Hello Jenny Revue,

This year’s Fringe is turning out very nicely for our group so far, “Dark Horse Theatre”, and our show “The Companion” is doing very well indeed. Unfortunately my Fringe experience was marred last evening by a rather sour incident in the beer tent, just before our 11:15 show. I was out in full prisoner costume, complete with handcuffs, passing out handbills for our show and attempting to drum up business, as so many performers do. I was moving from table to table in the beer tent, doing my bit and drawing up as much interest as possible, when I approached a small group of youngish folks. I asked them if I could advertise my show; I was promptly told to “F*** Off” by a rude young man. Ouch. As performers, we need to do everything in our power to attract patrons, and that includes canvassing people around Fringe Central. I was not rude, overbearing, or pushy in any manner. That sort of a response to a show pitch just isn’t necessary. I continued to pass out handbills and do my advertising, but that crude reply put a damper on my evening. Our show went well, regardless. Onward and upward. This won’t ruin my year, it just points out an unpleasant side of some people. I hope that other performers aren’t having similar experiences.

Mike Seccombe

Dark Horse Theatre

Peter Fechter: 59 Minutes

Theatre by the River—The Rocker

I really enjoyed Theatre by the River’s Peter Fechter: 59 minutes last night, and yes, it does last exactly 59 minutes.

It’s a terrific script and performance that makes great use of the space. I do have a very tiny quibble that I am sure most people will see as overly pedantic. The character in the play is a well-read, intellectual young man, but either he or the actor do not know the distinction between transitive and intransitive regarding “lie” and “lay.” It happened twice. It just doesn’t fit the character, and I know that I would not be the only person to cringe inwardly when it happens.

That quibble aside, it’s an outstanding theatrical experience.

Kevin Longfield

The Sh!t Show: An Original Turd

The Talentless Lumps—John Hirsch Theatre at the MTC Mainstage

It starts out very silly, but as my father once told me, nobody ever says anything 100 percent in jest. Knowing that helps a lot in appreciating this show.

I can see why after a few minutes some people might think “this is very juvenile” and tune it out. That would be a mistake: a mistake that some reviewers made. If you have the patience to watch what you are seeing, and keep asking yourself what it all might mean, there’s a great payoff.

As my father used to say, you get out of life what you put into it.

Kevin Longfield

God Is A Scottish Drag Queen IV

Mike Delamont—MTYP – Mainstage

Mike Delamont has a good thing going on. He could probably go to Fringe festivals for as long as he wants to and get sell-out crowds at every performance, by doing the same thing over and over again. Name recognition can keep something going a long time, even when the present work might not be as good as it was originally. Delamont jokes that just like the Indiana Jones trilogy couldn’t be left there, he couldn’t stop at a trilogy either. Of course, he knows what people say about the fourth Indiana film.

Like previous iterations, this is basically a one-hour stand-up comedy routine by Delamont in a wig and flowery skirt, that he delivers while barefoot and pacing slowly forward and backward on stage. This time around, he doesn’t explain how he as God ended up in drag, so newbies – about half the audience when I went – might not understand this aspect of the show. He jokes about religion about half the time, and his main targets this time around are the Jehovah’s Witnesses as well as Jesus’s decline as a person after the Bible stories.

Some jokes are stand-outs, like him saying he as God is anti-vaxer because vaccines get in the way of him using plagues on peoples who disobey, as he used to do so in the Bible. Some jokes – like his screed against the musical Cats – didn’t register much with me, although the audience laughed at pretty much everything he said. For a change of pace, he got more serious and thoughtful when talking about the grim recent events in Orlando as well as the increasing atmosphere of intolerance in the United States, and this was effective. At the end of the show, Delamont hinted he may return as the devil for next year’s Fringe, but it wasn’t clear if he was joking or not. That would be a really good shake-up.

Konrad Antony

Weirder Thou Art

Physically Speaking—Tom Hendry Theatre at the MTC Warehouse

Charming, intelligent and yes, very weird! A very Fringy play. It’s not necessary to be familiar with ‘Macbeth’ but it will increase your enjoyment. Heather Forgie did a stellar job with the costumes/ makeup and the props were hilarious. Each character was weird and wonderful and a bit scary, as the witches were meant to be. They were also screamingly funny at the same time, which is quite a feat and shows how talented these actors are. The premise was imaginative and interesting and not like anything you are likely to have seen before. You stand a good chance to get in due to the venue size. I will be watching for future projects from this Toronto troupe. Bravo!

