Relive the Music: 50's and 60's
Full disclosure: I've cast Zenia Marshall, one of the singers in the show, twice (and I would again). Zenia is a fantastic singer, dancer, and actor and an even better person. It is wonderful to see her success in film, TV, and on stage. It is well-earned. Aside from her immense talents (she is also a musician), you aren't likely to meet many people that are more dedicated, kind, hard working, and humble. Zenia is just one of the many talented professional singers and musicians in this show.
Relive the Music: 50's and 60's is a musical revue of some of the best and most memorable songs and singers of those decades. It is an entertaining show and the singers and band are excellent. The production company, Simply The Best Talent, has produced shows all over the world and has only one show left in the lower mainland (February 26 in Surrey) before touring BC and the US. The show has received standing ovations and sell outs wherever it travels. It is a crowd-pleaser and brings a lot of joy to its audiences. It was inspiring to see a 76-year-old dancing in front of the stage for the entire show.
Many of the singers and musicians are family and have been performing together for years. This includes Luisa Marshall, who is a world champion tribute performer as Tina Turner and has appeared on Oprah and Ellen. It is amazing to see how much professional talent there is in one family (there's also Steve Marshall on drums, Kimi Kaos on guitar, and Tota Mendez and Zenia singing and dancing) and must make family gatherings a lot of fun. They are joined by very talented singers and musicians from all over the world including the Philippines, Ukraine, and New Zealand.
It is impressive to see the worldwide success of this local live entertainment production company led by Luisa and Steve Marshall. Live entertainment has certainly been challenged these past few years, and it's encouraging to see a sold out theatre. If you enjoy great singing and music, see this show at The Bell Performing Arts Centre in Surrey on Sunday, February 26 at 7:30 pm.
Info and tickets at ReliveTheMusic.ca.
-J. MacDonald
Full disclosure: I've cast Zenia Marshall, one of the singers in the show, twice (and I would again). Zenia is a fantastic singer, dancer, and actor and an even better person. It is wonderful to see her success in film, TV, and on stage. It is well-earned. Aside from her immense talents (she is also a musician), you aren't likely to meet many people that are more dedicated, kind, hard working, and humble. Zenia is just one of the many talented professional singers and musicians in this show.
Relive the Music: 50's and 60's is a musical revue of some of the best and most memorable songs and singers of those decades. It is an entertaining show and the singers and band are excellent. The production company, Simply The Best Talent, has produced shows all over the world and has only one show left in the lower mainland (February 26 in Surrey) before touring BC and the US. The show has received standing ovations and sell outs wherever it travels. It is a crowd-pleaser and brings a lot of joy to its audiences. It was inspiring to see a 76-year-old dancing in front of the stage for the entire show.
Many of the singers and musicians are family and have been performing together for years. This includes Luisa Marshall, who is a world champion tribute performer as Tina Turner and has appeared on Oprah and Ellen. It is amazing to see how much professional talent there is in one family (there's also Steve Marshall on drums, Kimi Kaos on guitar, and Tota Mendez and Zenia singing and dancing) and must make family gatherings a lot of fun. They are joined by very talented singers and musicians from all over the world including the Philippines, Ukraine, and New Zealand.
It is impressive to see the worldwide success of this local live entertainment production company led by Luisa and Steve Marshall. Live entertainment has certainly been challenged these past few years, and it's encouraging to see a sold out theatre. If you enjoy great singing and music, see this show at The Bell Performing Arts Centre in Surrey on Sunday, February 26 at 7:30 pm.
Info and tickets at ReliveTheMusic.ca.
-J. MacDonald
Vancouver Fringe Festival 2022
September 8-18
September 8-18
Reviews
HOW I MET MY MOTHER
An irresponsible bachelor answers the call to care for his ailing mother, while reckoning with his bad-ass past. But will his new-found skills be enough? A true story of love, family and the power of redemption.
25-year Fringe veteran Jon Paterson (Outstanding Solo Show – London, Outstanding Male Performance – Orlando) premieres his first solo-written show on the Canadian Fringe Festival circuit.
Company: RibbitRePublic Theatre
Written by: Jonathon Paterson
Directed by: Vanessa Quesnelle
@RibbitRepublic | #HOWIMETMYMOTHER
In ‘How I Met My Mother’ (no relation to the show), Jon Paterson shares stories about how he realized his love for his mother as a rebellious youth, and then again as an adult thrust into a care-giving role. Jon is an expert storyteller, and the moments he shares about helping a mother with Alzheimer’s have moved many audiences to tears, while his stories of being a dumb-ass youth spark laughter and understanding nods.
My own grandmother fell to the same insidious illness, but she did so on the other side of the world, cared for by distant relatives. I saw her once in her final years, visiting with my girlfriend at the time. She didn’t recognize me, or anyone except her husband. She pointed to my girlfriend and said, “I like that one.” She then pointed at me. “Him, I’m not so sure of.” I appreciate Paterson for giving me another window into what life was like for those who helped to take care of my grandmother, chores taken and acts made with great love.
The Vancouver Fringe may be (almost) over, but the digital version of this show will be available for the next week on the Vancouver Fringe website.
-A. Wade
Tango, to the Pointe
Award-winning dance company PointeTango returns to the stage with a spectacular new show where ballet and tango coalesce. With powerful lifts and fiery footwork, audiences will be mesmerized by PointeTango’s sultry duo as they pirouette, leap and bourrée across the stage with the passion of Argentine tango… on Pointe!
Company: PointeTango
Choreographed by: Alexander Richardson
@PointeTango | #TangoToThePointe
Breathtakingly beautiful, awe-strikingly athletic. Touring across Canada from Argentina, these dancers are experts of the medium, merging tango and ballet into a succession of visually captivating and complex partner dances. Meeting the dancing are a set of vertical lights placed about the stage, with artfully changing colours in perfect timing to the music. Moving projections complete a polished theatrical picture as PointeTango crafts compelling and impressive work. Highly recommended.
-A. Wade
Paco Erhard: Worst. German. Ever.
CRITICS PICK 2022 – SAN DIEGO INTERNATIONAL FRINGE FESTIVAL
TOP PICK 2022 – TORONTO FRINGE
Paco Erhard is German, but he has other problems too. From the creator of the award-winning 5-Step Guide to Being German (Vancouver Pick of the Fringe, 2018) comes a side-splitting show about laughter triumphing over dark times. Come laugh your socks off at Canada’s favourite German comedian in his most personal, mischievous, hilarious show yet. Join Paco – who “may suck at being German, but f—ing rocks at comedy” (The Advertiser, AUS) – and let’s turn rough years into lust for life!
“So powerful… a lovely surprise and very funny”
★★★★½ – Winnipeg Free Press
@PacoErhard | #WorstGermanEver
Primarily a stand-up comedian, this year Paco Erhard takes his (excellent) jokes and weaves them along
a life-long story of him trying to relate to his father in ways both German and Universal. Far from
stereotypical ribs about nationality, Paco’s jokes help us better understand Germans, his father, and
himself. Did I mention it’s funny? It’s really funny.
-A. Wade
The Walk in the Snow
“I will have nothing to do with a bomb…”
Pioneer, physicist, conscience, refugee.
On Christmas Eve 1938, two Jewish fugitives from the Nazis go for a walk in the Swedish snow.
The Austrian and her nephew make the shocking, historic discovery: the atom can be split. And the world is never the same again.
Jem Rolls tells the full, determined life of a remarkable and forgotten woman.
Five sellouts, Edmonton Fringe 2019. Nine sellouts, Winnipeg Fringe 2019.
“With three decades of Fringe under his belt, Jem Rolls continues to dazzle… Essential”
★★★★★ – CBC
Company: Big Word Performance
Written by: Jem Rolls
Directed by: Christine Ranzinger
#WalkInTheSnow
Do you have that one friend, where, whenever you see them, they have a fascinating new interest
they’ve delved into and they absolutely need to tell you about it and every single word they say is
riveting until you’ve left the house party with a newfound appreciation for yarnstock? Well, that friend is
Jem Rolls. Maybe not about knitting though.
In The Walk in the Snow, often performance poet and fringe staple Jem Rolls shares a core moment in
history that changed the world forever, as the power of the atom was discovered. Well worth a listen.
-A. Wade
The Morning After with Pam & Paula
It’s the final episode of this epic reality TV battle. Who will be crowned the top morning TV hosts?
Two teams remain, fan favourites Wake It & Shake It with Deb & Donna, and the underdogs The Morning After With Pam & Paula.
From special guests to kick-ass dance moves Pam & Paula pull out all the stops.
You’ll be laughing in your seats and blasting your favorite 90’s tunes all the way home.
So grab your tiara and pull up a seat, you won’t want to miss this ultimate throw down. It’s 2 legit to quit!
“A flawless performance”
– Winnipeg Free Press
Company: Power Pause Productions
Written by: Hilary Fillier and Joanna Rannelli
Directed by: Erika Conway
@PamAndPaula | #PamAndPaula
I have a lot of respect for those who need to create hours of entertaining content every single day. The
twitch-streamers. The shock jocks. The morning television hosts. Not necessarily respect for each of
them individually, but anyone who believes they have that kind of daily entertainment in them is a
unique special something.
The Morning After is a show about two women trying their absolute hardest to please and entertain the
audience and producers who will decide who gets to host a daily morning TV show. In metatheatrical
fashion, Hilary Fillier and Joanna Rannelli do likewise, doing all they can to keep us, the actual audience
entertained as Pam and Paula go through the stages of the competition. Spandex! Prop comedy!
Dramatic monologue! Ridiculosity! SNL-esque characters following the Mike Myers tradition of giving
single scene characters an obsession and then taking that to the limit.
Have some fun, feel glad you’re not stuck on high school regrets, and drink in The Morning After with
Pam and Paula.
-A. Wade
Cabaret of Murder
John Wayne Gacy. Ted Bundy. Dennis Rader. Elizabeth Wettlaufer. David Koresh. Charles Manson. Erik Manendez. Cho Seung-Hui. What do all of these people have in common? ART!… and also murder. But mostly art. Painting, poetry, music, and even plays. Serial killers and murderers have created art before, during, and after their heinous crimes.
