The Fringe Fest travels through time and space for signs of funny in the universe
If you think that reviewing four Fringe shows in one day is easy… you’re completely right; it is pretty easy to sit in a chair taking notes while more talented people do all the hard work under hot lights. Without further ado, the reviews:
Today Is All Your Birthdays is a wild, bizarre, literate examination of some of Uncalled For’s nerdish obsessions: time travel, space travel, the time/space continuum and engaging in coitus with it. Like past sketch shows Thunderspank and Blastback Babyzap, it’s a series of sketches stitched together, but this time around it’s more coherent and cohesive, and features more laughs, more kinds of laughs and little-to-no fat. This is the best thing they’ve ever done, for reals. (FFFF1/2)
John Hastings and Ali Hassan’s We Call This Comedy is composed of two individual stand-up acts and includes songs that combine the talents of both local comedians. In all, the show is alternatively fun and frustrating. When the comics hit, as the abrasive Hastings mostly did when I saw it, it’s gold. When it doesn’t, it’s not. (You know, just like a comedy club.) The show I saw, Hassan was off his game and he knew it. "This was the anti last night," he told me. I’m sure he’s picked it up by now. (FFF)
Chelsea Manders hits more than she misses in Naughty Little Children, a music-heavy one-woman show about Lucy, a lovable fuckup who wants to look after children despite the fact that she’s a foul-mouthed problem drunk with mommy issues who probably thinks ECE is a sex act. Funny songs about dirty Frenchmen, puppies and dinosaurs showcase Manders’ pleasant voice quite well, but some of the other stuff is uneven à la "this is a work in progress." Still, it’s winning and Manders is clearly talented. (FFF 1/2)
Antoine Feval star Chris Gibbs is impossible to ignore in this one-man show about the best detective you’ve never heard of. Narrated by Feval’s doltish sidekick Barnaby, the show is hilarious and quick-witted, unafraid of improvised tangents and digressions from the narrative, and even prepared for sleepy audience members (Venue 8 is a sauna). Sharp, funny and quick on his feet, wily Brit Gibbs is an incredibly generous performer, and his characters are lively and inspired. (FFFFF)
3 comments
Naughty Little Children is easily one of the least surprising gems in this year’s fest, some acts are just too inspired and too well executed to fail. I’ve actually been tempted to walk out on a few overhyped spectacles because you could tell that something was just off with the entire production. Overall this Fringe has felt far less edgy than previous ones but our choices were better if not more diverse. Cobra: The Musical III: The Return of The King… of Kings may be the darling of the fest but I suspect that after this one Extensive Enterprises will have to turn to new source material as they threw it all in for a last salute to this wacky venture.
“Fucking Stephen Harper” Rob Salerno is a charming and, at times, tongue-tied and overwhelmed performer who skilfully and funnily recounts his story of trying to interview the uncharming, tongue-tied and underwhelming Prime Minister of Canada for Xtra, Toronto’s gay newspaper. Funny one-liners and concept – think Augusten Burroughs meets Anderson Cooper!
“Dance Animals” This was the only sold-out show I attended and for good reason. It is pee-pee fun-nee! A tour-de-force melange of brilliant comic monologues and outstanding choreography; it was pure joy watching the unprofessional, but dedicated, dancers plie and jete throughout the stage. As excellent as everyone was in this cast, the standouts were Joseph Brembridge, Sarah Hansen and Anders Yates.
“Under the Radar” Alan Shain’s earnest story of dating while living with cerebral palsy was more poignant than funny. Sadly, one could see the punch lines miles away which provided uncomfortable titters throughout.
“Cocktails” More of a sketch comedy routine, this show belonged in the “Just for Laughs” fest. Some skits were very funny; others needlessly profane and juvenile while others were deader than Michael Richards’s career. 2 of the guys had great singing voices, 1 had a cute butt and, all around, an intermittedly enjoyable 60 minutes that was not Fringe material.
“Like a Virgin” Why the Montreal media ignored this comic masterpiece is a mystery. Jimmy Hoggs is a whirling dervish dynamo! Everyone could relate to his story of teenagers trying to lose their virginity. Then Hoggs gets this wicked gleam in his eyes and goes off tangent to explain why he won’t even try to attempt an authentic Irish accent for Montreal audiences. A perfect combination of scripted virtuosity and improvisational mastery.
“Perverts” A flaccid, nude dance piece that couldn’t get a rise out of the audience if Viagra was given out with the programs. Just laid there – like my ex. Butt plugs and latex should be more fun!
En long and short was amazing! Short and sweet exploring interesting themes native to Quebec and women worldwide . Thoroughly enjoyed it and my daughter did too! A Must see!