Giorgi of the Jungle
It's the '80s, and ten-year-old Giorgi Passarelli is devastated when she receives her first social cue that she needs personal grooming, but when her sister Marcella advocates for her with their Italian mother, cultural and generational views of beauty and personal care clash, and things in their home get a little...hairy.
A great coming of age tale regarding a girl transitioning into adulthood. The show and cast take us through the emotional rollercoaster of early womanhood, societal expectations, and family dynamics - all with flair and great humour. I feel this show had something that everyone could relate to, and left the audience with a “feel good” ending. Bravo to everyone involved with this show. It was greatly enjoyed by the audience.
Special shout out to Miracle Mopera who played Marcelle. The vibrancy, sass, and confidence she brought to the stage was electric!
My wife and I attended the opening night performance and thoroughly enjoyed it. A coming of age story of a young girl beginning to feel the pressure of her peers and how she’s trying to deal with her feelings. Her older sisters try to help her through her recent ordeal with hilarious results. I definitely recommend this play to anyone who lived through this themselves.
We happen upon a classic 1980s bathroom – complete with a frilly pink shower curtain and wood grain vanity – to find a young girl who is in a bit of a pickle when it comes to her aesthetics situation: a missing eyebrow and a chemical burn on her moustache region among them. Two older teen gals (with very different views on beauty) attempt to help her, but then the temperature in the room really spikes when mamma storms the party and discovers what the girls are trying to conceal.
I find the Sanctuary Stage at Holy Trinity Anglican Church to be a difficult venue to sit in for productions without amplification. The high ceilings offer a lot of reverb to the acoustics. With my particular audio processing challenges, sitting and listening in that environment for a long period can feel fatiguing. The glass windows also let in a lot of natural light, so it is hard to create a focused magical theatre bubble where one can easily get swept away by the story. My brain could never suspend disbelief enough to ignore the obvious lectern sitting in contrast next to the very retro bathroom sink.
But don’t let my sensory gripes deter you from this charming cast and chuckle-worthy script. If you are a fan of the television program The Goldbergs or have a penchant for passionate Italian sensibilities, then this throwback production is sure to please.
Funny, heartfelt, and oh-so-relatable—this coming-of-age comedy set in the ’80s will have you laughing one minute and tearing up the next. A hairy gem of the Fringe! #yegfringe
A heartfelt show, Giorgi of the Jungle is a relatable tale for everyone - Italian or not. It depicts the struggles of a young girl (Giorgi) undergoing her first struggles with her body. The standout performer for this show goes to Kirsten Throndson for their fabulous portrayal of Giorgi!! Go see this show if you want to witness an adorable and relatable tale!
I took my son and granddaughters to see Giorgi of the Jungle on opening day. It was funny, witty and brought me back to that age and dealing with the same issues 🤣 The actors were amazing and we had a great time ! 🙌🙌🙌
School is tough, and it's more tough if you're a girl who's been body shamed and it's worse if you've been shamed into messing up your face trying to get rid of unwanted hair. It's embarrassing enough when your alpha siblings lock horns on how to fix the problem, and it just gets worse when your Italian born single Mom finds out. Funny, fierce and sad in turns. Great script, wonderfully performed.
Giorgi of the Jungle is exactly what the Fringe is all about—wild, hilarious, and totally original. The show is packed with clever comedy, witty wordplay, and just the right amount of chaos to keep everyone entertained.
If you are female and of European background, you definitely can relate!
If you’re looking for something light and fun, don’t miss Giorgi of the Jungle. You’ll leave smiling, guaranteed.
Really cute show and great for pre-teen audience! They did a nice job of illustrating the trails and tribulations of being a young girl while also being funny. A delight to watch!
I went to the opening performance of Giorgi of the Jungle with a friend. We both enjoyed the witty banter of the characters, reminiscing flashbacks of the 80’s, and the insightful and sensitive consideration given to the topics. We were entertained and felt a range of emotions. We definitely had a few good chuckles!The topics in this play included: coming of age, fitting in, immigrant struggles, brave acceptance and confidence of one’s individuality, bullying, and more. The production and the acting were very good. After the play we found ourselves reflecting on our childhoods, the decisions our parents made, how we coped, us as parents, how we parented our kids, and more! I’m going a second time to take my husband! 👍🏻👍🏻
Giorgi of the Jungle is a heartfelt and relatable coming-of-age story that captures the struggles of a young pre-teen, Giorgi, as she begins to experience the changes that come with growing up. The play considerately portrays her journey of navigating new feelings about her body and the insecurities that surface as a result. At the show's core, it explores not just Giorgi’s challenges, but the many perspectives around her. Marcella, Giorgi’s older sister, emerges as her advocate, supporting Giorgi’s right to handle her changes in the way that feels right for her, even when it clashes with their mother’s more traditional and firm approach. This dynamic highlights the generational and personal differences in how people view growth and change, offering the audience multiple, sometimes conflicting, perspectives. Each character’s experiences with similar struggles, whether different or parallel to Giorgi's, added depth and made the story feel grounded and authentic. Every actor brought a distinct energy, sass, warmth, attitude, or vulnerability that made their character stand out and feel real. It was this mix of tones that made the story resonate, as it mirrored the real complexities of growing up and dealing with insecurities. By blending honesty with heart, the show creates a story that feels both personal and universal, reminding the audience that the struggles of growing up are never faced alone. It’s a production that lingers well after the curtain falls.