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Falling Angel – Toronto Fringe 2017 Press Release

From press release

RealSpace Theatre presents Falling Angel, a contemporary vaudevillian style comedy written by Erica Wood, Co-creative Director of RealSpace, in collaboration with RealSpace founder and fellow Creative Director, Bruce Hunter – at the Toronto Fringe Festival.

Caroline Azar, dramaturg and consulting director, who has been working with RealSpace Theatre since its inception, describes Falling Angel as “a wonderland of the mind. The gardens of the CAMH park attract souls enmeshed in the absurdism of heavenly co-existence.”

“Falling Angel reminds us of the deceptive nature of what we call reality; not everyone is what they seem and after the sun goes down, just what colour is the grass on the other side anyways?” asks Wood. “During a time of so much change in the world, it seems ever critical to re-examine our perceptions of each other and connections to each other.”

The diverse cast is comprised of actor/ comedian/clown, Stevie Jay, Second City alumnus, Jamillah Ross, and classically trained, Erica Wood. Andrea Ouellette (Centre of Gravity) stage manages and costume designs. “The process has been marvelously collaborative – this is a dream team to work with on this production, at this venue,” says Wood.

Falling Angel mixes things up from previous RealSpace productions in non-traditional spaces – including the 2010 Fringe hit, The Getaway, that took place in a moving van and the zombie hit show Dine Her – and immerses audiences in the core of the city in the park at Queen & Shaw. Audiences will be seated on picnic blankets, benches and whatever is handy, and integrated into the action. The short running time (45 minutes) allows audiences to enjoy this outdoor production coming from or going to another Fringe show. Bring a picnic and join the flock!

Performances

  • Wednesday July 5th, 06:30 pm
  • Thursday July 6th, 06:30 pm
  • Friday July 7th, 06:30 pm
  • Sunday July 9th, 06:30 pm
  • Monday July 10th, 06:30 pm
  • Tuesday July 11th, 06:30 pm
  • Wednesday July 12th, 06:30 pm
  • Thursday July 13th, 06:30 pm
  • Friday July 14th, 06:30 pm
  • Saturday July 15th, 06:30 pm

Details

  • Falling Angel plays at Shaw Park (CAMH). (1001 Queen St. W.)
  • Tickets are $12. The festival also offers a range of money-saving passes for serious Fringers.
  • Tickets can be purchased online, by telephone (416-966-1062), from the Fringe Club at Scadding Court, and — if any remain — from the venue’s box office starting one hour before curtain.
  • Be aware that Fringe performances always start exactly on time, and that latecomers are never admitted.
  • Content Warnings: Sexual Content, Audience Participation, Mature Language.
  • The Fringe Festival considers this venue to be wheelchair-accessible. Note that this production plays outdoors, and audience members may not be provided with seating.

Photo of Stevie Jay, Erica Wood & Jamillah Ross by Jon Blacker

Interstellar Elder – Toronto Fringe 2017 Press Release

From press release

Interstellar Elder is what it sounds like: a dark physical comedy about 300-year-old woman traveling through outer space. One geriatric astronaut is entrusted with caring for the spaceship’s cryogenically frozen ‘human cargo’: the last of humankind, hiding out and waiting for Earth to heal so that they may return to earth and begin a new civilization.  Interstellar Elder premieres as part of the Toronto Fringe Festival with shows July 7th – July 15th 2017 at The Theatre Centre.

In this futuristic scenario, North American Prime Minister Justin Bieber takes it upon himself to end world hunger by deforesting the continent to plant thousands of acres of genetically-modified swiss chard. This Superfood takes over the entire planet, choking out all other forms of life and forcing a human exodus into space. “So we’re working with hyper-realism,” teases Hansen, one of the show’s creators.

Performances

  • Friday July 7th, 05:45 pm
  • Sunday July 9th, 03:30 pm
  • Monday July 10th, 08:45 pm
  • Tuesday July 11th, 02:45 pm
  • Wednesday July 12th, 11:00 pm
  • Thursday July 13th, 03:30 pm
  • Saturday July 15th, 07:00 pm

Details

  • Interstellar Elder plays at The Theatre Centre’s Franco Boni Theatre. (1115 Queen St. W.)
  • Tickets are $12. The festival also offers a range of money-saving passes for serious Fringers.
  • Tickets can be purchased online, by telephone (416-966-1062), from the Fringe Club at Scadding Court, and — if any remain — from the venue’s box office starting one hour before curtain.
  • Be aware that Fringe performances always start exactly on time, and that latecomers are never admitted.
  • This venue is accessible.

Photo of Ingrid Hansen by Laura Dittmann

James & Jamesy in the Dark – Toronto Fringe 2017 Press Release

From press release

Celebrated British comedians James & Jamesy reach new heights of hilarity and depths of profundity with their production James & Jamesy in the Dark, July 5 – 16, 2017 at the Al Green Theatre as part of the Toronto Fringe Festival. Hailed as “one of the most popular Fringe duos ever” (CBC) James & Jamesy’s latest theatrical excursion is performed entirely in darkness, with the only light originating from custom-built, illuminated costumes. Amidst this void, the duo employs their unique brand of British comedy to conjure an adventure of discovery, friendship, and creation.

James & Jamesy in the Dark begins in blackness. Soon, two chaps, who each believe they are alone in existence, happen upon each other. The encounter launches them into a series of physical and philosophical discoveries, overflowing with intricately layered wordplay. As they navigate this inky limbo, they conjure an adventure around creation itself. The visually spectacular show is a painting come to life; a rich, raw encounter that blends the playfulness of Pixar with the existential ponderings of Beckett.

