All posts by Avi Bendahan

Aerial Allusions (Azana) 2012 Toronto Fringe Review

All too often, given the amount of pieces on offer at Fringe festivals, it tends to be difficult to understand what some shows are about from the small blurb provided to the public. With 155 artistic offerings in the 2012 edition, the Toronto Fringe is no exception to this rule. Aerial Allusions, presented by Azana, is one of those shows, claiming to cover the spectrum of human emotions through dance solos, duos, monologues, aerial fabric work, music and clowning; all in the span of 50 minutes at the Annex Theatre. Continue reading Aerial Allusions (Azana) 2012 Toronto Fringe Review

Little Tongues (the blood projects) 2012 Toronto Fringe Review

Sitting in a waiting room surrounded by abstract paintings, a long divan, some lantern lights, and a rocking chair; all interspersed among other knickknacks – this is how your experience begins. You don’t yet know that you’ll soon be taken from one area of Loft 404 to another to witness the fully immersive experience at the 2012 Toronto Fringe that is the blood projectsLittle Tongues, but you’re in for a treat.

As soon as you and your fellow patrons are ushered in to the loft space where the play actually takes place, you are welcomed in by the delicious smell of Abigail’s (Melee Hutton) cooking. This happens because you walk through her kitchen. Or stay there, your choice.

Continue reading Little Tongues (the blood projects) 2012 Toronto Fringe Review

With Somebody Who Loves Me: A Gay Dansical (Manzo Entertainment) 2012 Toronto Fringe Review

Creating a new piece of theatre is hard enough, but creating a whole new theatrical genre is a feat most people would run away from screaming.

Manzo entertainement’s  Frank Manzo then obviously wasn’t most people when, along with a friend, he came up with the idea of the  “dansical”. He’s testing out his theory doing quadruple duty (Producer, Director, Choreographer & Dancer) in With Somebody Who Loves Me: A Gay Dansical playing at the Factory Theatre as part of the 2012 Toronto Fringe. Continue reading With Somebody Who Loves Me: A Gay Dansical (Manzo Entertainment) 2012 Toronto Fringe Review

My Drunk Play (janeovision Productions) 2012 Toronto Fringe Review

It seems inevitable that in any given Fringe there will be at least one play regarding, inspired by, or including alcohol. janovision ProductionsMy Drunk Play, continues this tradition as part of the 2012 Toronto Fringe including a headline that reads: ‘It could be funny. It could be embarrassing. It could be terrible.’ Unfortunately, after seeing this show opening night, I left feeling the latter rather than the former.

Continue reading My Drunk Play (janeovision Productions) 2012 Toronto Fringe Review