The Doctor Will See You Now (Sorry Goat Productions) 2015 Toronto Fringe Review

The Doctor Will See you Now is a site-specific show set in the waiting room of the Royal Care Medical Centre, and perfectly captures and caricatures the awkwardness uniform to every clinic waiting room in Canada.  Karen Parker steals the show as Dijon, the clinic’s receptionist and wannabe rap star, who is more preoccupied with selling her latest CD than keeping the clinic functional.  

The play’s attention to detail is impressive, and validates the decision to be site-specific.  Upon arrival, all “patients” are required to fill out an admittance form, and may be called upon to see the Doctor at certain points in the play.  Dijon regularly interacts with, heckles, and pitches her rap skills to the audience, passing around her CDs in the hopes of a transaction.

Few plays do audience participation as well as this one: while Parker can be merciless in her skewering of unsuspecting patients, most participants were visibly delighted to be involved in these Second City-style impromptu interactions.

Like any comedy, The Doctor Will See You Now is not for everyone. Fans of improv and sketch comedy will enjoy the crew’s interaction with random patients, but the level of audience participation in this play is not for the overly-skittish.  While Parker’s performance elicited laughs throughout the play, I was a little uncomfortable as the script brought her dangerously close at times to racial caricature.

In the end, though, this is a straightforward, creative comedy that delivers on its promise, and refuses to break character, even after the audience is unceremoniously ushered out.

Details

  • The Doctor Will See You Now is playing at the Royal Care Medical Centre until July 12.
  • Tickets are $12 in advance, $10 at the door. The festival also offers a range of money-saving passes for serious Fringers.
  • Tickets can be purchased online, by phone (416-966-1062), from the festival box office down Honest Ed’s Alley (581 Bloor West), or from the venue box office starting one hour before the performance. Venue sales are cash-only.
  • Be advised that Fringe performances always start exactly on time, and latecomers are never admitted. Set your watch to CBC time, and arrive a few minutes early to avoid disappointment.
  • This performance is not accessible for non-English speakers.

Remaining Shows:

July 04 at 08:00 PM
July 05 at 02:00 PM
July 07 at 08:00 PM
July 08 at 08:00 PM
July 09 at 08:00 PM
July 10 at 08:00 PM
July 11 at 08:00 PM
July 12 at 02:00 PM