we PVR it daily to watch together and have done so for years. We also have a big place in our hearts for anyone on Jeopardy who is from Canada. So, about the show, Nam and Aaron are two Canadians who got on Jeopardy in the last few years and they were telling their stories about their love of Jeopardy, and all things Trivia and the lengths that they (and many others) went to in order to prepare for "The Show!" Each had a slightly different journey and different outcomes, but I was captivated by their Boot Camp recollections and thoroughly wowed by the name-dropping (Mattea! Juveria! OMG!!). As an avid viewer I remembered both of them, particularly Aaron's episode. Anyhow, in a dream-come-true moment, I got to go onstage and participate in a 10 minutes Jeopardy round. I did not win - I knew answers, but it is very much a buzzer game and my buzzer game sucked. The other audience member participating did win and got $100. I was jealous... the guys didn't even want a picture with me afterwards like they did with Sarah... That's the difference between a player and a champion, I guess... But I still had a lot of very nervous fun! 

Paloma and Joy

This production by Whizzgiggling was a bit different from their past few shows - a little darker and more serious as it explores the exploitation of foreign workers through the use of a German white tiger (Magda - played by Kristin Johnston) brought into the tired magic act of Paloma (Cheryl Jameson) and Joy (Michelle Todd). Paloma is the big bully of the two, but the dimmer Joy doesn't really help things. The play culminates with a near fatal attack after Paloma pushes things too far. I guess if you are going to poke the tiger, so to speak, it's important to understand that at some point they might poke back. There's a terrific opening sequence from Jameson and Todd, a fantastic cabaret song performed by Johnston, and all three actors commit fully to their roles. It makes you think. 

Peter Pan Cometh

I'd been waiting for this show and it did not disappoint! It's Peter Pan meets Eugene O'Neill's The Iceman Cometh and the the juxtaposition is wild. I am not as familiar with Iceman as I am with Long Days Journey into Night (Peter Pan is a no-brainer - I was in the musical years ago!), so I read the wikipedia article before seeing the show. The man in front of me watched the 4 hour movie version before coming. I don't know if you need to be that prepared. It's surprisingly fitting, and those surprises make you laugh and lock in. I was totally engaged from the moment it began. Very smart and clever, and well-acted and directed, and these folks clearly know their stuff when it comes to creating an out-of-the-box theatrical experience. Go see it! 

Dressing Requiem

I don't usually go to the opera at Fringe, but the title was recommended a few times to me during Word of Mouth chats so I thought I would check it out. There's some fine singing in this show who's premise is that the show is cancelled and the cast decide to reminise their favourite songs as they wrap up the dressing room. This allows the cast to share a greatest hits of Opera for the audience. My favourite performances were Udite (Donizetti), Vilia (Lehar), Habanera (Bizet) and the final number, Nessun Dorma (Puccini). 

I am taking today off and then tomorrow, Saturday, will be my last day! I hope you all have a terrific final weekend of Fringe Full of Stars!

Fringe Full of Stars is Almost Upon us! Let me help promote your show!

A Fringe full of stars is almost here! The kick off was today and, like many others, I was on my keyboard at 12:00 noon exactly so that I could buy my Double Fringer Pass! I'm glad to say that I got one so that means I have 20 shows to see for sure (and more if people are nice to me and comp me or I scrounge some extra dollars to see a few more - it certainly has been known to happen!)!

Anyhow, I was feeling a little grumpy because earlier this summer a friend chastised me for seeing their Fringe show last year on the last day of the Festival and because of that I didn't blog about it until after the festival was done. Folks, it's a logistics game with a very full spreadsheet, limited time and money, and a very tired Finster! I do what I can, really, and that's why I started the Word of Mouth posts several Fringes ago because I can't get to every show and I want to get the word out about the many, many, many fabulous shows that are out there. 

Anyhow, I may not get to your show, or I may not get to it until the last day of the festival - however, if you want me to blog about your show before the Fringe starts, I invite you to email me at smeep22003@yahoo.ca with the answers to the following questions and a show image and I will spend the next week posting in advance of Fringe to tell people about your show! Once Fringe starts all bets are off, so get yours to me before Wednesday, August 13th. Also, if you want me to see your show in the first couple of days - offer me a comp (just one - I fringe alone) and I will try to fit it in! 

1. Title and Venue of show 
2. Who's in it? Who helped build it? How are they awesome?
3. Why should I (and others) come see your show? (please don't say "to support artists" - I'm doing that no matter what show I see - tell me what I will get out of it - soul shaking tears, belly-laughter, a new understanding of the world, amazing musical experience, etc... please make this about me as the audience member and my experience.)
4. Anything else you'd like to add!

Thanks! I'm planning my Fringe over the next few days so earlier is better for getting back to me! I CAN'T WAIT to see what you have for me to see!