Fringe Review — The Hideout

Posted by Kathleen Renne in Festivals

THE HIDEOUT
Artpoint Gallery

The Hideout, by Calgary playwright Andrew Torry, turned out to be an unexpected highlight of my Fringe experience this year. I say "unexpected," because the word "zombies" appeared in the play's description, and if there is one thing I am not into, it is the whole zombie thing. As it turns out, however, I loved this show, because the zombies are more metaphorical devices than anything else, representing the torture a teenage Lee (Brett Dahl) has to undergo courtesy of his abusive mother and callous friend.

Dahl gives a very committed and believable performance that kept me engaged for the entire 60 minutes of the show. I cared about Lee — thanks to the acting and the well-written script — and I felt his pain. The … Read More

Add comment      more in Theatre     |     posted Aug 10th, 2012 at 12:25pm

Fringe Reviews — Does This Turn You On? & Best of the Fest

Posted by Fast Forward Weekly writers in Festivals

DOES THIS TURN YOU ON?
Lolita’s Lounge

Though this show about “sexual fetish in the modern imagination” sounds racy, it is anything but. Rather, it’s a vaudevillian-style look at weird fetishes.

Actually, the show is rather informative — that is, if you manage to remember the names attached to some of these fetishes. I wrote some of them down, just in case I’m ever called upon to produce the words on Jeopardy. (Hey, you never know.:) For example, I learned that “forniphilia” means a furniture fetish. Sitophilia is a food fetish. Nasophilia refers to a nose fetish. Etc... Etc...

For each one, introduced by a placard, the two actors — Val Duncan and Celene Harder — do a little skit illustrating it in action. Both Duncan and Harder emit such wholesome vibes that … Read More

Add comment      more in Theatre     |     posted Aug 9th, 2012 at 1:07pm

Fringe Reviews — Loon & Criminal Genius

Posted by Fast Forward Weekly writers in Festivals

LOON
Lantern Church Sanctuary

Wonderheads’ Loon is a simple and quirky story about a lonely, middle-aged man who falls in love with the moon. And what works so well is that it doesn’t take long for the audience to fall in love with the protagonist.

Actually, perhaps “fall in love” isn’t quite the turn of phrase. The man himself is played by Kate Braidwood, appearing in an oversized mask adorned with red hair surrounding a generous bald spot and featuring an expression of permanent bewilderment. His middle-aged, loveless life unfolds without any words spoken, relying instead on the backdrop of a finely constructed soundscape.

We were already sympathizing with him as we watch him unsuccessfully try to find love through a … Read More

Add comment      more in Theatre     |     posted Aug 8th, 2012 at 1:14pm

Fringe Reviews — Last Man on Earth, Naked Improv & Polar Shift

Posted by Fast Forward Weekly writers in Festivals

THE LAST MAN ON EARTH
Lantern Church Sanctuary

Keystone Theatre’s The Last Man on Earth is essentially a silent film put on stage. It does take a minute or two to acclimatize to actors making so sound whatsoever (though they are accompanied by an inexhaustible soundtrack from piano-man David Atkinson), but pretty soon you’re hooked.

The story is delicious, and suitably silly: the Devil (Stephen LaFrenie) and his eager, bat-like Minion (Sarah Joy Bennett,) plot to corrupt a regular, none-too-bright mortal named Gormless Joe (Phil Rickaby). The plot sweetens when Joe encounters pretty pie-maker Penelope (Dana Fradkin) over her wares, giving rise to the ‘flirty pie-eating’ warned about in the audience rating. At this point the Devil … Read More

Add comment      more in Theatre     |     posted Aug 7th, 2012 at 2:17pm

Fringe Reviews — Aerial Allusions & power | play

Posted by Kathleen Renne in Festivals

AERIAL ALLUSIONS
Lantern Church Gym

Based on the title alone, Aerial Allusions sounds promising. According to the promotional literature, the show is “a journey looking into the perspective of humanity through feminine / masculine viewpoints.”
 I hate to say it, but if that’s what Aerial Allusions is supposed to be about, it sure doesn’t deliver.

The show opens with an attempt at a deep, philosophical monologue that asks the question, “What is humanity?” but, frankly, it comes across as amateurish. The young face of the male actor delivering it further makes it hard to buy into the jaded viewpoint he offers.

To begin with, the “humanity” the show explores is merely a romantic relationship. The so-called “masculine viewpoint” is one of … Read More

Add comment      more in Theatre     |     posted Aug 6th, 2012 at 1:53pm

Archives

Blogs

Posts

Aug 2012 Jun 2012 Jul 2011 Jun 2011 Mar 2011

All Content Copyright © Fast Forward Weekly 1995-2012

About Us Contact Us Careers Privacy Policy Terms of Use