We’ve wrapped up Day 2 of the Toronto Fringe Festival and have another 50 shows reviewed and under our belt! That means many more rave reviews that we can’t wait to tell you about! Check out our list of shows reviewed and keep reading for a few more Daily Rave highlights.
The Preposterous Predicament of Polly Peel (Act 1) (The Polly Peel Collective)
What’s it about: ‘… Polly Peel (Act 1)’ explores a family grappling with death through the eyes and imagination of a biology-obsessed eleven-year-old girl. Originally inspired by acclaimed Canadian painter Paul Peel’s ‘The Young Biologist’, an early incarnation was presented in 2016 at the AGO as part of The Musical Stage Company’s ‘Reframed’.
Why our reviewer loved it: “It’s both heartbreaking and hysterically funny. I alternated between tears of laughter and tears of sadness throughout the show. … Levinson, in the title role, delivers a mature, vulnerable and spunky performance. She has powerful voice and great stage presence that belies her youth and small stature.”
Entrances and Exits (The Howland Company)
What’s it about: The Howland Company in association with Bad Dog Comedy Theatre presents a completely improvised play based on the structure of traditional farces we love like “The Norman Conquests” and “Noises Off”. Created by Liz Johnston and Ruth Goodwin.
Why our reviewer loved it: “This has everything a good improv show ought to have: a fabulous cast and a great concept to give structure to the show you’re about to see (even if only loosely). I left the theatre with an itch to return, just to see what else this cast could do with this concept.”
Anywhere (One Four One Collective)
What’s it about: A young businesswoman returns to her AirBnB to find that her host has been waiting up for her. What started as a cordial relationship between strangers begins to steadily escalate into a tense and unnerving battle for control.
Why our reviewer loved it: “That pervasive bad feeling that sits there from the very beginning is very carefully managed by director David Lafontaine to allow for the ample humour. We are given a few moments that are so precious because they are allowed to exist within that lingering anxiety that he never lets slip.”