SHORT KING
A tiny king tries to ban every shadow in his kingdom after losing his best friend. It doesn't go well. SHORT KING is a 45-minute play (emphasis on "play") for kids and grown-ups about grief, dogs and the shadows we learn to keep. From the creator of WINNING:Winning (Artists' Pick, Edmonton & Cincy Fringe).
I usually try to see at least one TYA show every Fringe, and this year I was excited to see Gordon bring something for the families. His work on WINNING:WINNING was some of my favourite of that year.
TYA is a different beast. An artist typically needs to juggle an educational or moralizing storyline, a decent pace that holds a child’s attention, and enough cleverness to intrigue an adult.
This show did just about all of that. The story was whimsical and silly, while achieving something moving enough to make me cry. I found the child audience participation segments to be genuinely delightful and varied for the kids. Of all the shows, I was not expecting this one to have a wordless mise-en-abyme segment in between kids pelting a castle with balls and the short king miming a turtle ride; this is not your average TYA show.
Gordon achieves something lovingly personal here. Elements of his real life memories of his best friend are woven into the show. It feels like we are flipping through his scrapbook, made hopeful and charming through comedy.
I’m so glad this artist returned this year. I highly anticipate what he brings next.
A very sweet little show that is family friendly and touches on the complicated feelings of grief. Cute and funny, the actor did a great job even when the accompanying projection stopped working for a small portion of the show. Great audience participation, fun songs, and heartfelt.
I have been seeing fringe shows for nearly a decade, and this was perhaps the best fringe show I've seen.
To make something funny for both kids and grown ups isnt easy. But to do that AND have it be deeply profound is just wildly impressive.
Just a fantastic piece of art anyone could enjoy. I am so blown away.
This was the best of theatre for families - my 4 & 8 yo were delighted by opportunities to participate on stage (but in a no pressure, group environment) and by funny ideas like farting frogs, but the show was also a touching, heartfelt reflection on grief, love and memory. As a parent it also gave me some framings around processing grief that i can return to either the kids. But it wasn’t at all dry or didactic! We were alternately laughing and crying and completely engaged throughout.
This is what a kid fringe show should have… lots of laughs and engagement for kids, a plot for adults to enjoy, and an important life lesson taught. The short king actor reminded me of Zac Galifinakis with his dead pan humor. My kids were up and out of their seats participating multiple times throughout the 45 minute long show. The moral of the story center’s around learning how to grieve the loss of a beloved family member. This was done with humor but also I felt the genuine feelings of the actor and almost cried relating to the same type of loss at the end of the show. High recommend to bring a kiddo to or for someone needing some help with their own processing grief.
Expect the unexpected with "Short King", a small but mighty play about grief, long journeys, and finding peace with oneself.
The use of graphics created a beautiful scene which set the tone for the story ahead. From the very beginning, I was hooked by curiosity. The main character - a literal short king - walked us through a journey that shifted effortlessly between tragedy and comedy. At every twist and turn, there was something new to discover: a dance break, a rap, or even a high-five spree.
This show is an absolute must-see if you love audience participation and theatrical improvisation. From pop-culture references to hurling obstacles, every aspect of the performance defied expectations.
It wasn’t just perfect for the youth in the audience, who were thrilled to participate onstage, but the themes were relatable enough that all age groups left feeling giggly and thoroughly satisfied. Every aspect of the performance blended together to create an extravagant, comical, compelling show.
The only critique I have is that I’d love to see this show on a larger stage with a fuller audience and a longer run time. The 45 minutes flew by so quickly that I wish I'd scheduled a second viewing.