It’s the final weekend. The time to rush to shows that you haven’t reserved in hope that you’ll get in line in time. Or park yourself at a venue and just see each show as it comes up. I understand that the West End Cultural Centre with its two venues is such a place and its right across from the 240-seat Dramatic Arts Centre. Other large venues you could haunt include MTC Main stage, The Warehouse, The Planetarium, (a golden triangle of large venues), PTE Main stage, The Gas Station, MTYP Main stage, and Eckhardt-Grammeté Hall.

Not that you care, I’m sure, but I have taken in SIX shows this year. Got to see Dave Cramer, Jenny’s long time design and layout guy, who, relieved of that job now that we’re all online, is in a show! Arguably the Jenny staffer who has seen even fewer shows than me, jumped right onto a Fringe stage as a musician and on-stage sound effects creator for “Tales of the Macabre” in the gorgeous outdoor venue at Dalnavert. I also got to enjoy the music and comedy of Wes Borg in “Get me the F**k Out of Edmonton”, plus the improvised madness of both The Horrible Friends and of Atomic Improv. I also learned more history about the A Bomb (among myriad other things), than my brain could contain, from Jem Rolls, and spent a pleasant evening watching my friend Harry Nelken in “Eastport”. This is more theatre than I’ve seen at the Fringe (or anywhere else) in over a decade.

Tonight (assuming you are reading this on Saturday), we assemble our exhausted troops and cobble together an awards show for Sunday night. If you see a group of people huddled over programs, paper and maybe a laptop or two, all scribbling furiously and talking over each other, that’s us. Feel free to come by and make suggestions—of awards categories or shows. (Suggestions of just what we can do with our awards show will be ignored).

Remember, shows are only eligible if they’ve been mentioned on the Jenny site by 6 PM Saturday. So if you’ve seen a show that we haven’t, and you would like to see it get nominated, the time to talk about it is NOW.

If you think I’ve gone on too much about the Jenny’s, it’s because it’s the last show of the Fringe, it’s a great time, and really, due to some clever maneuvering on my part, it’s really my only job.

So remember to make your way upstairs at the King’s Head around 10 PM Sunday, and be prepared to voice your support of your favorites—LOUDLY. We rate the noise level and reward accordingly. And remember, as always, WE CAN BE BRIBED.

Coral McKendrick