Ari Mitchell
The Dinner Party is an incredibly tight and hilarious long-from improv show that had the audience howling the whole way through. Alongside the two main improvisers, Joey Lucius and Marg Lawler were two special guests, so every performance would feel completely unique. Every artist, including the guests, lighting technician and live pianist, played off each other brilliantly. Despite being improv, every element felt so carefully out together. Very unsurprising coming from Rapidfire Theatre, this is some of the finest improv you’ll get in Edmonton. The energy in the theatre was so infectious, there were many points where the actors couldn’t get a word in over the laughter of the whole audience. I left this show immediately wanting to go watch it again, so I highly recommend it to anyone wanting a smile on their face for the rest of the day.
BEERprov was hilarious, inviting, and incredibly silly. Based around short-form improv games, the five artists would take turns randomly selecting a game for them to play. At the heart of it all, you could feel the friendship the improvisers had with each other. They played off of each other brilliantly, it's very clear how much time they have spent improvising with each other over the years. If you've ever done an improv class then you'd probably recognize many of the games they played, and you would see how much skill goes into the impressive performances. The audience was howling every second because of how sharp and witty the performers were. If you love party games and you love improv, you need to see BEERprov.
Orange You Glad to be in Miami is a surprising and funny autobiographical one-man show recounting Bennet Caffee's time through psych wards as a young adult. Despite the heavy subject, Caffee presents this story comedically, yet deeply authentically, which led to a surprisingly impactful performance. He presents it from the perspective of his younger self, giving us a glimpse into what it's like to live in a mind affected by untreated bipolar disorder. Despite the comedic tone, this show is thought-provoking. Caffee's willingness to be open about all aspects of his experiences and his ability to present them in an entertaining format led to an engaging show that I'll remember.
Whether you're already a fan of Norse mythology or you're totally new to the stories, Thor's A Dick is a great recounting of the old tales of the Norse gods that's epic and dramatic, as well as modern, down-to-earth, and very funny. Storyteller Eden takes the audience through a few classic stories, from the creation of the Earth to the destruction of the planet as we know it, all to show us that the Norse gods are not the heroes that Marvel movies would have us believe. Eden carries this one man show with a lot of charisma and charm that immediately draws the audience in. He often interrupts the epic stories to share the historical context around them. These segments are very personable and funny, making us feel like we're just being told these stories by a friend, or around a campfire. At one point in the middle of one of the dramatic stories, a spotlight is put on the wall as Eden starts using shadow puppets to assist his storytelling. This was a very clever and charming addition to an otherwise mostly prop-less show. On that note, despite largely no set or props, Eden manages to keep the audience engaged the whole time through his dramatic performance, captivating stage presence, and conversational approach to storytelling that kept the audience of the edge of our seat, wondering what would happen next.
Witches in the closet is a heartbreaking story that explores queerness, femininity, and conformity through a historical lens. Taking place in the era of witch trials, this show follows two girls who get prosecuted for witchcraft after their not-so platonic relationship is discovered. Through the show, we get to know the two girls and their relationship. The two actors portray this beautifully, with great chemistry between them. As the show switches between flashbacks, the actors create noticeable contrast between the girls at different ages. The audience falls in love with the characters through the actors' heartwarming depiction of girlhood and childhood friendship, which only enhances the tragedy of what the characters deal with as they grow older. The music through the show is great, full of harmonies and overlapping melodies that emphasize to the tension of the situation and the connection between the two girls. The actors perform the music very well, both having amazing voices that blend beautifully. This show is charming and thought-provoking, exploring themes that apply not just to a historical context, but to our world today.
The Perils of Penzance is not just an ode to the greats of classic musical musical theatre, but a hilarious new story, full of witty characters, drama, and lots of absurdity! The show follows a struggling drama troupe of 5 (no, 6!) people trying their hardest to put on productions of Gilbert & Sullivan shows. Along the way they're slowed down by constant fighting within the cast, romantic tension, and utter confusion that leaves them wondering what future the troupe has. All of the performers have amazing voices and they blend so well as an ensemble while each shining when they take the spotlight. This show is worth seeing for just the musical performances alone, but on top of that is the cast of charming and goofy characters that take you through the set of songs. Each of the over-the-top characters play off each other brilliantly, with their ridiculous hijinks filling the audience with laughter. This is a great show for anyone who's a fan of Gilbert & Sullivan, Rodgers & Hammerstein or any classic musical theatre, all packaged together with a witty show full of charming characters.
From the moment he introduces his show, Jimmy Hogg is on a time crunch. He has exactly 59.5 minutes to tell us a story of his youth: a 19 year old Hogg trying to play it “cool” while hitchhiking across england to visit his new girlfriend. With no time to spare, it’s one joke after the next and it’s hilarious. His story recounts how a slug, a bush, and a half-naked truck driver helped him discover his passion for stand-up and storytelling. And this now-developed passion is evident through his control of the stage, constant audience engagement, and frequent callbacks to recurring jokes that seem to get funnier every time he references them. His setup is unassuming - just a chair and small side table behind a man in jeans and a plain white t-shirt, yet the audience immediately became connected and comfortable with Hogg. In fact, the audience couldn’t stop clapping and cheering, despite his pleas of saving time. He played off the audience brilliantly, reacting to things the audience members said and did in a seamless way that made it feel like a scripted part of the show. The whole show felt very conversational and connected, like your friend telling you a funny story. Jimmy Hogg: Mashed was an hour of well-written and expertly delivered comedy that I’d recommend to anyone wanting a great laugh this fringe.
Ari Mitchell, AYTC
A Woman Is... is a deeply real one-woman cabaret that has clearly has a lot of care put into it. Kiki Moritsugu tells the story of herself, and of her mother, and how they interacted and influenced each other. Kiki presents different aspects of her life - her relationship with her mother, her experience with racism, and her relationship with motherhood, among others - all in a very raw and multi-faceted way that gives insight into not only her unique life, but the human experience as a whole. Additionally, she adds musical numbers throughout the show, and her voice is powerful, controlled, and versatile. From choreography to live piano to funny jokes, the show has a lot of parts to it while maintaining a consistent vision. I believe that anyone, but especially artists or people of colour, could relate to something in this show, and it is worth seeing!
Ari Mitchell, AYTC
This show is hilarious and clever! When they initially introduced the blind date gimmick, I was worried it might distract from the improv, but instead it provided funny little interludes in the show that felt refreshing and exciting. The improv itself, of course, was super funny and had my face hurting from laughing for an hour straight. The small cast of improvisers played off each other very well and filled the show with funny little one-liners that the audience absolutely loved. I recommend this show, whether you love improv or are brand new to it, it'll certainly be lots of fun.
Ari Mitchell, AYTC
Mathew's Big Broadway Bash was inviting, fun, friendly, and unique from start to finish. Mathew's vocals are amazing, with control and power like what you'd hear on a Broadway stage. Throughout the show is sections of audience participation, from sing-a-longs to bringing people on stage, which makes the performance personable and Mathew seem more like a friend singing for you. The show was able to stay fresh and interesting with Mathew telling stories and jokes between numbers, which kept me engaged the whole way through. This show is a lovely and friendly love letter to musical theatre sung by a great vocalist and charming performer.