Saint Francis Talks to the Birds – Toronto Fringe 2013 Press Release

From Press Release

saintfrancis

David Ives’ Saint Francis Talks to the Birds

Marks RPP’s 10th Toronto Show, First Fringe Show and Finds Out What Life is Like If We Were Birds

Royal Porcupine Productions first Fringe outing certainly captures the spirit of what a Fringe show should be; an absurdist comedy with a drag-king performance of a famous Saint in a life or death situation chatting it up with two actors decked out as full beak-and-feather birds performed by an emerging company and written by a recent Tony nominee.

 

If it seems like RPP knows what to do at the Fringe that should come as no surprise; company co-founder and Artistic Director Adam Bailey directed last year’s Fringe hit The Enchanted Crackhouse (deemed one of the 25 shows most worth seeing in the 2012 Fringe by Mooney on Theatre) and has been a part of several avant-garde performance groups over the years. The company itself has given several international plays their Canadian premiers including Terrorism, Crazy Gary’s Mobile Disco and The Shadow of a Boy and has done some very fringy productions such as a run of No Exit at the Big Bop’s Holy Joe (Now a CB2). Core artistic members Annemieke Wade, Cameron Johnston and Tanya Rigely(formerly Tanya Lynne), each of whom have given notable performances in the past, form the back-bone of the production as St. Francis and a pair of birds with marital issues. The last time Cameron Johnston and Tanya Rigley performed with each other, it was buck naked in a dramatically charged scene of sexual dominance; Christopher Hoile noted for Eye Weekly  that, “The subtlety of their…acting almost makes one forget they are both completely nude”.  Now they will appear fully clothed thanks to costumes by Ima Barbosa (The F Word).

 

Despite being a comedy Mr. Bailey credits dealing with the death of his grandmother to his choice of material. Also no surprise as the company has a history of pairing dark material with comedic treatment. David Ives’ play deals heavily with mortality and faith all while keeping a manic, farcical energy that is bound to entertain the hardiest Fringer.

 

Make sure to catch what is sure to be a highlight of the Fringe and RPP’s funniest play to date.

 

Royal Porcupine Productions
in association with The Toronto Fringe Festival presents

Saint Francis Talks To the Birds

written by David Ives

directed by Adam Bailey

featuring Annemieke Wade, Cameron Johnston and Tanya Rigely
costume design by Ima Barbosa

stage managed by Rachel Liley

 

Opens  July 4th runs to July 14th

Helen Gardiner Phelan; 79 St George St Toronto

 

Performances:

Thursday July 4th at 7pm

Saturday July 6th at Noon

Sunday July 7th at 10:45pm

Monday July 8th at 2:45pm

Wednesday July 10th at 7:30pm

Friday July 12th at 3:30pm

Sunday July 14th at 7:30pm

Please note that there is absolutely no latecomer seating.


Tickets:

At-the-door tickets: $10

At-the-door tickets are available at YOUR VENUE starting one hour prior to show time – cash sales only.

 

Advance tickets: $11

50% of tickets are available for sale in advance.

Advance tickets go on sale June 15th, 2013.