Moving On (playing at the Toronto Fringe Festival) is an economical farce. All the traditional pieces are there: slamming doors, scantily-dressed women, physical peril, and class parody. But with just four actors, two hiding places, one unfortunate plant, and 90 minutes to let it all percolate, well… let’s just say that all four performers have a lot of limes in the air.
Continue reading Moving On (Stone Bay Productions) 2019 Toronto Fringe Review
In The Resistance Improvised (playing at the Toronto Fringe Festival), six characters attempt to overthrow a tyrannical government through sabotage. The “resistance” will scheme, share intelligence, and attempt up to five missions, all improvised by a slate of CBC-online-content-famous comedians. But there’s a catch: two members of the resistance are double agents, and will do all they can to wreck the operation from within. Will the resistance succeed, or will this betrayal prove fatal?
In Old Fart (playing at the Toronto Fringe Festival), Tim Bourgard presents a sweet little hour of gentle humour, classic sing-alongs, and dime-store wisdom. He’s the kind of performer who can get people chuckling with just a look: your hour with the Old Fart will fly by.
Continue reading Old Fart (Theatre Praxis) 2019 Toronto Fringe Review
In Escape from Shady Acres (playing at the Toronto Fringe Festival), three seniors find common cause in busting out of their tyrannical old folks’ home.
Bernice (Colleen Simm) and Dolores (Corinne Sutton-Smith) are Stockholm Syndrome-y lifers, amusing themselves by imagining gentlemen callers and rehearsing for tomorrow’s YouTube show. When new arrival Shirley (Martha Breen) blows into town, the three begin scheming — but overseer Alistair (Tyler Morgan, who also wrote the script) is no pushover, and escape will not come easily.
Continue reading Escape from Shady Acres (Morgan Productions) 2019 Toronto Fringe Review
Swallowed Whole (at the Toronto Fringe Festival) is a Second City-style sketch revue, written entirely by surrealist Rachel Parry. The result is as off-kilter and unpredictable as you’d expect: it won’t be everyone’s cup of tea, but it’s a blend unlike anything else you’ll find at the festival.
Continue reading Swallowed Whole (Irrelephant Productions) 2019 Toronto Fringe Review