And the winners were…
We’re pleased to announce that the first winner of the inaugural Talk of the Fringe Award, sponsored by the magazine affectionately known as PLANK was:
Ryan Gladstone for The Seven Lives of Louis Riel. Gladstone’s one man effort was judge by our crack team of reviewers as the show which generated the most chatter amongst Fringe goers. Ryan walked away with a fantastic prize package that included $500 credit from Industry Images, presented by Kate Wilkens, a $500 credit from Michael Sider Video, presented by the man himself and, of course, the PLANK Chicken Trophy (it even squawks) presented by Allyson and myself.
During the presentation, we took the opportunity to thank our team of reviewers and we would like to do so again now: Shane Birley, Dina Del Bucchia, Megan Marie Gates, Kirstie McCallum, Allyson McGrane, Megan Stewart, Victor Terzis, Sean Tyson, Michael Unger, Lianana Walden and, of course, the one and only Simon Ogden. We are grateful for what you guys achieved for us this year.
In other Award news, the following gongs were handed out:
Cultchivating the Fringe Award, designed to recognize unique potential in a particular production, went to Ginette Mohr for Fish Face. She will enjoy a run at the Cultch.
The inaugural Joanna Maratta Award went to Fringe veteran Cara Yeates (who this year performed Some Reckless Abandon), while the special 25th Anniversary Award went to Fringe legend Jacques Lalonde and the Volunteers Choice Award went to Gemma Wilcox (for The Honeymoon Period is Officially Over).
The Spirit of the Fringe Award (SOFA) was presented by a dominatrix-attired T Weir (who was carried into the theatre, appropriately enough, on a sofa held aloft by four men) and went to Dennis Innis and Rolf Reynolds (Dragon’s Breath Works Inc) and their production Saving Faith. Innis was forced to drop out, leaving Reynolds to carry on without him – and carry on he did, as attested to by Dina.
Finally, the Nasty Award (which went to the show you’d least like to take your grandmother to) was presented by Jeff and Ryan Gladstone and went to Colette Kendall for The Cockwhisperer. I was at least gratified to learn that a show involving a woman dragging a bathtub around the stage was in the running. For the record, I think I could have taken either of my grandmothers to a show where a woman talks about cocks for 50 minutes. But that just might be my family.
The evening ended with David Jordan announcing this year’s selection for Pick of the Fringe:
- Dog Sees God: Confessions of a Teenage Blockhead
- The Honeymoon Period Is Officially Over
- Oh Winnipeg! A Surprising Musical Memoir
- Under The Mango Tree
It was certainly an interesting selection of shows that solicited a great deal of chatter in the Fringe Bar afterwards.