Postcards from the Fringe

The Ottawa Fringe Festival is well underway. I'm having a ball promoting my own show, mingling with performers at the beer tent, and seeing local, national, and international theatre acts. The Fringe is unique among theatre festivals for the sheer diversity of shows it offers to the public. This year there are 60 shows in several venues. There really is something for every taste including: a rock musical based on an Inuit myth The Duck Wife, dance shows like Art DeXo, and -- of course -- tons of great theatre.

Theatre is my thing so that is what I have been checking out. I'm excited by all the quality shows that I've been able to see over the last four days. I feel like a kid at summer camp, so I felt it appropriate to write some postcards from the Fringe. I hope I can entice you to come out and take part in the festival, mingle with the performers, and see a few shows.

The Last Goddamned Performance Piece: This is a fantastic script written by Jayson McDonald about failed relationships and "performance art gone awry." It is funny and poignant. Black Sheep Theatre has done a great job with the staging of this production. Ben Meuser puts in a very strong performance as "Blue Sky." The night I attended, Nancy Kenny did an admirable job co-starring. Also, I particularly enjoyed the lighting design for this show: simple and effective.

The Peter n' Chris Show with Peter n' Chris: This comedy act is sure to be contender for best duo of the festival. Chris Wilson and Peter Carlone have put together a hilarious adventure. It includes car chases, song and dance numbers, martial arts sequences and a whole series of homages to films and pop culture. It's silly but a lot of fun.

Cactus - The seduction . . . : Jonno Katz is a legend on the Fringe circuit. This show, a reworking of a previous Fringe show, delivers what Jonno is known for: comedy, and charismatic high energy solo performance. I'm surprised he hasn't injured himself with the grand finale of this show. It has to be seen to be believed. This show is selling out, so get your tickets early.

So those are the three shows that I've enjoyed during the opening week of the festival. If you're curious about a show that I haven't mentioned please check out www.fullyfringed.ca. This year every show is being reviewed, and the Fully Fringed team has been at hard at work watching and reviewing shows. It's a great way to get an idea of what shows you might be interested in. The Fringe Festival is a great little community, and what makes it special is that anyone can be a part of it. All you have to do is buy a ticket.

Related

Talking with Fringe Director Wayne Current

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