‘Emerging Artist Award’ Winner
Calgary Fringe 2018
Written & Directed by: Blair Moro
@SingleAwareProd | #CabaretOfMurder
A rambunctious show for any lover of true crime podcasts, the last third of episodes of Law And Order,
or for those with a dark sense of humour. The premise is simple: taking the poems, letters, plays, songs,
and screenplays written by serial killers and presenting them in as fun and jovial an atmosphere as
possible. Expertly directed by Blair Moro. Our audience laughed uproariously throughout, be that from
actual jokes made by the performers, or awkward laughing from discomfort, or all of us laughing at how
poorly written some of these works are (which the professional actors acknowledge before giving the
scenes their all). Also of note, the Improv Centre! Fantastic to see the space fully joining Vancouver
Fringe, complete with pre-show bar if you are so inclined. Check it out!
-A. Wade
Disclosure
What happened? Where were you? What were you wearing? Inspired by a true story, Disclosure is a new interdisciplinary work created and performed by Studio 58 graduate Katherine Matlashewski. Through movement, spoken word, soundscape, and humour, Disclosure explores the struggles of a survivor searching for pathways toward healing in an adversarial medical system.
Each performance will include a ten-minute post-show discussion facilitated by a representative from WAVAW.
Advisory Warning: Disclosure takes up and alludes to the aftermath of sexual assault. Please note, there is no replication of any physical or sexual violence presented on stage.
Company: Disclosure Productions
Written & Performed by: Katherine Matlashewski
Directed by: Jane Heyman
@Disclosure_2022 | #Disclosure_2022
Disclosure is about the process of healing, and an understanding but firm indictment of systems that are
intended to protect and support victims of trauma. When words aren’t enough or cannot be expressed,
this piece explores the art of empathy through everything that theatre does best – movement, sound,
stillness. Matlashewski’s body shuts down, re-engages. On the day I saw it, several in the audience were
in tears, fully feeling the journey.
-A. Wade
Juliet: A Revenge Comedy
What if JULIET doesn’t kill herself?
A fast-paced, action-adventure comedy that follows Juliet on the literary adventure of the century as she recruits a team of Shakespeare’s most famous female characters to find out why they’ve been forced to die!
“Monster Theatre is money in the bank”
★★★★★ – CBC
Company: Monster Theatre
Written by: Pippa Mackie and Ryan Gladstone
Directed by: Ryan Gladstone
@MonsterTheatre | #Juliet
JULIET: A REVENGE COMEDY surely makes the Fringe torches burn bright. A riot from start to finish, this production exudes the comedic confidence that is only gained through a lengthy tour. The jokes are polished yet fresh and the cast clearly still find every ounce of fun in this text. All three performers are fantastic but of particular note is Carly Pokoradi who plays Lady Macbeth, Ophelia, Cleopatra, Miranda, Nurse, Lord and Lady Capulet, Mercutio, Benvolio and Romeo often at the same time. Her seamless transitions between these characters is astonishing. I wish I could see it again for the first time.
-J-C Roy
Wendy, My Darling
Following her return from Neverland, Wendy Darling moves to Hollywood, as so many Lost Boys do, to become a writer. Her life is turned upside down when she accidentally records a video that goes viral and reveals her true identity to the world. This not-so-Solo Musical is a fresh look at a classic character that is both timely and timeless.
With an original soundtrack that sparkles with wit, this laugh-out-loud funny, mutli-media infused production is proud to be previewing at Vancouver Fringe Festival.
Starring award-winning solo artist April Wish, with Special Appearances by Busy Philipps (Freaks and Geeks, Girls 5 Eva) and Jon Cryer (Pretty in Pink, Two and a Half Men).
Written by: April Wish
Story by: April Wish & Tammy Glover
Music & Lyrics by: Tammy Glover
Directed by: Krysia Plonka
@WendyMusical | #WendyMyDarling
WENDY, MY DARLING resonates strongly with anyone who has dared to follow their artistic
dreams just to find themselves middle-aged and lost in a life spent trying to please everyone in
Hollywood. It forces us to face the reality that despite our best efforts, we have grown up and
need to accept and find the comfort and wisdom in that. April Wish’s performance as Wendy
hits its stride as the titular character loses her grip on the illusion of what she wants to be and
realizes what she has become: a failure at something she hates. The perfect jumping off point
in discovering true personal freedom. This one-ish woman musical has a host of great laughs,
touching moments and a few fun celebrity cameos.
-J-C Roy
Halfway Through Stupid
A coming-of-age cabaret! Halfway Through Stupid is the tale of a young woman finding herself in the glamorous and geriatric world of sugar dating. Told through dance, comedy and music, this daring production sheds light on an intensely criticized, and undervalued industry. From getting ripped off to going to Disneyland; From coming of age to coming out, Halfway Through Stupid is based on accounts from real life sex workers, and follows the journey of one woman as she learns to be an adult while being a sugar baby.
Company: Miss Marie Productions
Written & Directed by: Claire Marie Pollock
#HalfwayThroughStupid
I appreciate Fringe shows that illuminate unique lives. In Halfway Through Stupid, Claire Marie Pollock shares a little about life as a sugar baby. While the focus was on entertainment, the show's message was important. Claire advocated how essential sex work is in society, particularly for people who are marginalized and different. She shared how she instructed one neurodiverse male how to be a good boyfriend and I'm sure the confidence and knowledge gained from this was vital to his quality of life (and those of future partners). In sharing her story, I'm hopeful that society becomes more accepting, kind, and empathetic to those involved in this work.
-J. Robins
Juliet: A Revenge Comedy
What if JULIET doesn’t kill herself?
A fast-paced, action-adventure comedy that follows Juliet on the literary adventure of the century as she recruits a team of Shakespeare’s most famous female characters to find out why they’ve been forced to die!
“Monster Theatre is money in the bank”
★★★★★ – CBC
Company: Monster Theatre
Written by: Pippa Mackie and Ryan Gladstone
Directed by: Ryan Gladstone
@MonsterTheatre | #Juliet
Exhilarating! Hilarious! Brilliant! This is why I go to theatre! There is so much detail and depth in the writing and performances and everything is polished and professional. The writing and acting are playful, clever, and funny. It's wonderful to see such a fantastic script, strong female characters, and a cast of three. This is my pick of the Fringe so far and the best show I've seen in years. I left the theatre energized and inspired. Get your tickets before it sells out. Highly recommended!
-J. MacDonald
Harvest 2022: Zoetic
‘Zoe’ comes from the Proto-Indo-European root ‘*gwei-‘, literally meaning ‘to live’ or ‘life’. ‘Zoetic’, from the word ‘Zoe’, means ‘pertaining to life’, ‘living’, ‘vital’. The themes we will explore are an awakening of our senses to all that lives around us. What is our relationship to plants, animals, the air, the water, and consequently each other? We will explore big questions with movement, music, sound, and text. The show was developed through a collaborative process with artists from diverse mental and physical abilities; we started only with a general concept and then build characters and scripts through weekly creative workshops. The show is ASL interpreted.
Company: Theatre Terrific
Written & Directed by: Susanna Uchatius and Cast
Directed by: Susanna Uchatius, Angelo Moroni, Bill Beauregard
@TheatreTerrific | #Zoetic
To highlight this show is to highlight the unique and wonderful acts of theatrical creation Theatre Terrific engages in. With each project, Theatre Terrific takes a group of individuals with different physical and mental abilities and develops heart-engaging performances with them.
Some spaces in the world see a person’s wheelchair as a problem to deal with. Other spaces see it as a circumstance to be accepted. Theatre Terrific looks at that wheelchair and goes, ‘Oh goody, what a marvelous unique quality to get to include!’
In front of the beautiful outdoor backdrop of Ron Basford Park, Harvest 2022: Zoetic moves at the pace of its performers, inviting its audience to breathe and match drummed heartbeats with its creators. It plays with the concepts of disconnection and connection – core issues for everyone, but also particularly pertinent to the show’s performers. Come to this show if you want to feel engaged and present for a unique moment of theatrical creation, gathering, and togetherness.
-A. Wade
THE C-WORD
In May of 2021, Kyrst Hogan was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer. Instead of throwing in the towel, she decided to wave it in the air for the world to see! The C-Word is a cheeky cabaret journey through her battle, from crazy stories about her recovery from surgery, to musical parodies about the trials of chemo to the baring of her soul and body. It’s a wild ride that hopes to de-mystify the experience of this disease and let us laugh at our imperfections and celebrate our resilience!
Written & Directed by: Kyrst Hogan (a.k.a. Burgundy Brixx)
#TheCWord
As a veteran of the Canadian Fringe theatre circuit, I have seen (and performed in) a lot of personal storytelling shows about navigating obstacles and confronting trauma and finding life at the end of dark tunnels. It’s a kind of show that can be difficult to craft: How to keep an audience happy while dealing with a dark subject. How to remain genuine, having that conversation with the crowd. How to find the theatricality in the topic.
Kyrst Hogan’s The C-Word is one of the best personal storytelling shows I’ve ever seen, fully captivating from start to finish.
Thoroughly entertaining, she has crafted a show that is part TED talk, part parody song concert, and part stage spectacle, detailing her ongoing journey with Cancer and many other C-words in a way that left the audience delighted and full of empathy.
Every cancer recovery story is unique, but all have their similarities. I recommend everyone get a chance to see this show to build their own empathy and understanding on what that process might resemble (and to laugh a whole bunch in the process).
-A. Wade
Chase Padgett: Lucky Break
Fringe Veteran Chase Padgett (6 Guitars, Nashville Hurricane) brings a brand new show about being a live-in caretaker for his mother and then becoming a semi-finalist on Fox’s newest unscripted singing show, ‘Alter Ego’. His trademark humor, storytelling, and song will be on full display as he reveals what it’s REALLY like to be on a big budget network talent show.
“Padgett is a virtuoso guitar player and deft actor”
★★★★★ – CBC
Written & Directed by: Chase Padgett
@ChasePadgett | #LuckyBreak
Chase Padgett is a brilliant character actor/musician and his shows are always polished, professional, and among the best at the fest. Lucky Break is his most personal show yet and it is a gift. While this show doesn't have his virtuoso characterizations (as he is himself), I very much appreciate his vulnerability and generosity in sharing his life. There were some very powerful and heartbreaking moments as well as moments of hilarity and joy. I very much recommend seeing this and I'm sure it will be a Pick of the Fringe. Get your tickets now before it sells out.
