It is ironic that the arbitrary assigning of venues does both the performers and the public a disservice. Amazing, sellout artists such as Martin Dockery are assigned 65 seat saunas and the public can’t get in. He is losing well-deserved revenue, with two productions at the same, horrible venue. Meanwhile amateur, poorly attended shows are given the almost 400 seat Warehouse. A lot of our Fringers are seniors and due to health and mobility issues are unable to attend 4th floor sweat boxes. This is very disturbing to me. Not fair to both sides as everyone loses.

Lisa Campbell

Editor’s Note:The venue in question, ACI Manitoba, is a BYOV which is booked by the performers as they did not win a spot in the Fringe lottery for a regular venue. There was also an elevator at this venue, though it may have been available only by request, and it was reported as air-conditioned by another patron.

Barbaric Cultural Practices – The Musical

Quondam Dreams—Asper Centre for Theatre and Film

This sci-fi dark comedy flips our society on its head in an alternate universe where Harper has been made Prime Minister for life. If that’s a scary thought to you, the rest of this musical may not be for you. The play revolves around the head of the barbaric cultural practices and his family. He is in charge of shipping anyone off to Quebec who might threaten Canada’s wholesome Christian state. The songs were not bad even if they were a little repetitive. The cast have decent singing voices and harmonize really well with each other.

I found myself really enjoying the songs but not the content of the musical. I consider myself to be a pretty liberal person but even I was uncomfortable the majority of the play. The musical uses sexual assault on the male protagonist to move the plot along. His ability to say no or stop is taken by the family members and this is all done through song. There is also a depressingly realistic scene in which the head of his family has his way with a Muslim servant girl. The dialogue in the scene was highly disturbing to me and made me want to leave.

I am glad that I stuck around as the final scene and song totally redeemed the production for me. I liked that they addressed how barbaric everything in the play was. They explained the rationale behind what was in the show and let me reflect on what I had just saw. I would not go see this play again and I would not recommend it to anyone who is easily offended. This play was interesting but it a story I probably never need to hear again.

Kaitlyn Kriss

Parking Lots: Back to the Drawing Board

Parking Lots Improv—The Cinematheque

This improv act asks viewers to draw on an easel prior to entering the theatre; the drawings become the topics of story lines. It’s a nice twist as the topics are predetermined, rather than inspired by the audience of the moment.

This show reminds me of a roller coaster, soaring at times, clacking and crawling at times. Fortunately, this troupe has five members so there’s always someone to step-in if anyone falters. Unfortunately, this troupe has five members, which is sometimes too many. They’re all hams (you have to be to do this sort of thing) and at times, they fight each other to get their bits in.

Overall, it’s a solid effort and if you’re an improv fan, you’ll walk away happy.

Ray Yuen

When God Comes For Breakfast, You Don’t Burn The Toast

Crosswalk Productions—One88

The production featured two independent short plays that fit perfectly together. The first half features a waiting room in heaven. As the play unfolds we learn about how each patient got there and why they might be terrified of meeting their maker. The scene offered a look at how we judge each other without any real knowledge of that individual. I saw the end coming a mile away but I still liked it. The dialogue was legitimately funny and I wished in the end that it had been longer.

The second half I enjoyed less but it was still worth a watch. In the second scene we follow a couple as they prepare for a brunch date with god. A few classic misdirections and confusions create some good physical comedy moments in the play. I felt the scene started off strong but quickly lagged. The ending fell flat and was beyond cheesy. While the ending was a little lackluster the script was funny and the actors kept my attention the entire time. Both the husband and wife made lots of funny faces and really committed to the scenes.

All in all a good play with two interesting concepts and a great title.

Kaitlyn Kriss

OCD

Defiance Theatre—Eckhardt-Gramatté Hall (UofW)

I’ve never seen a volunteer come down to give us warnings about the safety of the venue before, and I genuinely thought she was being asked to do this, until I realized that the show had already begun, and I was in for a treat. An extremely well acted and well written one woman show, handles very grim subject matter in an up-beat and almost desperate to keep positive way. I was engaged from the very beginning and she held me the whole time. It was a powerful experience that felt so real I almost believed she was a volunteer the whole time. Don’t miss this show, definitely worth a watch.

