LUMBER

If a play is staged, and no one reviews it, is it still four and a half stars?

In a show about driving to the Yukon to cut down trees, I did not expect so much commentary about bureaucracy.

Colin Wolf is an excellent performer here, and I must give kudos to both his comedic presentation and also his projection. Even when there was conflicting background sound, I could always hear everything he was saying.

The synopsis for this play highlighted doing standup around the campfire and lots of therapy, neither of which played a large role in the final presentation. The producers confirm that the show has been adapted based on what works (bureaucracy puppets and Otto), de-emphasizing what didn't work as well (standup). That's one thing I love about Fringe, is how adaptable and trial-and-error each play can be.

The only big miss in this show for me now is the chainsaw sounds. It took me a while to even understand that the sound I was hearing was supposed to be a chainsaw, and I really would have loved a more practical chainsaw sound localized to the prop - even if that's just by sticking a bluetooth speaker on the chainsaw.

Maybe this show would have earned a lower rating earlier in the run, but I saw it near the end, and this version of it is absolutely worth seeing.

“The land will catch you.”

Firstly, the sound design of this show was outstanding and some of the best of the festival. The audio was so intricate and seamless as to feel cinematic, which is a truly special thing to experience in live theatre. What an achievement that I can only assume is through collaboration between the precise talents of the designers, the meticulously-rehearsed efforts of the actor, and the conscientious work of the techs.

The story itself is solid, both funny and moving. I loved the elements of Indigeneity woven into the fabric of the play. I’ve reached the point in the festival where the thought of seeing another one-person storytelling show is daunting at best, but this performer kept me engaged even at a very late night show near the end of a hectic festival.

Of the announced holdover shows, this is the one I’m most happy to see bag a spot. More eyes need to get on this show.

This show has comedy, drama, death, break ups, new relationships and moving away for work and having to start over. Overall, great story telling from one of the only indigenous artist here this year. Will be watching for his name in the future to see more of his work.

A truly beautiful story that really resonated with me. Colin Wolf did a fantastic job highlighting the light that can shine in the darkest of human experiences and showing that personal growth is always possible

What a beautifully written and cathartic show. It’s refreshing to see a show that makes you laugh and cry as you go on the adventure of navigating life through the crappier parts and learning to ask and receive help. Colin Wolf clearly wrote this play from his heart and performs multiple characters flawlessly. This is a really powerful piece of theatre that I think everyone would benefit from seeing.

Funny & Poignant!

A show about a man rebuilding after he has seemingly lost everything. Dramatic, funny, tense. Immensely satisfying and not a wasted moment. Great performance from Colin Wolf too!

Lumber is a captivating, heartfelt show written, produced and performed by the very charming Colin Wolf. He manages to balance grief with genuine comedy and a touching, naive optimism. It is insightful, funny, and a beautiful story about searching for a soft place to land. Colin’s performance is genuine and the transitions are very smooth. Highly recommend!

If a tree falls and no one saw or heard it fall, did it really fall? Lumber is a one person show performed by Colin Wolf. It follows Jack Bennet as he moves up north from Alberta to Yukon, after losing almost everything. From losing his job to his dog. Throughout having some relatable experiences that many can relate to since he had arrived in Yukon.

Colin Wolf’s performance was wonderful and filled with emotion. From the way he portrays the various characters through body language, voice and tone, it was brilliant! Wolf does an amazing job at executing this one person show, from the light-hearted comedic moments to the heartfelt moments that Jack has, especially the ending which was heartwarming.

The use of props was amazing, the props helped enhance the storytelling while also creating a couple of playful moments. With the limited number of props on the stage, Wolf does an incredible job of using them to help make the scenes come to life!

Lumber is filled with emotion with some comedic moments mixed in, as you watch Jack’s journey as he finds his purpose up north in Yukon.

As a fellow Yukoner, I found Colin's outrageous experiences very relatable and undoubtably true. I was captivated my his performance.

This show had me both belly laughing and openly weeping.

While everyone from every background will enjoy this show, there is something special about it to blue collar workers who enjoy storytelling. One of my favorite shows of this year. GO SEE IT

This show is really surprising good even the poster not that attractive to me at first! I am very happy I decided to see it , Laugh a lot and also very inspirational! Hope more people can see it ! It is amazing show!

Such a beautiful show! So many different characters and takes the audience on a beautiful trip. Highly recommend watching!

The ending left me speechless; such a beautiful, cathartic, heartfelt moment. Colin is such an engaging, magnetic, visceral, and genuine performer and he takes the audience on an emotional journey with such precision and heart. I really loved the sound design as well, it was incredible, and in moments felt ethereal. The show has really important messages that sneak in and don't feel forced and so they land in really gentle and brilliant ways. Strongly recommend this show!

Absolutely loved the show! A tour de force performance from the North. The performer Colin is really versatile, weaving a story that'svery relatable.

The stage, music, and lighting were all amazing. Your performance was so entertaining, and I could really see how much effort you put into it. It was so much fun to watch. I’d love to see another one of your shows in the future!

I came to the show expecting to laugh from the preview I saw a couple nights earlier. It delivered and it also delivered some tears. Colin’s performance, Is so heartfelt! If you’ve ever felt like you could run away from life and find that it’s very difficult to do so, you’ll appreciate the show and be entertained at the same time.

Lumber moved fast and kept me engaged through its mix of light hearted fun and the heavier moments in Jack's journey. Colin's passion for acting and knowledge of the outdoors are easy to see. I was impressed with how demanding a one hour, one man show is but Colin executes it incredibly smoothly.

Strong storytelling and hilarious characters combine for a really great time at the fringe! Colin puts his whole heart into this performance. Check it out :)

A very relatable show for anyone who has had things go wrong in their life. Great humor along the path to personal growth and discovery. And a true reflection of "no matter where you go, there you are". I highly recommend checking out this show!

A brilliant one person show written and acted by Metis artist Colin Wolf. The show makes you laugh and it makes you cry. It leaves you wanting more!! Colin is an incredible actor that keeps you entertained and engrossed the whole time. Must see this one!!

What a show! Colin Wolf delivers a brilliant, unforgettable performance. Do not miss this one!