“Ben Gorodetsky and Todd Houseman bring Indigenous oral history and Jewish literature together to create a rich tapestry of hilarious and heartfelt improv ”

Excerpt from press release:

Reaching deep into their very different heritages, Ben Gorodetsky and Todd Houseman bring Indigenous oral history and Jewish literature together to create a rich tapestry of hilarious and heartfelt improv at the Toronto Fringe!

After a successful run at last year’s fringe (“Magic” ★★★★1/2, TWISI Theatre ’15) and appearances at the Vancouver International Improv festival and Toronto’s Combustion festival (“Superb”, Glen Sumi of Now Magazine), the Folk Lordz are ready to give Toronto a brand new taste of their high-octane, multi-cultural improvisation!

“This year we’re showcasing two brand new storytelling styles: Cree-Blackfoot warrior stories and Yiddish fool’s tales” Todd Houseman says. “With support from the Edmonton Arts Council’s Cultural Diversity in the Arts award we were able to immerse ourselves in primary sources and develop a dynamic and authentic improv framework. We dissected the Indigenous oral histories of the horse wars between the Blackfoot Confederacy and the plains Cree to create a thoughtful and striking tribute to real Indigenous history. As well, in paying homage to Ben’s ancestral language and cultural as a European Jew, we read the writings of Yiddish writers Shalom Aleichem, Issac Beshevis Singer, and Solomon Simon. Out of this we’ve crafted a hilarious style of improvised comedy based on the hijinks of Jewish fools”

The Recipe:

Take one part Cree-Blackfoot war story from the Indigenous, oral history.

Add one part Jewish fool’s tale inspired by Yiddish literature.

Stir in one part brand new genre – chosen by the audience at each show!

Bake for 60 minutes in a sweaty Fringe venue to create a fast, furious, and folksy improv show like you’ve never seen before!

Venue: 
Factory Theatre Studio

• Tickets for all Fringe productions are $10, $12 in advance. Tickets can be purchased online, by phone (416-966-1062, business hours only), in-person from the festival box office located in the parking lot behind Honest Ed’s, (581 Bloor West), or — if any remain — from the venue box office (cash-only), starting one hour before showtime.
• The festival offers a range of money-saving passes for committed Fringers; see website for details.
• Be advised that Fringe shows always start exactly on time, and latecomers are never admitted.

Photo provided by the company.