Written by American playwright Glen Berger, Underneath The Lintel is a Fringe Festival anomaly. Unlike many shows you'll see at the Fringe, King Baby Productions chose an existing script - one that was published, proven and has been performed in several countries as well as translated into multiple languages. Kudos to this independent professional company based on Bowen Island for bringing Vancouver this intriguing story well told.
Staged in the Culture Lab at the Cultch, we meet The Librarian (played by David Cameron). He has rented this "auditorium" for one night only - it's expensive, you know - and plans to offer us proof...
Even though the Fringe shows are assigned randomly to our Plank reviewers, somehow I feel I was destined to see this performance at the 2013 Fringe. Perhaps it's because 2013 is my year of Star Trek. Since January I have seen ALL of Next Generation, Deep Space Nine and Voyager (which is 21 seasons of Star Trek in case you're counting). So Johnny Tomorrow feels like a good friend (and I bet he's seen all those episodes of Star Trek too).
We meet Johnny in a shiny silver space suit. He tells us: "...
Genre Definition = Family Friendly · Poetic · Intellectual
This show is a blast! I bet it is completely different every night. True audience-participation improv theatre at its best.
"Butt Kapinski" is an enigmatic character that puts the "issthp" in lisp with every word. The house and stage lights are all out...the only beam is from the lamp that the androgynous "Butt" has extending over his or her back like a halo, so "Butt" can spot his next audience victim or suspect.
This clever "Film Noir" satire spoof is engaging throughout. The plot is simple...there was a murder in Vancouver, and...
Toronto-based playwrights Julie Cohn and Anjali Rai bring us the tale of the domestication of "Bears In The City". The sub-plot is a metaphorical experiment about the assimilation of a newcomer (Bear) into acquiring the socially acceptable behaviors of a citizen in their new confines. With the help of a seasoned trainer...of course. Immigration maybe.
The struggle is finding a balance between dropping one's own innate or cultural characteristics, and picking up new ones to fit in. This play certainly has its moments of humour. "Little Bear" is a wonderfully simple, mischievous, child-like character that...
The play Fractured by Seacoast Studios looks at the aftermath of a school shooting. Nine adolescents who have survived a school shooting sit together and discuss what happened, how they were affected, why the shooter did it, facts about school shootings, and more.
I am curious as to whether this play is completely scripted, or allows some improvisation. The conversation among the nine actors flowed naturally. They inhabited their characters and conversed as them. When I have seen this done on film, improvisation is usually part of the magic.
I find it difficult to listen to scenes of murder, desperation, and...
Staged at the Havana Theatre, this unusual show is created by a girl moving various illustrated transparencies above an overhead projector, while, with the other hand, manipulating 2-D figures (a form of shadow puppets, which are usually behind a screen) above the transparencies. Only a few people sitting in the front row can see how this is done, so the focus of course is on what we see on the big screen. The pictures are supported in two ways. A second girl plays a guitar, with the audience supplying sounds (a hiss, engine...
Touring three shows in five cities (with Fat Sex at the Winnipeg, Calgary and Edmonton Fringes and Tes at the Victoria Fringe), Steve Larkin must be a bit of a self-punishing performer to bring the intense N.O.N.C.E. to Vancouver and pull it off so damn well on his first night.
Based on his real life experiences as Poet In Residence at a high security prison, Larkin narrates the story with his signature lyrical cadence, punctuated with emphatic physical gestures.
Intellectually challenging as it is entertaining with prisoners discussing ambiguity for ambiguity’s sake (which is to be avoided), this show...
Genre definition = Intense · Warm and Fuzzy · Poetic
Paul Constantino brings his considerable talents to the characterization of nine very different parts with his deft use of subtleties as in the way a woman will pluck facial hairs almost unconsciously. At the outset, we are encouraged to “Stop, look and listen” and in doing so we can transcend the noisiness to find quiet and peace. Which is easier said than done but Constantino holds our rapt attention.
Tawanda, a motherless child, mother to her four brothers and now pregnant with her second child is foul-mouthed and “direct”. She loves Joey, the father of her children and himself a...
John Grady begins his one man show with electronic music that suggests an ominous theme. He appears side stage, momentarily spotlighted and then the main stage lights come on and Grady is centre stage ready to share snippets of his life, stating at elementary school and ending in New York City in his 30's.
This beginning sets the stage for the concept that in telling his history he is trying to figure out how it defined him and how he had a part in its unfolding. Each segment has a common theme, that of bullying. The stories never...
Brought to you by Small Matters Productions is the clown-centric Fringe show Fools For Love. Best friends Rocket and Sheshells share an adjoining wall and hilarious adventures in this densely packed but sparsely decorated staging.
A couple of chairs take us from lonesome apartments to the cinema, then a flight to a marauded picnic and on a roller coaster at the carnival all with fluid and unexpected transitions. These clowns are a tight duo who can mix contemporary issues like body image problems and derelict mayors with all out snort laugh-inducing physical comedy.
Fuses are blown and ninjas are bravely...
Genre Description = Funny · Warm and Fuzzy · Tear-Jerker
