comedy

I wanted to like this show. I was looking forward to it actually. The eclectic and wacky write-up in the Fringe Guide promised a “romantic comedy circus” and “rock ‘n’ roll”. I was seduced by the mention of The Edinburgh Fringe, Glastonbury, and the effusive quotes at the bottom. It sounded like great Fringe fare to me, and I even enrolled a friend of mine to come along, selling him on the write-up as well.

   A collaborative project by Blackjacq Productions and Clockwork Theatre, The Green Room Theatre Project selects nine youth who get the chance to work with professional artists learning the entire process of creating a theatrical production. The Green Room Presents… is a devised play which is the culmination and final showcase of the program.  Created and performed by amateur youth artists, the show is far from professional quality theatre, but it has its share of shining moments. 

    The theme of the show is growing up, and it opens with a vocal montage of moments throughout a single life,...

I love a good story, especially if it is artfully delivered. It was only natural that I would fall in love with The Wild Dog Waits On The Concrete Path. Written by and starring Nathan Howe, TWDWOTCP hooked me from its opening moments. Clever direction from Charlie Peters and simple, effective visuals by Brittany Lloyd make this a don’t-miss-it Fringe event.

Out to make a difference in the lives of his soon-to-be students, the naively optimistic new Principal takes us on his journey from...

Folk singer and storyteller Corin Raymond brings warmth and wit to his autobiographical one-man show The Great Canadian Tire Money Caper, which tells the true story of how he paid for the making of his 2013 album Paper Nickels with Canadian Tire Money.  Right off the bat, Raymond sets up the casual, folksy charm that largely defines the show. From his blue jeans and slightly-ruffled-rolled-up-to the-elbows-dress-shirt to his off the cuff...

WRITTEN AND STARRING JAMES GANGL

“In Search of Cruise Control” starts with James Gangl showing up and reading to us birthday cards his mother has sent him. The relationship with the audience continues as he acknowledges his tripping up in some of the script and the silliness of his staged actions to resemble a conversation. This breaking down of the wall between the audience and the play invites us into Gangl’s life. As the play progresses it feels like we could have been at a support group meeting and we are hearing the story of one man’s journey of understanding...

Toronto indie musician “Gentleman Reg” is Regina, a self-assured drag queen who tells her story of growing up in Guelph. She begins with how she got “out of the closet” that she was the last to know she was in. Now Regina, a true diva, is ‘out’ and taking audiences on a first date full of ‘80s inspired song, style and dance. She performs some original songs from her album as well. Her monologues are literally glamorous as they engage us with witty lyrics that poke fun at everything we want to poke fun at, including ourselves.

This play is...

Wow.  What a delightful treat.  I admit, I was very much looking forward to seeing this show from the start.  I'm not a big fan of the traditional “clown” (they scare me actually - ahem...Poltergeist…It…enough said) but I do have a full appreciation for the fierce commitment that buffoonery demands in order to capture an audience, and capture them she did. The audience was on the edge of their seat from the moment this amazing curvy clown stepped on stage.  A Bouffon protege of Cirque du Soliel’s Masimo Agostinelli,  Priscilla Costa had the audience roaring with laughter and eating out of the...

I sat down. I saw. I laughed. The performers (Nyla Carpentier, David Kaye and Brad Duffy) have a blast performing this show and you can tell. They bounce off and react to each other quite well. David Kaye, who plays the Trickster Coyote, has a super quick wit and I am just wondering aloud here but did he remind anyone else of Aziz Ansari? Nyla Carpentier, who plays the Trickster Raven and who also wrote the show, is a beautiful performer and luckily we got to witness some stunning dance moves. Brad Duffy, as the MC, turned an...

Genre definition = Naughty · Warm and Fuzzy · Intimate

Here is what I have to say about The Last Piece. Ready? Go see it. Really. Seriously. Go see it. Get up right now and go. Only if they have a show time right now as I wouldn’t want you to get there and stand around but you get the point I am trying to make. I was really impressed with this little gem of a show.

We meet Kate (Tara Pratt) and Lee (Joanna Gaskell) in a bookstore and a strange and heartbreaking friendship is born, if only for a night. These opposites attract...

Genre definition = Funny · Intimate

"It's hard to move on when you're all alone in the belly of a whale." says Ishmael ("you can call me Jonah") who has found himself trapped inside the belly of a whale brandishing a couple of bestsellers with nothing to eat but some soggy saltines.  Apparently the last thing Jonah remembers he was madly in love and then suddenly he was swallowed by a whale.

Innocent When You Dream asks the question, if the one you love isn't loving you back, does that mean your love was never real?:  "I can't believe that wasn't real.  I won't believe it...

Genre Description = Silly · Weird · Musical

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