Washed Up

Awkward Cheese Co.—MTC Up the Alley

This solo comedy written and performed by Chelsey Grewar touches on the feeling of being ‘washed up’ as your life enters a new phase. The format is a little different than most solo shows as there are short stand-up sets between each scene (with a couple second blast of the Seinfeld theme to mark them). As a Gen Xer, I am kind of at the next phase of change, but could still relate. Some great observational comedy here, regardless of how long you have been an adult.

Murray Hunter

Bruce Ryan Costella’s: RAT MAN HAPPY PLACE

Bruce Ryan Costella—Creative Manitoba

I was creeped out before this even started; as the audience is met by a startling sight upon entering. His costume and makeup perfectly conveyed a filthy, rat-like being, freshly emerged from the sewers; that you would RUN across the street to avoid.

If you are adventurous or a ‘weird adult’ as the program states, you will love this! The premise is that he is on trial for petty theft in the City of Winnipeg. There’s lots of audience participation, so don’t be shy! We elect a mayor and we are the jury. He spins the tale of a post-apocalyptic world, like Neverland; where all the adults had died from Covid-not Covid. They inhabit Disneyland and make it their own. He’s forced to leave, thus ending up in our fair city. There’s a lot of deeper meaning if you want to go there. Bruce is a wonderful actor with a perfect production that was thoroughly enjoyed by all. He deserves full houses.

Hint: find the elevator if you want to avoid a heart attack. Those are Lots of stairs!

Lisa Campbell

Everything is Super Wow

Spec Theatre—The Studio at Le Théâtre Cercle Molière

If you’re looking for something funny and weird (bonus points if you’re into cycling) then this is a perfect show for you! A one man show by ira cooper about a cyclist who has been biking for hundreds of days with some rather curious companions, filled with puns and bike jokes and relatable stories. It’s silly, strange and very endearing. I enjoyed the creative storytelling, and unexpected moments of clarity and wisdom written into the dialogue. Lots of fun!

Calantha Jensen

How I Met My Neurodivergent Friend

Autistic Productions—Théâtre Cercle Molière

For any fans of Adam Schwartz and his stand-up comedy, the intertwining of his usual work with stories of his childhood and later development gives a great look behind the curtain. While the particular jokes that tie the show together could likely do with a bit of tightening to make the flow between sections better, the overall stories and anecdotes of childhood misadventures between school and developmental classes more than makes up for it.

Josh Fidelak

August Quarterly Report

Tattooed Egg—Artspace Boardroom

It’s shows like this that are the reason I love Fringe so very much. A completely interactive show where the audience attendees are either board members or stakeholders in a yogurt company and have gathered for a quarterly meeting. For anyone who has ever sat in a meeting of any kind really, this is a show you won’t want to miss. It is so funny, so engaging and relatable and really quite sweet. Highly recommend coming early to score a seat at the boardroom table with a “yes and” attitude to be more involved in the show!

Calantha Jensen

Keeping The Moon

It’s All Relative Productions—The Rachel Browne Theatre

Reba Terlson is on an introspective emotional journey in this self-written one woman show. Luna is dealing with the death of her mother, whom she had a complex relationship with. The story works through the phases of the moon, which has played a large part in her and her mother’s lives, and the astrological importance of each phase. The scenes include flashbacks to different times in her past to fill out the story of the relationship between her and her mother. An ongoing timed medication break runs through the show, and hints at one of the other points of friction between her and her mother. She finishes the journey with some contemporary dance to express the change in her life.

It was a well done performance.

The American Songbook Experience

Melanie Gall Presents—MTYP – Mainstage

You always know what you’re going to get with Melanie Gall, as her devotees well know. What a wonderful experience! This might be my favorite so far; and I’ve seen all of her shows.

This one is very personal; as she weaves expert renditions of American classics with a moving tale of her musician zaida, and his life long true love story with his wife. The beautiful, black and white photographs added so much depth and emotion to the show production. Many in the audience could be heard weeping at the end. If that’s not success, I don’t know what is. She deserves every bit of it. Brava!

Lisa Campbell

ONE NIGHT ONLY

duhdumduhdum productions—The Rachel Browne Theatre

I dont think I’ve ever seen a fringe show that has set up a dedicated Instagram account to allow people who hate the show to congregate and organize themselves for unknown and nefarious purposes. Brutal, funny and uncomfortable, this meditation on mental illness, existential angst and the terrifying shitshow of a world we’ve put so much effort into piping directly into our eye holes is definitely an experience. Definitely the un-example of a fringe show, for all the good and ill that it represents. Read the content warnings, don’t be a hero.

Josh Fidelak

PUSH Physical Theatre

Generic Male: Just What We Need Another Show About Men—John Hirsch Mainstage

Winner of Four “Best of Fest’s”, two “Critic’s Picks”, The “International Fringe Encore Series Award”, an Off-Broadway run and even a “Volunteer’s Choice” has left sold-out crowds cheering for more. It’s an explosive, athletic, physical theatre ruined by a tragic lack of understanding. A masculinity satire by two well-meaning fools – arguing, dancing, desperately clinging to the status-quo.

“…exquisite actors and superb comedians…athletic and graceful…” – apt613

“This is the type of inventive, thought-provoking, relevant art the Fringe was made for.” (Best of the Fest) – Orlando Sentinel

Specimen Sherman

Dark Horse Theatre—Cre8ery

This one is a funny, quirky sci-fi show about a man named Sherman who is abducted by aliens and becomes part of an experiment. The action follows a high stakes moral dilemma that several characters find themselves puzzling though, and left me wondering what in the world I would do if I found myself in this particular circumstance (unlikely, but one has to consider it.) It is a tale with poignant commentary on humanity and human nature as the aliens try to understand our species. To see us from their perspective is intriguing and funny when the characters continue to puzzle and surprise them. It was also fun to see how many references I could catch to other popular sci-fi that were thrown into the script whenever they could.

Calantha Jensen