Monthly Archives: July 2017

High Park Noir – Toronto Fringe 2017 Press Release

From press release

Condo development in High Park will leave its furry inhabitants homeless. If he can get sober, raccoon Detective Dick will expose corruption and save High Park. Will Dick’s dark past and Officer Pussy’s tail get in his way? A trust-fund puppy and burlesque bat complicate matters in this waggish tale for adults only!

Simply Twisted Productions was created by three old friends who graduated from Dawson College’s DOME Theatre Program in Montreal. This will be their first time working all together since they graduated from theatre school 15 years ago! Simply Twisted Productions is a diverse company with female, gay and indigenous representation.

“We’ll always have High Park”…or will we? Find out in this film noir inspired comedy for mature audiences.

Performances

  • Wednesday July 5th, 10:30 pm
  • Saturday July 8th, 07:30 pm
  • Sunday July 9th, 03:30 pm
  • Tuesday July 11th, 02:45 pm
  • Wednesday July 12th, 09:45 pm
  • Friday July 14th, 05:45 pm
  • Saturday July 15th, 01:45 pm

Details

  • High Park Noir plays at the Theatre Passe Muraille Mainspace. (16 Ryerson Ave.)
  • Tickets are $12. The festival also offers a range of money-saving passes for serious Fringers.
  • Tickets can be purchased online, by telephone (416-966-1062), from the Fringe Club at Scadding Court, and — if any remain — from the venue’s box office starting one hour before curtain.
  • Be aware that Fringe performances always start exactly on time, and that latecomers are never admitted.
  • Content Warning: Sexual Content.
  • This venue is wheelchair-accessible. Accessible seating is in the very front row.

Photo of Jim Armstrong and Freya Ravensbergen by Stephen Kew

Life Records 2: Side B – Toronto Fringe 2017 Press Release

From press release

After a sold-out run at the 2015 Toronto Fringe, storyteller/comedian Rhiannon Archer is back with the sequel to her critically acclaimed solo show – Life Records2: Side B! Originally written and performed while pregnant with her first child, Archer is energized with more stories, laughs, and hopefully less baby, making this truly a “solo” show!

Life Records is a comical, heartwarming and honest solo show about the songs that make their way into our lives and become the “soundtrack” to our memories. This eclectic show is filled with true stories and the songs that bring them to life. From poetic revenge for a bully to accidental fraud- laugh, cry, and reminisce with more classic hits from a silly life.

Performances

  • Wednesday July 5th, 07:00 pm
  • Friday July 7th, 09:15 pm
  • Saturday July 8th, 03:45 pm
  • Monday July 10th, 05:15 pm
  • Wednesday July 12th, 02:00 pm
  • Friday July 14th, 11:15 pm
  • Sunday July 16th, 12:15 pm

Details

  • Life Records 2: Side B plays at the Factory Studio. (125 Bathurst St.)
  • Tickets are $12. The festival also offers a range of money-saving passes for serious Fringers.
  • Tickets can be purchased online, by telephone (416-966-1062), from the Fringe Club at Scadding Court, and — if any remain — from the venue’s box office starting one hour before curtain.
  • Be aware that Fringe performances always start exactly on time, and that latecomers are never admitted.
  • Content Warning: Mature Language.
  • This venue is accessible.

Photo of Rhiannon Archer by Shlomi Amiga

Review: Confederation Part II: Scandal & Rebellion (Soulpepper Theatre/VideoCabaret)

Photo of Linda Prystawska, Richard Alan Campbell, Richard Clarkin, Greg Campbell, Kevin Bundy in Confederation Part IIIn time for Canada 150, Soulpepper continues their exploration of Canadian history, on stage in Toronto

Unlike our American neighbours, Canadians aren’t always the most enthusiastic to create mythologies from our own history. Which is what makes VideoCabaret’s Confederation series, presented in association with Soulpepper, all the more magical.  Whether you’re well versed in Michael Hollingsworth’s cycle of plays known as The History of the Village of the Small Huts, or completely new to the experience, the segment of Canada’s history depicted in Confederation Part II: Scandal & Rebellion, will refresh your view on how Canada was made. Continue reading Review: Confederation Part II: Scandal & Rebellion (Soulpepper Theatre/VideoCabaret) →

Review: Confederation Part I: Confederation & Riel (Soulpepper/Video Cabaret)

photo from Confederation part 1Soulpepper Theatre presents a revealing look at Canadian history on stage in Toronto

It’s hard to sell me on any history lesson, having barely skimmed by it in high school, but if the cast of Confederation Part I: Confederation & Riel was teaching the class I’m sure I would have passed with flying colours. Not only because the colour scheme of the piece was eye catching and beautiful, but because the performance kept me engaged through the entire two acts, at fifty minutes each.

Continue reading Review: Confederation Part I: Confederation & Riel (Soulpepper/Video Cabaret) →

Mooney on Theatre’s Hot Tickets for Fringe 2017

Hot Tickets header

Every year, Mooney on Theatre brings a team of more than 20 contributors to Fringe.  With a team this big and diverse, no matter what you’ve got to show us, we have someone who wants to see it — and we will! As always, Mooney on Theatre will post a longform review of every show in the festival (all 160!) by the end of opening weekend.

But for now, a little buzz: our Hot Tickets are the shows which excited, attracted, intrigued and interested our team more than any others. These are the pieces which turned our heads, tickled our brains, and caused stampedes at scheduling time. Presenting, in no particular order, Mooney on Theatre’s Hot Tickets for Toronto Fringe 2017!

Bendy Sign Tavern (Sex T-Rex)

We love Sex T-Rex. This hyperkinetic, hammy-but-clever narrative comedy group have served up so many of our favourite Fringe experiences: from the post-apocalyptic, totally tubular Wasteland, to razor-sharp perennial favourite Swordplay: A Play of Swords, to my own beloved Callaghan! , these artists have wowed us again and again.

This year, they’re bringing us Bendy Sign Tavern,  a full-length foray with puppets and a unique romcom structure.  We’re extremely eager to see how these physical comedians work with their new toolkit, and our editor Samantha Wu can’t imagine anywhere she’d rather be:

I’ll admit that I’m late to the Sex T-Rex party. Yes I’ve heard of them (have known about them for years!) always knew they were a riot to watch — but never exactly how much until last year when I accompanied our fellow editor Lin to Swordplay: A Play of Swords. I was sold!

When I learned that Sex T-Rex were offering their Bendy Sign Tavern show at this year’s Fringe Festival, I couldn’t resist. Every year, my Fringe experience has to include at least one site-specific adventure – and this being at The Paddock (where I can also order a beer!) is wonderful. On top of that, it’s a show about life behind the bar run by puppets?! Sign me up.

Bendy Sign Tavern plays at the Paddock (178 Bathurst St.) from July 5th through July 15th. Showtimes vary, see website for details. Ticketing information at bottom of article.

Continue reading Mooney on Theatre’s Hot Tickets for Fringe 2017 →