James & Jamesy in the Dark offers fresh perspective on the fascinating characters of James and Jamesy, who’s previous two productions – High Tea and 2 for Tea – entrenched the duo as Fringe Festival royalty, having performed across Canada more than 150 times each. More than 50,000 audience members have relished their unique, signature brand of imaginative, joyous art.

Performances

  • Wednesday July 5th, 08:15 pm
  • Friday July 7th, 10:00 pm
  • Sunday July 9th, 01:00 pm
  • Tuesday July 11th, 06:45 pm
  • Wednesday July 12th, 01:15 pm
  • Friday July 14th, 02:15 pm
  • Saturday July 15th, 04:00 pm

Details

  • James & Jamesy in the Dark plays at the Al Green Theatre. (750 Spadina Ave.)
  • Tickets are $12. The festival also offers a range of money-saving passes for serious Fringers.
  • Tickets can be purchased online, by telephone (416-966-1062), from the Fringe Club at Scadding Court, and — if any remain — from the venue’s box office starting one hour before curtain.
  • Be aware that Fringe performances always start exactly on time, and that latecomers are never admitted.
  • This venue is barrier-free. Note that only certain building entrances are wheelchair-accessible. Accessible seating is in front of the front row, and may have poor sightlines for certain productions.

Photo of James & Jamesy by Thaddeus Hink

SNAP! – Toronto Fringe 2017 Press Release

From press release

The world is on its last nerve. But in one small room, one anger management counselor is hoping to make a difference. In these days of rampant road rage, heated political rallies and protests in the street, Snap! is a hilarious look at five ordinary people in a world on the brink of a global temper tantrum.

This play began as a writer’s challenge for the Toronto Cold Reads. In its next stage, it was a hit with audiences at the 2016 Short Short Play Festival at the Social Capital and has been developed by NightShift Theatre for the 2017 Toronto Fringe Festival. Between the first reading and its current iteration, a lot has happened and the world suddenly seems like an angrier place. What better time to explore what makes us angry, what we do with our anger, and what happens when a group of angry people are forced into a room together. It’s a circle of support and caring. Until it’s not.

Performances

  • Wednesday July 5th, 06:15 pm
  • Wednesday July 5th, 07:45 pm
  • Thursday July 6th, 06:15 pm
  • Thursday July 6th, 07:45 pm
  • Saturday July 8th, 01:15 pm
  • Saturday July 8th, 02:45 pm
  • Tuesday July 11th, 07:15 pm
  • Wednesday July 12th, 07:15 pm
  • Thursday July 13th, 06:15 pm
  • Thursday July 13th, 07:45 pm
  • Friday July 14th, 07:15 pm
  • Saturday July 15th, 01:15 pm
  • Saturday July 15th, 02:45 pm

Details

  • Snap! plays at Scadding Court. (707 Dundas St. W.)
  • Tickets are $12. The festival also offers a range of money-saving passes for serious Fringers.
  • Tickets can be purchased online, by telephone (416-966-1062), from the Fringe Club at Scadding Court, and — if any remain — from the venue’s box office starting one hour before curtain.
  • Be aware that Fringe performances always start exactly on time, and that latecomers are never admitted.
  • The Fringe Festival considers this venue to be wheelchair-accessible.

Photo of Allan Michael Brunet, Jillian Rees-Brown, Anastasia Kokolakis by Joanne Latimer

Macbeth’s Head – Toronto Fringe 2017 Press Release

From press release

The Scottish play, an ancient curse, and a disembodied head on a dessert trolley out for revenge is the story of actors Tim and Rupert who activate an ancient curse and awaken Macbeth’s severed head, who’s athirst for revenge on William Shakespeare for ruining his life. The Head, using his arcane powers, enslaves Tim and Rupert, and then brings Space Pirate Cleopatra, gender bending Richard III, and Hip Hop Hamlet to life to help in his insidious designs. It’s up to Tim and Rupert to stop the maniacal Head lest Shakespeare’s works are obliterated from the face of the earth forever!

This view of classical material is part of Malfi Productions’ mandate: to produce entertaining and interesting film, television, theatre, and literature by merging tradition with innovation for an audience who craves emotional and intellectual risk.

Multi-disciplinary artist Kyle McDonald is directing and taking on the title role of The Head and is joined by Scott McCulloch as William Shakespeare (winner of Canada International Film Festival) and Adrienne Kress as the iniquitous Richard III (author of award winning and internationally published children’s novels Alex and the Ironic Gentleman and Timothy and the Dragon’s Gate), Gabriel DiFabio as Hamlet, Roselyn Kelada-Sedra as Cleopatra, Roberto Esteves as Tim, and Julian Nicholson as Rupert.

Performances

  • Wednesday July 5th, 10:00 pm
  • Saturday July 8th, 05:45 pm
  • Sunday July 9th, 10:30 pm
  • Tuesday July 11th, 04:45 pm
  • Thursday July 13th, 07:00 pm
  • Friday July 14th, 04:00 pm
  • Saturday July 15th, 05:45 pm

Details

  • Macbeth’s Head plays at the Factory Mainspace. (125 Bathurst St.)
  • Tickets are $12. The festival also offers a range of money-saving passes for serious Fringers.
  • Tickets can be purchased online, by telephone (416-966-1062), from the Fringe Club at Scadding Court, and — if any remain — from the venue’s box office starting one hour before curtain.
  • Be aware that Fringe performances always start exactly on time, and that latecomers are never admitted.
  • Content Warning: Strobe Lights.
  • This venue is wheelchair-accessible through a secondary route.

Photo by Alexandra Augustine