-J. MacDonald
Disclosure
What happened? Where were you? What were you wearing? Inspired by a true story, Disclosure is a new interdisciplinary work created and performed by Studio 58 graduate Katherine Matlashewski. Through movement, spoken word, soundscape, and humour, Disclosure explores the struggles of a survivor searching for pathways toward healing in an adversarial medical system.
Each performance will include a ten-minute post-show discussion facilitated by a representative from WAVAW.
Advisory Warning: Disclosure takes up and alludes to the aftermath of sexual assault. Please note, there is no replication of any physical or sexual violence presented on stage.
Company: Disclosure Productions
Written & Performed by: Katherine Matlashewski
Directed by: Jane Heyman
@Disclosure_2022 | #Disclosure_2022
DISCLOSURE is a moving physical representation of the emotional journey a person
experiences in the aftermath of sexual violence. Although the performance never gets into
explicit details, the repeated text, frantic but deliberate movements, stillness and crystal clear
emotion in Katherine Matlashewski’s eyes make it impossible not to share in the agony and
loss. It is an agony and loss that is experienced far too often by women in this world. Which is
why I recommend this accessible and welcoming performance to everyone because the only
way to affect change is through shared empathy.
-J-C Roy
Mail Ordered
Lila, a poor girl, arrives in Canada to find a man to buy her as a wife. Packed with her dance moves, charming giraffe jokes and well executed domestic chores, will lighthearted lovable Lila find a buyer or will she go home in shame?
Mail Ordered is an interactive comedy performance that promises the audience a rollercoaster ride littered with a touch of parody, tropes of Asian melodrama with dance numbers set to a fusion of Asian and Western inspired music and sounds.
Written and Performed by: Shanice Stanislaus (Singapore)
Directed by: Aaron Coates (Canada)
Music by: Eugene Yip of GRYD (Singapore)
Sound Design by: Yen Yu Ting of GRYD (Singapore)
#MailOrdered
A Mary Poppins dress. Masterful physical comedy that makes you wonder if Kristen Wiig and Maya Rudolph had a daughter. Awkward looong moments where the audience is left staring until they get so nervous laughter explodes. And a flashlight. Shanice Stanislaus deftly wields them all with charm, poise and confidence to deliver: MAIL ORDERED. A delightful romp through what otherwise might be considered dark and maybe taboo by a Canadian audience. My only complaint is that the opening audience was too small and this is a show that deserves and will land incredibly well with a full house. See this one, and, If you can afford it, do yourself a favour and bring one hundred thousand dollars. You won’t regret it.
-J-C Roy
2022 Vancouver Fringe Preview
The Fringe is back! With over 70 shows from all over the world to choose from, there is something for everybody. The following list includes shows from performers or companies that we've seen produce consistently strong and professional work along with performers we're unfamiliar with producing shows that look intriguing.
TJ Dawe- Blueberries are Assholes
Chase Padgett: Lucky Break
Paco Erhard- Worst.German.Ever.
Monster Theatre- Juliet: A Revenge Comedy
Martin Dockery- Every Good Story Ends With One
Wendy, my darling
Danielle Leger- Far From Beds
Jennifer Huva- Ares Requests
The C-WORD
Sad Girl Songs
One Man Pride and Prejudice
Halfway through Stupid
Nosegate
Echoes from Far Away
Stupid Ed
The Family Crow
Vancouver Fringe Festival 2019
September 5-15
September 5-15
Vancouver Fringe Festival 2019 Reviews
Lift
Awkward Stage Productions
Vancouver, Canada
Music and Lyrics by Craig Adams, Book by Ian Watson
awkwardstageproductions.com
Lift is a contemporary musical set in London’s Covent Garden Tube Station. The elevator ride takes one minute, but the journey inside takes us through eight lifetimes, allowing the characters to see and say things that might not otherwise ...come up. A rich, complex contemporary rock score and powerhouse vocals will not disappoint.
**** “Adams’ witty and poignant score brings coherence amongst fragmented bursts of dialogue, each song an eruption of unsaid truth.” —Whatsonstage.com (Soho Theatre Production)
Musical / Warm and Fuzzy / Intimate / Multicultural / LGBTQ+ / 14+ / Coarse Language / Sexual Content / 80 minutes
Lift carries on Awkward Stages tradition of finding little-known, super interesting scores. I was enthralled in the story, and I loved the music! There were so many interesting chords in the group numbers! In the third to last number, I felt like I'd been harmonically punched in the face! I also appreciate the use of mics in that theatre where sound can be lost so easily; especially when singing high passages in head voice. It's super important to hear every word in a piece with so many moving parts. I had no trouble following the plot, but I can see some people finding it confusing at times. I personally felt that too much vocal technique was compromised for the accents and character voices, but I'm also an opera buff so take that however you like. Awkward Stages shows are always a must-see every year at the fringe, and this one is no different.
- M. Smith
Becoming Magic Mike: An Action Adventure Comedy
DK Reinemer
Portland, USA
Playwright: DK Reinemer
dkreinemer.com
Comedian DK Reinemer (Help! I’m American) returns to the Vancouver Fringe with a brand new, smokin’ hot, action adventure comedy about a detective thrust deep undercover in the unfamiliar world of male stripping. He’s undercover, underdressed, and over the top. Can he pull it off? Bring your dollar bills ya’ll ‘cause it’s raining comedy.
Winner of Cool as a Cucumber Award, Orlando Fringe 2018 and Outstanding Artist Award, Calgary Fringe 2017.
“It’s essentially a Michael Bay blockbuster movie with 100% more male twerking.” —Bad Feeling Magazine
Funny / Naughty / In Your Face / 18+ / Coarse Language / Violent Content / Sexual Content / Gunshots / 55 minutes
Alright, alright, alright! Becoming Magic Mike is anything but just alright. It’s hilarious, touching, action-packed and yes, sexual. Bomp— Bomp, bomp, bomp! Yep that song’s in there. Twice and the rewrite the first time made me lose my mind. DK Reinemer moves effortlessly from character to character and creatively circumnavigates every pitfall of a one man show with tongue-in-cheek poise. There are some heavy bouts of audience participation, so if grinding and gettin’ down wich yo bad self ain’t your jam, stay out of the front rows. Yes. I did just say rows. This is easily one of the most entertaining shows I’ve seen at Fringe. I just might have to see it again!
- J. Roy
The Woman Who Borrowed Memories
Roan Shankaruk
Vancouver, Canada
Playwright: Roan Shankaruk
girl-in-boots.com
Stella, an artist, left her city and traveled abroad to become famous. After a 15-year absence she returns to her old apartment, and her landlady informs her that her room is currently inhabited by an old acquaintance, Wanda. During her visit, Stella realizes that her old room is not enough for Wanda. She wants Stella’s very memories for her own.
The show includes English surtitle captions, making it d/Deaf Accessible. It is also low vision friendly.
Intense / Musical / Poetic / 14+ / 55 minutes / Deaf and low vision
It was so refreshing to see an opera at the Fringe! The Woman Who Borrows Memories is a creepy one act chamber opera. Roan Shankaruk wears the hats of the performer and the composer in this production. The UBC grad created a mystifying, unsettling atmosphere with her incredible music. The music is wicked hard, and the singers and pianist Derek Stanyer did a wonderful job. The characters and the music work together to convey this indescribable chilling feeling. Modern opera can be scary for the unfamiliar listeners but the story is so good I'd recommend it to any Fringe goer.
- M. Smith
Fool Muun Komming!
Sam Kruger
Minneapolis, USA
Playwright: Sam Kruger
Set inside a giant mass hallucination, an extra-terrestrial being appears before humankind to present a gift, millennia in the making.
Part sci-fi clown, part acid fueled mime, part oddball love letter.
Winner: Pick of the Fringe, Edmonton Fringe 2018
Outstanding Solo, Ottawa Fringe 2018
Outstanding Solo, London Fringe 2017
“A hilarious, beautiful, sensual, absurdist masterpiece of comedy, drama, and physical theatre.” —Capital Critics’ Circle, Ottawa
“Like a coked-up Robin Williams at his most agile and frenetic, Sam Kruger is a special and weird Fringe jewel.” —CBC
Funny / Silly / Weird / 14+ / 60 minutes
Go see this show! I have not laughed as hard while simultaneously not knowing what was going on in years. The incredibly physicality demonstrated in this performance is enthralling, as is the wavering and stitched together narrative that meanders beautifully between poetic and ridiculous. Working to understand an alien who is working to understand itself could not be more delightful, while also heartbreaking, like many first encounters end up being. Give yourself the gift of Fool Muun Komming!
- M. Gilmour
SpinS
janoah...anygoodjokes?
Peaks Island, USA
Playwright: Janoah Bailin
https://www.janoahanygoodjokes.com/spins
A wildly dizzying whirl of juggling, giggling, magic and movement, puppetry, PJs, circus and socks, totally tangled together! A unicyclist careens on stage, unpacking a quirky world of clothes-pin towers, erratic toothbrushes and gargantuan grins. Objects swirl into chaotic creation as Janoah constructs a performing-partner puppet from piles of props!
“Silly escapism, and I mean that as a great compliment. ... This artist makes a choice to play before each bit. Like a child on a fancy playground, but mixed with the adult’s years of training.” —First Looks, PortFringe Festival
Funny / Silly / Weird / All Ages / 60 minutes
Janoah offers a delightful show that is nonsensical like love or sun-showers. The performance is a genuine invitation to walk with the clown as he discovers what can be done with all the treasured objects on stage. Timidly brilliant and awkward as all hell, Spins will make you giggle, squirm, and appreciate the gift of vulnerability that Janoah offers his audience. The highlight for me was the choreography on unicycle that starts the show. I have never seen as lyrical a unicycle act as the hilarious and touching performance that Janoah weaves. See Spins this weekend, if you have not already had the pleasure!
- M. Gilmour
janoah...anygoodjokes?
