Macabre Tales of Horror and Macabreness (kinda?) 10 Year HELLebration

Puppy in Pants Productions—Tom Hendry Warehouse

Even before the show started, zombies weaved their way through the audience, creeping among the audience members. One of the zombies edged up to me and menacingly hinted that I should turn off my phone. This was 10 minutes to showtime, but ok, I’m not attached to the phone anyway. Curiously, the zombies did not bother any other viewer looking at their phones. Still, it’s best practice to turn your phones off—ESPECIALLY HERE!

Another hint before the show begins: sit in the middle section for the best viewing experience!

I didn’t count the number of speakers in the theatre but I imagine the Warehouse Theatre would have state-of-the-art surround sound systems. Unfortunately, it sounded like all of the sound came out of the centre, like
the old mono and it was a bit tough to hear for those of us off to the side.

Being the first show, there was some slight timing issues, and a couple of prop issues, but the cast managed to cover them up quite well and delivered a smooth show despite them. They probably could have hammed up the “broken headlight” but it still worked.

Even though the show is titled Macabre Tales of Horror and Macabreness, it could easily have been titled “Tales of Horror and Cuteness.” There was a lot of cuteness to go around. And dancing skeletons? Yeah.

The show started a bit slow but picked up speed fast. When I say “slow,” I don’t mean the content was slow; it just seemed the actors’ enthusiasm needed some time to pick up. By the time the first skit was dismembered, we were at cruising speed.

Ray Yuen

Journey to the Centre of the Earth

Studio Accelerando—The Rachel Browne Theatre

The physicality of live mime theatre is something that was missing over the streamed content of the past couple virtual Fringes. What a treat to see an incredible one-man show with someone as talented as Robert Feetham. He starts with a short intro going through the process of evolution which is amazing and really lets the audience know we are in for a great performance.

He then takes the audience on a wonderful visual adventure (based on Jules Verne’s book) using just his ability at physical performance, a few self-generated sound effects, and some minimal narration by his Director Colin Bruce Anthes. Fantastic!

Murray Hunter

Are You Lovin’ It?

Theatre Group GUMBO—John Hirsch Mainstage

As people were leaving the theater, I heard someone behind me exclaim “Wow, that was such a Fringe show”. I could say it was hilariously unhinged, I could say that the show perfected audience harassment to the point where I was recruited to hold someone’s bouncy rotten intestines and another audience member established world peace in a samurai costume. But I think I’m just going to steal that quote. Wow, that was such a Fringe show.

Josh Fidelak

Murmurs of Earth

MaxQ Productions—The Rachel Browne Theatre

In this play they tell the story of the creation of the gold-plated record that was put on the Voyager space probes. The record was an attempt to create a way to describe the Earth and its inhabitants to any future beings that might come across the probes as they travel through deep space after exiting our solar system.

Jacques Leger is quite convincing as Carl Sagan, the leader of that project and its forerunner, the plaque that was added to the pioneer probe. In addition to the scientific and bureaucratic trials and tribulations that are featured, there was also the story of the relationships between Sagan, his wife Linda, and the other people on the project. An interesting look at Sagan’s life before he became one of the first celebrity scientists.

Murray Hunter

King, Warrior, Magician, Lover

Wolfhaven Productions—The Clock Tower – Portage Place

In this hour long performance, storyteller Matthew Evan Havens takes the audience through a fantastical growth into manhood. Centering on the power of stories to inspire and teach, Matthew’s pseudo-autobiographical story of his assent to status of king and storyteller has a lot of potential. It was hampered by first night jitters and needing a bit more polish, all things that should be smoothed out for the later performances of the festival.

Josh Fidelak

CIVILIZED

By the Book Productions—One88

The mistreatment of the Indigenous people by the Canadian government through various laws and actions combined with the creation and running of the residential school system (in partnership with the Churches) is the subject of the play by Keir Cutler which makes it necessary for a number of content warnings. It also makes it necessary viewing. Though it is expertly performed it is a very difficult play to watch.

John Huston portrays a government official of the early 1900s brought back to life to attempt to defend their strategies to deal with the Indigenous people who were “in the way of progress”.

Because the play uses the language and labels of that time it is especially jarring. The Indigenous population are barely considered people, their traditions and culture is something to be erased in order for them to become ‘Civilized’.

Shining a light on the horrible truth, so long ignored, is painful but needed. The most haunting line for me comes near the end and is something like “We did this for you”, with you being the modern population of Canada.

I hope a lot of people see this show, and then begin (or continue) on a journey to achieve reconciliation and help heal the wounds of the past.

Murray Hunter

A Grave Mistake

A Little Bit Off—John Hirsch Mainstage

This was opening night, and sometimes you can expect some glitches with the first show. True here, there were some minor costume issues, some major prop issues, and some severe rehearsal issues—they clearly were not ready but they managed to save the show. Towards the end, it seemed like they gave up trying to put together a tight performance and went down the slapstick trail instead. That’s fine because it was still a good (GREAT) time.

There were some outright hilarious moments that caught me in tears laughing (and I’m not an easy amuser). The baby ghost scene was one of the funniest things I’d seen in a long time.

Some skits seemed rather fractured from the main story, and they didn’t feel like they belong in the plot. Even as outcasts, those scenes entertained amusingly.

Because the audience got to choose the course of several events, some of the skits remained unseen to us. I’m curious enough to see the scenes I missed; I have every faith that they would be just as much fun. It was a howling good time.

Ray Yuen

Macabre Tales of Horror and Macabreness (kinda?) 10 Year HELLebration

Puppy in Pants Productions—Tom Hendry Warehouse

The wildly and weirdly talented company of Macabre Tales is back with a 10th anniversary “hellebration” and delivered a creepily crafted show filled to the brim with multi-media magic, funky special effects, bad puns, precocious black ops, and classic horror tropes. As in the past it was hosted by Satan himself who presided over the offerings from his “bone throne” and delivered a totally satisfying Rick Mercer style rant. Subtle it ain’t but hilarious it is. Avoid “Coward’s Corner”; you won’t want to miss any of the fun.

Barbara Fawcett

Field Zoology 201

Shawn O’Hara—Planetarium

An hour of every fact about animals you could ever hope to know, most of them incorrect but I’m not counting. Split between prepared classroom lecture and audience request for animal facts/combat advice, Shawn O’Hara as the dishonorable professor Gooseberry rarely fails to elicit a laugh. And following his midshow editorial advice for any reviewers in attendance, he did not read the audience supplied question cards in advance.

Josh Fidelak

An Evening of Magic & Mystery with Ken Sky

Ken Sky—Planetarium

An act that can boast of a strong globe trotting pedigree, an Evening of Magic and Mystery quickly transitions from Magic trick to joke, most commonly at the expense of the performer’s own accent. Strong crowd work and rapport are the standouts of the show, with some tricks being held for a few moments too long. A crowd pleaser, for anyone seeking exactly what the show says on the tin.

Josh Fidelak