The Sad Saga of the Edmonton Interurban Railway
On 137 ave, across from what is now a Superstore, there used to be a car barn built to house the trains that would ride along what was once the most northern railway in North America. This is the story of the turbulent and exciting rise of the Edmonton Interurban Railway, and its swift and unfortunate demise. Songs by Tiff Hall
Wow! Having only come to this show because the creator and solo cast memeber happens to be my all time favourite improv performer, I was mind blown by the script.
Marie’s acting as 4 or 5 or was it 6…. separate characters was impressive to say the least. With her quick wit, well researched script, and pure stage presence- this show was sure to engage even the least train enthusiasts in the audience. A huge shout out to Tiff Hall for the incredible music in the show, keeping us all well engaged during Marie’s character metamorphoses! Bravo!
This was so good. We loved the story, it's so important to learn a bit of our history. Marie changed characters and each character was unique, and she was a beautiful storyteller. The story was mixed with quirky clever humor.
Tiff Hall's musical interludes were so good. I now need to download crazy train on the accordion!
This show is exactly what it claims to be: a bittersweet saga of the Edmonton interurban railway. As a young reviewer who isn’t drawn to informative or documentary-style productions, I’ll admit this wasn’t my cup of tea. However, I noticed many in the audience (particularly those outside my age group) were attentive and entertained throughout the performance. It's a matter of interest.
The execution was more disorganized than expected, but I’ll chalk that up to first-night jitters. The show wasn’t flawless, but it wasn't a total trainwreck. The characters were well-portrayed, the accents consistent, and the props simple yet effective. The production leaned heavily into a talk-show style, with monologues that, while lengthy, sometimes felt rushed. The set was minimal and often not utilized, as were the costumes, though they added an olden charm to the stage.
Despite my lack of interest in the topic, the solo actor delivered an incredible performance. There were moments of chaos, but they recovered well every time. I admired their enthusiasm and dedication. I would love to see them in other comedic-leaning productions with a faster pace.
Would I rewatch this production? Probably not. Still, the intent behind it is there, and so is the passion for the arts.