Peaks Island, USA
Playwright: Janoah Bailin
https://www.janoahanygoodjokes.com/spins
A wildly dizzying whirl of juggling, giggling, magic and movement, puppetry, PJs, circus and socks, totally tangled together! A unicyclist careens on stage, unpacking a quirky world of clothes-pin towers, erratic toothbrushes and gargantuan grins. Objects swirl into chaotic creation as Janoah constructs a performing-partner puppet from piles of props!
“Silly escapism, and I mean that as a great compliment. ... This artist makes a choice to play before each bit. Like a child on a fancy playground, but mixed with the adult’s years of training.” —First Looks, PortFringe Festival
Funny / Silly / Weird / All Ages / 60 minutes
Janoah offers a delightful show that is nonsensical like love or sun-showers. The performance is a genuine invitation to walk with the clown as he discovers what can be done with all the treasured objects on stage. Timidly brilliant and awkward as all hell, Spins will make you giggle, squirm, and appreciate the gift of vulnerability that Janoah offers his audience. The highlight for me was the choreography on unicycle that starts the show. I have never seen as lyrical a unicycle act as the hilarious and touching performance that Janoah weaves. See Spins this weekend, if you have not already had the pleasure!
- M. Gilmour
Diagnose This! Tales of a Medical Actor
Donna Kay Yarborough
Portland, USA
Playwright: Donna Kay Yarborough
DonnaKaySpeaks.com
When an improv comedian plays patient for medical students, what results is a hilarious and moving view into the world of healthcare. It’ll make you laugh, it’ll make you cry, it’ll make you cringe, and it’ll make you say, “F*** THE SYSTEM!”
Warning: contains strong opinions about the US and blunt talk about lady parts.
“Yarborough can whip up a sense of fun, keeping the crowd under her spell.” —Orlando Sentinel
“A serious tour-de-force performer.” —The Road to 1,000
Funny / Intense / 18+ / Coarse Language / Sexual Content / 60 minutes / Low vision
A monologue of memories that is well worth listening to. You will leave with empathy for medical students and a re-fueled frustration for our common habit of not listening to each other.
-M. Gilmour
Donna Kay Yarborough
Portland, USA
Playwright: Donna Kay Yarborough
DonnaKaySpeaks.com
When an improv comedian plays patient for medical students, what results is a hilarious and moving view into the world of healthcare. It’ll make you laugh, it’ll make you cry, it’ll make you cringe, and it’ll make you say, “F*** THE SYSTEM!”
Warning: contains strong opinions about the US and blunt talk about lady parts.
“Yarborough can whip up a sense of fun, keeping the crowd under her spell.” —Orlando Sentinel
“A serious tour-de-force performer.” —The Road to 1,000
Funny / Intense / 18+ / Coarse Language / Sexual Content / 60 minutes / Low vision
A monologue of memories that is well worth listening to. You will leave with empathy for medical students and a re-fueled frustration for our common habit of not listening to each other.
-M. Gilmour
Carey-OK!: Timeless Timely Tunes
Chip Pop Productions
Victoria, Canada
Playwright: Carey Wass
facebook.com/tomcruisader
Winner: Favourite Performer at Victoria Fringe.
A mix of Robin Williams and Reggie Watts, Fringe fave Wass (Ride the Cyclone, **** —Globe & Mail) unleashes a one-man a cappella musical that blends singing, beatboxing, rapping, and dance into a series of uplifting song-o-logues about anxiety, social media, and his journey living in Vietnam.
“Sweet mother of mercy … it’s been years since I laughed as hard as I did at Carey-OK!—John Threlfall, Check The Program
***** “Carey-OK! is like if Bo Burnham was your cool high school teacher.” —Greg Kondrak, Theatre In London
Listed as a “Must-See Show” in Do250.com.
Funny / Musical / Poetic / All Ages / 60 minutes Low vision
This fun and uplifting performance by Carey Wass, a substitute teacher from Victoria moonlighting as a one-man, 5 voice band to entertain the masses. With the aid of his looping Machine, Mr. Ok takes us on an adventure; the soundtrack of his life that includes his beat-boxed original tunes that get the audience clapping and singing right along with him. Touching on topics such as love, dreams, anxiety and overcoming seemingly insurmountable obstacles and replacing them with hope, Carey-Ok makes us laugh with his genuine nature! Adding to this, Carey-Ok's use of sarcasm and quick wit, hilarious facial expressions and fantastic dance moves is an added bonus. This light-hearted performance is definitely worth seeing!
- A. Weatherhead
The Walk in the Snow: The True Story of Lise Meitner
big word performance
Finchampstead, UK
Playwright: jem rolls
Physicist, fugitive, pioneer, heroine.
On Christmas Eve 1938, two refugees from the Nazis walk out in the Swedish snow. Sat on a tree-trunk, they make the shocking discovery: the atom can be split.
And the world changes forever.
Jem Rolls tells the remarkable life of a determined and forgotten woman.
“I will have nothing to do with a bomb.”
From the creator of The Inventor Of All Things:
***** “If you love history, science and great storytelling, you cannot afford to miss this show.” —Edmonton Journal
Intense / Poetic / Intellectual / 14+ / 60 minutes / Low vision
One might ask " Who is Lise Meitner?" and more aptly, "why should I care?"
With multiple accolades under her belt and exceptional mind, Lise Meitner changed our world with her contributions in the field of Nuclear Physics by being one of the very first to discover that the Uranium atom would actually split in two if bombarded by enough neutrons. This discovery, prior to WW2, along with much of her research would lead to the allies winning the war against Nazi Germany. Yet, never recognized for the academic contributions, despite her multiple Nobel Prize nominations.
The phenomenal female scientist's life story is delivered by Jem Rolls with the same level of precision and dedication to his respective craft as the main character of his tale. His poetic,passionate and historically accurate storytelling draws the audience in. I personally felt cheated for not knowing of Lise Meitner sooner in my life and felt deeply enriched by Jem Rolls' storytelling experience.
A must see.
- A. Weatherhead
Amelie
West Moon Theatre
Vancouver, Canada
Playwrights: Craig Lucas, Daniel Messe, Nathan Tysen
Amelie is an extraordinary young woman who lives quietly in the world but loudly in her mind. She covertly improvises small but surprising acts of kindness that bring joy and mayhem. But when a chance at love comes her way, Amelie realizes that to find happiness she’ll have to risk everything and say what’s in her heart.
“Bushels of imagination.” —Newsday
“The show is a quirky-sweet creampuff that breezily imports much of the movie’s off-kilter charm.” —Entertainment Weekly
“A triumph of adaptation, setting itself apart from the film to become its very own magical thing.” —The Guardian
Silly / Musical / Poetic / Multicultural/ All Ages / Sexual Content / 90 minutes / Deaf/ low vision
Amelie is a light-hearted, cheerful musical with a lot of intricate, deep themes. The score is enchanting and the band does an incredible job bringing it out. Each actor clearly did their homework because every single character and bit part really shines on the stage. The folks in the lighting booth also deserve a shout-out; I was really impressed with the creativity behind the lighting. The cast worked together beautifully and I would say the highlight of this production is the moments when the whole cast sings together in rich harmony. I really loved the relationships between each character, especially between Amelie and her father. The one issue with the production, which is often an issue at the Firehall Arts Centre, was singing volume. When singing without microphones in this theatre, it is sometimes difficult for the audience to make out the words. Because of the vocal style of the singers in this production, some of the higher passages in head voice and a few of the lower passages felt a little muddled. However, I should say this issue arose very rarely. All in all, I thoroughly enjoyed this show and anyone who loves contemporary musical theatre needs to have this show on their list!
-M. Smith
The Love of Your Life: An Improvised True Romance
Not Your Show Pony Productions
Vancouver, Canada
Playwrights: Denise Jones & Ensemble
Have you ever wondered what your love-life might look like? This completely improvised performance will show you what “may or may not” happen with the current “love of your life.” What if you could see how things unfold years into the future. Marriage? Kids? Affairs? A new couple from the audience will be chosen each night... could it be you?
Funny / Naughty / Intimate / 18+ / Coarse Language / Sexual Content / 60 minutes
The Love of Your Life is a frequently hilarious romp through the life of a couple from the audience. It's skillfully played by a team of professional improvisers and is a lot of fun. A great concept well executed. I'm a big fan of improv, especially when it has a themed narrative as this does. On the night I attended, the couple looked like they were having a blast watching their relationship played out. Even a mistake on sound (whether intentional or not) regarding the sound of an accordion, was played up by the cast and had us all laughing. See it!
-J. MacDonald
You Belong Here
Martin Dockery
Brooklyn, USA
Playwright: Martin Dockery
MartinDockery.com
A totally unique storytelling experience. Dockery (2018’s Delirium) tells a comically neurotic true story about The Forbidden City that’s about everything but The Forbidden City.
“A masterful storyteller.” —Herald Sun, Melbourne.
“A verbal magician.” —NOW Magazine, Toronto
“Engaging and evocative.” —Chortle, London, UK
“Editor’s Choice.” —the Georgia Straight
“DO NOT MISS THIS SHOW it is absolutely wonderful!” —Kings River Life Magazine, Fresno, CA
“Of the many, many Fringe storytellers I’ve heard over the years, Dockery remains the best.” —Orlando Sentinel
“[Dockery’s] latest one-man marvel.” —Orlando Weekly
Funny / All Ages / 70 minutes / Low vision
Martin Dockery is an excellent storyteller and his autobiographical shows such as The Bike Trip and Wanderlust are reliably one of the highlights of the festival. This show is no exception. Sharing his experience of traveling to The Forbidden City, Dockery is often hilarious and always engaging. Recommended.
-J. MacDonald
How to Really...Really? Really! Love a Woman
Dance Naked Productions
Portland, USA
Playwright: Eleanor O’Brien
dancenakedproductions.com
From the creator of the hit shows GGG: Dominatrix for Dummies and Lust & Marriage comes a timely tale that is all about paying lip service to the divine. Part storytelling, part stand-up, part TED Talk, and part Vagina Monologue, H2Rx3LAW celebrates a return to good ol’ fashion Goddess worship—and learning how to make the pussy purr...
