Saving the Station

Saving the Station—School of Contemporary Dancers

The pandemic taught us lessons at every stage. The need for community remained essential. Music. Connection. Communication. All became integral.

Jim Priebe steps behind the microphone for his Fringe debut. While some audience members may not be acutely aware of the navigational loopholes, nonprofit bureaucracy, and red tape involved in leading a community FM radio station, Priebe recounts them all.

As someone involved with several community-run organizations, much of this resonated with me. While this is ultimately a story of ambition and perseverance, listening to a sole narrator describe the many people he “had a falling out with” feels deliberate, and leaves little room to understand those relationships from another voice.

Incorporating voiceovers, archival clips, or segments from the radio station itself could have better immersed the audience in the world Priebe worked so hard to build.

Likewise, spending more time exploring the people who helped create and sustain the station would have resulted in a more rounded narrative.

One man does not a station make. Priebe’s narrative seems to disagree.

Their voices could have added depth and balance to a story that clearly comes from a place of passion. At its heart, Saving the Station is a sincere tribute to community broadcasting and the determination required to keep a local institution alive against considerable odds.

Stephanie Adamov

Couch Surfing

Chief Mingus—Tom Hendry Warehouse

Classic fringe improv fare. Six improvisers circle a couch, and with some light elements of audience suggestion, weave together a series of scenes that get looped back on, integrated into different stories, and are the subject of snappy callbacks.

Like all improv, the jokes and tone can be a bit uneven and choppy, but solid performances and chemistry drive the show to being a solid addition to the roster of improv at the festival this year.

Josh Fidelak

ERIKA MACDONALD: Tea TIME

Erika MacDonald—aceartinc.

Yes, Erika MacDonald makes tea, a lot of tea. There is a process to that, and it takes time, and that is what is important about it. It is a wonderfully fun hour that keeps the audience involved throughout. There is a deeper message about finding what gives you comfort and making the time for it, which is something everyone should hear. So if you need a bit of a break while enjoying the Fringe this is a great way to decompress and relax.

Murray Hunter

Patchwork Theatre

Filthy Fakespeare…and Friend—aceartinc.

Hey everybody, this is Patrick from “Fakespeare” , “Sound & Fury”, other stuff.

I brought a weird show this year that is essentially a VERY adult rated Renaissance Faire Pub crawl in one location.

Andrew Silver, an award winning international comedian who is also doing “Love Thy Neighbor”, will be performing with me as well as countless other Fringe performers.

This is mostly a show for us to get out our bad material 🙂

Do not bring the kids!

Happy Fringe!

How Bono Saved my Life (Three Times)

Sonya Ballantyne Entertainment—Club 200

In this masterful spoken-word piece, Cree author and filmmaker Sonya Ballantyne showcases her love for U2 and the contents of her heart with the candour of a writer and the intensity of a fangirl. While chasing something that feels like hope, Ballantyne finds surprising inspiration in disappointing crushes, male vulnerability, and the devastating heartbreak of surviving abuse, as she recounts how a favourite band can pull you out of darkness and lead you to who you’re supposed to be.

Nyala Ali

Unzipping the Cat

3L Theatrics—Son of Warehouse

In a cautionary cat-sitting tale, as this reviewer knows all too well, Kevin Reid presents an earnest and heartfelt story about earning the trust and approval of Winston, a purrfectly sized Maine Coon.

Reid has a natural feel for the stage and, as a theatre blogger, has curated a tight 60-minute piece for anyone who has ever had a difficult conversation at the vet.

Part internal discovery, part adaptation, and part accommodating the potential destruction of his personal comic book collection after agreeing to become a short-term cat sitter, the unexpected moments are the ones to treasure.

Stephanie Adamov

Absolutely Not a Cult

Starr Street Productions—Théâtre Cercle Molière

There’s one major issue with this show, and it’s that the whole thing is a fantastic joke that I can’t really write about without spoiling the punchline.

The three members of the cast have fantastic chemistry and confidence in their roles, and the jokes land with military precision. Writing-wise the content is tailor made for the moment we find ourselves in of AI doomerism and technological overlords. Just an absolute masterclass in comedy writing and performance flying in from a New York City gripped by all the political, social and technological conflicts explored in the show.

Josh Fidelak

Book Lovers

TBA Productions—John Hirsch Mainstage

It is a first meeting of a book club, with people who are looking forward to it, people who would rather be elsewhere and some unexpected guests. The large cast does a good job in bringing the drama and comedy to life. There are a number of twists and turns, so to avoid any spoilers, I will just say it is a fun little show, and worth seeing it for yourself.

Murray Hunter

The Late Great Mormon Drag Queen

Steven Morton—CCFM – Salle Pauline-Boutal

A delight. Simply a divine delight.

Steven Morton dazzles the audience with his dress, his voice, and his presence as Madam Pattirini is born in the limelight. Working the audience in the occasionally daunting amphitheatre at CCFM, Morton effortlessly flips between characters and costumes while presenting this new work as a 60-minute musical journey backed by soaring songs.

Based on a true story, Morton delivers operatic arias and vaudeville-style performances with ease, displaying excellent physicality through expressive mime.

Clearly dedicated to his craft, this show is as professional as it gets when it comes to Fringe.

Stephanie Adamov

The Golden Boys

Enigma Performance Company—Théâtre Cercle Molière

“Picture it”…

Entering the theatre with years of encyclopedic Golden Girls trivia under my belt, I found this earnest new work to be a delightful homage to the classic TV show. The catch? They’re men over 60 grappling with the tricky tribulations of aging…all while preparing to compete for the title of Winnipeg’s next “Golden Boy.”

The parody exceeded my expectations. Creative choices and clever twists bring the gang to life while breathing fresh life into the now-recognizable tropes of the iconic Sophia, Dorothy, Blanche, and Rose.

Sam, Devin, Blake, and Ross (respectively) revisit familiar plot-lines that audiences are sure to recognize, while never losing sight of the honest moments that made the original series a beloved classic.

The balance is hard to strike, but Ferens cleverly sprinkles in Manitoban references that ground the piece in its own identity.

Grab a slice of cheesecake, bring a fellow Fringer, and thank them for “being a friend.”

Stephanie Adamov