The BUZZ – Reviews – 2014

Pizza Man

Coffee Guy Prods.—Alloway Hall (Man. Museum)

This energetic, exuberant romp gives us two young female roommates who have lost control of their lives. One has just been fired from the latest in a string of dead-end jobs—for refusing to sleep with her boss, no less—and feels she’s wandering aimlessly through life; the other one has found out the boyfriend she broke up with is married.

The girls decide the best way to deal with these things is to create a situation where they have control: to find a man who they do or don’t know, and rape him. Since the girl who broke up with the married man loves food and has ordered pizza, the idea comes up to force their wills on the pizza delivery guy. (I wonder if holding his anchovies occurred to them.)

Ethical struggles follow, as the girls can’t decide whether to go through with their plan, even after they tell the man what they’re up to. They even find a way to “nonchalantly” incorporate the arguably rape-y song Blurred Lines into the mix. Eventually, heart-to-hearts abound for all three and maybe some life lessons are learned.

Everyone here puts on a spirited performance. The characters are generally likable, and ultimately, its heart is in the right place, as the play takes an over-the-top concept and brings it down to earth. There are a couple of sitcom-like zingers that did seem funny only because you don’t expect them in a non-comedy troupe Fringe play.

I’m just glad I wasn’t one of the poor customers stuck waiting for one of those pizzas in the delivery guy’s car still to be delivered after he delivered the girls’ pizza.

Beau Hajavitch

Confessions of an Operatic Mute

No Fixed Address Prods.—Son of Warehouse

Briane Nasimok is a competent speaker and tells a good story—unfortunately, his story isn’t particularly witty, profound or funny.

Yes, he arouses a few chuckles but he evokes sympathy more than laughter—the “I feel sorry for you” kind of sympathy, not the “you just ripped my heart out” kind.

This autobiographical journey provides little reason for the audience to connect or care. The story is mostly uninteresting and about as insipid as if I took an hour to tell you about my life.

Ray Yuen

In Wonderland

MTYP Summer Studio—MTYP Richardson Hall

The best part about this show is that there are constantly new things happening to grab your attention (not that my interest ever needed to be re-piqued). This is a creative and original look at Alice in Wonderland, told primarily through dance.

It takes the classic characters in stride, making them all interesting and clever. The show opens with eerie group songs, reminiscent of a chorus, and once the dance starts, quickly spirals into chaos, which is of course perfectly fitting for Wonderland.

My only regret was that it wasn’t long enough for my liking. I could’ve watched that show for hours.

Arden Pruden

Best Picture

RibbitRePublic Theatre—Planetarium

This cast of three Fringe veterans do scenes and shout-outs for all the 85 or so Best Picture Oscar winners (and a few other movies) in a one-hour show.

They helpfully include a list of all the winners in the program, of which I had seen around half and knew something about another 15. As a lot of people probably don’t know too many of the early ones, most of those only warrant the title being mentioned. A few such as How Green Was My Valley get sent up a bit, as it somehow beat out both Citizen Kane and The Maltese Falcon for the Oscar.

More time is spent on the more modern and well-known movies, but the pace is pretty frenetic. Jon Paterson, Kurt Fitzpatrick and Tara Travis work well together and their banter about various characters or plots in the movies is really good.

Avid movie buffs will likely get some of the more esoteric jokes, and be able to identify a few more of the scenes, but I think it would still be fun for the average person.

Murray Hunter

Einstein!

Sew and Sew Productions—MTC Mainstage

This is a one-man historical exploration of Albert Einstein’s early career, and focuses on his long struggle to have his Theory of Relativity proven correct.

Jack Fry does a great job of bringing personality to the piece and keeping it interesting. His use of some video helps demonstrate some of Einstein’s theories, and by focusing on his life, makes sure it is not just a dry lecture.

I had seen the BBC/HBO movie Einstein and Eddington, which also covers some of this time period and some of the events featured in the play. This meant I was already familiar with a lot of it, but there were a number of new things in the play that had not really been mentioned in the movie.

All in all, a very enjoyable production.

Murray Hunter

Einstein!

Sew and Sew Productions—MTC Mainstage

I used to tell my children that Grade 12 Physics was the most fun in high school, so this play was tailor-made for me. The 90 minutes breezed by, but that was not the same experience that the people who accompanied me had. Everyone else complained that it was too long.

Jack Fry is an engaging performer who does a great job of contextualizing Einstein’s work, life and times. We learn how his personal life, politics, and plain luck affected his career and discoveries, and how his overpowering curiosity about the physical world damaged his personal world.

At the same time the play meanders a bit, and it has so many characters that at times I had trouble keeping track of everyone. And even though the script needs cutting, it also leaves out some important ideas. In the opening scene Fry shows how many practical uses Einstein’s discoveries have, but he never mentions the most famous application of all, the atomic bomb. The closest he comes is in a slide projection at the end of the show that lists, among other applications “Nuclear power.”

Finally, the production really suffers from the use of a mike on the actor. Throughout the show Fry sounded like he was breaking in a particularly noisy pair of shoes. When he came out after his performance to thank the audience, he showed that he could project his voice well enough to be heard, so I do not know why amplification was necessary. I’d also lose the expository slides at the end of the show.

Kevin Longfield

HOME

Jurasco Productions—RRC (enter on William)

I saw the second performance of this show and found it to be well done. I was impressed at how well Wayne remembered the entire long program, including the verse by James Kavanaugh. I was reminded of TJ Dawe’s long monologues as Wayne recited his monologue. Wayne had found his passion for his subject in this performance and it was well done. This is a show for people who are concerned with the use of pesticides in our crops and toxins in our environment.

Bob Bruce

Lies of a Promiscuous Woman

Monkey Centurion/The Company of Woman—
Eckhardt-Grammatté Hall (UofW)

Despite a slightly misleading title, don’t expect a saucy tale of the Blessed Virgin’s untold exploits. This take on the New Testament is an intelligent and thought-provoking discourse that delves into feminism, religion, faith, and consequences.

Audra Lesosky’s writing is sharp, well researched, smart, and original. Theresa Thomson delivers the best performance I’ve seen of her vast work, bringing laughter and tears. The Madonna chorus provides punctuations to the poignant monologues and diatribes. The parallel storyline brought focus and accessible humanity. The standing ovation was well-earned; bravo to all.

Blasphemy be damned. This is a must see.

Primrose Madayag Knazan

Caws & Effect

Mind of a Snail Puppet Co.—MTC Up the Alley

I remember this company from last year, giving us a surreal look at the world through a retro projector and an effects pedal. While this particular production was not nearly as fantastical as the last, it is every bit as entertaining and beautiful. Following the story of two crows re-creating the world has never been more entertaining. The choreography with the projectors was amazing, the music was original and interesting, and the interaction with the shadows was clever and very well done. Not only that but it confirmed my suspicion that all animals speak only in puns.

Arden Pruden

Making Believe

Edge of Make Believe—Kids Venue

Kids shows are tricky things. You need to be able to entertain the kids and entertain the adults, but particularly the kids. Playful banter with the Fringe technician can accomplish that, puppet shows can accomplish that, and the show itself was cute and charming; but I could hear the audience getting more and more restless as time went on. Unfortunately, the show dragged in sections, and in others it took a long time to get to the point. A cute little puppet show, but somewhat lacking in execution.

Arden Pruden