The FIRST VAMPIRE

Monster Theatre—King’s Head Pub

This is a hard one. I’m a Huge fan of Ryan, his acting, directing and scriptwriting are amongst Canada’s finest. I have and will recommend taking in anything he does. A big problem was the huge ruckus the FIFA fans were making. Though on the floor below, they sounded like they were going to burst in any moment. I was unable to catch a lot of the dialogue. Finals over, those now attending won’t encounter this issue.

What I did hear was witty and well-written. I am unfamiliar with the two performers (Madeleine Humeny and Rebecca Wass) and very familiar with the story; being the horror aficionado I am. They were totally professional and did a very capable job; though there was a lot of yelling we didn’t understand the necessity of.

Having seen everything Gladstone has put on at this Fringe throughout the years, I just didn’t get that ‘wow’ I always get at his shows. The true story is so fascinating and it just didn’t come across that way. I’m looking forward to Ryan’s other production of the ongoing saga of Grant Canyon at this venue. I know it’s going to be a blast!

Lisa Campbell

Cactus Theatre Co

Unresolved—One88

How do you get out of bed and face the day when a piece of your heart is missing? Allan Turner’s haunting tale is a parent’s worst nightmare. Struggling with the loss of their child, Jack and Melissa are barely hanging on. Who do they blame? Each other? Themselves? Or someone else? See this all too real story of pain and grief that is “Unresolved”.

A Woman’s Guide to Romance Novels

Holly M. Brinkman—The Rachel Browne Theatre

My partner published a book a few years ago about how to write a mystery novel. After I (proof)read it, I realised how formulaic mystery novels and movies are. Now, every time I watch or read a mystery, I see the recurring components emerge.

Holly Brinkman’s show essentially does the same thing, but swaps out the genre “mystery” for “romance.”

The four components are:
1. Meet cute
2. Development (middle)
3. Crisis
4. Happily against all odds

Brinkman goes through each of the components and creates amusing story samples during the process.

I saw her show last year and had lots of fun with how she wove through the plots. This year feels a little more fragmented than in past but it doesn’t diminish the fun of the outing. Curiously, Brinkman uses a laptop and gadgets to control her music and screens, which contributes to the fragmentation and fracturing of the continuity. I’m curious as to why she wouldn’t let the Tech see to all these aspects.

Ray Yuen

Evie and Alfie: A Very British Love Story

Stéphanie Morin-Robert Performance Society—PTE – Cherry Karpyshin Mainstage

To start, Evie and Alfie are adorable beyond description and the performers move seamlessly between the cadence and physicality of their decades-long love story. They elevate a rather typical romance through the ages into something magical. The piece has a nostalgic flavour that is never cliché although relatable; authentic and never mundane. The math puts Evie and Alfie’s birth c.1945, but they could easily be anyone’s nan and pop, with their timeless courtship and marital tribulations, highlighted throughout their stroll down memory lane.

The show’s retro flair does not succumb to traditional stereotypes. Instead, it serves as an excellent reminder that people have always bucked gender roles as seen fit, which feels especially relevant in an era of neo-trad fundamentalists hijacking the modern dialogue on marital and family values.

While billed as a Very British Love Story, this piece ultimately transcends its setting into a universal story about a lasting love, told with warmth, humour, and an affection that lingers long after the clock stops ticking.

Ashley Frantik

Middle Child

SNAFU—PTE – Colin Jackson Studio Theatre

[Editor’s Note: Well this is embarrassing, I was glad I was finally caught up posting all the reviews to the website, and then I realized I had forgotten to post my review of Middle Child. I’m not sure if that is actually ironic, or at least Alanis Morissette ironic, given how middle children often feel forgotten, but this show is definitely unforgettable. I had been telling people it was one of my favourite shows this year so much, I had thought I had posted it.]

SNAFU can always be counted on to produce some very Fringey shows and this outing fits the bill. It is based on the premise that due to smaller family sizes the very existence of the middle child is dying, and the importance of a middle child to family dynamics. We join Kathleen Greenfield, Tony Adams, Jack Widow who portray the three adult children of a rather dysfunctional family that have come together after being apart for many years. They are recollecting their childhood and their relationships through some outstanding physical comedy. It is very original and great fun. There is some limited audience participation, but only with willing participants.

Murray Hunter

Who’s Gonna Push Your Wheelchair?

Karin Fekko—The Rachel Browne Theatre

Karin Fekko has officially reached Fringe mainstay status. Her return to the Winnipeg stage again this summer brings a tale featuring all forms of emotion. Her ability to whisk you into her story through mannerisms, scene setting and just overall feel are a masterclass in this genre. From her debut last summer to now, you can see her growth over the year. This tale will make you laugh, cry and above all feel everything in the moment. A MUST SEE. Welcome Back Karin.

Joel Passante

On Tidy Endings

Pilgrims’ Pieces—The Rachel Browne Theatre

Upon reading the concept In the program I was invested and then seeing it… NO WORDS.

I knew going in it was going to be an emotional roller coaster and I was not disappointed. The repartee between the two leads is astounding. You feel everything that they are putting down. I left with tears in my eyes and haven’t stopped thinking about a powerful moment and amazing speech by Scott Pilgrim who plays Arthur. I know this show isn’t going to be for everyone but it needs to be on everyone’s radar. BRAVO!!!!!!!!!

Joel Passante

East of Berlin

Glitter & Sawdust—Tom Hendry Warehouse

I went into this not knowing what to expect. The cast and crew listed was already enough to get me in the door and boy was it worth it. Stellar performances by all three. The amount of dialogue memorized as well as little mannerisms thrown in, makes every one of them unique. Don’t let the 90 minute time sway you, the show is so well put together everything flows perfectly from the minute it starts to when it ends. This show is only going to Thursday SO CHECK IT OUT!!!!!!!!!! Great job team.

Joel Passante

Babel

Geräuschbiest—West End Cultural Centre-Ventura Hall

The Tower of Babel story in the Old Testament (for those of you who read the Bible) is a familiar one, where the people attempt to build a tower to reach the heavens and God themselves, before the deity confuses their languages, and the tower collapses in absolute confusion. The Riel Gentlemen’s Choir (clad in carpenter’s denim and tools) bring that story to life with song and with wood. The musical instruments they use look like they were hewn from the forest itself, and the choir builds the tower on stage using planks – before it descends into madness. The power of the men’s voices and the power of the visual marry into something I’ve never seen before. It’s a true original, and a show truly worthy of the Fringe. And my praise.

Karl Eckstrand

Jon Bennett: AMERICAN’T

2Hoots Productions—aceartinc.

Veteran Fringe story teller Jon Bennett recounts life as a touring performer, spending years on the road, and how that was all brought to a sudden stop with the Covid pandemic.

How do you ‘Go home’ if you haven’t had a physical home for many years? How do you deal with family that now seem so different? What is the mental and emotional toll of having your entire life and identity ripped from you? He answers these questions with his usual hilarity and candid openness. He hits some very low points, but manages to get through it. It is an incredible and strange journey he took, and well worth the visit.

Murray Hunter