By Winston Soon

Tight, witty and expertly realized, you’ll be hard pressed to find a show of greater professional caliber in this year’s fringe then  A Freudian Slip of the Jung.  As a psychology undergrad in a former life, I was impressed by both the
intelligence AND the accessibility of the material.

Ok, so it won’t change your life, but this silly – almost farcical –  slick comedy is a good time for beginning to end.  The writing is funny and playful without falling prey to too many Freudian jokes – and when they do it, they do it  very well.

Set up as a sort of German Drawing room comedy, the narrative is quite simple – Jung and Freud meet.  There’s a wife.  A mistress.  A long triangle, or square, rather.

Or maybe it is more of a pentagon.  Comedy ensues and ensues some more.

It has a true turn of the century feel with all the abruptness and closeted sexualization that we’ve come to love of the Germans – of their psychology especially. The performances are what really make this piece stand out – the
cast of four bring much to the table under Bruce Hunter’s brilliant direction.

David Hirsch plays the perfect everyman as Carl Jung to Fischer’s  flawless and fantastic Sigmund Freude.  Moira Dunphy and Denise Mader play German wenches both matronly and horny, respectively.  Mader is full of almost clownlike articulation and Dunphy’s timing can’t be beat.

All come together as a true ensemble, creating a piece that is filled with anachronistic references, artful staging and impeccable timing.  This is a show that will and should have a life outside of the Fringe  (the more intelligent summer stock houses will love this one) but don’t wait that long.

Some shows you go to because you know someone and some you go to because they are simply great.  This show is the latter.  Go early – it will surely be sold out by the end of the festival.

– A Freudian Slip of the Jung plays at St. George’s Auditorium
–  The remaining shows are Friday July 9 at 8:00 PM and Saturday, July 10 at 12pm
– All individual Fringe tickets are $10 ($5 for FringeKids) at the door (cash only). Tickets are available online at www.fringetoronto.com, by phone at                    416-966-1062, in person at The Randolph Centre for the Arts, 736 Bathurst Street (Advance tickets are $11 – $10+$1 convenience fee)
– Several money-saving passes are available if you plan to see at least 5 shows