At Home with the Bards

Cup of Hemlock Theatre Podcast reviewed At Home with the Bards in PART 1 of our 3-part post-festival Review Roundup.

Click link for YouTube, or search for the audio-only version wherever you get your podcasts. TIMESTAMP: 26:42

TL;DL: Mack enjoyed this one more than I did (which is why I'm splitting the difference with 2.5 stars). Feels like it was written to be a community theatre staple, and (with a few rewriters) I hope it gets a long and prosperous future as such.

Unfortunately this may have been one of the worst Fringe shows I've ever seen. My companion wondered if the remark in the show, along the lines of, "You can get a refund for a show, but you'll never get your time back" was making fun of us, the audience.

This really fell flat. Too many stories, tired jokes, some actors barely seeming to act.

I give it 1 star because we did laugh occasionally, and I do think this is the joy of the Fringe, you never know what you'll get and I always want to encourage the programmers to take risks. Of course some will fall horribly flat.

Show was just okay and wish it had been a bit longer with ..... not sure, Hoping for a but nire,

This funny and quirky comedy will leave you longing for a stay out in Stratford!

You can read my full review online!

An overcrowded story with too many characters and plot lines, and reliance on one-line political jokes to carry the humour. The one really bright spot is the always enchanting and focussed performance of Jane Smythe as Abby, a disgruntled American trying to get a foothold in Canada by work or marriage. If the rest of the silliness was stripped away to focus on this character’s arc, the show would be much stronger.

This play was well staged, characters and actors projected well. The story line was a bit too busy but you could tell it was a busy b and b. the couple did not seem as strong as the other actors as they did not feel like a couple so much as 2 employees. it did get all tied up in the end but it could be cut down a bit as some aspects did drag on. possibly less characters and more development of those kept ?

In the many categories of typical Fringe shows, I would consider this as “an earnest offering by seasoned players.” Everyone played their roles well, with the two leads (the Actor and the Retired Librarian) standing out. The story ended a bit abruptly and left me wanting more follow-up, but I guess the one-hour format can sometimes be challenging in that way.

I would not call this a “must-see” for everyone, but for those who like to sample a wide array of Fringe offerings, I can certainly recommend this play.

I caught At Home with the Bards, and I think this is one of those rare cases where the show and I just weren't quite on the same wavelength.

That's not to say it was bad, far from it. It's a good, solid little play with a cast that delivers strong performances and keeps everything moving along nicely. The transitions ran a touch long here and there, but never enough to pull me out of the story or have me checking my watch.

Nothing really jumped out as a "wow" moment for me, but not every show needs a showstopper. Sometimes it's just a well-crafted production that quietly does what it sets out to do.

It may not end up on my personal "must-see-again" list, but I certainly don't regret spending an evening with it. If this is the kind of theatre that speaks to you, I think you'll have a perfectly lovely time.

Not the greatest show I've ever seen... but definitely not too shabby either. Sometimes "pretty good" is exactly what a night at the theatre needs.

Heading out to see a few shows at a festival, possibly rural? How about where to stay. A B&B maybe? Lots of gossip and speculation. Dreamers vs Musicals. Of course there is the seasoned actor and his relationship with his agent. There are some political issues noted but the main focus is on how the individuals staying at the B&B interact with each other. Action moves from one topic to the next. The cast is really good. Lots of movement. They play their roles so well. Smiles all around.

I give this B&B 5-Stars.