Carly Vos

From Prison to Jazzercise!

Just the two improvisers on stage, they took the audiences musical cues and ran with them. Their chemistry as a duet is crazy, with almost no audience cues, they created and performed multiple stories at once. Managing to tell many stories at the same time, they kept the scenes running smoothly, and had genuine, silly, believable chemistry in every scene. As well, an improvised slow dance to Jeff Buckley’s, Lover, You Should’ve Come Over, stole the audiences hearts.

As well, they offered free cake at every show, which was definetly a selling point for audience members aside from the incredible show.

This is an heavily underrated duo show, and a true embodiment of the Edmonton Fringe Festival spirit.

Woo! But in a Minor Key!

Just about the simplest a stage can be, a single couch and small gaggle of improvisers, this show was a creative mix of a diverse troop and minimal cues and props. All 5 of the actors were very distinct in their own characters and personalities, whoever the improvisers may have benefitted more from the use of an external technical team in order to elevate the show and add layering to the performance.

Though the actors were strong individually, it tended towards awkwardness at time, as well as interrupting one another.

However, I found they utilized the space masterfully and creatively, as well, the lighting shifting to fit the mood in the scenes gave the actors organic transitions. All together, this show was a great insight into the barebones and artistry in improv.

Becoming a Cult Leader (in training)

The venue was perfect for this show, as we all sat in perfect lines down in a church basement! This show was simple in execution, but no doubt engaging. The speaker was witty, which allowed the heavy, tragic content to be digestible and enjoyable.

Her storytelling is incredible entertaining, as well as the thoughtful addition of music and pop culture to cement the stories in time and help them resonate.

How much will people believe? Have the traditional cults we read about shifted into the extremist groups we see today? This show, while a warning against indoctrination and brainwashing, serves as an incredible primer in the history of cults, and how history can and does repeat itself.

Educational, but enjoyable all the same, Cults is a must see at the Edmonton Fringe Festival.

Featuring: The Ghost of Acacia Hall!

One of the longest running Fringe shows at the festival, yet different every time, DieNasty! is an improv performance starring multiple skilled actors and some very strange characters they’ve adopted. This is such a quality piece of improvised theatre, the actors were all very charismatic and strong artistically. Especially with the special guest of the evening, Diane Jorge, everything from the sound effects, lighting changes, and cues from the emcee, this was hilarious through and through.

The set was simple but utilized creatively in countless scenes, and other special guests such as the ghost of Acacia Hall, romance in the beer tent, fringe flings, and tech billionaires.

This was unique, silly, hilarious, and in times touching, everything one would want to see in a Fringe Show.

“I like my Fringe like I like my Improv, you never know what you’re going to get!”

A breakneck improvisation competition, King of the Hill is a show where skilled actors face off in multiple games and performances to win over the crowd.

The variety of games, audience participation, and individual personalities and skills of the actors truly made this show unique. Taking place in the Grindstone theatre this small venue was perfect to make the show collaborative and cozy to the audience.

This was such a great time, the connected audience and participation made the room come alive, these improvisers were hilarious and witty, and we couldn’t recommend it enough.

How Stories Connect Generations

Seanchaí, the irish word for a traditional or storyteller and story keeping, is a show that was connected and delicately intertwined for the entire performance. While the theme of family and cultural disconnect is heavy and complex, the touching elements of language and story bringing family together made the show memorable. A duo performance, both actors leaned into their roles genuinely and effortlessly. The script was incredibly thoughtful, and the direction that the actors took in reflecting both an older and newer generation, made it relatable and heartfelt to the audience.

Oral storytelling is sacred, and sharing face to face rather than on a screen is traditional connection that a newer generation craves. From learning from the grandmother in the performance, the truth of stories, language, memories, and communication, it proves its how we keep one another’s histories alive.

Loving is Overcoming

The complexities and tragedy of modern day queer relationships is presented beautifully in Stop Kiss, heartbreaking, complicated, and breathtaking.

This performance utilized the stage space perfectly, seamlessly transformed from different locations and periods of time. Transitions utilized mixed media elements through the lighting and sound, which was stunningly curated and layered. The writing was witty and clever, the actors chemistry was believable and genuine, and it the costuming was nostalgic and added the perfect amount of colour and life to the tragedy as it unfolded.

This performance was one that will stick with its audience for days, the cast and technical teams should be in incredibly proud of Stop Kiss, and clearly all the hard work that made so many elements intersect perfectly.

Mother, Not Her Son

Afeni was jaw dropping. A performance on Tupac Shakur’s Mother, Afeni Shakur, tells the truth on Black experiences and injustices in North America. Her story as an activist and legal defenders of the Black Panther 21, within the Black Panther Party is one of necessity and resonance, a story that’s power rung through the audience and was proven by a standing ovation.

Starring Onika Henry, an incredible actress whose vocal clarity and charisma made it impossible to tear our eyes from this show. Her memorization was impeccable, and stage presence undeniably powerful.

Afeni was a performance to educate, entertain, and share the story of a woman whose incredible achievements are overshadowed by her son. This is a show worth your time, and one that will resonate and remain in your mind for days to come.

Product Placement, the Show

A comedy show following Herbert’s desperate quest for employment, this performance had the crowd in stitches.

The audience participation connected the room, as well as with his awkward, crude jokes. The improvisation was hilarious and the reaction with the volunteers that were invited on stage really brought the show together.

Though awkward, Hebert has a never ending fanny pack of tricks, and a mind full of jokes. His set was simple, but every pocket held props that were revealed throughout the show.

While the performance was at times uncomfortable, as well as short and crass, Herbert needs work was creative, personal, funny, and enjoyable.

We Might Have Revealed a Threesome Tonight

This solo show was complete insanity. From the audience participation to her witty humour and charisma, Diane Jorge had the audience roaring and reacting with every quick line and joke. Having the opportunity to see the opening night show at midnight, the crowd was immediately awoken and engaged by her character.

Opening with a fantastic intro from our host, Maria, the room was immediately swept into a live telenovela inspired show. Though she was performing to the group of us, we felt seen and included as the story progressed. The improvisation in this show was ridiculously good, her memory when recalling audience cues was perfect, everything she said had the room in tears. Her use of simple props to play multiple characters was seamless and creative, and intentional.

This show was so original, funny, and such a good time. What an incredible way to end the night.