Fringe Full of Stars - Monday brings the BEST SHOW SO FAR! Victor & Victoria's Terrifying Tale of Terrible Things

Victor & Victoria's Terrifying Tale of Terrible Things

Now this is how you tell a scary story! From the pre-set of the cartoonish, but creepy, bed draped in fabric that appear to be covered in skulls, to the first few flashes of light and the quickly revealed tableaux, you know you are in for something really special with Victor & Victoria's Terrifying Tale of Terrible Things. I did not see it when first performed by creators Beth Graham and Nathan Cuckow (pretty sure it Sold Out back then), so other than the imagery of the hollow eyed and sunken cheeked Victorian twins, I didn't quite know what to expect script wise. I think, however, even if you did see it previously, this production would hold up and delight you in a Gothically scary way! 2025's Victor and Victoria and played by Eli Yaschuk and Rain Matkin, who have electric chemistry with each other as was seen earlier in the season in NLT's Radiant Vermin. That chemistry continues with this brilliant show. You do not always expect the level of quality in lighting, set, costumes and the tightness of the performance in a Fringe production. Director Jim Guedo, along with his cast, has delivered a real treat. The ridiculous leg acting alone is worth the price of admission. But seriously folks, it's so incredibly good. It's hysterical, fast-paced, with twists and turns, is at times super scary, and always engaging. I was captivated from the first hilarious moment to the terrifyingly last one! See this show - you won't regret it! 

More Daniel MacIvor for a Certified Fan - In On It at Theatre Network!

I caught Opening Night of In On It at Theatre Network on Thursday night.  I am a true MacIvor fan so this is written with prejudice.  I really, really, really, really liked this play and production.  A deftly written and well-performed two hander, directed by Bradley Moss and starring Frank Zotter and Nathan Cuckow, it was full on laughs and little magic moments and sadness.  As a playwright, I came away with so many ideas about how to put together a narrative which features many more than two characters but is performed by only two.  As a director, I saw possibility for shifting staging out of realism using lighting and sound and only 2 chairs in a simple black box. I was impressed by it's fluidity and it's humour and the way these two guys switched from character to character, from now to 'the play', to the past, to the present.  It wasn't easy to follow all the time.  I don't think it's supposed to be.  You get the information in non-sequential bits and pieces, so you have to put it together.  My friend who was with me said that she sometimes had trouble figuring out where and when and who they were, however, based on her follow-up statement, I don't think that's a bad thing, because she said she wanted to go see it again to figure it out.  She wanted to be 'in on it' from the beginning.  Can't be a bad thing if you want to go see it again, can it?

By the way, the theatre was absolutely packed - I would suggest getting your tickets earlier rather than later.  It's one to see!

* In On It marks #20 in my 2012 theatre goal - halfway there and it's only May!