Grease, Too!

Tyson Comedy—The Cinematheque

Arriving at the venue, I was welcomed by the artist to “her” basement, as she excitedly gets us ready for a Grease movie marathon. Pass the Oreos, you BET we’re going to sing along.

It was a heartfelt experience, seeing both films at lightning speed through the eyes of an 11 year old girl. Her endearing, comedic explanations of the film have a sweet sort of innocence despite adult content. I’ve had my own opinions about the first film (I hadn’t seen the second one) and have been critical at times about its message. But to see how the little girl saw Sandy as a feminist presented me with an opportunity to reconsider my understanding. A young girl experiencing struggles of her own can escape into beloved films that provide her with a safe space to be herself and love the things she’s into. It’s certainly something I can relate to. Kid’s have an uncanny ability to have honest clarity and see right through to the heart of things while other things fly right over their heads, as is often appropriate. It was so refreshing to see the films from a new perspective in a funny, relatable way, while also touching on far more serious themes. There’s wisdom here that I very much appreciate. Grease is the word!!

Calantha Jensen

The Last Five Years

Hot Reject Productions—Tom Hendry Warehouse

I thought The Last Five Years was fantastic, the actors had beautiful chemistry together, and I loved how accurately they depicted the relationship. I thought the turning of the boxes to show the passage of time was soooo smart and really helped me understand what was going on and when.

The singing was great and the acting was phenomenal. Overall great show.

Al Gilbert

The Tempest

Indifferently Reformed—Royal Albert Arms

The large cast did an admirable job performing the Shakespeare play, and aside from a few character gender switches, seemed to keep to the standard script. The show was accompanied by live music which combined with some great costumes enhanced the performance.

David Lange was well suited to the role of Prospero and was a standout. Well worth seeing if you are a Shakespeare fan.

Murray Hunter

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

Comedy Illusions of Greg Wood

The Magician’s Apprentices—Calvary Temple

Greg Wood has become a Fringe Family Show regular over the last 15 years with his comedy and magic. This year he teams up with a couple of award-winning young magicians to present a fast paced comedy illusion show sure to please audiences of all ages.

Comedy, illusions, audience participation (some of the cutest parts of the show) all add up to a wonderful family experience.

Autistic Productions

How I Met My Neurodivergent Friend—Théâtre Cercle Molière

Adam Schwartz set out to make a friend, and wound up making several.

By asking itself how to adapt to the individual, How I Met My First Neurodivergent Friend removed barriers to participation for its participants, onstage and offstage. This has created opportunities for some individuals with disabilities and who identify as neurodivergent to return to theatre, to learn something to use in their emerging careers, or to create a sense of being involved with, working on a, and belonging to a Fringe show, while forging new friendships and…of course, enjoying many laughs.

Neurohilarity

Neurohilarity—Alloway Hall – Manitoba Museum

Neurohilarity brings together the funniest neurodivergent comics in Winnipeg to share a stage.

Featured comics include several Winnipeg Comedy Festival and Yuk Yuk’s veterans such as Kane Greene, Quinn Greene, Danielle Kayhara, Scott Koropas, Adam Schwartz, and Carole Cunningham.

This show is hilarious!

ImproVision

ImproVision: Mötley Canöe—Duke of Kent Legion

After more than 23 years performing their own brand of fast-paced, mashed-up improv together, ImproVision’s Alan, Ed and George wanted a change. So launching a new career as plaid-leather-hair-country-metal-motorcycle-canoe cross-over band was an obvious progression. As challenging as it was to build a spectacular pyrotechnics display in the 50-seat Duke of Kent Legion — our audiences deserve it! Almost no one will catch fire.

Yeah: no. We made that up. Come see us make more stuff up.

“tore the roof off the house… them boys is funny”- a past review

Dark Horse Theatre

Specimen Sherman—Cre8ery

Fresh from a whirlwind intergalactic tour of Altair IV, Barsoom, Wrigley’s Pleasure Planet, and Mustafar (that was a rough crowd), Dark Horse Theatre’s production of “Specimen Sherman” finally returns to Earth! Be sure to catch this offbeat alien abduction comedy before it journeys off-world again! Featuring Fringe veterans Dave Pruden, Karl Eckstrand, and Mike Seccombe, and Fringe newcomers Debra Ross, Emma Stevens, and Simran Bal. Stage-managed by the astronomical Erin Rezansoff (with almost no help from Jango Fett). Experience this otherworldly show now, before the aliens come for…YOU!!!