Tonight I attended the comedic XOXO: The Relationship Show (Two Juliets) at the 2015 Toronto Fringe Festival. Described as a “comedy cabaret,” this show is a whirlwind of laughs bound together by the sometimes exhilarating, oft exasperating trials of dating in the modern world.

I’m sure this show isn’t for everyone, but, as a twenty-something year old female, I can safely assume that I am Meghan Chalmers and Franny McCabe-Bennett’s target demographic: Online dating, accidental “likes”, decoding texts… my familiarity with the subject matter is almost cringeworthy. If you enjoy smart, funny women as much as I do, I would certainly recommend this show.

Like any sketch show, I found that certain bits worked better than others. My personal favourites were McCabe-Bennett’s “First Kiss” in which she recounts her first night out as a bisexual woman, and the closing number “Where Did You Go?” about the modern phenomena of exes simply dropping off the face of the planet, AKA social media.

Transitions were lightning-fast and while some may find this confusing, I appreciated the swift pace of the show. In my opinion, a sketch show doesn’t always need to be coherent, simply funny.

McCabe-Bennett particularly stood out as a natural comic, but both performers seem like someone I’d like to grab a beer with. While not every joke hit the mark, more often than not I laughed out loud at this goofy and endearing performance.

Details

• XOXO: The Relationship Show is playing until July 11 at the Theatre Passe Muraille Backspace (16 Ryerson Ave.)
• Tickets are $12 in advance, $10 at the door. The festival also offers a range of money-saving passes for serious Fringers.
• Tickets can be purchased online, by phone (416-966-1062), from the festival box office down Honest Ed’s Alley (581 Bloor West), or from the venue box office starting one hour before the performance. Venue sales are cash-only.
• Be advised that Fringe performances always start exactly on time, and latecomers are never admitted. Set your watch to CBC time, and arrive a few minutes early to avoid disappointment.

Remaining show times and dates:
July 05 at 01:00 PM
July 07 at 01:30 PM
July 08 at 04:45 PM
July 09 at 06:15 PM
July 11 at 04:30 PM

Photo of Franny Mccabe-Bennett and Meghan Chalmers by Andrew Ahmed.