Tree

Natasha Mercado—The Cinematheque

Normally I start a review saying a bit about the show but this is a special case in that I can’t really tell you what it was about. The show didn’t really have a plot and theatre was the entire point. It was just pure fun. This show was exactly what Fringe is about, seeing something weird and amazing that you would never see anywhere else. The actor committed to the bit so hard that the audience bought in immediately. The show was creative, daring, and gut-bustingly funny! It’s audience participation that you will be leaping at the chance to join in. This is definitely a can’t miss show and proper clown fun.

Kaitlyn Kriss

Long Night of the American Dream

Concrete Drops Theatre—Alloway Hall – Manitoba Museum

A show about a show about a show. For any fans of Martin Dockery, this is an absolute must see. Featuring the same cast and director as last year’s The Stakeout, Andrew Broaddus and Martin Dockery, with Vanessa Quesnelle directing, the same meta impulses are on full display to great effect. Without getting into any spoilers, the dialog is superb, an extremely strong back and forth patter with constant callbacks and repeated motifs, and the characters reveal a ton of depth over the show’s progression that is hidden by the show’s seemingly simple structure and character beats. Superb, and definitely one that both deserves to sell out every performance, and will, reader beware.

Josh Fidelak

Nashville Hurricane

Chase Padgett—PTE – Mainstage

Chase Padgett returns with this reprise to delight his faithful fans. The audience was full of those just wanting more of this rare combination of masterful guitarist and winning storyteller. He’s changed it up enough to not be repetitive if you’ve seen this one before. But no one really cares. Winnipeg adores him with good reason. His folksy, warm interactions with the audience just make us love him more. He weaves a few different tales together, all interesting and intriguing, while effectively intertwining his warm, rich guitar playing. Opening night was deservedly packed; and I can’t imagine anyone not being completely delighted with this stellar show.

Lisa Campbell

Staffroom

Scattered Minds Theatre—John Hirsch Mainstage

Most people at some point in their lives wonder what goes on in a teaching staff room and this play is here to answer the question! The play follows a day in a staff room as the various teachers interact. A teacher myself, the characters were spot on. Jokes were crude (some made me cringe) and captured the curmudgeon perfectly. There were tender moments that captured the do-gooder teachers to a tee.

Mostly the play showed the truth, which is that no teacher is perfect, we are all just trying our best in front of our kids and letting loose our demons with our coworkers.

Kaitlyn Kriss

A.W.O.L.

Rob Gee—The King’s Head Pub

Rob Gee and Jon Paterson play Neville and Cyril (as well as a number of other side characters) in this entertaining comic performance of two elderly gentlemen trying to have one last adventure. The story pulls in some influences from Gee’s previous shows that were based on some of his experiences working as a psychiatric nurse and some of the challenges the residents face.

It is a fun show by a very personable and able duo that was very enjoyable. Also nicely woven in are some rhyming couplets in the dialog and narration that showcases Gee’s spoken word poetry background.

Murray Hunter

This Calls for Danger

Hogans Circus—Royal Albert Arms

This show started six minutes late and faced a host of technical difficulties, which is sometimes part of opening day. I was concerned we would not get out on time because of it but the performer was very cognisant of time and ended the show exactly when it is scheduled to end—that was nice work.

As Oddly describes in the programme, this is a “sideshow act” and that’s exactly what you get. As a scientist, I can explain some of the stunts through science, but no one wants to read that. Some of them are harder to explain, and it’s all part of being an illusionist. Don’t get me wrong: this is not a magic show, but there are tricks involved.

Oddly executes most of them very well and there are moments of genuine gut-splitting laughter. Part of it is Oddly’s engagement and part of it is the enthusiasm of the audience. This is the kind of show where you get out of it as much as you put into it. Walk in, grab a drink (licensed and ≥18 only), cringe at some moments, laugh at others, and wow at the rest. Want to up your level of engagement? Be an audience volunteer—you’ll have plenty of opportunity.

Ray Yuen

World’s Greatest* Dad

Morgan Cranny—CCFM Pauline-Boutal Hall

Morgan is a talented and veteran performer whom I have loved in the past. He’s warm and likeable. The problem is the dissonance between what I expected and what I saw tonight. As the author, he should know his lines. He admitted this failure himself. He excused himself by saying he hadn’t performed it since 2015. That shouldn’t be the audience’s problem. Many sentences had the words reversed. We knew what he meant; but that wasn’t what was said. Having to rely on the teleprompter and still repeating was disappointing.

The bones are here. The play has a charming and relatable premise. His ‘dad joke‘ about Tarzan was hilarious! The problem was that the only ones really laughing consistently were his friends and former director. I’m hoping that some serious rehearsal can bring this production up to what it can be quickly.

Lisa Campbell

All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten

Shoestring Players—Tom Hendry Warehouse

This show is a gem!

A beautiful storytelling show presented with heartfelt honesty, metaphor and song. We are taken on a journey through a selection of memories and stories, all reflecting important lessons in life. We get to be reminded of our earliest perspectives on the world and our belief in our ability to do anything. Learning how to navigate the world together, experiencing wonder and remembering to share, apologize, and flush. Yet we often forget what truly living life means as we get older and we are shown how growing up changes our perspectives on life. I saw myself in every story, reminiscing similar experiences and important lessons of my own, and I laughed and wept in equal measure.

This show has so much heart and is sincerely relatable and validating. An adult cast of all ages reminds us that regardless of where we are in our life’s journeys, revisiting how we saw the world as a kid always has a wealth of wisdom to offer us all. I highly recommend for anyone looking to reacquaint themselves with their inner child, and to share a beautiful moment of connection with one another despite the stories not being exactly our own. We learnt the most essential lessons early in life and are better for the reminder after leaving this show. The title couldn’t be more accurate, and overall the show is wonderful and endearing. I absolutely loved it.

Calantha Jensen

My Dad Isn’t Danny DeVito

Anthony DeVito—The Cinematheque

This relatively short performer pretty well divulges if he is indeed the famous Danny Devito’s son? Or not! Anthony shares his life as a DeVito telling the stories of growing up in New Jersey…and a father he never met. It was many females bringing up Anthony, starting with his mom, grandmoms, and aunts, but he never really knew his dad, who he imagined in his mind. It is also his mother who he gives credit to inspiring his venture into the entertainment biz. Also, it was the stories of his dad, thru his mom, that showed he is really no where near following his dad’s footsteps. Beautiful stories sharing the Italian connection, the culture and lifestyle with some good ol’ New York accents/slang.

Kevin Campbell

Dungeons & Shakespeare

Shelby Bond—Royal Albert Arms

Shelby bond is back with another invitation to create, play, and have some fun! Like a spritely Ms. Frizzle, every night Shelby invites the audience to take risks, take chances and potentially fail a dice roll to put together a story. This show is so much fun and Shelby clearly had a passion for the subject matter. No matter what Shelby was given, he masterfully rolled with it to make the story fun and engaging.

Since it’s improv the show does depend a lot on who is called to perform, but this is a Fringe gem not to be missed!

Kaitlyn Kriss