Confirmed Bachelor

This is probably one of the best written plays I have seen at the fringe, simple yet smart and very well acted!

With incredible pacing, comedic timing, chameleon level character shifts, queer representation and romance, this show knocks it out of the park.

This show had me laughing out of my seat the entire time while still touching on impactful story points and moving the audience. The actors were skilled and while they played multiple characters (sometimes in conversation with themselves) the staging, physicality, and character commitment never had you questioning who was on stage at any given point.

The story was moving and funny, the costumes were lovely, the actors were fantastic, the production design was gorgeous, and I cannot recommend it more. One of my top favs of this fringe, I can’t wait to see what this team does next!

Confirmed Bachelor is everything the description would have you hope for. It's sweet, it's insightful, the characters all feel like real, motivated people. The script effectively balances it's incredibly witty humour with moments that are genuinely heart-wrenching, and the performers balance roles and props and feelings with such mastery that it will absolutely sweep you up and away into this whirlwind romance of connection and deception.

The onstage performances are supported by the subtle but purposeful sound design, the gorgeous costumes, and the carefully selected props to create a story you can absolutely get lost in.

Also it made me cry. Twice.

Fantastic job to an amazing team on a heartwarming comedy that gets everything right.

Confirmed Bachelor unfolds as a lively period piece set in the British era, carried by the polished performances of Erin Lefler as the quick-witted Miss Eliza and Clayton James Plamondon as the earnest Gabriel Ringley. Eliza’s spirited schemes, slipping into borrowed identities to win Gabriel’s affection, give the production its playful momentum, weaving comedy and intrigue into every turn.

It’s a neatly crafted, confidently delivered hour of theatre, offering Fringe audiences an engaging, good‑humoured escape that never loses its charm.

Confirmed Bachelor is a two-handed farce of the highest order, the kind of whip-smart comedy that would give Jack Tripper whiplash, as you move from schemes to assumed identities to mistaken identities to confusion about one’s identity. The arc of Gabriel and Eliza is a jolly bit of fun, in this play from writer/performers Clayton James-Plamondon and Erin Leflar.

What we have here is a deft comedy of manners, in which “confirmed bachelor” Gabriel Ringley‘s father is trying to have him married off to an eligible bachelorette (he really wants none of it), whereas Eliza Bates’s aunt is trying to help her convince Gabriel that Eliza’s the one for him.

Deep and moving and absolutely hilarious. Amazing acting and well done comedy.

More heart than you will find in any other Fringe show, and plenty of scandalous laughs!

Speaks to our times from a very different time. 10/10 would recommend to a friend.

I loved this show - the script was strong, the use of the stage and props to distinguish the characters was flawless and the acting was superb. Loved the gender bending and the sensitive and poignant treatment of what could have been touchy subject. Funny, authentic and a great show.

This show was spectacular! The stage presence and chemistry between the performers was wonderful. It made me laugh, and also made me feel deeply and invested with the characters in a short amount of time. I would highly recommend this to anyone it is a must see show this year at Fringe! :)

there just about aint nothin' that i adore more than regency period queer love based dramedies and this show both warmed my androgynous heart and had me screaming with laughter.

Period costumes, a set torn out of a picture book, and English accents? What more could you ask for?!

“Confirmed Bachelor” tells the story in the style of a classic regency romance novel, with its stylized dialogue and the characters’ constant trips to each other’s homes. The show features only two actors playing four characters, cleverly worked through by having differentiating props such as a fan or a pipe, instead of lengthy costume changes for every scene.

Though the show is set in the Regency period, there are a lot of modern jokes and references included – even featuring an instrumental version of “I’ll make a man out of you” playing during a sequence where Eliza disguises herself as a man. The show was delightfully queer, and felt wonderfully classic, with elements of both Shakespeare's Twelfth Night and every Jane Austen novel to exist.

There were a couple moments that could have been shorter scenes, although it makes sense that some of it would be more drawn out considering the inspiration from classic novels. Overall, the show couldn’t be better summed up than by an overheard audience member: “Bridgerton but gay”

