Wait, So Do I Make Out With A Pan?

Buried Seeds Productions—MTC Up the Alley

Are you queer?

If your answer is “yes,” you should see this show—you may be able to relate.
If your answer is “maybe,” you should see this show—it might answer some of your questions.
If you answer is “no,” you should see this show—you might learn something.

Ray Yuen

A Toast to Prohibition

Melanie Gall Presents—Tom Hendry Warehouse

As always, Ms.Gall is a sure bet for top quality entertainment. I still remember the excited buzz about her from her very first show here. I haven’t missed one since. She shares my love of history; and besides being treated to the loveliest voice at this year’s Fringe, you will actually learn something. Her total professionalism shows, as the heat in the Warehouse tonight was unbearable. And we weren’t under stage lights! Every minute was charming, engaging, and humorous. Imagine gangster Al Capone actually writing a love song, which was really quite charming. Melanie treated us to many other popular songs of the time, interspersed with a her tale of a strong woman running a speakeasy as the last minutes of Prohibition tick away. I’m of the opinion that until we appreciate the past, we can’t really understand the present.

This would be a perfect show to bring an older loved one to; as the venue is usually comfortable, and this wonderful production would really resonate and be quite nostalgic. I brought my Mom and Dad to her Vera Lynne show years ago and they still talk about it fondly.

Brava

Lisa Campbell

Crabs Gone Wild

Pinchy Productions—The Fountain – Portage Place

I think you can see the joke coming a kilometre away. I thought perhaps there would be more to it, but there wasn’t. After a while, the joke wore a little thin, but the play stayed entertaining.

The program lists the show at 60 minutes but it only ran 45 minutes. That’s fine; I don’t think they could have stretched the joke another 15 minutes.

Ray Yuen

I Am The Most Unfeeling Doctor in the World (And Other True Tales from the Emergency Room)

Melissa Yuan-Innes—The Cinematheque

Dr. Yuan-Innes expertly tells a collection of stories, some funny, some sad, from her start in medicine to working in an ER where you meet some very interesting characters often in some very tough situations. She also includes some heartfelt personal stories involving herself and her family and how dealing with those is affected by her medical knowledge.

There is also a fun musical interlude involving her co-star, a medical skeleton. Other than being a Doctor, her desire to also follow her creative side by writing and performing shines through, and she keeps the audience wanting more.

Murray Hunter

BEFORE BREAKFAST: An Opera in One Act

Naomi Forman Productions—WAG – Muriel Richardson Auditorium

I love opera and I am very happy to see it represented here at Fringe. This festival showcases many of the arts but opera often slips through the cracks. There’s probably a reason for it since opera is not exactly the prime entertainment in central Canada. All of my opera experience has been from the great Italian and German composers. Thomas Pasatieri is a contemporary composer born in New York in 1945. Before the show started, I was very curious as to what the music of a “modern” composer sounds like.

It’s hard to judge how the music would sound if it was backed by a full symphony but with just a piano, it sets a nice backdrop to the main event: the superb vocals of Prima Donna Forman. Forman is a voice instructor at the University of Brandon, as well as a performer with Manitoba Opera and the WSO. It is truly a treat to see her perform at Fringe.

As with most tragedies, this opera hits the lowest notes of human emotion, digging to the depths of how despicable humanity can be. I’m used to operas being ~200 minutes long and 45 minutes is a tease. Really, it left me wanting more. When people ask me to explain the plot of an opera to them, the story takes less than a minute to relate. However, the plot development and progression takes a while. At a mere 45 minutes, there isn’t enough time to develop a plot and explore it. It’s like a summary of a play and I want more. But again, I’m an opera veteran; for a veteran novice, perhaps this is long enough.

Whether you have been listening to opera for ages, or never at all, this is a great show to try out. As a bonus, we see a bit of ballet to go with Forman’s spectacular voice. This is my don’t miss show of the year.

Ray Yuen

Daddy’s Boy

Erik de Waal—Planetarium

Masterful and near hypnotic storytelling prowess interweaves the narratives of Erik de Waal’s childhood with those of his fathers decline and passing. Ranging from absolute tragedy to heartwarming story to humour, the emotions evoked are at all points vivid and powerful. Beats are never missed, and of note is the technical management being spot on despite issues with airlines resulting in there being no technical rehearsals. An excellent show, as anyone knowing Erik would expect.

Josh Fidelak

Lost and Foundling

MTYP’s Summer Studio—MTYP – Mainstage

Lost and Foundling follows the adventures of Price whose entire life has been spent in a Super Price Mart. She is a foundling being lovingly raised by naïve but well-meaning staff. Price is bright, plucky and determined to explore her world including the mystery of “the line”, the terror of the “slasher”, the threat of the “demanding shopper”, and the siren song of sample tables. The young company is tight and the material humorous and touching. MTYP Summer Studio handles complicated choreography with ease and delivers everything you were looking for in a good Fringe show. It truly is thoughtful, funny and kind.

Barbara Fawcett

Juliet: A Revenge Comedy

Ryan Gladstone—The King’s Head Pub

With children, you are not supposed to have favorites; but with Fringe plays you can! And this is mine! If I have time, I will see it again. And in 32 years of Fringing, and thousands of plays, I’ve never done that.

If you have knowledge of The Bard, you will get the most from this absolutely perfect production. I can see a lot of the “ha ha” going over ones head if you are not familiar with Shakespeare. The theme this year, rightly, seems strong women turning the tables on male subjection. Will didn’t know what he was getting into here! Kudos to Ryan Gladstone for this most creative, unusual and unique masterpiece. It takes a very cerebral and astute writer to even imagine this concept of Shakespeare’s characters being able to participate in their fates. The two actresses, Lili Beaudoin and Carly Pokoradi, really outdid themselves. I honestly can’t do them justice in few words.

I love intelligent, quirky humour and if it can be decadent at the same time, so much the better; and this play was sexy! The fornication scenes behind the sheet were side splitting! I can’t say enough about the talent here. Just go!

Lisa Campbell

Pretty Beast

Kazu Kusano—The Cinematheque

When I graduated from high school, I wondered what would become of everyone? Some of the stereotypes came true: a few of the nerds became IT techs; the delinquents have menial labour jobs; the valedictorian became a doctor; the jocks work at SportChek and the Asian kid (me) became a math professional (Data Scientist). So what happened to the class clown? This show provides the answer.

Ray Yuen

Underbelly

Aaron Malkin—Tom Hendry Warehouse

I don’t know a better way to describe this show than to say there’s a splash zone that extends over the entire Venue. While some of the scenes do end up dragging, and some of the jokes fail to land as intended, the sheer creativity is something to behold. Impressive props and costumes are likely the stand out, pairing with wacky slapstick and vivid imagery. At the end of the day, it’s a fringe shows fringe show, for better or worse.

Josh Fidelak