The Buzz – Reviews

cancer wife?

sherri elle theatre projects—Creative Manitoba

Sherri Elle gives a performance rife with the jitters of a very personal subject with a tone that is just genuine and earnest enough to warm one to her. If you’re walking into this expecting a powerful commentary on the effects of cancer on a family, this might not be exactly what you’re looking for. What this is, however, is an appropriately light-hearted, and at times measured, display of how a cancer diagnosis can heighten everything, for everyone, and how easily it can turn a life into chaos. She asks for no validation, and really barely asks for sympathy, just asks for you to listen. And I was happy to.

Arden Pruden

The Big Big Improv Show

The Probable Cast—PTE – Cherry Karpyshin Mainstage

The name remains very consistently on point for this show.

At almost a dozen improvisers and a rotating cast show to show, their ability to create uniquely expansive improv scenes is second to none. For those unaware, their structure is to have four stories running with a director for each one. After each has a scene, the audience decides which continue, and which one gets culled, scene by scene until only one directors story has the chance to reach a satisfying conclusion. As with all improv, what you get depends on the show, and going on their opening night (having taken over the slot from fools gambit) didn’t give them a lot of time to polish. My showing had an unfortunate amount of dry, directorial direction leading to some issues with time and less space for the improvisers. Regardless, the improv was fantastic, and the show was a ton of fun.

Josh Fidelak

Last Day At Whoopee Kingdom

MTYP’s Summer Studio—MTYP – Mainstage

Were I tasked with finding a script for a group of teenagers learning to act, this would be a strong contender. It has a part for everyone, no matter how small. Through this there is an attempt at a plot involving skyrocketing tuition prices and the fragile job market, but the show rarely feels as though it’s building to anything. The performers, however, do a fine job with what they’re given, and despite occasionally struggling to be heard, there are real stand-outs here that bring the show mostly together. It’s just a shame their endless supply of high school theatre camp couldn’t save the writing.

Arden Pruden

2 Magic Rubies, 1 Private Eye: A Dirk Darrow Investigation

Racing Sloth Productions—MTYP – Mainstage

Yay! Dirk Darrow is finally back after, I believe, three years of Harry Potter. I Love Tim’s film noir detective character, Dirk. This show is a most unusual treat. You get a hilarious mystery combined with mind-blowingly accurate psychic readings (your thoughts are not your own with Tim) and incredible magic tricks! Where else but the Fringe? It’s always a treat to look around and see the looks of amazement and joy on the audience faces as he performs seemingly impossible feats. I Never miss Mr. Motley of Australia and you’d be wise not to either.

Lisa Campbell

Shakespeare: Say It!

Schindel Says Productions—The Rachel Browne Theatre

It is always a risk to lean on audience participation in a show, and in Shakespeare: Say It! that’s the whole point. Rest assured however she is very firm in her audience consent, so if you’re shy this shouldn’t turn you away. The issue, however, begins to reveal itself should your audience be unable to, or be unwilling to, match your energy. In a show as crowd dependent as this it is difficult to take the audience off the leash so to speak, and should they miss their cues or fumble a line, it turns into something of a lesson. If you are a fan of the bard, and want to revel in the language together, this is for you, but it isn’t exactly Shakespeare 101.

Arden Pruden

Cactus

Cactus Theatre Co.—Tom Hendry Warehouse

A comedic and heartwarming show about death, grief and moving on. Staged in the memory of the writer, local playwright Daniel Gilmour who passed in 2023, those themes of the show are extremely relevant to the staging. The acting ranges from wacky during the start of the show which focuses on comedy, to powerfully delivered drama at the end as the plot reveals itself and things come together. The show itself is well written and strongly paced, but features a disruptive audience plant who doesn’t really end up paying off by the end. Dramadies are popular for a reason, and if they’re up your wheelhouse this isn’t one to miss.

Josh Fidelak

Seasons of Love

Enigma Performance Company—John Hirsch Mainstage

This group excels when they are moving as a group. Their synchronized choreography is extremely technically impressive, but once they break off into groups it becomes messier. Certain moments through the ‘seasons’ seemed to lack intentionality in movement, which ultimately was distracting. It was quickly apparent what form of ‘love’ each season represented, but this made the storytelling feel transparent and I wasn’t quite as gripped as I felt I could be. The program explained to me that this was a collaborative endeavour, and I always appreciate those, but a firmer hand on the wheel could have lifted this piece from a fun, exploratory exercise to something beautifully evocative.

Arden Pruden

Bodice Ripper: a love story

Holly M. Brinkman—MTC Up the Alley

Anastasia draws the curtain back and a breeze wafts through the open window. The fresh air caresses her face as she slides the band off her hair. Her flowing, red mane drapes down and spreads across her sculpted shoulders. The flimsy, fuchsia, silk top waves gently against her alabaster bosom as the wind gusts create a pulsating rhythm.

A gasp catches jolts her breath as a shadow emerges from the door. The shadow grows longer as the bronze torso draws her eyes away from his face. Without a word, Jacinto slides to her side, his hand gently brushing her flaming hair away from her left eye.

A fresh draft waves the curtain, and the wind causes the bead of sweat to glisten on her brow. Without a word, Jacinto pops the fourth button loose from her nightshirt. The shirt sits askew, brushing her neck on one side and falling off her shoulder on the other. The weight of the lapel pulls the delicate cloth relentlessly downward, exposing the top of her areola. Jacinto eases his teeth onto the next button and Anastasia shivers, the hairs on her arms stiffening…

I wrote that in 10 minutes, based on what I learned in Brinkman’s presentation. This is an improv-ish kind of show but I interpreted this as a one-hour workshop on how to create a romance story. In no time, she teaches you how to master the four essential parts of the romance: the meet-cute, the sexy plot, the crisis, and finally, the forever-ever after.

Fast-paced, fun and lively, this instructional kept me amused, despite having read one romance in my life (and hating it). Even if romance isn’t your genre, you’d have a good time here.

Ray Yuen

Tragedy or Triumph: An Improvised Shakespearean Epic

The Spontaneous Shakespeare Company—John Hirsch Mainstage

It’s clear this company has an extremely strong grasp of the language. They are well studied and even included and improvised chorus- and rhyming couplets to end scenes! The chemistry between the performers is often extremely apparent, though I noticed here and there that energy wasn’t being matched. It was a disappointing thing to note in an otherwise fun and engaging presentation. Overall the piece is ambitious, well studied, well-performed, and fun, despite the hiccups.

Arden Pruden

Stories I Won’t Tell The Kids / Des histoires (pas) pour les enfants

TiBert inc.—The Studio at Le Théâtre Cercle Molière

Magnifique! Wonderful! I’ve seen a Lot of shows and this gem is in my top two! Local kids storytelling expert Rob Malo shares for the first time some of his more adult experiences (like excrement left on his stage by an over-excited child!). But that’s not all. His enraptured audience was also treated to magical, previously unknown historical events; venturing into the paranormal. We’re also let in on side-splitting tales of his time as a cemetery worker.

I’m not the only one in love with this show. I’m always asking other Fringers what they’ve been wowed by; and Rob’s show was frequently and glowingly mentioned. A real “don’t miss” and it’s local!

Lisa Campbell