Is this a parody or an adaptation of one of Shakespeare’s most gruesome plays? Well it is both I think. Shakespeare himself (Kazz Leskard) makes many flavoured directorial appearances throughout the show, trying his best to keep the vision of the play on a “happy” path. That’s a tall order, for this story has more abominations per act than any other of Shakespeare’s works. Not much love and joy to draw from. Director Andy Toth and the amazing cast knock this side-splitting musical out of the park. The singing, lyrics, dance choreography, and musical...

Ryan Gladstone of Monster Theatre is a Fringe favourite, and for good reason: solid creative writing, great performing, and timing. And for this show you get an important Canadian history lesson. Can you say #notboring. He's done a lot of research on Louis Riel and transformed the various versions of, “Who was the real Riel?” into a fun and informative show.

Adding to the excitement before he started the show, he held up his cell and said it could go off...

My friend and I got the last two seats on Sunday night. We were barely seated when the whole room (the crowded, oxygen-deprived Carousel Theatre Studio A) started chanting: “CHURCH! CHURCH! CHURCH! CHURCH!”

Every night is different but I hadn't checked to find out I was about to attend an “improvised church service.” Not to be confused with Fringe regulars “Peter 'n' Chris” (Peter Carlone and Chris Wilson), this duo is new on the scene, at least in this configuration.

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Based on the show’s picture and title alone, I thought this would be a gritty drama and almost missed it. Don’t make that mistake. It’s very funny.

Jon Bennett also created Pretending Things Are A Cock. If I had read that, I might have guessed.

Fire in the Meth Lab is about writer and performer Jon Bennett’s life, particularly his childhood and relationship with his older brother who ends up in jail. Bennett is a confident, affable, and...

Actors acting about being actors risks getting a little dry, but it beats writers writing about being writers. Lara (Lara Deglan) is sharp and funny and full of charm. She also has a lovely singing voice which she makes great use of. Peter (Peter Swayles) is also charming. He's decidedly English, and most of his humour is oddly anachronistic, with references to Princess Diana and the annex of Poland. Still, he generally carries it off, and his role as the love interest affords him a few adorable moments.

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A minimalist play with only one prop, A Quiet Place relies on its ability to create a sense of pacing through only the motion and dialogue of the two actors. Mark Manning and the delectable Tosh Sutherland are both well-practiced, with depth and charisma to spare. Together, they bring to life a harrowing and enticing performance.

Henry, played Tosh Sutherland, is the in-control one. He's been in the doorless room longer and has grown accustomed to it. He seems to...

Adapted and performed by stage veteran Clayton Jevne, fans of Shakespeare and history may enjoy this solo play. Jevne has adapted his script from Robert Nye’s acclaimed novel. I haven’t seen the character of Falstaff on stage before nor read about him. By reputation, I believed him to be the charismatic, jovial, and bawdy mentor of the future King Henry V. In this production, Falstaff seems ordinary and perhaps it is partly his advanced age that has sapped the legendary character’s irrepressible life force.

The...

Aenigma Theatre tackles the challenging and gut-wrenching Blackbird by David Harrower with some success.

The award-winning play is based in part on the true story of a US Marine who had a sexual relationship with a minor. Una (played by Stephanie Izsak) a 27 year old woman comes face to face with Ray (played by Francis Boyle) 15 years after their relationship had come to an end. While they were together, he had been 41 and she had been 12. The play is about their story, their perspectives, their feelings, their questions, their fears and the open wound of never...

The show opens with two people in handcuffs and mouth restraining masks walking on stage. From their interaction with the audience, it becomes apparent that the audience is a research panel studying the two prisoners. The pair turn out to be a couple: two psychopathic killers Dorian (played by Daniel Meron) and Eleanor (played by Mily Mumford). 

The two discuss, through a series of anecdotes and personal interactions, the dynamic that exists between the couple and how they came to this point, having committed multiple murders together. Eventually their conversations bring them to some difficult points within their relationship. Dorian admits...

"Spilling Family Secrets" was written, performed and produced by Susan Freedman in true Fringe style. It moved me to tears with its sincerity and love.

Susan Freedman is spilling her family secrets but in doing so she is giving us a glimpse into her parents life and their love affair through the letters they wrote to each other while apart during the depression of the 1920/30...

"Sperm Wars" is written and Performed by Jeff Leard. Sperm Warsis funny, smart, well paced and Jeff Leard is brilliant. Leard's sound effects ability alone should garner him an award.

The premises is silly, but you dont need to be a "Star Wars" fan to be...

Many fringe plays incorporate humour. Humour, when successful, makes people laugh and entertains. It takes courage to write and produce a play that makes people think and that is what Shake the Sheets does. It makes you question reality, creativity and imagination. Shake the Sheets is courageous and should be applauded for pushing the boundaries of storytelling.

Written by Mack Gordon, the play features Gordon and Kaitlin Williams as husband and wife who are struggling artists and trying to connect their individual needs and desires....

Mike Delamont is one of Canada’s fastest rising comics due not in small part to his creation of the God is a Scottish Drag Queen trilogy. This year Mike brings God is a Scottish Drag Queen II to the Vancouver Fringe Festival & God is a Scottish Drag Queen III to the Fringe’s Pick Plus on Sept. 26.

God (Delamont) appears to his audience with a short black bob, wearing sensible shoes and a mauve power suit. God brings it to the stage with all...

The Middle of Everywhere is exquisitely choreographed and impeccably timed. This is theatre at its finest. And it’s even a family friendly show! Don’t miss out on The Middle of Everywhere, the epitome of the Fringe’s motto to “celebrate different!”

Before seeing the play, I had no previous knowledge of the production team’s characteristic style and iconic large fixed expression masks, or even much experience with physical theatre. I was overwhelmed at how believably the Wonderheads team brought two enormous, expressionless heads...

Porn and Pinochet is a standup comedy and storytelling show written and performed by Andy Canete at Studio 16.

Go see this show. I see a lot of standup comedy and this is well worth your time.

Stand up comedy at the Fringe Festival is a hard gig to pull off. The audiences aren't warmed up and there's no alcohol to encourage laughter so having a good time rests heavily on the shoulders of the performer. With...

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