Commando: The Radio Play

Ditch Water Theatre—Centennial Concert Hall – Rehearsal Hall

My hidden gem of this year! I’m still smiling days later and can’t stop recommending this to everyone I meet! I might even go see it again because I deserve it. The program description doesn’t do it justice; or give you a clue as to just how special this is.

This play written by the genius Cory Falvo, is a showcase for the art of Foley. For those who are not familiar with the term, it is the art of making sound effects without digital aid. And Cory is an artiste! What they do with their arsenal of veggies, fruits, tin sheets and all manner of articles is pure ingenuity; not to mention the cleverest and most comical act I’ve seen ever, not just this year.

The room is filled with such a rare shared spirit of pure joy at witnessing such fun. It’s magical. What impressed me the most was the obvious enjoyment the performers got from what they were doing. They were feeding off the blast the audience was having and bouncing it back at us. This radio play had 3 actors, borrowing bits from Arnold Schwarzenegger’s ‘Commando‘ movie. The various accents were spot on, the timing perfect, as they zipped from multiple characters with lightning speed. They even inserted hilarious commercials, with a guest star from another show. Cory’s serious expression with furrowed brow turned into sheer merriment, as they played off tiny mistakes in timing and turned them into triumphs, demonstrated just how perfectly they have mastered the Foley art. I never realized how a cabbage can so accurately mimic the sound of a gory murder.

Please come back next year! I’m a fan for life. Catch me at the Jenny’s on Sunday night and it will be my pleasure to buy you all a beer!

Lisa Campbell

FOR SCIENCE!

Small Matters Productions—Asper Centre for Theatre and Film (U of W)

For Science was a unique and hilarious Fringe experiment! Two scientists get you involved in various tasks, some of them very recognizable. Nobody is forced to participate, but you’ll very likely want to! In some ways it’s similar to clown (its two characters are silent the entire show, assisted by some clear physicality and some production elements), but really, For Science! is its own sort of show entirely. A rare fringe gem!

Paul Blinov

Didn’t Hurt

Tonic Records—School of Contemporary Dancers

The title comes from Rodney Decroo’s pseudo bravado to the beatings he experienced from his sadistic father as a child. This is a true story that demonstrates the pain that passes from one damaged generation to the next, causing hurt, unmet needs and feelings of inadequacy. False masculinity, defined as don’t start a fight but finish it, real men don’t show pain, deep emotion, or cry, taught him lessons that needed a lifetime of therapy to unlearn. His father was scarred from his time in Vietnam, as were far too many; and the brutality he unleashed upon his son would have been illegal in today’s, slightly more enlightened society. The damage he inflicted on his wife and family by his abuse and alcoholism, caused the unit to dissolve and scatter.

Rodney is a masterful and moving storyteller. His struggle to self acceptance is ongoing but he’s getting there. A touching note is that he was able to finally reconcile with his aging father, come to understand him better and to finally be thanked for his care and hear the magic words: ”I love you son.“ His mother’s story doesn’t end as well.

He spins off to another character, that of an extremely damaged street youth, which again shows the tragedy of abuse, the gift that keeps on taking. He had my heart held rapt from start to finish. I would highly recommend this serious piece to anybody, but if you struggle severely with PTSD, this might be a bit to close to home. Thoroughly from the heart and expertly done! Thank you!

Lisa Campbell

Aaron Malkin: Dandelion

Aaron Malkin—Tom Hendry Warehouse

I suspect that this is a show that individual Fringe-goers are either going to like a lot or not at all. Aaron Malkin is half of James and Jamesy of 2 for Tea fame, and here he is again in another solo show. A previous solo show of his, Thunderfoot, from two years ago, was a powerfully dramatic account of the death of his mother through the eyes of himself as a young child. In Dandelion, he again mines his family life, this time with stories of his young son Julian.

