A Simple Twist of Fate is the first production put on by the new group Harmony Over War. This site-specific Toronto Fringe Festival musical makes use of the historic Kiever Synagogue to tell the true story of two people who overcome their differences and, in so doing, save each other. A Simple Twist of Fate succeeds in the company’s goal of enjoyably sharing experiences with lessons that are still relevant today.

Continue reading A Simple Twist of Faith (Harmony Over War) 2014 Toronto Fringe Review →

2 Man No-Show: Frozens (Zoot Zoot Productions) features Toronto Fringe veterans Isaac Kessler and Ken Hall. A last minute addition to this year’s festival, 2 Man No-Show: Frozens is a fully improvised affair this time around. Truth be told, I’m not exactly sure what I ended up watching. I have no idea what the theme of this show was and the improv wasn’t all that great. In fact, this show would probably land in the top 5 of the most ridiculous things I’ve ever seen. And I absolutely loved it.

Continue reading 2 Man No-Show: Frozens (Zoot Zoot Productions) 2014 Toronto Fringe Review →

Bette Davis Eyes, presented by Troublemaker Theatre Company, is one of the show’s in this year’s Toronto Fringe Festival.  I joined a few friends on the rooftop patio of the Epicure Café on Queen Street West on Wednesday night to see the opening show and we all agreed there couldn’t have been a more suitable venue for a show like this one. Continue reading Bette Davis Eyes (Troublemaker Theatre Company) 2014 Toronto Fringe Review →

Still Your Friend’s production of The Assassination of Robert Ford: Dirty Little Coward premiered tonight at Theatre Passe Muraille Mainspace  as part of the Toronto Fringe. It’s terrific. I predict that it’s going to be one of the hot tickets of this year’s Fringe so don’t delay. Buy your tickets now!

First things first – this isn’t a show about the mayor of Toronto. The Robert Ford in the title is the man who killed Jesse James. You probably recognize “dirty little coward” from the folk song Jesse James. The show is the story of  Ed O’Kelley, the man who killed Ford.

Adam Bailey wrote and directed the show and did both brilliantly. The script is smart, witty, and funny. The pacing of the show was perfect. The show is funny but not really a comedy; there are songs but it isn’t a musical; there are serious moments but sometimes it felt like a melodrama – in a good way. Continue reading The Assassination of Robert Ford: Dirty Little Coward (Still Your Friend) 2014 Toronto Fringe Review →

As I walked into Citizenry, a boutique on Queen West where Criminal Theatre is presenting their site-specific show True, there was an actor playing the piano built into the bar. His playing continued until the reveal of the first sister of a trio and the introduction of the main question in the play. Can you change your memories to change the result; the past’s future. Every year there’s a handful of good dramas presented at the Toronto Fringe Festival. This is one of them. Continue reading True (Criminal Theatre in association with Aluna Theatre) 2014 Toronto Fringe Review →