This is an incredible show! Confirmed Bachelor seamlessly weaves together a heartfelt love story with a thoughtful and introspective exploration of queer romance and gender identity, all topped off with the perfect amount of masterfully executed humour. The tight writing creates a show that has no dead air and no wasted time. The story moves at a perfect pace that allows for the jokes to land and the heavier emotional scenes to sit for as long as they need to. In short, the writing in this show is a masterclass on how to craft a heartfelt and emotionally deep comedy that I think everyone should experience. The stellar writing is perfectly complemented by some incredible acting. The two actors cover 5 roles between them, flawlessly transitioning between these characters when necesssary in a way that never feels clunky or forced. Both actors are able to portray and embody the emotional journeys of the main characters earnestly and sincerely that elevates the whole show. The two leads have an impeccable and infectious chemistry on stage that is an absolute delight to witness. The dialogue, the banter, the characterization and the staging are all so masterfully executed that you would assume that Erin and Clayton have been acting across from one another their whole lives. Finally, the way that this show handles two challenging subjects at the same time is exemplary. This show displays a truly rare level of care, delicacy and understanding of the subject matter, and should, in my opinion, serve as the bench mark for future works that aim to cover the same topics. This is coupled with a truly insightful and respectful land acknowledgement at the start of the show that grounds the whole experience in an understanding that there are many more stories in history than the ones we have been told. The whole team at 3rd Beet should be incredibly proud of what they have accomplished here, and I look forward to what they come up with next! All in all, this is a show that will make you laugh, this is a show that will make you cry and this is a show that will make you think. It is a show that I believe everyone should take the time to see. If you can only see one show this Fringe, make it this one.

As a trans person, seeing genderswap cross dressing comedy is always a risk. We have so many examples of this kind of story where gender is explored, subverted, and satirized, only to be folded up into a cishetero “happy ending”, like “sorry for the temporary disruption folks!” So you can imagine how delighted I was to see this end with a moving, authentic, and hilarious transformation!

The actors were full of energy and had impeccable comedic timing. I was laughing throughout and the gay and trans coming out scenes were genuinely moving and funny. I would love to see a show by these folks in the future.

I also want to give a shoutout to their land acknowledgment, which I feel was very appropriate and the kind of acknowledgment all historical works set in colonial times should be making.

Fantastic writing, amazing talent, and superb tech. There were so many moments where I laughed out loud and the story made me feel so seen and heard. You can tell that this show was made with love and care, and that it came from the heart. It’s so great to see such high quality queer representation handled with such thoughtful sensitivity at the fringe! :) Great job to everyone involved, I highly recommend!

An absolutely fantastic show that dives into what it means to truly be your authentic self, all while keeping a light mood with hilarious comedic moments with fantastic pacing.

What a lovely show with lovely acting and lovely everything…the writers should be extremely proud of their work, the show tackles tough topics with honesty and heart and always brings it back to a good laugh.

Love this show !!! The writing is so good, a great mix of hilarity + heartfelt. The two actors do such a great job balancing antics, characters, and emotion. Funny, moving, smart + with so much heart. A great show with great actors !! also appreciated the thoughtful and specific land acknowledgement. VERY MUCH RECOMMEND !!!!!!!!!!!

This show is amazing, so many fun and hilarious characters in it and they are all played by just 2 people! This show is incredibly well done and highly recommended!

Great chemistry between the acting duo, clever dialogue and they play off each other very well. Funny, delightful and incredibly heartfelt story. They managed to place Queer, gender and identity themes with the historical background so, so well. Highly recommend!!

I loved this! Any show with a hint of historical period-piece woven into it is bound to get my attention, and I'm so glad I was able to see this.

The actors play brilliantly off of each other, and the dialogue is so clever. Many hilarious moments, but also some unexpectedly sweet ones, too. The queer joy showcased throughout was lovely to see. This has been my favourite show I've seen so far, highly recommended!

Such a beautiful love story providing representation to the queer community in an authentic and genuine way. Highly recommend to everyone.

I cried three separate times both from laughing and emotional tears. It was well done in pace and the acting was just phenomenal. The simplicity and depth of the scenes are unmatched. I would argue one of the best plays I have seen in my life and I will be thinking of this for years to come. In the sometimes bleak reality of Alberta politics this play is a glimmer of joy and laughter that we all desperately need.

This show is a must-see masterpiece! Brilliantly funny and so cleverly written, the two actors play off each other as if they've been doing this together their whole lives. Beyond the humour, it was heartfelt and earnest and I was locked in the entire time.

They navigated the risks of a deception-leads-to-romance plot well and approached it from a new angle, so impressive. Absolutely an early contender for best show of the festival. I will be telling everyone I know to go see this – required viewing for this season IMO

Confirmed Bachelor is spectacular. From their custom land acknowledgement at the top of the show, to the near constant hilarity, to the heartfelt, tearjerker moments, this show is very well thought out. This queer period piece delivered what I'd hoped for and then some! Erin and Clayton's chemistry as actors and as writers is palpable. A must see.

So clever and funny!!!