“It’s funny, empowering, and just slightly terrifying all at once. … I highly recommend HTRRRLAW.” —Broadway World
“It is just so damn refreshing to see a sex show with its big girl pants on. See this show.” —CBC
Funny / Naughty / Intimate / LGBTQ+ / 18+ / Sexual Content / 60 minutes/ Low vision
“Embrace pleasure, Endure Nothing” words to live by taught to me by the incomparable Eleanor O’Brien in her show “How to Really...Really? Love a Woman”. I can’t say enough good things about this production. Eleanor is warm, honest and passionate about the subject matter. I’ll say it: SEX. She talks about sex for an hour in vivid, graphic detail. The nice thing is, sex isn’t thrown in your face. This isn’t a play about bragging but rather an adult talk about what it’s really like to have sex and the different shapes and ways you do or don’t derive pleasure from it. The writing is snappy and slick on her tongue, the cheek in her words evident as soon as you walk in the door. Do yourself a favour and have a desperately needed honest talk about the thing most of use do, and few of us admit to. It’s time. Also, “Breasts!! Have you tried breasts!?” 5 stars
- J. Roy
Pretending Things Are a Cock
A Mulled Whine
Wellington, New Zealand
Playwright: Jon Bennett
jonbennettcomedy.com
The product of award-winning comedian Jon Bennett’s three years of global wandering. An artistic, phallic-filled photographic display alongside hilarious and surprisingly heart-wrenching tales from Bennett’s life. A unique stand-up experience.
Five time Pick of the Fringe Award winner.
****½ “Instantly likeable, Bennett is a deft storyteller with a frank, confessional style that blends pathos and humour to great effect. —Uptown Magazine
**** “True brilliance.” —Vue Weekly
Funny / Warm and Fuzzy / 14+ / Coarse Language / Sexual Content / 60 minutes
Critically acclaimed storyteller, Jon Bennett, returns with one of his most well known shows. Bennett has traveled the world with this show and has had art exhibits and a book spawned from it as well as legions of fan submissions. Jon shares engaging and funny personal stories about his life, family, and travels. His previous shows How I learned to Hug and Fire in the Meth Lab were both highlights of past Vancouver Fringe Festivals and this show is no exception. Recommended.
-J. MacDonald
Old Fart
Theatre Praxis
London, Canada
Playwright: Tim Bourgard
Hilarious, touching, fun. Old Tom is a quirky Old Fart. He takes you through the joys and challenges of living long, laughing hard, and loving deeply. Stories, jokes, songs, and tears, but mostly laughs. He’s everyone’s Granddad with a twist. He’s actually funny! Young or old, you’ll love him!
Winner of the People’s Choice & Best Actor Awards at the London One Act Festival, and Nominated for Best Comedy at the Brickenden Awards, London.
“A delightfully warm, poignant, silly and fun 60 minutes suitable for all, one that is sure to put a smile on your face that will stay long after you leave the theatre.” —Joe Belanger, the London Free Press
Funny / Silly / Musical / All Ages / 60 minutes
Old Fart is a great mix of a phone call with your dad and a day watching tv while Pepi tells you stories of the old days; if Pepi is a cross between Fred Penner and Mr. Rogers. If you like grandad jokes and old-timey tunes on a ukulele that are heart-warming and sometimes border on a little blue, this is a show for you. I found it geared to an older audience and felt it a bit repetitive and predictable at times. Perhaps because I have heard a lot of these jokes and sayings from my dad in recent years. The highlight for me was the rewritten lyrics to Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer that exclaim the distress of being an older person with a cell phone. A solid show for those that like stories.
-J. Roy
Tommy’s Amazing Journey
kevztunz
New Westminster, Canada
Playwrights: Pete Townsend/Kevin Armstrong
In 1969, The Who released Tommy, a concept album that was the first “Rock Opera.” Fifty years later, Kevin Armstrong (Opera for Heathens) brings his astounding solo performance of this seminal album to the Fringe, singing all of the roles while playing 8-string guitar.
Come and join us on an “Amazing Journey” with the “Pinball Wizard.”
“Opera for Heathens is a beautiful and often electrifying display.” —Vue Weekly, Edmonton
“And that voice, my God, that voice! … Prepare yourself for an hour of intense musical talent.” —Brieanna Ingram, Plank Magazine, Vancouver
Intense / Musical / Intellectual / All Ages / 60 minutes/Low vision
Tommy’s Amazing Journey was maybe the best way for me to start my Fringe. It’s exactly what the description says: a guy playing Tommy front to back, alone. Having a heavy music background, I understand completely the level of skill it takes to be able to, at times, be playing the guitar, bass, drum, lead and harmony vocal parts simultaneously. With a great sense of humour to fill the awkward spaces where you would turn the record over, Kevin Armstrong, lets the crowd feel his passion for this classic album. This performance made me long for a dark room, some really great headphones and the perfect vinyl to take me on a journey. The visuals from the Tommy film certainly help you along that journey. The few hangups I have are due solely to the nature of a 1 man band show. I wish he could have moved around the stage more. I wanted it to be louder to really envelope me with sound and I feel he deserved a full band behind him to support his fantastic voice and guitar playing. I’ll give this a 4/5 buzzes. If you’re a WHO fan, don’t miss it.
-J. Roy
Advanced Field Zoology for Beginners
Shawn O’Hara
Victoria, Canada
Playwright: Shawn O’Hara
A follow-up to the award-winning hit comedy Field Zoology 101! Armed with a collection of stories almost as unbelievable as his credentials, infamous Field Zoologist Brad Gooseberry returns from a court-ordered sabbatical to bring you up to date on the newest and most exciting developments in the animal sciences.
**** “Brilliant.” —Edmonton Journal
**** “A first-rate comedic talent.” —Winnipeg Free Press
“Never stops surprising.” —the Georgia Straight
“Shawn O’Hara is my new Fringe hero.” —Colin Thomas, Fresh Sheet
Funny / Silly / Weird / 14+ / Coarse Language / 50 minutes
Class is in session! Shawn O'Hara has returned this year to the Vancouver Fringe Festival, following up his last year's performance as Professor Bradley Q. Gooseberry in Advanced Zoology 101 for Beginners. Of much of the same fashion, using transparencies and well-timed humour and sarcasm, Professor Gooseberry (O'Hara) takes us on a not-so-academic exploration of the wilderness in Vancouver and a closer look at the trials and tribulations of a Zoologist. Branching off strictly from fauna, Gooseberry shares his thoughts on Cryptozoology, Astrology, survival in the urban wild and even a taste of what kinds of cooking one could do within city limits, if in a pinch. While a good portion of this performance is on point, this reviewer misses the closer connection and "class" interaction of performances previously done at the Revue Stage. Never the less, continue your lifelong learning and head to see Shawn O'Hara's humourous act at the Waterfront Theatre!
-A. Weatherhead
Chase Breyer: Part-Time Substitute Teacher, Full-Time Canadian Super Spy
SNAFU
Victoria, Canada
Playwright: Rod Peter Jr.
snafudance.com
The madcap action-adventures of a Canadian James Bond and part-time substitute teacher.
“The most memorable comic performance I’ve seen. Best physical comedian in town.” —David Lennam, CBC Radio
“Cool” substitute teacher, Chase Breyer is called to action to find a fellow Canadian spy who has gone missing, only to find out the country is in more danger than thought!
Funny / Silly / Weird / All Ages / 60 minutes
From the company that created Fringe hits, Kitt and Jane and Little Orange Man comes the entertaining action comedy, Chase Breyer. It's a high energy, cinematic (we even get 3D glasses) parody of spy movies and pop culture that is skillfully played and a lot of fun. It is impressive how fast paced and energetic the show is given that there is only one person on stage. Very funny and recommended.
-J. MacDonald
The Legend of White Woman Creek
The Coldharts
Brooklyn, USA
Playwrights: Katie Hartman & Nick Ryan
thecoldharts.com
The American frontier, 1867: A young woman flees her war-torn home to start a new life in an unfamiliar land. A 13-song cycle of love, betrayal, and revenge sung by the ghost of Anna Morgan Faber.
***** “A series of magnificent narrative songs, performed just perfectly ... An absolute triumph of music, production and mischievous willingness to unnerve.” —Edmonton Journal “One of the most moving musicals I've seen in many moons.” —Orlando Weekly
Intense / Musical / Poetic / 14+ / Coarse Language / 60 minutes
The Legend of White Woman Creek is a one woman folk/country song cycle with a bit of a horror vibe. Katie Hartman's voice fits the style and character of the music beautifully. I was skeptical of the staging at the beginning but Katie's introduction created a wonderful eerie tension in the room. The use of silence throughout the show was very effective in setting that tone. As soon as she picked up the guitar, I was in. Another creative choice that I loved was the use of buzzing guitar strings and dissonance; I wish I could've heard even more. Going in, I had no idea if it was classical or musical theatre or pop or whatever. Part of me wishes it was advertised as a folk song cycle, but I also really enjoyed going in blind. It's a simple but important story told clearly and effectively with excellent music. I'd recommend the show to anyone who loves music, and especially to those who like folk/country music.
-M. Smith
Fool Muun Komming!
Sam Kruger
Minneapolis, USA
Playwright: Sam Kruger
Set inside a giant mass hallucination, an extra-terrestrial being appears before humankind to present a gift, millennia in the making.
Part sci-fi clown, part acid fueled mime, part oddball love letter.
Winner: Pick of the Fringe, Edmonton Fringe 2018
Outstanding Solo, Ottawa Fringe 2018
Outstanding Solo, London Fringe 2017
“A hilarious, beautiful, sensual, absurdist masterpiece of comedy, drama, and physical theatre.” —Capital Critics’ Circle, Ottawa
“Like a coked-up Robin Williams at his most agile and frenetic, Sam Kruger is a special and weird Fringe jewel.” —CBC
Funny / Silly / Weird / 14+ / 60 minutes
Sam Kruger's character is a likeable, charming, and odd being not of this world. Kruger's movements, voice, script, audience interaction, and characterizations are unique, very funny, and well done. For those who enjoy physical and offbeat theatre, see this show. I'm glad I did. And stay for the post show speech- it's the funniest I've ever experienced. Recommended.
- J. MacDonald
Diagnose This! Tales of a Medical Actor
Donna Kay Yarborough
Portland, USA
Playwright: Donna Kay Yarborough
DonnaKaySpeaks.com
When an improv comedian plays patient for medical students, what results is a hilarious and moving view into the world of healthcare. It’ll make you laugh, it’ll make you cry, it’ll make you cringe, and it’ll make you say, “F*** THE SYSTEM!”
