Usually, I think public washrooms are the worst places on Earth. They’re dirty, full of dreadful people and never close enough for when you need them most. But Stalled, a Fringe comedy playing at the Theatre Passe Muraille Mainspace, is one men’s restroom you simply must check out.
Continue reading Stalled (Natural Progression Theatre) 2013 Toronto Fringe Review
“I’ll choose this circus show for my last Fringe Festival review,” I thought. “I love circus shows; I’ll be sure to end on a high note,” I thought. More fool I.
There were a few bits of Twisted Beats & Circus Freaks that were enjoyable, but I honestly clapped the hardest when it was finally over.
Simone Lazar, the cortortionist and aerialist of the show is marvelous. She’s funny and deftly understated in her stage business, combined with great skill and grace in her tricks. When she was onstage, I was delighted. Riveted. Dreamily satisfied that there exist in the world teensy tiny women of extraordinary strength who can flex or point their teensy tiny feet and make an entire room laugh. I would happily pay real money to watch Simone Lazar perform for sixty minutes. Unfortunately for us, Lazar was performing for, at the most generous estimate, fifteen minutes. This left us forty-five minutes with her partner, Jesse Horne.
I did not love Jesse.
Continue reading Twisted Beats & Circus Feats (Circadelix) 2013 Toronto Fringe Review
After seeing some heavy character work both in solo and ensemble shows this year at the Fringe, it took me a couple of moments to switch gears for Brad Hart‘s “stand-up monologist” performance style in his show Oh God-The Drums (Olmstead Productions) playing at St. Vladimir’s Theatre in this year’s Toronto Fringe Festival. However, after maybe five of those minutes, I began to get wrapped up in this endearing story.
The stage is set: A wooden stool opposite a drum kit. Brad Hart emerges to play himself, telling the story of his growth into the drummer and the artist he is today: someone who loves what he does, and shares the difficult times that lead him to choose such a life.
Continue reading Oh God-The Drums (Olmstead Productions) 2013 Toronto Fringe Review
Let me confess and be honest: I did not expect to like this show. I picked it up late in the process in the interest of being a good sport, but I was dreading the moment in arrived. “Oh, look,” I thought. “Another white guy looking to make money off First Nations spirituality. I bet there’ll be a talking stick.” I have never been so happy to be wrong. Solo: A Boy’s Journey playing as part of the Toronto Fringe Festival is surprisingly good.
It starts a little slow, with some new-agey fourth-wall-breaking I could have lived without. Never mind. Tell yourself knock-knock jokes for the first five minutes if you have to, but do not get soured early on this show. Things are just about pick up nicely.
When I walked into the George Ignatieff Theatre to see Fear Factor: Canine Edition, I hated the world. I had a white flag halfway up the mast, ready to surrender. Bad weather, bad health, and the usual loss of three hours to move one kilometer. My vision was narrowing. This was the end!
Fortunately for me my next Fringe show was a monologue by John Grady. I can’t for the life of me remember why I booked this show. That’s irrelevant now, because I’m going to remember it for a very long time, probably forever.
Continue reading Fear Factor: Canine Edition (John Grady) 2013 Toronto Fringe Review