One of the many joys of watching a Fringe show is that there are so many new and innovative ways a performance is presented to us. How to become a Spinster by Peppermill Productions comes in the form of a seminar. The result is a lively, hilarious and interactive take on the subject of being single, which gets much deserved spotlight instead of the oh so clichéd quest for love.
Diana Galligan and Wanda Carroll start the show energetically, throwing questions into the audience. “What does a spinster mean to you?” they ask. “Fun,” says an audience member. A simple, but most perfect word to describe the show. They take us through ten practical and amusing steps towards achieving lifelong spinsterhood and thus happiness and fulfillment. Each of these steps is a comic sketch that had the audience doubling over with laughter.
My positive experience of seeing St. Francis Talks To the Birds playing at the Helen Gardiner Phelan Playhouse actually begins with the venue and front of house staff. They stick out as a great pairing to host plays at this year’s Toronto Fringe Festival. Front of house members got us pumped for the show, and there isn’t a bad seat in the house. Upon entry, the creative and playful set, (spray paint and saturated colours are used!) set a particular tone. I wait in excitement to what see story will take place here.
I’ve had a love-adore relationship with Bouffon since I first experienced it at the Toronto Festival of Clowns in 2010. I’ve had a love-adore relationship with feminism since I’ve been able to comprehend the abstract notion of gender and gender roles. Therefore, it is fair to say that I absolutely adored Play It Again Productions’ Death Married My Daughter playing at the Toronto Fringe Festival.
I will admit I was not looking forward to Trip by MCM Productions, which is playing at the Annex Theatre. After seeing this one man show the old proverb “don’t judge a book by its cover” immediately comes to mind.
Trip is composed of three short plays: Eris by Colin Mercer; B.Q. by Maureen Gualtieri; and A Very Long Obituary, by Leah Jane Esau. Each one is quite different from the other but all are connect through the element of death and the performer Colin Mercer. Continue reading Trip (MCM Productions) 2013 Toronto Fringe Review→