Warning: contains strong opinions about the US and blunt talk about lady parts.
“Yarborough can whip up a sense of fun, keeping the crowd under her spell.” —Orlando Sentinel
“A serious tour-de-force performer.” —The Road to 1,000
Funny / Intense / 18+ / Coarse Language / Sexual Content / 60 minutes / Low vision
Diagnose This! starts out with stories about being a medical actor that are both illuminating, humourous, and sometimes cringe-inducing. I had heard of the position but didn't realize that they also must do fully invasive procedures such as Pap Smears as well. That's dedication. And we later learn what motivates this dedication. The show continues to the heart of the piece that is very real, very passionate, and very personal. It is a gift and I am grateful to Donna for sharing her story and for her work and advocacy for improved patient care. See this show.
-J. MacDonald
Donna Kay Yarborough
Portland, USA
Playwright: Donna Kay Yarborough
DonnaKaySpeaks.com
When an improv comedian plays patient for medical students, what results is a hilarious and moving view into the world of healthcare. It’ll make you laugh, it’ll make you cry, it’ll make you cringe, and it’ll make you say, “F*** THE SYSTEM!”
Warning: contains strong opinions about the US and blunt talk about lady parts.
“Yarborough can whip up a sense of fun, keeping the crowd under her spell.” —Orlando Sentinel
“A serious tour-de-force performer.” —The Road to 1,000
Funny / Intense / 18+ / Coarse Language / Sexual Content / 60 minutes / Low vision
Diagnose This! starts out with stories about being a medical actor that are both illuminating, humourous, and sometimes cringe-inducing. I had heard of the position but didn't realize that they also must do fully invasive procedures such as Pap Smears as well. That's dedication. And we later learn what motivates this dedication. The show continues to the heart of the piece that is very real, very passionate, and very personal. It is a gift and I am grateful to Donna for sharing her story and for her work and advocacy for improved patient care. See this show.
-J. MacDonald
Alice in Glitterland
Geekenders Theatricals
Vancouver, Canada
Playwright: Fairlith Harvey, based on the works of Lewis Carroll
Alice in Glitterland is a new immersive dance-theatre experience created inside the historic WISE Hall.
Audience members explore retro-glamourous Glitterland, a golden era cabaret palace where every open door dives deeper down the rabbit hole alongside 12 fantastical and familiar characters on an intimate and interactive electro-swing journey.
Intimate / LGBTQ+/ 18+ / Smoke/Fog / 75 minutes/ Deaf friendly
Please not the WISE Hall is a 19+ venue in the evening only. Patrons attending evening performances must be 19 or older and present ID at the door.
Alice in Glitterland is a great concept and I love immersive, roving, site-specific theatre. Their previous Fringe show, the outdoor, roving Slumber Here, inspired by A Midsummer Night's Dream, was one of my personal Picks of the Fringe. I've been a fan of Geekenders since their themed dances at the Legion and I applaud their ambition. Alice in Wonderland is also one of my favourite stories. Entering Glitterland, I felt anticipation and excitement as I was transported to another world. Once there, the atmosphere and inhabitants were unique, edgy, and interesting. The soundscape was excellent and the dancing and costumes well done. I would be interested in seeing the show remounted with more dialogue and plot and in a bigger space with more rooms and a larger budget. In the performance that I saw, the audience seemed a little unsure of where to go so many stayed in the main space throughout the experience without exploring the entire space. This is one of very few shows that I'd see again. We need more companies like this to create ambitious, innovative, and immersive work. Get tickets while you can; the show has been selling out.
-J. Robins
The Legend of White Woman Creek
The Coldharts
Brooklyn, USA
Playwrights: Katie Hartman & Nick Ryan
thecoldharts.com
The American frontier, 1867: A young woman flees her war-torn home to start a new life in an unfamiliar land. A 13-song cycle of love, betrayal, and revenge sung by the ghost of Anna Morgan Faber.
***** “A series of magnificent narrative songs, performed just perfectly ... An absolute triumph of music, production and mischievous willingness to unnerve.” —Edmonton Journal “One of the most moving musicals I've seen in many moons.” —Orlando Weekly
Intense / Musical / Poetic / 14+ / Coarse Language / 60 minutes
A haunting story of the tortured soul of Anna Faber and her losses as she is summoned by a specialist in the field of the supernatural. The premise of this production encircled themes of racism and colonization in the wild wild west of Kansas against the Cheyenne and how the protagonist, Anna, realizes not only are the Cheyenne people not the terrors that she once believed but her true source of love, community and connection. Kate Hartman undoubtedly conveys strong emotion and storytelling through song but left me wanting as an audience member for some song variance in a one hour show. Overall, if you enjoy raw vocals, a powerful message and the feel of a paranormal experience then this show is for you.
-A. Weatherhead
Vancouver Fringe Festival 2019 Preview
The following companies and performers have created productions that we recommended in prior festivals. Their current shows are included.
TJ Dawe: Operatic Panic Attack
Martin Dockery: You Belong Here & Inescapable
Awkward Stage Productions: Lift
Geekenders: Alice in Glitterland
Jon Bennett: Pretending Things are a Cock
Eleanor O'Brien: How to Really...Really? Really! Love a Woman
The following productions also looked interesting at the Fringe preview show or in the program guide.
Josephine
Larry
Chase Breyer: Part-Time Substitute Teacher, Full-Time Canadian Super Spy
Becoming Magic Mike: An Action Adventure Comedy
The Russian Play
Fake Ghost Tours 2
The Magic Chamber
The Moaning Yoni
The Great Canadian Porno: the Musical
The Love of your Life: An Improvised True Romance
Vancouver Fringe Festival
2018 Reviews
The ADHD Project
I had the privilege of watching "The ADHD project" at the Vancouver 2018 Fringe Festival. The irreverent, funny and endearing Carlyn Rhamey entertained and moved us with her honest and vulnerable performance. She details many of the struggles and triumphs of her life growing up, and to this day.
This performance really spoke to me as a neuro-diverse person, and was VERY relatable. Prior to the show, I suspected that many aspects of our experiences would comparable, given the similarity in our backgrounds (we are both women who grew up in the 90s diagnosed with ADHD). Not only was this the case, but her recollections were shockingly similar to my own experiences, right down to the description of her father's mustache!
Carlyn's story was relatable and motivational, and at times I felt myself become emotional, with tears of understanding. I'm very glad to hear that her show will now be performed for schools in Ontario.
Upon leaving, I felt inspired to continue my own work in the field of service to those of us who were diagnosed with ADHD.
-M. Kennedy
Squirrel Suit Productions
Hamilton, Canada
Playwright: Carlyn Rhamey
squirrelsuit.ca
Award-winning storyteller Carlyn Rhamey (SAOR) shares the trials and triumphs of growing up a little bit “special” and embracing what makes us different. The ADHD Project is a hilariously honest journey exploring ADHD and celebrating neurodiversity. Enter Carlyn’s world of chaos, creativity, and combat with her mind.
2017 Ottawa Fringe Emerging Artist Award
**** “A gifted and charismatic storyteller, endearing, captivating, and tremendously abuzz with charming energy.” —On Stage Ottawa
“Rhamey takes it to a higher level.” --Arts Ally Hamilton
Funny / Silly / Warm and Fuzzy / 60 minutes / All Ages
Underrepresented artist: The ADHD Project was written/performed/produced and directed all by neurodiverse artists.
Field Zoology 101
Ever wonder what it would be like to be a zoologist? Well now is your opportunity to put on your cargos and walk 60 minutes in the weathered boots of a pseudo-zoologist! This creative, solo act performed by Shawn O’Hara (also performing in the Fake Ghost Tours) had me stitches. O’Hara’s comedic timing and low, unwavering and almost always factually erroneous voice of Dr. Bradley Q. Gooseberry drew in his “students” and kept us there along for the ride! Simple props added to the performance and his keen sense of listening to the audience and playing off of them made the small Revue Stage seem even smaller and more intimate. An enjoyable evening; highly recommended.
-A. Weatherhead
Shawn O’Hara
Victoria, Canada
Playwright: Shawn O’Hara
From Producer Mike Delamont comes Shawn O’Hara’s Field Zoology 101! From the untamed wilds of the Delta Landfill, to the loading bay behind Duffin’s Donuts, Brad Gooseberry has seen it all. In this introductory course he shares a lifetime of “knowledge” and “experience,” teaching you to survive in the harrowing and hilarious world of field zoology.
“Hilarious!” --the Georgia Straight
“Raucously funny!” --Showbill.ca
Winner of Favourite Comedy, Victoria Fringe Festival 2016
Funny / Silly / Weird / 60 minutes / 14+ / Coarse Language
F*ck Tinder: a love story
F*** Tinder is a collection of anecdotes based on finding love in a world inundated with technology, poor social skills, and bone-crushing societal expectations. Dating, random sex, and weird stories scratch only the surface of what David had to share.
David commands the stage with his booming stage presence, making it so audience members are mesmerized until the very end! A must see if you are looking for an assemblage of good date stories and even bigger laughs. I thoroughly enjoyed his performance and would recommend this for Pick of the Fringe.
-A. Weatherhead
David Rodwin
San Francisco, USA
Playwright: David Rodwin
f-tinder.com
Comedic storytelling crack from The Moth champion, David Rodwin, who gets held up at gunpoint the night his girlfriend breaks up with him, moves to San Francisco, and becomes addicted to dating apps. He goes out with 120 women in two years, in search of love, but finds everything else... until there’s a twist and things get weird.
“A phenomenal writer.” --Stage and Cinema
“A master storyteller.” --Theatre Eddys
“Masters of the form like Spalding Gray and Eric Bogosian ... David Rodwin does deserve to be mentioned in such company.” --Better Lemons
Funny / Naughty / Shocking / 75 minutes / 18+ / Coarse Language / Sexual Content
A Sad-Ass Cabaret
TJ Dawe and Lindsay Robertson have crafted a wonderful show full of incredible stories and great music. TJ is a fantastic storyteller and one of my favourite writers and performers. He shares the almost unbelievable true tales of Hank Williams, Judy Garland, Bessie Smith, and Sufjan Stevens. The lives of these musicians are riveting, heartbreaking, and at times, humourous and inspiring. I'd love to learn and hear more about their lives.