Arden Pruden

6 Quick Dick Tricks: A Dirk Darrow Investigation

Tim Motley—PTE – Colin Jackson Studio

He’s baaaack! Our Australian friend has created a persona that works and brings his loyal fans the next chapter. He has perfected a formula that never fails to charm and amaze, and we can’t get enough. I pouted long and hard at having to miss last year’s show. Very few in the audience were first timers, which speaks to the caliber of his show.

Tim Motely’s character of a detective, “dick” coming from the forties slang, has a sublime blend of naughtiness, far from PC patter and amazing magic feats that is unique. Cries of “How does he do it?” were heard throughout the show. Don’t expect to just sit there; this is an audience participation show and you will love it. A lot of the many laughs were had at the expense of some of his not so willing volunteers. Even the reluctant ones were won over by the end by his winning ways. Don’t be a dick and miss this show!

Lisa Campbell

Space Hippo

The Wishes Mystical Puppet Company—The Rachel Browne Theatre

I saw these presenters last year and loved their rendition of shadow puppetry. The show had some rough edges but the novelty and the wit far surpassed the shortfalls. This year’s rendition files down those rough edges to transmit a smooth, seamless show.

This year’s characters are equally ludicrous but the plot takes on social and political statements. Cute, funny and unique, this show has something for everyone. I recommend getting a set towards the back with someone’s head obscuring your view (seriously). If you can see the presenters at floor level, you also see the light of the projector, which can become very distracting from the screen.

Ray Yuen

Gimpel the Fool

Nephesh Theatre—The Playhouse Studio

This simplistic story based on Jewish folk lore was a very cute show. The main character is treated so bad by his neighbours you spend the entire play just begging for anything to go right for the guy. Gimpel is considered rather dull and foolish by everyone in his town. For fun they tease him and make him do silly things just because he can. Gimpel knows that to be good and foolish is better than to be smart and evil, but can he take the humiliation forever. There are lessons to be learned about how we treat each other here. While lessons are to be learned, there isn’t much deep digging required for this bare bones plot. There is no depth or great character redemption. The idea of good versus evil is brought up but never really resolved. The story was quiet and safe but unfortunately not much more than that.

Kaitlyn Kriss

Let Me Freeze Your Head

Neil McArthur—Red River College

This shows biggest fault was that it did not know what it wanted to be. It started as a sales pitch and turned into a life story, and truth be told it left me a little confused. If a man pitched something to me in the way the actor did I would not have bought the product. I also noticed it seemed as though he was having trouble committing to his emotions to the end of his phrases. This could have been a character choice on his part but it didn’t quite read properly. All this being said however I did in fact enjoy the show, the character proper the face that was ‘Neil the Salesman’ was interesting enough to keep me going. While he almost lost me here and there he pulled me back in with very real, and human reactions to memories. Yet I still can’t shake the feeling that he was not entirely sane. Any man who must tell you that he’s not a serial killer will certainly set off some alarm bells.

Arden Pruden

Nashville Hurricane

Chase Padgett Productions—PTE – Mainstage

This is it! The play that lets you slide into entertainment ecstasy. The show that pulls you in, rocks you from head to toe, pulls on your heartstrings and yanks your funny bone while challenging your sense of morality. The show that makes you go ‘Yes! This is why I miss meals, stand in endless lineups, forgo sleep and pound the pavement.’. This is what the Fringe is about!

The audience was there to see more of the huge talent that brought us the sellout ‘6 Guitars’ last year. There was lots of lively debate afterwards as to which was better. It doesn’t matter; Padgett has his fan’s loyalty captured. Chase is an example of an actor who has mastered his craft to perfection. Each intriguing character is developed clearly and completely. You cheer for the underdogs and hope the villain gets his due. It’s a roller coaster ride of triumph and setbacks accompanied by some of the best guitar plucking and strumming you will ever see. The standing ovation was the loudest and longest I have heard this year. You do yourself a disservice if you miss this shining gem!

Lisa Campbell