Lin Young is a PhD candidate in the English Department at Queen’s University by day, an insatiable theatre-goer by night. She truly loves seeing innovative indie theatre, the strange sort of hole-in-the-wall shows that big companies would never take a risk on. She’s seen plays in basements, gardens, bars, and in old dilapidated houses, to name a few. She’s always on the lookout for the next theatrical experiment in the city, and loves seeing shows that have some quality of fantasy, historicity, or strangeness to them – especially if they involve puppets! She tweets about theatre, comics and the 19th century at @linkeepsitreal.
The festival has officially begun, which means the reviews have started streaming in! We’re about 45 shows into a 160 show festival, and we already have a few raves that we can’t wait to tell you about! From comedy to drama, there’s something for everyone this year. Check out our first three “Daily Raves” below!
So, Toronto. We need to talk about The Pretend Men‘s Police Cops in Space at the Toronto Fringe Festival. Specifically, why you shouldn’t even bother reading this review and just go see it, pronto. I mean, I’m going to write you a review anyway, but you can just go ahead and buy a ticket to this hysterical, outrageous, madcap hurricane of a show now and rest assured you won’t be disappointed.
Pointed Cap Playhouse‘s CARMILLA tells the story of Laura (Stella Kulagowski), a friendship-starved young woman, and the intensely erotic relationship she builds with an alluring, fang-toothed stranger (the titular Carmilla, played by Heath V. Salazar) whose carriage overturns in front of her house one day. In other words, the show is a queer vampire burlesque show staged in a Victorian-themed Toronto bar, making it, in my opinion, one of the most memorable elevator pitches you’re likely to hear this year at the Toronto Fringe Festival. Continue reading CARMILLA (Pointed Cap Playhouse) 2018 Toronto Fringe Review→
High school students from The Woodlands School in Mississauga, ON are making their debut at the 2018 Toronto Fringe Festival, performing seven shows at the Helen Gardiner Phelan Playhouse between July 4-15, 2018.
The show is led by 17-year-old Julie Phan (writer, producer, lead actor), directed by 18-year-old Colwyn Alletson, and performed by 17-year-old Natalie Thai and 20-year old Nam Nguyen. The show explores the upbringing of the first-generation immigrants and the intergenerational conflict that arises from being raised with two colliding value systems. The existential plights of
young people are analyzed through the eyes of children who struggle to chase their dreams while fulfilling their filial duties.
After years of success in development through youth programming as The Woodlands Theatre Co. (participating in the Ontario Drama Festival, Tarragon Theatre Young Playwrights Unit, and Summerworks Festival), these young
creators are taking a giant leap forward in establishing themselves as independent artists by self-producing their own production.
Details
Fine China plays at the Helen Gardiner Phelan Playhouse. (79 St. George St.)
Tickets can be purchased online, by telephone (416-966-1062), from the Festival Box Office at Scadding Court (707 Dundas St. W.), and — if any remain — from the venue’s box office starting one hour before curtain.
Content Warnings: Smoking; Mature language.
This venue is wheelchair-accessible.
Be aware that Fringe performances always start exactly on time, and that latecomers are never admitted.