Lindsay Robertson's guitar and voice are lovely, creating an evocative atmosphere while singing each of the musician's songs.
This show is cathartic, beautiful, and one of my Picks of the Fringe so far. The Havana Theatre is a small, intimate venue; I'd recommend that you get your tickets now to avoid missing it.
-Jim MacDonald
The Wretched Orphans
Vancouver, Canada
Playwrights: TJ Dawe & Lindsay Robertson
tjdawe.ca
Fringe mainstay TJ Dawe talks, singer/songwriter Lindsay Robertson plays music and sings, as they explore stories and songs of musicians who turned the trauma and pain of their lives into beauty. Learn about Hank Williams, Judy Garland, Sufjan Stevens, and others in this intimate hybrid performance piece which shows why we’re drawn to sad-ass music.
Musical / Tear-Jerker / Intimate / 60 minutes / 14+
Ben Price Magic Presents Rabbit Stew
Ben Price is a very funny, charming, and skilled professional magician.
His show is extremely entertaining, awe-inspiring, hysterical, and polished. I love magic and many of his illusions I have never seen.
Ben could easily also be a successful stand-up comedian with his timing, ease, and material. This is one of my favourite shows of the festival so far and I highly recommend it.
-Jim MacDonald
Ben Price Magic
Calgary, Canada
Playwright: Ben Price
benpricemagic.com
Have you ever wanted to attend the ultimate magic show? Ben Price uses his abilities in sleight of hand, thought influence, and comedy to take you on a journey through the perfect magic show. This 60 minute, interactive show will have audiences laughing, gasping, and cheering as Ben performs all kinds of marvels from card tricks to mind reading.
Funny / Silly / Naughty / 60 minutes / 14+
Poly Queer Love Ballad
Poly Queer Love Ballad is full of beautiful songs beautifully sung and an outstanding story and script. Anais West and Sara Vickruck are excellent in their roles- so good, in fact, that it seems autobiographical.
The songs, composed by Sara Vickruck, tell the story wonderfully and are also very catchy and witty. Sara has an exquisite voice and perfect comic timing. There's some marvelous inventiveness with the loop pedal as well- at one point Sara harmonizes with herself. I hope there's a cast recording; I'd love to buy it.
The themes are timely and it's a vital, thought-provoking story. You'll be discussing and thinking about it for hours after you leave the theatre. I believe it will resonate with anyone who has ever been in love. The production is thoroughly professional; it is so good that I'd like to see again. I'm excited for future collaborations between the two. I believe that the musical will soon be playing all over the world; see it.
-Jim MacDonald
Anais West and Sara Vickruck
Vancouver, Canada
Playwrights: Anais West & Sara Vickruck
www.polyqueerloveballad.com
An intimate, edgy new musical, merging slam poetry with catchy pop-folk tunes. Nina, a polyamorous bisexual poet, meets Gabbie, a monogamous lesbian songwriter, at Cafe Deux Soleil. With two microphones, a loop pedal, and array of instruments, they struggle to reconcile their fierce mutual attraction with their opposing perspectives on love.
“Vickruck can belt a song, croon a song, and massage a song into existence—and she can act, too.” --Vancouver Courier (on Love Bomb)
“[Anais West has] got great comic timing and she is fearless about going to dark emotional places.” --the Georgia Straight (on Dry Land)
Naughty / Musical / Poetic / LGBTQ+ / 75 minutes / 18+ / Coarse Language / Sexual Content
Underrepresented artist: Created and performed by queer women, with an all-female, mostly queer creative team.
Jasper in Deadland
Awkward Stage Productions latest Fringe offering features a strong ensemble performing a Vancouver premiere musical. The company is known for producing quality musicals (including the fantastic Titus!) and are one of my favourites. They also generally sell out their Fringe productions and are usually a Pick of the Fringe.
Jasper in Deadland's cast excel vocally and as performers. The ensemble is supported by a full live band that is also excellent. I thoroughly enjoyed the show and recommend it to anyone who enjoys musicals.
-Jim MacDonald
Awkward Stage Productions
Vancouver, Canada
Playwrights: Ryan Scott Oliver & Hunter Foster
awkwardstageproductions.com
When you’re failing classes, kicked off the swim team, and your family is on the skids, life can feel like it’s going to hell. In a night of teenage desire, Jasper and her best friend Agnes consummate a years-long friendship. In the morning Agnes is gone. Jasper goes after her. Come meet us at the touch of water. Take a deep dive into Deadland.
“Jasper In Deadland is a journey of self-discovery that moved me in such a way that it brought tears to my eyes.” --New York Theatre Guide
“And electrifying surge of theatrical energy!” --Entertainment Weekly
Weird / Intense / Musical / LGBTQ+ / 90 minutes / All Ages
Underrepresented artist: Jasper in Deadland is led by a core production team of queer women and features a cast of diverse actors in the story two teenage girls falling in love in the face of natural and supernatural adversity. The story was originally written with a cis-gender, male-female romance, but the NYC writers have given special permission for Awkward to explore this narrative through an intersectional lens.
The F Words
The F Words tells a story of a woman from childhood to her floundering forties struggling with friendship, careers, and self-esteem.
This one woman show (Yvette Dudley-Neuman) makes excellent use of various media, with songs and slideshow visuals, but I found all the elements distracted from the genuine nature of the story as well as added more time to the performance than necessary. While the story was long, it was real and heartfelt. The witty premise of using F words to tell a story through specific dictionary-inspired word choice left myself as an audience member feeling warm and content.
-A. Weatherhead
Yvette Dudley-Neuman
Coquitlam, Canada
Playwright: Yvette Dudley-Neuman
tteeVy.com
This award-winning show is “lively, tough, sexy, hilarious, and transformational!” (Theatre BC) And it received an honourable mention from Theatre BC’s 2014 Playwriting Competition.
“The FWords is an F-ing great play and the perfect show to catch at the Fringe this year! It’s vividly insightful, upliftingly musical, and educationally punny. ... I guarantee you’ll come away laughing and with an expanded vocabulary.” —Sonja Cvoric, Plank Magazine
**** “Dudley-Neuman is the perfect mix of manic energy and depressed stupor ... [an] amazing emotional tour de force.” --Edmonton Journal
“Yvette is a skilled actress and storyteller. Her message is personal, universal, and resonant.” --VUE Weekly
Funny / Naughty / Tear-Jerker / 75 minutes / 18+ / Coarse Language / Sexual Content
5-Step Guide to Being German 2.0
Created and Performed by Paco Erhard
5-Step Guide to Being German 2.0 is a highly entertaining and humourous show that seeks to unify people. It succeeds in every way. Paco is a confident, affable performer with excellent improv and crowd work.
He has been touring his show around the world since 2011 and it shows in the ease and polish of the material and of the performer. There were several Germans and Europeans in the audience and it added to the experience hearing their knowing reactions. The show is exceptionally funny and has a surprising amount of warmth and depth.
-Jim MacDonald
Sold out in London, Chicago, Sydney, Edinburgh, as well as festivals around the world, 5-Step Guide to Being German is Paco’s comical mission to set the record straight about his “charming, crazy mishap of a country”.
A reaction to British people’s stereotypes about Germany, 5-Step Guide to Being German delivers “an extremely clever analysis of the modern German psyche” (Independent Daily, AUS) that is “side-splittingly funny and violently politically incorrect” (The Argus, UK). 5-Step Guide to Being German was nominated for the Fringe World Best Comedy Award in 2013 and has been performed for companies and institutions as varied as the Goethe-Institut Australia, BMW, Mini, The German Consulate in Edinburgh, The World Tax Payers Association, and the Festival of German Films in Melbourne.
Paco Erhard shows audiences the Germany behind the scenes, as he deals with topics as varied as German bluntness (“we just value honesty more highly than other people’s feelings”), hilarious dilemmas on the Autobahn, the secret behind lederhosen, and how it feels to have to grow up with Germany’s horrible past.
http://pacoerhard.com/
Additional Fringe Recommendations:
How I learned to Hug, A Canadian Bartender at Butlin's, Weirdo, and Red Bastard.
Part one of our Fringe Festival preview includes some artists and companies that have created exceptional work at the Fringe and around Vancouver in the past.
Red Bastard's previous show was one of the most hilarious, interactive, exhilarating, and bold pieces of theatre that I have ever seen. He returns with:
Red Bastard: Lie with Me.
Playwrights: Eric Davis and Aitor Basauri
redbastard.com
Award-winning trickster, Red Bastard, teeters on the tip of your moral highs and lows as he asks each audience the seemingly simple question: What are the Rules of Love?
A hilariously fun, 5-star affair that exposes how we love and why. Don’t miss this mind-warping show for singles, couples, and anyone who’s dared to adore.
***** “Hilarious and beautifully written ... tantalising you with stories of love and lust ... it’s an experience ... as funny as it is unforgiving ... There really is nothing quite like it ... Just go.” --Edinburgh Festivals Magazine
***** “Hysterically funny and thought-provoking ... an unquestionable must see!” --The Adelaidian
Funny / Intense / Naughty / 75 minutes / 18+
TJ Dawe is a Fringe legend and has written and performed some of my favourite plays ever. He returns with one of his funniest:
A Canadian Bartender at Butlin's.
Playwright: TJ Dawe
tjdawe.ca
Jessie Award winning Fringe favourite TJ Dawe (Slipknot, Medicine, Roller Coaster) returns with the 15th anniversary remount of his show about a working holiday in England, pouring pints at Butlin’s Holiday Camp—the McDonald’s of resorts—a British cultural institution—and an absolute shithole. This is TJ’s 113th Fringe. Yes, really.
