The thing I love about The Toronto Fringe Festival is that you never really know when you will get that glimpse of a gem. That special something that makes you go ‘wow’. Getting Odd was that special gem for me. This was the last show I watched after a long day of fringing. I had no idea what to expect. But by the end of the show, I was walking away humming to the Beach Boys song ‘Wouldn’t it be nice’. If I wasn’t in public, I’d probably would have started dancing too! Now Getting Odd is not a musical BUT there are some catchy song and dance numbers in it that are playful and fun. Needless to say, Getting Odd was a thrill ride that had me at the edge of my seat throughout the play.

Before I get into the details of the play can I just say YES to GIRL POWER! Getting Odd was written, directed, choreographed and performed by some fantastic women. And let me tell you, there was no holding back. The cast, Allison Harris (who played Amy) and Holly Wyder (who played Poppy), were incredible on stage and I could really see the comradery between the both of them. I have to say though that I fell in love with Allison’s performance. I loved her sincerity, her humor, and her ability to switch from character to character. I am a fan!

Without giving too much away, the story begins on a stormy night when Amy seeks shelter in a cabin that is owned by Poppy. As the story progresses, relationships start to form and a mystery begins to unfold. What we think is true may not end up being true. Our reality is tested and the truth is revealed at the end. Or is it?

One of the highlights from the show was the clever use of tweets. While Amy read the tweets out loud, Poppy reacted to them. Each tweet that came in was heralded by that familiar tweeting sound, and the integration of the background sound raised the intensity level and got my heart racing!

I love strong performances, a great script and a good thriller! The cast and crew from Getting Odd did a fantastic job and if you like a good thrill ride like I do, than you don’t want to miss this!

Details

• Getting Odd plays at the Factory Theatre Studio. (125 Bathurst St)
• Tickets are $12 at the door and in advance, and can be bought online, by telephone (416-966-1062), from the Fringe Club at Honest Ed’s Alley, and — if any remain — from the venue’s box office starting one hour before curtain. The festival also offers a range of money-saving passes for serious Fringers.
• Be aware that Fringe performances always start exactly on time, and that latecomers are never admitted.
• Content Warning: Mature Language.
• This venue is NOT wheelchair-accessible.

Performances

• Thursday June 30th, 10:00 pm
• Saturday July 2nd, 09:15 pm
• Monday July 4th, 01:15 pm
• Tuesday July 5th, 04:45 pm
• Thursday July 7th, 09:45 pm
• Friday July 8th, 12:00 pm
• Saturday July 9th, 04:00 pm

Photo of Allison Harris and Holly Wyder by Elisha Holst