The Plank (Femmes du Feu) 2010 Toronto Fringe Review

By Sam Mooney

The Plank The Plank is an aerial dance show. My daughter saw Femmes du Feu perform last year and told me to go and see The Plank. I have to admit that she told me about aerial dance so I had some idea what to expect – and am glad I went.

Some of their dancing is on the stage but most of it is above the stage on ropes, a moon, an anchor and a brass pole. Some of the rope dancing made me think of human macramé. And it looked like fun.  One warning – don’t try this at home!

There were a couple of times during the show when Holly Treddenick and Sabrina Pringle (the Femmes du Feu) swing back and forth out over the audience.  It looks as if they just miss the people in the front row.

I went with a friend who said how nice it was to see something that you just have to watch, no dialogue to follow, you can just pay attention to the movement.

I suppose that’s the point of dance.

In one part of the show Holly dances inside a hoop that (I think) is supposed to be the moon.  It was beautiful.

All in all, a very enjoyable experience.  Well worth seeing.

If I had one suggestion it would be that The Port of Amsterdam works well as a poem with music behind it, you don’t have to sing it.

The Plank has been chosen as Patron’s Pick for their venue so there is an extra show on Sunday July 11 at 6.15 pm.

Details:

The Plank is playing at Theatre Passe Muraille Mainspace, 16 Ryerson Avenue (N of Queen / E of Bathurst)
– Wed, June 30 8:45 PM
Sat, July 3 7:30 PM
Sun, July 4 Noon
Tue, July 6 9:00 PM
Thu, July 8 11:00 PM
Fri, July 9 2:15 PM
Sat, July 10 5:15 PM
Sun, July 11 6:15 PM
– Individual Fringe tickets are $10 ($5 for FringeKids) at the door (cash only),  Online at www.fringetoronto.com, by Phone at 416-966-1062, in person (June 30 – July 11 only) at The Randolph Centre for the Arts, 736 Bathurst Street (Advance tickets are $11 ($10+$1 convenience fee), and $5 for FringeKids (no convenience fee for kids tickets). – Several money-saving passes are available if you plan to see at least 5 shows

– 100% of Patron’s Pick shows are available for sale in advance. Tickets go on sale Friday July 9 at 5:00pm. To book tickets call 416-966-1062 or book online at http://www.fringetoronto.com/