Fringe Festival
Alphabetical list of 2010 Toronto Fringe Festival Reviews
Toronto Fringe Reviews
If you’re looking for an alphabetical list of all the 2010 Fringe Festival shows we’ve covered then click here.
Clicking on a play title will take you to the review.
Enjoy!
Eternal Friendship with a Spotless Smile – 2010 Toronto Fringe Review
By Mira Saraf
I will never for the life of me remember the correct name for this play (because of the Hollywood Movie). That’s probably intentional, but whatever the situation may be, I called it Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Smile, Eternal Friendship of the Spotless Mind and all variations in between before I actually got it right.
The psychiatric ward based comedy is about two patients who are paired together for treatment purposes (one is violent, the other passive) and who both fall for their new nurse after the old ones dies under mysterious circumstances. There is a peppering of things in between to allow us to learn about the backgrounds of these two individuals.
Barfly on the Wall – 2010 Toronto Fringe Review
By Winston Soon
Heat does not for comedy make. This is the lesson I learned as I caught the sweltering Barfly on the Wall. It’s not that the show is flawless – far from it. I’ll get to that.
But c’mon, how in the hell can anyone be funny as they nearly slip on their own sweat and even more importantly, how can an audience find anything funny as they….well…slip on their own sweat?
S&P and Sega Geniuses – 2010 Toronto Fringe Review
By Winston Soon
A double bill of two long form Improv ensembles, S&P and Sega Geniuses, respectively – this show is a testament to the caliber and talent of long form improv in Toronto.
Feeling like a particularly good night at the Comedy Bar or Bad Dog Theatre, the show begins with a stage, some chairs and audience interview in an easy chair with cast member Jimi Shlag. Interestingly, Shlag lets the audience volunteer nominate herself for both sets.
Wanted, If Not Wed – 2010 Toronto Fringe Review
By Mira Saraf
The slip of paper of a program I received as I walked through the doors of the Theatre Passe Muraille Backspace contained the usual credits and thank yous, but in addition the definitions of the terms Old Maid and Spinster from the middle ages. This was going to be different from the other shows I’d seen, this much I knew.
Gillespie started the performance wondering why she was always cast as the older single woman or lesbian and spiraled off into questioning why there are so many women choosing to be single.
Pick of the Fringe (Punch In the Box Productions) 2010 Toronto Fringe Review
There are a few ingredients needed to make a great sketch show. You need talent, a point of view, strong writing and competent directing. Simply put, Pick of the Fringe has it all.
Lifeline (Ensemble 21) – Toronto Fringe Review
By Darryl Pring
I am always wary of collective works. I find they tend to be more diplomatic than dramatic, with every actor getting his or her time to ‘shine’. In the case of Lifeline, which played at the George Ignatieff Theatre, I’m afraid my assumption was warranted.
Come Tumbling Down (Theatre in the Red) – 2010 Toronto Fringe Review
By Ryan Kerr
Come Tumbling Down was the story of an awkward romance turned terribly wrong. Jack meets Jill online and they arrange to meet at a restaurant for dinner. Despite Jack’s incredible nervousness (and perhaps, a minor social disorder) Jill falls in love and wants to pursue some kind of relationship.
Eve’s Garden (Moon In June) – 2010 Toronto Fringe Review
By Adam Collier
A company named Moon In June is producing a show at St Vladimir’s Theatre as part of Fringe. The title of the show is Eve’s Garden.
St. Vladimir’s Theatre was frigid the evening I attended (on Thursday). Men were rubbing their arms for warmth. Women were slipping into long-sleeve shirts.
Eve’s Garden opens with a dispute between the character whose name is shared in the title, and Adam. The former accuses the latter of neglecting her. While the latter retorts that the work that takes-up his time is indispensable to their survival. It comes across as a relationship without much love.
To Distraction (Theatre Rattlebag) – 2010 Toronto Fringe Review
By Ryan Kerr
To Distraction was the most beautiful, thought-provoking play I’ve seen this year. The premise was simple enough: 16 year-old Violet is having a birthday party and we witness her guests’ intimate car chats as they drive to Violet’s to celebrate.