Meet My New Boyfriend Fame (Poprah Productions) 2012 Toronto Fringe Review

Do you happen to enjoy musical theatre?  Do you also happen to enjoy fun?  Then Meet My New Boyfriend FAME might be the Fringe show you’re looking for.


Andrew Morrissey, universally famous cabaret superstar and YouTube phenomenon (so he informs the audience), is gracing the Fringe with an intimate little cabaret show before resuming his quest for mega-fame.  After experiencing heartbreak one too many times, he has decided there’s only room for one boyfriend in his life: a boyfriend called fame.

In between musical numbers, Morrissey entertains the crowd with stories of his childhood growing up in Truro, Nova Scotia.  There’s everything in his past from embarrassing mom-made shark costumes to garbage-dwelling attack squirrels – you know, the usual childhood anecdotes.  He also shares a funny but slightly terrifying story about his time as an Austrian au pair.  Casual and not overly rehearsed, it really feels like he could be sharing these stories over a pint at the pub.

The musical selections are quite varied, as well.  I don’t recall ever hearing Patrick Watson and the soundtrack to The Little Mermaid  in one setting before.  Morrissey has fun changing up some of the lyrics to the songs he sings – his opening number is set to The Sound of Music and rivals anything I’ve seen Neil Patrick Harris perform on the Tonys.

As a performer, Andrew Morrissey is adorable.  In fact,  I’ll go so far as to say that if you don’t find the show charming, you might be a little dead inside.  There were plenty of laugh-out-loud moments, although he slows it down long enough to share some touching ballads too.

Oh, and did I mention there’s an audience singalong?  With hand gestures!

Details:

 

  • Meet My New Boyfriend FAME plays at Venue #3, the Solo Room at Tarragon Theatre, 30 Bridgman Avenue.
  • Show times: July 06 03:00 PM, July 07 05:00 PM, July 08 08:00 PM, July 12 08:00 PM, July 13 08:45 PM, July 14 04:30 PM
  • All individual Fringe tickets are $10 ($5 for FringeKids) at the door (cash only). Tickets are available online at www.fringetoronto.com, by phone at 416-966-1062, in person at The Randolph Centre for the Arts, 736 Bathurst Street (Advance tickets are $11 – $9+$2 service charge)
  • Value packs are available if you plan to see at least 5 shows.

Photo of Andrew Morrissey