A One Human Being, Potentially Comedic Performance of Beauty and the Beast

Living the Dream—The Gargoyle Theatre

Alli Perlov has become a Fringe tradition ever since I wandered into her one human being rendition of Les Mis. A structured show with the feel of improv, she is always very entertaining, but she has gone above and beyond with her set and props this year. I think you will get the most out of the show if you have at least a passing familiarity with the story she’s riffing, but you shouldn’t let it stop you if you don’t. This show embodies the spirit of fringe in my opinion.

Jordan Phillips

The Get Laid* Show (*Or a date? Definitely a high five.)

TheOtherVName Productions—Duke of Kent Legion

Dear Jenny,

I have missed connections from audience members trying to get laid…or a date? (They’ve received their high fives.)

Can you please help me, help them, find their connections? If this is you, email TheGetLaidShow@gmail.com

Sincerely,

V

Friday July 18th – I’m going to give you my description like you suggested just in case – I was the guy with the bright blue shoes and a blue shirt with a grey overshirt and shorts, with curly hair. You high fived me riiiiiight at the beginning, and at the end I was exchanging instagrams with the fella I was seated next to.

Sunday July 20th -Hi I’d like to find the Princess Bride true love.

I’m a female (secretly pansexual) but has a pixie cut, I’m into dancing free love and anything with an engine, I’d love to go on dates and get to know a thing or two about people I’m 21.

Monday July 21st – You were wearing a tank top and cargo pants, with a scarf patterned button up later in the evening. I was wearing an embroidered shrimp cocktail t shirt. You came to talk to the table, I should have asked for your number, but didn’t.

Monday July 21st – I’m the guy with the Union Jack on my shirt that talked too much. She’s in the stripped button up and blue shorts.

V

Parasocial

Metanoia Theatre Co.—The Gargoyle Theatre

As someone familiar with videogame streaming, the concept is intriguing, but the overall affect was closer to YouTuber than a streamer. Stalking and doxxing are ever present dangers, and this show does a reasonable job explaining and presenting them to audiences who might be unfamiliar. Arguments between our two streamers frequently result in the actors yelling over one another, resulting in muddy dialogue, and hard to follow scenes. In addition to shaky acting and a weak ending, it maybe isn’t the best introduction to the online world.

Josh Fidelak

EGGSHELLS: The Spectrum of Fatherhood, Imposter Syndrome and Finding my Light

M.P.M.M Productions—Son of Warehouse

Passante’s well-paced, stripped down storytelling takes us through the emotional triumphs and tragedies that have led him to the present moment. Full of humour and heart, this candid memoir is crafted with the grace and gratitude of a veteran performer.

Nyala Ali

Crabs Gone Wild

Pinchy Productions—PTE – Colin Jackson Studio

The highlight of this show was the audience member absolutely losing this shit at the same joke over and over again. Thankfully shorter than the advertised 60 minutes, the show could have still done with trimming, as the “catching crabs/catching crabs” misunderstanding joke wore extremely thin extremely quickly. Unless you enjoy audience watching, there’s not a lot here unfortunately, despite the obvious passion from all involved.

Josh Fidelak

Finding Richard Close

So I Guess We’re Doing This? Theatre Company—The Asper Centre for Theatre & Film (U of W)

Heartbreaking.

If that’s the kind of drama you like, this is must see.

P.S. That concludes my review but I want to add some personal background. I’m at the age where too many relatives are facing/or faced the end of life. This includes my mother, not that many years ago. She was an abuser, a hater, all around terrible person, and a monster. I connected personally with this wonderful show but again, saw a lot of myself here. Even without that link, this is exactly what you want if you like leaving the theatre with your heart being yanked out of your chest. I was in tears twice before the house lights came on.

Ray Yuen

After August

Thinking & Feeling Theatre Company—Tom Hendry Warehouse

Haunted by regret and grief after the death of her brother August in the same crash she survived, we follow Avery as she navigates and tries to understand what her life has become. Written by Eve Ross Moore who also pays Avery, the spectre of August is convincingly realized, Ben Robertson playing the role extremely well in all three of its characterizations. At 70 minutes, After August more than earns it’s length, the relationship between Avery and her partner Elliot (August’s best friend) and their interactions with August needing room to breathe and deepen. The show comes with trigger warnings for a reason, but for anyone able to handle it, this is a fantastic watch.

