Snack Music

SNAFU—The Rachel Browne Th. (Crocus Bldg.)

SEE THIS SHOW! This show was not in my top 5; now I am desperately trying to find a way to see it twice.

The 3 actors brought stories to life through ‘puppets’ made from objects found in the average kitchen. The group beautifully told distinct and dynamic stories that made me laugh and cry.

They then invited audience members up to tell their own stories and acted them out on the spot. All stories were treated with the same amount of respect and we all left the theatre with new found friends.

In short, SNAFU created a beautiful, family-friendly show that I predict will end up selling out very shortly

Kaitlyn Kriss

Butt Kapinski

Kapinski Enterprises—245 McDermot

Again, be warned you need to climb 75 steep steps to get to this venue. They give you another warning when you purchase your ticket: “You may sit anywhere, but you’re not safe anywhere.”

That second warning is so true, so don’t waste too much time thinking about where you want to sit—just grab a seat and prepare to have a good time.

This show is part improv, part audience direction, part mystery, and all fun and laughs.

I don’t laugh very much and most gags leave me sighing or shaking my head. Kapinski left me gut-clutching, roaring out in laughter. Folks, this is the funniest thing I’ve seen in ages, and I’m considering seeing it again to see how it can run differently. This may very well be my favourite show of the Fringe.

Ray Yuen

Heart Puppetations

SDT Productions—Playhouse Studio

This is a cute show with a rather disturbing premise. The singing is only just adequate and it often sounds like they’re singing outside their registers. The actors look very competent but this play doesn’t do them very much justice.

Instead of the advertised 60 minutes, this show only runs 40 minutes, which was quite enough for me.

By the way, Andrew the A/V Tech: please do not eat potato chips during the play. This is a small venue and everyone sitting around you can hear you crinkling the packaging and crunching. I’m surprised my dirty glares weren’t enough to make you stop.

Ray Yuen

Oni

Mochinosha Puppet Company—245 McDermot

Warning #1: You need to climb 75 steep steps to get to this venue (that’s four tall storeys); I witnessed a number of people who took breaks in the middle.

Warning #2: If you don’t like coarse language with graphic references to sex and genitals, you should avoid this show. If you’re ok with the forgoing, you’re in a for a fun time and a cute show.

The shadow puppet presentation isn’t as slick as it can be, but it’s enjoyable enough. All of the stories are absurd, but that just adds to the humour of the situation.

Half of the narration comes in Japanese, but you won’t have any trouble interpreting the folk tales.

Ray Yuen

Susannah Bird and Other Stories

bikecircus—Asper Centre (U of W)

Either I’m really overthinking it, or I was missing out on some serious bird symbolism here, so I would brush up on that if I were you.

The main gimmick is the trapeze, and it serves its purpose well enough—the metaphor rang clear as day,—but it felt like just that- a gimmick.

What also confused me was the choice of having a lead actress, and another actress playing two characters, with a 4th character played by a voice over.

It’s a quaint show, it has smooth transitions between the free-fall and the flashbacks to our leading lady’s younger years, but it made some unusual choices.

Arden Pruden

The Dumb Waiter

Snowflake Productions—Playhouse Studio

At many points during this show I found myself getting antsy waiting for something to happen. In fact, I was waiting for a good chunk of the show, but seeing as that’s what the characters were doing, I’m not sure if that’s a good or a bad thing.

Whenever it was mentioned how long the characters had been waiting, or how bored they were, I couldn’t help but feel the same way.

That’s the only issue I had with this play—if your characters are bored, your audience will be too.

If the show started, rather than ended, with the big plot twist, I probably would have a very different opinion.

Arden Pruden

Cagey Productions

Pulling Pints—Warehouse

The birth of the Madchester music scene, the politics of Margaret Thatcher and the hatred of the IRA form the backdrop for this story of a naïve 23-year old Prairie boy pulling pints in a London pub.

A play 25 years in the making, from the mind of Fringe fanatic, Ken Gordon, featuring Fringe veterans Jesse Boulet, Veronica Ternopolski, Luke Falconer, Shawn Kowalke and directed by Fringe Icon Leith Clark.

We also have FREE BEER coasters and FREE temporary TATTOOS.

Winnipeg Shibari Theatre Company

340ft up close—Eckhardt-Gramatté Hall

Everything you wanted to know about shibari and tying people up but were afraid to ask. You’ve heard something about it, you may have seen it on the Internet. Here is a rare chance to get into the bedrooms and dungeons of the nation and see it live and from up close.

Last year 340ft of rope was enough. This year we will need more than that, for more fun, athleticity, (dare I say BDSM), and sensuality.

A Little Bit Off

Beau & Aero—The Playhouse Studio

Don’t miss the “show of the century!”

A Little Bit Off presents Beau & Aero…a rip-roaring slobberknocker of laughs, the likes of which you have never seen!!!

“Like watching Charlie Chaplin and Harold Lloyd on acid (THEM, not you) or watching Lucy and Ricky on acid (YOU, not them).” Safe for kids, great for adults.

These Aviators are comic Aces!

“You’ll blow your wig!”

Don’t be a wet sock, go see Beau & Aero—it’s the cat’s pajamas. “And How!”