It’s Just a Phase was a pretty great show to start the festival with.  I’m never envious of the first show of Fringe, especially not on the first day of Fringe.  So, the fact that I enjoyed this performance bodes well for It’s Just a Phase, since it’s only going to get better from here.

It’s a little bit hard to describe the show, but it’s a musical about a woman who’s mother is convinced her daughter is not really a lesbian, but rather it is “just a phase”

As you would expect with something like this, it’s a bit campy.  There’s nothing wrong with that, but it’s a good thing to know upfront.

When the show started I was trepidatious.  There was something lacking, I realised later that it was energy.  In fact, some of the best energy on stage came from Nicole Stamp, who is also in 36 Little Plays, which opened just before this one.  I suppose that could count as the most intense warm-up ever, but it really could have gone either way.

Speaking of Nicole, she was one of three stand-outs in this show.  Stamp’s energy while she tries to woo the main character Alexis, and her great voice made her a joy to watch.  Marissa Gregoris, who played Alexis’ sister had a great voice, and when she picked up her guitar and started to sing I thought to myself ‘even if I didn’t like the rest of the stuff, this would have made the night worth while’.  And Christian Jeffries made me a happy woman when he belted songs to the audience imploring us to “tell them that you’re gay” and that “you only go down on your own kind”

Overall, I was happy with the show by the time it ended.  Well worth $10.  It could use some tightening in some places.  There are times when it needs to either be more campy, or more serious but instead rides in some unsatisfying place in the middle.  But honestly, those are just quibbles.  Mostly it’s great fun and lots of laughs.

Plus, if you’re looking for a large collection of slang names for lesbians and cunilingus then this is the place for you!

Details

Cast:
Nicole Wilson (Alexis),Nicole Stamp (Tonya), Marissa Gregoris (Helen),
Mark Nimeroski (Calgary), Richard Anthony (Papa Toni), Tracey Beltrano
(Mama Rita), Christian Jeffries (Candy Woodmount), Devon Hubka,
Jennifer Braund, Rafaela Lewis, Lindsay Branton, Kimberly Persona and
Cory Bertrand (6 Fruit Flies)

Director: Candice Gregoris
Book/Lyrics: Marissa Gregoris
Music: Marissa Gregoris & Jim Clayton
Choreographer: Carin Lowerison
Stage Manager/Assistant Director: Aramenta Mileski
Technician: Gillian Muir

Audience: Mature Audience
Warning: Content, Language
80 min.

Venue 3: Theatre Passe Muraille
Wed, July 1 10:30 PM
Sat, July 4 7:30 PM
Mon, July 6 3:00 PM
Tues, July 7 8:30 PM
Wed, July 8 2:00 PM
Thu, July 9 10:30 PM
Sun, July 12 4:30 PM

– All individual Fringe tickets are $10 at the door (cash only), or with interac and credit at the advance ticket box office at the Fringe Club (292 Brunswick Ave)

– Advance tickets are available by phone (416-966-1062) or at www.fringetoronto.com, there is a $2 service charge for these

– Several money-saving passes are available if you plan to see at least 5 shows