“This guy’s headed for the stand-up hall of fame.” —the Georgia Straight
“Dawe has storytelling down to a fine art.” --the Vancouver Sun
“If Jerry Seinfeld and George Carlin has a baby, it’d be TJ Dawe.” --Winnipeg Sun
“A master monologist.” --Toronto Star
Funny / Intellectual / Intimate / 75 minutes / 14+ / Coarse Language
TJ Dawe also shares the stage with Lindsday Robertson in:
A Sad-Ass Cabaret
Playwrights: TJ Dawe & Lindsay Robertson
tjdawe.ca Fringe mainstay TJ Dawe talks, singer/songwriter Lindsay Robertson plays music and sings, as they explore stories and songs of musicians who turned the trauma and pain of their lives into beauty. Learn about Hank Williams, Judy Garland, Sufjan Stevens, and others in this intimate hybrid performance piece which shows why we’re drawn to sad-ass music.
Musical / Tear-Jerker / Intimate / 60 minutes / 14+
Other shows from performers and companies that have created excellent work in the past include:
Jasper in Deadland- Awkward Stage Productions (Titus!)
Hullaboo- Andrew Wade (Titus!)
Angels and Aliens- Jeff Leard
5-Step Guide to Being German 2.0 (one of my personal Picks of the Fringe last year)
Martin Dockery: Delirium
Part 2 of our Fringe preview includes some of the shows that looked intriguing at the Fringe Preview Show or in the program.
Poly Queer Love Ballad
Is that how Clowns have sex? A One-woman queer clown sex-ed show
Inside Voices: A Musical in the Key of P (improv)
Ben Price presents Rabbit Stew
Mind Magic
Weirdo
Absolute Magic
How I learned to Hug
Die Hard: The Musical-ish
F*ck Tinder
Fake Ghost Tours (outdoor roving theatre)
The ADHD Project
Cabaret
Produced by Tomosuru Players
Directed by Gerald Williams
Musical Direction by Jeremy Hoffman
Choreography by Lyndsey Britten
October 12-22, 2017
Club XY, 1216 Bute St., Vancouver, BC, Canada
www.tomosuruplayers.com/cabaret
If you’ve never seen Cabaret, see it. The musical is one of the best Broadway shows ever made and this production of it is strong. Cabaret has so many memorable songs that you’ll be singing them for days. Even if you have seen Cabaret before, this production has an immersiveness, intimacy, boldness, and bawdiness that are unique and make it very worthwhile to see again.
Two of this production’s greatest strengths are its intimacy and immersiveness and the venue is perfect in supporting this. Club XY makes an excellent Kit Kat Klub and the scenes at the Kit Kat transport us into that world. A wedding reception later in the show is also particularly immersive which makes the discovery of a Nazi, who is a friend, at the Jewish wedding even more dramatic. This is followed by a chilling moment when many of the guests, in and around the audience, join him in singing the Nazi song Tomorrow Belongs to Me. Some of that tension is relieved about half way through the song when the company breaks into a canon musically and we realize we are watching a show again.
While the stage and venue are quite small, Tomosuru has ambitiously managed to produce a full scale musical with a live band and wireless mics for all the performers. There was some cutting out and static with the mics at times on the night I attended (as there tends to be at musicals) which made me wonder if it would be possible to have the show unplugged, given the size of the space. I believe the band might overpower the company if it were though.
The band is excellent and the company has many strong singers and performers. Kudos must also be given to the trust, commitment, and boldness of the performers. Many of them spend most of the night in lingerie or less and there is much playful groping and spanking on stage among the company. John Ennis Graham plays an excellent villain.
I love site specific theatre and this show is when it's at the Kit Kat Klub. The Klub and its inhabitants are so pervasive that they also bleed into other settings. When Cliff, an American writer, is travelling to Berlin on the train, he encounters a train employee played by one of the Kit Kat dancers in lingerie with an open jacket over it. I would be curious to see what the show would look like if the other minor characters and settings away from the Kit Kit Klub were as well defined.
Club XY is a perfect venue for this show and I hope more shows are staged here as the West End could use more performance spaces.
This was a fun and wild night at the theatre. Congratulations to all involved for their passion, dedication, and commitment. I would recommend all to experience it.
-Jim MacDonald
Fringe Festival 2017 Reviews
Slumber Here
Produced by Geekenders and Instant Theatre
Conceived and Directed by Ryan Caron, Fairlith Harvey, Andrew Lynch, Chelsey Stuyt
Writing by Abbey St. Brendan, Fairlith Harvey, and W. Shakespeare
Featuring: Zac Beardsley, Stephen Blakley, Lindsay Braynen, Bradley Bergeron, Arthi Chandra, Greg Delmage, Meredith Fraser, Isabella Halladay, Kimberly Ho, Daisy Hulme, Amanda Lau, Stefanie Michaud, Draco Muff-Boi, Shan Naziripour, Shayan Naziripour, Claire Rice, Chloe Packer, Casey Por, Levi Schneider, Abbey St. Brendan, Claire Temple, Graeme Thompson, Andrew Wade, Zach Wolfman
Immerse yourself in the fantasy of Shakespeare's 'A Midsummer Night's Dream' as you are thrust into the carnivalesque world of the fairies to be seduced by Oberon, assist the Mechanicals to fix their play, help Puck create mischief, visit Nick Bottom (a real mini donkey!), and find your soulmate.
http://geekenders.ca/ || http://instanttheatre.com/
Slumber Here is one of the most ambitious, joyous, exciting, fun, playful, beautiful, and, at times, exhilarating shows at the festival. It can be enjoyed by all ages and features a breathtaking setting, gorgeous costumes, fantastic makeup, and even a real donkey. It is immersive, interactive, site-specific, and roving with audience members able to follow a number of different characters and story arcs. One could experience the show several times and discover new stories and characters each time. From a pillow fight to playing match-maker to marrying a stranger ("Bye. Nice marrying you."), Slumber Here is inspiring in its vitality and joie de vive! It is an oasis of life and energy with its large, vibrant cast and natural setting. Recommended!
-Jim MacDonald
5-Step Guide to Being German
Created and Performed by Paco Erhard
Sold out in London, Chicago, Sydney, Edinburgh, as well as festivals around the world, 5-Step Guide to Being German is Paco’s comical mission to set the record straight about his “charming, crazy mishap of a country”.
A reaction to British people’s stereotypes about Germany, 5-Step Guide to Being German delivers “an extremely clever analysis of the modern German psyche” (Independent Daily, AUS) that is “side-splittingly funny and violently politically incorrect” (The Argus, UK). 5-Step Guide to Being German was nominated for the Fringe World Best Comedy Award in 2013 and has been performed for companies and institutions as varied as the Goethe-Institut Australia, BMW, Mini, The German Consulate in Edinburgh, The World Tax Payers Association, and the Festival of German Films in Melbourne
Paco Erhard shows audiences the Germany behind the scenes, as he deals with topics as varied as German bluntness (“we just value honesty more highly than other people’s feelings”), hilarious dilemmas on the Autobahn, the secret behind lederhosen, and how it feels to have to grow up with Germany’s horrible past.
http://pacoerhard.com/
5-Step Guide to Being German is a highly entertaining and humourous show that seeks to unify people. It succeeds in every way. Paco is a confident, affable performer with excellent improv and crowd work. He has been touring his show around the world since 2011 and it shows in the ease and polish of the material and of the performer. There were several Germans and Europeans in the audience and it added to the experience hearing their knowing reactions. The show is exceptionally funny and has a surprising amount of warmth and depth. Performance Works was almost sold out on the night I went; buy your tickets now.
-Jim MacDonald
Cry-Baby: The Musical
Awkward Stage Productions
Book by Mark O’Donnell & Thomas Meehan, Music by David Javerbaum & Adam Schlesinger
Director: Barbara Tomasic
Musical director: Andy Toth
Choreographer: Erika Babins
Featuring: Victor Hunter, Katrina Teitz, Daniel Curalli, Kelly-Ruth Mercier, Synthia Yusuf, Ali Watson, Krista Skwarok, Stephanie Wong, Charlotte Wright, Darren Dyhengco, Vuk Prodanovic, Max Borowski, Courtney Shields, Sidney Klips , Tosh Sutherland, Brownyn Williams and Nathan Cottell
Based on the John Waters film, Cry-Baby: The Musical focuses on Baltimore teenager Allison Vernon-Williams, who is drawn across the tracks from her 1954 finishing-school background into a relationship with the orphaned Wade “Cry-Baby” Walker, the leader of a pack of rebel outcasts. A Tony Award Nominated show by a Pick of the Fringe winning company.
Funny / Musical / 90 minutes / 14+ / Coarse Language / Sexual Content
awkwardstageproductions.com
Awkward Stage Productions creates consistently strong musicals featuring large, young casts of emerging professionals. From their incredible and hilarious Titus to Trey Parker's Cannibal, Awkward Stage takes risks and their productions are often Picks of the Fringe. Cry-Baby features a witty script full of innuendo, 50's style music, and a tonne of fun and energy. There are some excellent performers in this cast, including a few from Titus, and some standout performances including Synthia Yusuf's spurned Lenora and Max Borowski in a number of roles. It's a very funny show and the live band makes the musical even better. The performance was almost sold out and I anticipate that the rest of the run will be as well; best to buy your tickets now. I highly recommend seeing anything Awkward Stage creates.
-Jim MacDonald
SWORDPLAY: A PLAY OF SWORDS
Created and performed by Sex T-Rex
Chandelier-swinging, dastardly schemes and swordfights, swordfights, swordfights await as Sex T-Rex bring their signature cinematic style to the stage, dancing from The Princess Bride, to Final Fantasy, to Game of Thrones and dipping their rapier wit into all things sordid and sworded.
Winner of the 2015 Just for Laughs Best Comedy Award.
***** “Proves that theatre is still the perfect medium for creating the impossible.” --TWISI Theatre Blog
***** “The most exhilarating show yet from the hyper-kinetic company.” --Torontoist
Funny / 60 minutes / 14+
sextrexcomedy.com
Swordplay is a wonderfully fun and hilarious swashbuckling adventure. The pace and energy are terrific. This is theatre that even people that don't go to theatre can enjoy. As an added bonus, the show also features one half of Peter 'n' Chris (two of the best writers and performers I have ever seen). The writing and performances in this show are also fantastically creative, imaginative, and very amusing. From Toronto, I hope the company comes back to Vancouver often. Grab some friends and get your tickets now before it sells out. This is one of the best comedies in this year's Fringe. Highly recommended!
-Jim MacDonald
