From Press Release
Sour Grapes tells the deeply personal story of a suicide survivor grappling with a second chance at life
Dark new comedy runs July 5th – 13th at Theatre Passe Muraille Mainspace
TORONTO, ON – June 18, 2013 – The Aft End in association with The Toronto Fringe Festival presents Sour Grapes, a dark new comedy written by Allan Turner and based on his experiences as a suicide survivor. Sour Grapes marks the first time Turner (otherwise known as Mullet, Toronto’s hit zombie clown) and director Bruce Hunter have worked together in their respective roles – although they have collaborated previously.
The two have known each other since 1998, when Bruce Hunter was teaching improvisation at The Second City and Allan Turner was his student. Since then they’ve appeared in assorted shows together, including Lunacy Cabaret and Mullet’s Make-a-Play, Allan Turner’s first foray into the Fringe in 2011.
“Bruce’s experience as an improviser and clown makes him a natural fit for this project,” says Allan Turner. “Not to mention his equally dark sense of humour; I can’t imagine anyone else being a better fit for this material.”
Sour Grapes takes an artful approach to its serious subject matter by combining a cast of all-new clown and bouffon characters — including a new one for Turner — with physical comedy and word play. In addition to Allan Turner as Coyote, the lead “trickster,” Sour Grapes features Dave McKay as Spider; Chloe Payne as Clown and Darryl Pring as Doctor. Andrea Ouellette stage manages.
Circle your calendar for your choice of the following Sour Grapes performance dates:
- Friday, July 5 at 11:00 PM
- Sunday, July 7 at 4:00 PM
- Monday, July 8 at 8:45 PM
- Tuesday, July 9 at 4:30 PM
- Thursday, July 11 at 7:00 PM
- Friday, July 12 at 6:15 PM
- Saturday, July 13 at 12:00 PM
How do you sum up Sour Grapes? According to the author, “It’s basically about acknowledging that while life may be meaningless, that’s no reason to let it get you down.”
Advance tickets are $11, go on sale June 15th and may be purchased online @ fringetoronto.com or by phone at 416-966-1062, ext 1. During The Fringe Festival, tickets are $10 at-the-door and are available starting one hour prior to show time at Theatre Passe Muraille Mainspace – cash sales only. Please note that there is absolutely no latecomer seating.
About key players:
Lead actor and writer Allan Turner is also a director and one of Toronto’s most sought after and respected clowns. Currently, he produces and hosts Mullet’s Night Show, a live cabaret in the style of a TV talk show. Director Bruce Hunter has been associated with the local improv scene for more than 30 years, most notably as a teacher with The Second City and performer with veteran comedy troupe, Illustrated Men. His spectrum of work has won numerous awards, including Best of the Fringe in 2010 for A Freudian Slip of the Jung; two Canadian Comedy Awards and a Gemini. Andrea Ouellette, stage manager, first worked in theatre at age nine. She has stage managed Lunacy Cabaret; the Toronto Festival of Clowns and Mullet’s Make-a-Play. She’s now with Centre of Gravity, circus studio and vaudeville theatre.