Toronto 2012 Fringe Festival’s Tam Lin (Epona Productions) is a Celtic, Grimm-like fairy tale.  Complete with some rousing (and ear-splitting) bagpipes, highland dancing, and lush costumes this is a show no Gaelic-groupie should miss.

Tam Lin is a retelling of an old Scottish tale.  Young, mortal Jennet (played by Màiri Mason, who also is the originator of book, music and lyrics) faces off against the magical Fey queen (Amy Marie Wallace) to save Tam Lin (Wesley J. Colford).

Continue reading Tam Lin (Epona Productions) 2012 Toronto Fringe Review →

The Contract is a site specific play being mounted at The Cameron House as part of Toronto Fringe 2012. It is experimental, provocative, sketchy, edgy and not necessarily for everyone. I consider it a must-see.

The Cameron is a legendary watering hole. It has nurtured artists since before most people reading this were born. Being somewhat acquainted with this proud history, I anticipated The Contract to be something special. I was not disappointed.

Continue reading The Contract (Pandora’s Box Office) 2012 Toronto Fringe Review →

What is it that makes Fringe theatre so damn special? There are, of course, a myriad of answers to this question.  However, in my opinion, the opportunity for an artist to present their brainchild with passion and enthusiasm to their friends, family, and community and for an audience member to experience creation as a truly affirming force in the world, is downright invaluable.

This evening, I made my way in the sweltering heat to the Tarragon Theatre Mainspace (Venue 1) to see Act II Studio‘s original production of Spychasers as part of the 2012 Toronto Fringe Festival.  This show was not flawless in its performance, it did not feature ‘professional’ actors, and it did not present a perfect script. And yet, it still managed to embrace exactly what I think the Fringe Festival is all about.

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I’m not sure if it is harder or easier to enjoy a children’s play without children. I suppose the answer might change depending on whether you actually have any (I don’t). But I believe that enjoyable theatre should be enjoyable despite the age level of the audience it’s aimed at, or the actual ages of audience members at any given show. Continue reading The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe (Mirador Theatre) 2012 Toronto Fringe Review →

If you’re looking for genuine fun at the Toronto Fringe Festival this year, you’ll find it in Toy Box Production’s How I Lost One Pound: The Musical. The Fringe is always a crap shoot when it comes to finding gems, so the best thing for any company is to drum up some good buzz to get the curiosity flowing and the audience filling. Only three days into the festival, and Lesley Carlsberg’s offering already had some great buzz zipping past my ears while I was waiting to walk into the AC’d Passe Muraille theatre.

Continue reading How I Lost One Pound: The Musical (Toy Box Productions) 2012 Toronto Fringe Review →