The Buzz – Reviews

The Big Big Improv Show

The Midnight Society—MTYP – Richardson Studio Theatre

Always a Fringe highlight, and for a reason. With a cast of extremely talented local improv artists, the gimmick of an elimination game style competition of different directors helps give them a ton of inspiration and opportunity to play with each other and chew the scenery. At the head of the show we are shown four different scenes presented by four different directors, each having a different idea fleshed out by audience suggestions, and one by one they are eliminated after each does a scene until only one is left to reach its completion.

The show that made it to the end of my performance was a musical riff on the Nightmare Before Christmas, the performers coming up with songs on the spot to flesh out how Thanksgivingtown and it’s turkey king almost ruined Easter. The artist playing Jesus didn’t have the full cultural context for the resurrection story, but got the gist when the residents tried to crucify the villainous scarecrow for his perfidy. Other highlights include a time travel story animated by teaching an e-bully how they did it physically in the 90s.

Josh Fidelak

ImproVision: K-Tel Demon Hunters

ImproVision—Duke of Kent Legion

Improvision are a Fringe staple that have been providing a great show for over 20 years. It is always a good time in the Duke of Kent Legion, where Alan, George and Ed take the audience suggestions for their various short form improv games. Their chemistry and improv skills always provide laughs and an entertaining experience. It is a small venue, so show up early and enjoy a reasonably priced beverage so you are not disappointed if it sells out.

Murray Hunter

2.0 World Peace through Humor: A German 101

Paco Erhard | German Comedy International—Tom Hendry Warehouse

I enjoyed Paco’s first show here years ago and have seen every one since. Yes, he’s still very funny and entertaining. You won’t go wrong taking this in. But with having seen so many of his works, I’m justified in saying this performance was just not on par with his usual standards. I’m used to busting a gut, used to loud screams of audience laughter from start to finish. Lines so clever that they stuck with me for days. I can’t offer an explanation, only he can. This just wasn’t the best he can offer.

Lisa Campbell

A One Human Being, Potentially Comedic Performance of Toy Story…if it was a Musical

Living the Dream—School of Contemporary Dancers

There’s a snake in my boot, and it’s telling me I should have seen one of Perlov’s comedically long-titled Fringe shows years ago.

Beginning with refreshing honesty, Perlov, decked out in a delightfully layered costume, asks the audience for suggestions.

For what? Unsure.

Pretty soon, it doesn’t matter. We all know Toy Story (1995), and we’re all ready to play.

And play we did.

Spin your internal musical theatre wheel, and Perlov’s 15 parodies are pure delight.

That delight isn’t limited to the songs. Every calculated costume change, clever adaptation, and wink of meta-commentary adds to the fun. Sweating through the quick changes and fully committed to every ridiculous premise, Perlov never lets the energy dip.

I won’t be waiting years to buy a ticket again. Perlov proves that a simple premise, wholehearted commitment, and an audience willing to shout suggestions can turn nostalgic source material into an hour of infectious Fringe joy.

To infinity…and next year!

Stephanie Adamov

The Glass Between Us

Shoestring Players—West End Cultural Centre-Ventura Hall

Two women who have never met face to face build a deep connection through the frosted glass divider on their balconies, one working through getting herself back out there in a series of terrible online dates, and the other working through her own grief and sense of mortality.

We jump between the conversations these women hold and the dates, reflecting on how they went and how they made our lead Kate feel. The unfortunate thing is that the dates themselves are cartoonishly bad, from an unemployed ex-jock who peaked in high school to a perfumist regularly flashing the audience to a cartoon villain threatening to destroy Kate’s life through hacking should she fail to submit. There’s humour there, but they’re flat without a lot to grab onto because of how irredeemably bad the men are, the only real outcome being everyone standing up and clapping once Kate gives them their comeuppance.

There’s some interesting notes on age, and the challenge of finding love and connection later in life. But cringing more than I laughed was likely not the intended effect.

Josh Fidelak

The Beanstalk Market Crash

Mind of a Snail Puppet Co.—PTE – Cherry Karpyshin Mainstage

Mind of a Snail (Chloe Ziner and Jessica Gabriel) return to the Winnipeg Fringe after last appearing here in 2018 with a remount of Caws & Effect. They have been known for their amazing visual storytelling using overhead projectors and hand crafted colourful backgrounds and shadow puppets. Technology improvements have allowed them to add live video projection into the mix and they inventively combine the video with their overhead projector visuals, as well as the physical performances to create a real feast for the eyes.

The story is a continuation of the fairy tale of Jack and the Beanstalk, set a couple generations later. The combination of a great story told using the spectacular visuals, live performance and original soundtrack make for a wonderful show. I hope they will return with a few of their other recent shows that they have created since their last visit.

Murray Hunter

Mother’s Secret

Broken Record Productions—CCFM – Salle Pauline-Boutal

I saw a couple of productions from Broken Record in the past and I always found them whacky, cute and silly, but fun. This year’s entry, Mother’s Secret, doesn’t seem as whacky or cute, but somewhat sillier, almost slapstick silly. I would like to see a bit more development in the plot and a tad less cheap-laugh kind of humour. There were giggles through the audience but not gut-busting roars. People enjoyed it—and so did I—but I didn’t come away wiping tears as I have in past.

The secret? It wasn’t a secret for very long, and it would have been fun to keep the audience guessing for at least a little bit. Having a working knowledge of Spanish, the calico came out of the sack very early for me, but it wasn’t far behind for anglophones.

Ray Yuen

Saving the Station

Saving the Station—School of Contemporary Dancers

The pandemic taught us lessons at every stage. The need for community remained essential. Music. Connection. Communication. All became integral.

Jim Priebe steps behind the microphone for his Fringe debut. While some audience members may not be acutely aware of the navigational loopholes, nonprofit bureaucracy, and red tape involved in leading a community FM radio station, Priebe recounts them all.

As someone involved with several community-run organizations, much of this resonated with me. While this is ultimately a story of ambition and perseverance, listening to a sole narrator describe the many people he “had a falling out with” feels deliberate, and leaves little room to understand those relationships from another voice.

Incorporating voiceovers, archival clips, or segments from the radio station itself could have better immersed the audience in the world Priebe worked so hard to build.

Likewise, spending more time exploring the people who helped create and sustain the station would have resulted in a more rounded narrative.

One man does not a station make. Priebe’s narrative seems to disagree.

Their voices could have added depth and balance to a story that clearly comes from a place of passion. At its heart, Saving the Station is a sincere tribute to community broadcasting and the determination required to keep a local institution alive against considerable odds.

Stephanie Adamov

Couch Surfing

Chief Mingus—Tom Hendry Warehouse

Classic fringe improv fare. Six improvisers circle a couch, and with some light elements of audience suggestion, weave together a series of scenes that get looped back on, integrated into different stories, and are the subject of snappy callbacks.

Like all improv, the jokes and tone can be a bit uneven and choppy, but solid performances and chemistry drive the show to being a solid addition to the roster of improv at the festival this year.

Josh Fidelak

ERIKA MACDONALD: Tea TIME

Erika MacDonald—aceartinc.

Yes, Erika MacDonald makes tea, a lot of tea. There is a process to that, and it takes time, and that is what is important about it. It is a wonderfully fun hour that keeps the audience involved throughout. There is a deeper message about finding what gives you comfort and making the time for it, which is something everyone should hear. So if you need a bit of a break while enjoying the Fringe this is a great way to decompress and relax.

Murray Hunter