Josh Fidelak

Art by Dave Pruden

July 23rd-We’ve hit the middle of week two and are doing pretty well in covering everything with over 120 shows reviewed.

Huge thanks to all who have contributed reviews, it is great to get additional points of view on shows and reviews for ones we haven’t got out to yet. Also a big thank you to Dave Pruden who makes us look good with the fantastic cartoons.

Share a Table with Jenny!—Since seating is going to be limited at this year’s Jenny Awards, we have decided to set aside one table of four for the winner of our new contest for Instagram followers. Here is how it will work: at the end of each day we will create a list of people who have liked or shared our #AreYouReadyForJenny Instagram posts from that day featuring the adventures of our roaming donkey. On Saturday July 26th we will compile all these lists and randomly select a winner who will be awarded the table. So the more posts you have liked the more chances you will have to win. We have already put together the entries from previous posts prior to today.

Keep on Fringing everyone and enjoy the next five days.

-Murray Hunter

And now some words about shopping local from Ray.

I look forward to the Fringe run every season; it’s one of my favourite times of the year. Not only is there a bevy of local, national and international talent in the Festival with a wealth of enjoyment, it’s one of the few times when the downtown is alive and buzzing with thousands of people in the streets. I feel safe and secure walking almost everywhere within the Festival venues, even after dark.

As Jenny staff, we see a lot of shows, and the scheduling often leaves idle hours in between acts. The Cube is a wonderful place to sit, relax, enjoy a drink, or grab a bite to eat. It’s always fun to stop by food staples like India Palace or try something new. Miss Christine’s has been around for a couple of years, which is great exposure for them. Not many people know about their little hole-in-the-wall outlet serving some of the best jerk in the city. Why? Because they share hotel space with the notorious strip club Teasers.

Although Old Market Square is a fantastic place to laze to the free shows (tip the Performers fairly if you watch their acts!), or people-watch while you wait for your next play to start, don’t forget about all the other local gems around. I stumbled onto a little grocery store called Ashdown Market in the Ashdown Warehouse, and enjoyed one of the best South American meals I’ve ever had the pleasure of experiencing in this city. The bistro is called Ashdown Flame. They also serve delicious pizzas if you’re not as adventurous. As a bonus, instead of having to schlep out your ID at the Liquor Mart, you can buy wine and local craft beers for off-sales here too.

Get out there, support The Fringe, watch some shows, enjoy The Cube, but also support our local, small businesses. There’s a lot here that you may not have known about and so much is good!

Happy Fringe!

Ray Yuen
Review Coordinator

Neurohilarity Exposed

Neurohilarity—Planetarium

Adam Schwartz has produced another stellar show! I’m a huge fan of his and the way he assembles a varying cast of neurodivergent comedians for our benefit and delight.

I highly recommended this to a lovely woman I’d met at a previous show. After the show she came up to me with a huge smile and asked if she was the only one who laughed from beginning to end. She wasn’t. It was so enjoyable to watch the audience whoop and holler, and express their appreciation and amazement. This was so wonderful, I might just see it again.

Lisa Campbell

Hockey Night at the Puck & Pickle Pub

RibbitRePublic Theatre 2—The King’s Head Pub

SCORE! The two busiest men at this year’s Fringe reprise the winning concept of an evening of hockey at this pub with the baffling name. Everyone’s got the puck part nailed but all are questioning the pickle part.

Knowledge of our national sport will add to your enjoyment of this show; but certainly isn’t necessary.

Jon Paterson and Ryan Gladstone will crack you up as they hilariously portray the diverse couples taking in the game at their local pub, two sport commentators and two buddies. They move in perfect sync, never missing a beat. There’s a laugh in every line in this rapid-fire comedy treat. I’ve been watching these two talented actors for years and will continue to; as they never disappoint.

The crowd went wild!

Lisa Campbell