From Fringe 2024

Rob and Jenny’s First Date

Dark Horse Theatre—John Hirsch Mainstage

Out of more than a dozen Fringe shows I have seen so far, this is my favourite. Written and directed by Mike Seccombe, who is also a member of the cast, it is a production of Winnipeg-based Dark Horse Theatre. Its set consists of three small red round tables, each with two red chairs, representing a high-end restaurant. With a cast of eight, it is about more than one couple’s first date, although that is the central theme upon which everything else revolves.

Both the script and the production were well done. Each character is unique and has their own arc, from the older gentlemen who advises the titular Rob to not mess up and also has his own seemingly improbable romantic hopes, to the disillusioned waiter on the last day of his job, to the high-spirited woman who has dated both of the title characters. In a way there are multiple stories all intersecting but kept distinct. For me this show has echoes of both Three’s Company and Fawlty Towers, which is probably part of why I liked it. It is a comedy with heart.

Konrad Antonny

From Fringe 2024

Rob and Jenny’s First Date

Dark Horse Theatre—John Hirsch Mainstage

This actually felt like two separate plays that had been stitched together. There was the new love meets old love dynamic between the titular Rob & Jenny and the heart-warming character of Ambrose, and then there was the slapstick comedy of the horny service-worker’s fantasy in Diego’s last day before retirement. Both stories certainly have their moments – there were tonnes of both laughs and awwws from the massive audience – but I am left wondering if both halves could have been better if they weren’t competing with each other. However, while I would gladly have focused more on the romantic story, at least the distractions were entertaining!

Jordan Phillips

From Fringe 2024

Rob and Jenny’s First Date

Dark Horse Theatre—John Hirsch Mainstage

A deeply horny and bricked up play. After some time to establish how and why this restaurant has such fantastically terrible service and engage in slapstick physical violence, we get right into sexual humor and voyeuristic scenarios. The writing achieves what it needs to achieve, and the actors bring confidence to their roles, but ultimately if this is for you depends on how much you enjoy humor that revels in awkward situations, many of them sexual in nature. If that sounds like you, I don’t think there’s going to be a better example in this years Fringe.

Josh Fidelak