Lantern Town

Make/Shift Theatre—The Playhouse Studio

Make/Shift Theatre is back with a brand new show about a small town and the relationships within it. The play follows Clip and Es as they explore their feelings, Clip’s parents struggle to keep hold of theirs. The play is non-linear and interchanges the past and present as Es reflects on what’s happened in her life. The relationships between the characters are believable. Kristian Jordan, as Hope, had some spectacular one-liners that reminded me of my own Grandpa. The writing was good but I found the pace to be incredibly slow. While I was interested in the dialogue, My mind started to drift off into la la land. I appreciated the subtle sci-fi mystery that underlies the characters relationship problems. The folk lore of the town is spooky and completely pulled me in. The play ends with a little bit of mystery, but with enough resolution to keep me satisfied. All in all a good story told by a really talented cast.

Kaitlyn Kriss

zahgidiwin/love

Happy Sunflower Sunshine Hour—Onstage at Pantages

Oppression, subjugation and domination pervade through the theme as the characters time-jump into various historical persecutors. We’re not sure the future’s any brighter than the present or the past, and we’re also not sure whether any given societal segment wouldn’t become tyrants if given the chance. The journey to find out is sprinkled with a few giggles, slick costume changes and competent acting.

Ray Yuen

The Girl Who Hated Books

Rising Star Academy of Arts—The Playhouse Studio

What do you like to do on a rainy day? If it doesn’t involve reading then Paris is your girl. This spunky protagonist hates reading with all her might. When her cat knocks all of the characters right out of their books chaos ensues. The bright young cast from Rising Star Academy are very charming. They committed fully to the roles they were playing and delivered a few hilarious puns. While I did enjoy the show it was clearly not written for me. The play is performed by children for children. That would probably explain why I was the only twenty something without a little one at my side. There were several volume issues and I had a tough time telling what was going on at points. The story is very simple and sweet but it felt like it was better suited for Kids Fringe.

Kaitlyn Kriss

Oedipus The King

7 Ages Productions—Tom Hendry Theatre at the MTC Warehouse

Most people have some sort of familiarity with the tragedy of Oedipus—especially since there’s a psychological complex named after him. That’s about the extent of most people’s knowledge of this Greek tale. This play provides a great opportunity to learn more about the origins.

This rendition relates the classic story in an easy to approach fashion for the audience. When the characters first appear on stage clad with sports jackets (some rather ill-fitting), I brace for a modern twist. That does not materialise, which is just fine.

This 90-minute show may have been squeezed into a 75-minute slot as a few scenes drag a bit. That’s all right though as we highly anticipate the great tragedy to arrive. The actors do a fine job as viewers cringe in horror, despite already knowing the outcome.

Ray Yuen

The POLKA DOTS OF DEATH: The Making of a Supervillain

The Red Nose Diaries—MTC Up the Alley

Spenser Payne and Alissa Watson are the clown duo Winnipeg deserves but didn’t know that it needed. This powerhouse of comedy grabbed the hand of the audience and never let go as they whipped through crazy, weird and hilarious skits. The soundtrack for this show sets the mood to creepy carnival but the oversized cartoon cardboard props keep the show light and funny. There is definitely some comical violence but it’s so ridiculous I didn’t mind one bit. Some of the jokes and scenes ran on the long side but they tended to segue into the next scene nicely and a bit of improv kept things fresh throughout. I don’t think I have ever laughed so hard at someone’s attempts to murder their sister. I loved the relationship between the two actors. You can feel the love developed between the two and it is infectious. This zany insane super show made for a delightful start to my afternoon. Now if you’ll excuse me I am going to figure out where I can fit another viewing into my busy fringe schedule.

Kaitlyn Kriss

Kundalini Rising: A Journey through the Chakras

Leela Productions—John Hirsch Theatre at the MTC Mainstage

While sitting on The Square writing a review, sipping on a beer and enjoying the free stage show, an animated character came by and beseeched me to see his show. After inferring that I’m a reviewer, he pleaded harder that I must see his act. He wouldn’t say much except that it is a spiritual journey. Seeing as it fits in my calendar, here I am.

The message on the pre-show board strongly encourages audience participation. Hmm, I haven’t done any spiritual explorations in my life so I’m not sure if this is the standard. I soon find out that spirituality involves speaking when you want to speak and singing when you want to sing—and yes, you miss the fun if you pout and refuse to get into it. Just drop your pretenses and sway!

I’m an antitheist so I’m not likely to embrace spirituality after a Fringe show, but I enjoy the ride very much. The beautiful dance provides a lovely visual to the engaging music, which ranged from relaxing to exciting. At times, I want to close my eyes and pretend I’m sitting by the ocean sipping on a daiquiri; and at other times I want to jump out and dance in a street party. This is a journey that may or may not reach you spiritually, but it will give you a good time!

Ray Yuen

The Horrible Friends

Free Beer 2: Electric Brewgaloo—Duke of Kent Legion

Want to know why our show is called “Free Beer?” Truth in advertising is why. If we ask for a volunteer, and you’re the first to fight your way through our throngs of enthusiastic participants, we buy you a drink! And since it’s at the fully licensed Duke of Kent Legion, you can drink through the whole show, just like we do!! Don’t miss your opportunity to beat one of us with a plastic bat and get a free drink in the process!

The Shadow Waltz

Wolfinger Productions—Son of Warehouse

When I was initially flipping through the program with a friend I saw the picture for this show and showed him. He said it looks like a ‘you’ show and I completely agreed. Just the image in the program was enough to entice me into seeing it. I genuinely feel as though I saw it at the best possible time, at 10:45 in the evening when it’s dark and quiet and you want to go somewhere else for a while. You go many places in this show but are always rejoined by our MC for the aptly named Shadow Time. That character truly is the highlight of the show. It’s a little weird and a little quirky, but never in a bad way. A solid one woman show with great music that is a gentle journey into imaginary worlds which in the end I didn’t want to leave.

Arden Pruden

War and Peace

Ryan Gladstone—Bandwidth Theatre

You pretty much know what to expect from the program. Ryan Gladstone proposes to cover one of history’s longest and most convoluted novels and its 632 characters in one hour. War and Peace is not light reading and following the plot as he races through the the complicated story is quite the challenge for both the actor and the audience. The multi-syllable Russian names makes this even more impressive and hilarious. He pauses numerous times to repeat the plot he has covered. I found his constantly repeating ‘632 characters- 1 hour’ annoying. Yes, we know. In the end, it was not so much of a recounting of the rich novel, but a feat of speed and memory. Exhausting for everyone concerned. Gladstone has brought some of the best quality works to the Fringe. This effort does not do him or Tolstoy justice.

Well worth seeing but not his best effort.

Lisa Campbell