Lisa Campbell

Piaf and Brel: The Impossible Concert

Sisterscene—Red River College

I tell people that I review for the Fringe and quite often, they marvel that you get to see as many shows as you want, whatever you want, and whenever you want. It’s not quite like that. Yes, we do get a fair amount of freedom to pick what we see but as the week goes on, the selections narrow. We coordinate
with our group to be sure that we don’t overlap and quite often you’re stuck with whatever’s free.

This is how I ended up at Piaf and Brel—and it’s the best thing that happened to me all Fringe.

Coming into this venue, I knew nothing about the show. What or who the heck are Piaf and Brel? It turns out that one’s a famous composer and the other’s a famous singer. Who knew? Apparently everyone in the audience but me.

I may not know much about the title characters but I know a lot about music—and what we get here is great music, coupled with exceptional entertainment. Melanie Gall immediately engages the audience with her commanding voice and shackles your eager attention for the entirety of the spectacle. Her expert storytelling sets the tone and the songs envelop you into their mystique.

From sad to solemn, sexy to sensual, sprightly to spirited, she draws you into the moment and cradles you through the experience. During this hour, my mind has sat on the Champs Elysees, journeyed to the Middle East, and watched my best friend die.

By the end, I think I held in tears of joy as I enjoyed this event so thoroughly. This is one of the best shows I’ve seen in all my years of Fringing.

Ray Yuen

The Thugs

Coffee Guy Productions—Tom Hendry Theatre at the MTC Warehouse

This thing was thought provoking. The two thoughts were “Do they know how truly awful this is?” and “When will this punishment end?”. Both my questions were answered as it came to a grinding end and actor Drew Jensen pronounced it a “train wreck” and suggested it might become a cult classic due to its awfulness. I could go on and on about its faults but I don’t enjoy being mean. Katerina Dawson was the only light in this and I hope she is given something she can shine in, in the future. There is also some promise in Drew. This did win my vote for classiest program at the Fringe. Too bad the play was not of the same quality. There is no explanation as to why this is called “The Thugs”. My guess is because they take your money.

Lisa Campbell

One Piece Missing

Sheep On A Mission—Asper Centre for Theatre and Film

The sheep are back with another tale surrounding faith and how we deal with dark times in our lives. The play follows our protagonist Cole as he wrestles with cancer, falling out with family, and his lack of faith. This play had some interesting characters and a few moments of great writing. As an atheist this show is not intended for me. It is meant to strengthen a faith in something I don’t believe in. Everything from the music to the bible quotes kept the play focused on faith and rarely went beyond that. The character of death was my favorite and I wish he had been in more scenes. He was the most dynamic character and a fantastic villain. I did not really like this play but it is a good bet for anyone that goes to church or is seeking a little faith in this world.

Kaitlyn Kriss

Peach

OhmyGAD Theatre—The Rachel Browne Theatre

“Love is bullshit,” or is it? From first date to last goodbye, we share one girl’s experiences as she goes from virgin to STD to pregnancy to hospital. What is it like to experience first love? First sex? First heartbreak?

Peach’s journey is a common one that I’m sure most girls can share. Guys? I suspect that guys jump over fewer obstacles in their journeys through maturation—but can they empathise with Peach? That’s
part of the plot.

Enjoyable and introspective with a sprinkling of humour, this is a fine rendition of young love. It’s not the best I’ve seen on this topic but it’s worth the visit.

Ray Yuen

Old Times

Who Knows Prod.—Tom Hendry Theatre at the MTC Warehouse

How can you go wrong with a Harold Pinter work capably directed by Winnipeg’s own Ross McMillan? Sarah Constable (who never disappoints), Bill Kerr and Tracy Nepinak more than did this wry comedy justice. It was a pleasure; with impeccable timing, and brought out all that a Pinter play should be. A wonderful story of a reunion of two best friends after a twenty year separation, in the company of the hostess’s husband. The visit brings out uncomfortable truths about each character and their relationships. Old misbehavior is exposed, causing friction and raw emotions to surface. Things will never be the same! A wonderful evening of theatre that showcases the best of Winnipeg talent and should not be missed. Equal or better than MTC season offerings at six times the price. Catch it while you can!

Lisa Campbell