For this show, Malkin dresses like a giant dandelion, with a bright yellow blazer, green tie and pants, and white shirt and shoes. He begins by talking about one of his recent James and Jamesy shows at the Regina Fringe Festival that had only six people in the audience. His focus henceforth is what it is like to be the father of a young son. He talks about kid jokes, dad jokes, his son’s fascination with dandelions, his son at a swimming pool not following some rules that I could not quite understand, kids making a mess with food and crayons, and misunderstandings that young children have (for example: the lady is pregnant because she swallowed a watermelon seed).

Malkin has a strong stage presence and is an engaging storyteller. If you are a fan of “cute kids stories” (or a whole bunch of them, one after the other), you will likely enjoy this show; otherwise, …

Konrad Antony

Ingenue: Deanna Durbin, Judy Garland and the Golden Age of Hollywood

Melanie Gall Presents—Tom Hendry Warehouse

I’ve been around long enough to remember when this mega-talented opera singer did her first Winnipeg Fringe. There were plenty of seats available. Then the word spread, like a tsunami. “Have you seen this woman? She is incredible!”. She embraced Winnipeg and Winnipeg just loves her back. Her shows are sold out, and deservedly so.

Whatever story she chooses to share, you can be assured you will be delighted. Melanie travels the world, with sold out houses wherever she goes. This year, she has chosen to share the true stories of Winnipeg’s own ingenue, Deanna Durban and shatters the Hollywood myth of her supposed rivalry with another star of the Golden Age, Judy Garland. You will be treated to the songs they made popular at the time, along with a superb narrative of the story. The time will fly as we follow these worldwide sweethearts through childhood, many marriages, the usual mistreatment of female stars by the big studios and the hounding of their every move by the press. Before you know it, you will be left smiling, nostalgic and thoroughly charmed.

She doesn’t need my endorsement, as she has those of us familiar with her past works showcasing Edith Piaf, Jaques Brel, Sophie Tucker and her 2 well-loved shows of songs to knit by, in the palms of her very talented hands. She also is reprising her children’s show, Opera Mouse, which my grandkids loved, at Kids Fringe. Book in advance, or get there early so you don’t miss out!

Lisa Campbell

The Ghost Project

Karie Richards—Son of Warehouse

The performer in this a one-hander adroitly and eloquently presents multiple characters sharing ghostly encounters. Though very well done, two or three fewer stories would have made it sharper. During the show, I kept thinking about all the stories Techs have told about ghosts in the Warehouse Theatre (and the Son of, particularly the scary things that happen on the stairs up to it…) So if you believe in ghosts: go hear about other people who do too, in a haunted theatre.

Audra Lesosky

LARRY

Candy Bones—

I’m generally not a fan of performers pre-show kibitzing with the audience as I feel it often makes the audience uncomfortable. But perhaps with Larry, that was the point. Because there was plenty to create a sense of unease in this mainly goofy comedy, like catching yourself laughing at the character’s political incorrectness. With a less talented performer and a less bold, relentless performance, it would not have worked. But it does work. I especially enjoyed it since, growing up in a small town like the actor did, I knew my share of Larry’s too.

Audra Lesosky

The Fever

The Vintage Players—Son of Warehouse

A gripping and powerful monologue, about the difficulty of facing the moral repercussions of living in fantastically rich nations supported by pain, exploitation and base suffering of the poorest in this world.

The actor was simply fantastic, paired with a very strong and morally piercing script makes this show a must see. The direction and lighting were also superb, taking advantage of the venue quite well.

Josh Fidelak

Yellow Den

Lady of the Lake—John Hirsch Mainstage

Yellow Den is aptly classified as unclassifiable because I can’t reveal the thing(s) that makes this piece so perfectly Fringe-y. Inventively staged, risky and very well executed – audience is seated on the stage “in the room” with the character who is struggling with her sanity. I’m guessing they have limited their ticket sales to the number of people who will actually fit on-stage, yet Venue 1 is the cavernous MTC Mainstage, which actually adds to the intimacy, isolation and tension. Super cool.

Audra Lesosky