Mumsical is the output of sketch comedy veteran Moniquea Marion‘s furious 2014 writing, producing, and performing efforts (where she created and starred in over half a dozen one-woman shows). The play follows Marion as she struggles with the decision to become a mother or remain childless. She embarks on an odyssey of unusual motherly scenarios set against the ominous ticking of her own biological clock. Continue reading Mumsical (Moniquea Marion) 2015 Fringe Review
Fringe Festival
A collection of everything to do with the Toronto Fringe Festival, including reviews, features, press releases etc.
Peter N’ Chris present: Here Lies Chris (Peter N’ Chris) 2015 Toronto Fringe Review
Does Peter n’ Chris really need another rave review? Based on how long the line was to get into the first show of Peter n’ Chris Presents: Here Lies Chris at the Toronto Fringe Festival, my time would be better spent writing about how I’ve had Enya stuck in my head since yesterday evening. (Yes, that was a reference to the show.) Nonetheless, Here Lies Chris is another reason why so many are willing to pay good money to experience the continuing bromance between Peter Carlone and Chris Wilson.
Continue reading Peter N’ Chris present: Here Lies Chris (Peter N’ Chris) 2015 Toronto Fringe Review
Everyone Loves Sea Land (EXFH Productions) 2015 Toronto Fringe Review
Everyone Loves Sea Land is a “Disco musical parody” by Marshall Lorenzo, playing as part of the Toronto Fringe Festival. The show was formerly titled Everyone Loves Marineland until the water park threatened legal action and issued a cease-and-desist order. You’d think that, given multiple allegations of animal abuse in its recent history, Marineland would be ripe for a satirical skewering. Unfortunately, Sea Land is less of a satire and more of a hot mess.
Continue reading Everyone Loves Sea Land (EXFH Productions) 2015 Toronto Fringe Review
The Man Who Loved Beer (Rhyming Optional Productions) 2015 Fringe Review
The Man Who Loved Beer hails from Scotland, with Edinburgh Fringe veteran Kevin P. Gilday. While he waits for a “highly-paid poetry revival” to hit popular culture, Gilday has brought the Toronto Fringe Festival a different kind of solo show than I’ve seen before. Fringe has solo shows aplenty and is no stranger to spoken word; however, this Glasgow native has crafted a gritty autobiographical story of alcoholism, alienation, and personal redemption, told almost entirely in verse.
Continue reading The Man Who Loved Beer (Rhyming Optional Productions) 2015 Fringe Review
Anatolia Speaks (Poiema Productions) 2015 Toronto Fringe Review
The St. Vladimir Theatre hosts the Toronto Fringe Festival debut of Anatolia Speaks, a one-person show featuring actor Candice Fiorentino as a Bosnian refugee telling her life story. This show is occasionally sad, sometimes funny, and always compelling — a quiet gem of theatre that needs to be seen.
Continue reading Anatolia Speaks (Poiema Productions) 2015 Toronto Fringe Review