Laughs and jokes from the future are abound in Some People To Think About, produced by Edmonton’s Rapid Fire Theatre and playing at the Toronto Fringe Festival at the Streetcar Crowsnest Studio.
This short sketch show stars Edmonton-based performer Paul Blinov and is directed by Beth Dart. It was a light romp and would be a great addition to your Fringe schedule.
Paul Blinov has an easy charm that I’m sure will win over nearly any audience. Even when he’s being sarcastic, he can’t help but come off as a genuinely sweet person who claims he’s from the future. Maybe it’s the moustache, but this likability makes it easy to root for him throughout the sketches in Some People To Think About.
I felt that overall, Blinov did a great job of building out the different settings of each scene. Moreover, I was impressed by the tech as the lighting and sound were present elements throughout the performance. It wasn’t anything over the top, but even that is tough for a Fringe show, and that production design helped to flesh out each scene.
What holds this show together is not just Paul’s lovable performance but also the direction of Beth Dart. This is a tight show with a great selection of sketches. The overarching theme of Paul being from the future wasn’t overdone, and it lent some cohesiveness. This show went by really quickly, and I would have happily watched for longer.
Some of my favourite sketches were the overly honest father or the butterfly. Some People To Think About brought levity to my day and I’m glad I got a chance to enjoy it. A good chunk of the sketches involved crowd work, and while he unfortunately found himself with a smaller and quieter audience befitting a preview show, Blinov worked hysterical wonders on us regardless.
And so, I’d love to see Some People To Think About with a packed house and hope it gets just that as the run progresses.
This review is based on the July 3, 2019 preview performance of the production.
Details
- Some People To Think About plays at the Streetcar Crowsnest Studio. (345 Carlaw Ave.)
- Tickets are $13, including a $2 service charge. The festival also offers a range of money-saving passes and discounts for serious Fringers.
- Tickets can be purchased online, by telephone (416-966-1062), from the Festival Box Office at Scadding Court (275 Bathurst St.), and — if any remain — from the venue’s box office starting one hour before curtain.
- Content Warnings: mature language; gunshots; sexual content; audience participation; not recommended for children.
- Be aware that Fringe performances always start exactly on time, and that latecomers are never admitted.
- The Toronto Fringe Festival is scent-free: please do not wear perfumes, colognes, or other strongly-scented products.
Performances
- Wednesday July 3rd, 8:30 pm
- Friday July 5th, 2:30 pm
- Sunday July 7th, 8:30 pm
- Monday July 8th, 5:45 pm
- Tuesday July 9th, 6:15 pm
- Friday July 12th, 4:15 pm
- Saturday July 13th, 3:15 pm
Photo of Paul Blinov provided by Rapid Fire Theatre.