This piece is very funny, quirky, brutal, sensitive, in short it is about relationships specifically between a daughter and her mother. Maria Grazia is trying to make sense of her relationship with her mother, and other relationships along the way. Our mothers sometimes we think we know them completely, they brought us into the world and so we have a connection (like it or not) that is visceral we feel we know them completely and we are frequently shocked to find out that we may not know some of the pivotal moments in their lives. The reality is we can never...
Humorous, exuberant physical comedy, in this play within a Radio Play. The Neverending Highway Productions from Saskatoon, have successfully captured the style of the "Golden Age of Radio". Add fascinating characters with a dash of eccentricity, mix in conflicting objectives with a twist in plot line and a cast who was clearly enjoying bringing the story to life and you have the ingredients for a delightfully delectable evening of Theatre.
However, I was not completely engaged throughout the show, at times and it lacked the precision and pacing required for this type of physical comedy and to have us "rolling...
Natalia Hautala is Grace. And Grace is Muse. We know from the voice over of Dr. McDougall (Doctor Doodoo) and Nurse Vicky that Grace has had neurological damage, is OCD and doesn’t speak.
As we enter Studio 1398, Grace is playing the cello and singing. She plays, sings and speaks a lot and somehow Hautala makes it clear to us that we are inside Grace’s head and can hear her unspoken thoughts.
Hautala invites the audience to follow Grace’s hand gestures to become her backup singers. Entranced, we comply. Ba da DUM. Ba da DUM. Ba da DUM. She smiles at...
Fringe Description: Funny · Warm and Fuzzy · Poetic
The script of Greenland is published, one of the three scripts in Fault Lines, which won the Governor General's award for Drama last year. Thus sophisticated comparisons between text and performance might be made. One of the other two, Iceland (obviously related), was well staged in April at Studio 16.
Greenland is presented on a tug moored beside the Public Market, an original BYOV. The audience, limited to 30, is divided into groups of ten, two of whom will hear monologues at the ends of the boat, outdoors, with the third group squeezed into the tiny cabin. Finally all...
Anatolia has prepared a slide show and a speech to tell her English as a Second Language (ESL) class the story of her life in Edmonton and how she arrived there from Bosnia. The class interrupts her with questions and she is pushed to tell parts of her story that might not otherwise been told. As the slide show progresses the audience gasps when a photograph appears with Anatolia in the picture. The audience has been confronted with the reality of this play.
A powerful and painful story, Anatolia Speaks is an account of the genocide that was the Bosnia...
The Mad Hatter has become stuck in reality. Perhaps he can open a portal that will lead him back home if he can recreate the silliness of Wonderland. Andrew Wade's one-man performance at Studio 16 showcases his quick wit and improvisational talent. However, the world, the character, and the story felt half-formed and ultimately inconsequential.
Some moments were quite fun. My fellow audience members had gusto when it came to singing the Unbirthday Song, even though everyone seemed to be making up their own tune. After requesting a title, Andrew created a song on the spot which had a surprisingly...
"didn’t see that coming" a phrase many of us can relate to you when reflecting on moments in our life. Beverley Elliott, a local actress known for her role as Granny in the TV series Once Upon a Time, shares her “didn’t see it coming “ moments of her life.
Online dating, her first rock concert and the endurance of a hot yoga class are some of her stories interspersed by original songs sung by Elliott in a clear, crisp powerful voice that captures the hope and awe this actress has in the life that has unfolded for her....
Presented by ash street productions, the brief show description states simply: "Two young men's friendship leads to an awakening that, once realized, leads both down life altering paths."
To reflect my experience of this performance, a list of juxtapositions for Meatloaf Jesus is as follows:
Girls Boys Women Men Sex Drugs Alcohol Pot Pipeline Abuse Gretzky Belonging Friendship Identity Big Hair 1980’s Meatloaf Jesus
These juxtapositions encompass a coming of age story as told by the one of the characters returning to the location...
From its description, I knew that this was a show that I wanted to see. Not just because I would catch every Buffy (the Vampire Slayer) reference, but also because I was intrigued to learn how and why Amy would transform herself. Nancy Kenny's one-woman roller derby adventure has been touring the Fringe circuit since May. The delivery was polished, the story was heart-warming, and show was so much fun to see.
Amy loves stories about superheroes and chosen ones, but she herself has never tested her own strength. She has also always been overshadowed by her younger sister, June. So...
Don’t be fooled by the cute title. Little One is anything but. As the audience enters the theatre a man sits with his back to us. Once every one is seated he turns around. It seems he has been waiting to tell his story and once he starts it all spills out. What follows is a harrowing tale. What is disturbing about it is the believability of it all.
Little One features Daniel Arnold and Marisa Smith as brother and sister Aaron and Claire. They tell of their childhood growing up in a respectable neighbourhood in Ottawa. But all is...
