Ely Ros

In one word: polished.

Both Yaschuk and Matkin give compelling, detailed performances. Their chemistry is undeniable.

The show itself is grim and hilarious and upsetting (in a good way!). Though the twist is predictable, this is actually to the benefit of the show -- the march towards the ending feels inevitable and the sooner you catch on the longer the dread builds.

The text is unafraid to go to some taboo places and the performers handle this content with skill (they strike the right balance between twisted glee and genuine weightiness).

Would highly recommend!

Colin Mochrie is an excellent improviser. As are the various guests who perform with him. The show delivers lots of laughs and is definitely worth the ticket price.

I didn't feel a lot of synergy between the improvisers (which made some of the bits fall flat for me), but that is always a possibility when watching this particular format of improv.

I saw this show with my parents and they both enjoyed it far more than I did, so take this review with a grain of salt -- I am definitely not Colin's Back's target audience, but that doesn't mean you won't be!

My parents and I see GBBH every year for a reason (the reason is that they are very, very good at what they do).

This is the best improv show at the fringe and we have LOTS of good improv here in Edmonton.

Uniform Theatre, as always, has produced a polished and well-performed take on Assassins. Their talented crew of actors make Sondheim's tricky music sparkle (and it is GOOD music). The "Gun Song" was a stand-out number. Every performance is excellent, so much so that it is difficult to choose who to highlight (I will, though). I've seen Michael Vetsch, Aran Wilson-McNally, and Nico Maiorana in many other shows; Assassins was all three at their very best. Alyson Horne as Sara Jane Moore also deserves her flowers -- her voice is fabulous and her comic timing is stellar.

If you're one of the lucky few who has tickets, I'd recommend sitting house left (away from the band) for the best experience.

If you're not one of the lucky few who has tickets... sorry! You're missing out.

As a lover of (terrible) puns, murder mysteries, and puppet shows, I must admit that I am this show's intended audience. The jokes had me groaning and cackling in equal measure, and (as with any good murder mystery) the twist is rewarding whether you see it coming or not.

Lighting the show solely with five lamps on the floor was not my favourite choice as it occasionally slowed and/or interrupted the pacing, though it did lead to some good laughs.

Overall: if you're looking to fill a spot in your fringe schedule, this is a worthy possibility.

The most comendable element of Gnaw and Order -- a show overflowing with elements deserving of commendation -- is their commitment to their message. Though never heavy handed, Rat Acad 2 is not afraid to make a statement (somehow making an Anthony Bourdain quote deeply provocative -- a feat in and of itself). They masterfully balance humour with pathos throughout.

A contender for best of fest, in my opinion.

I see a lot of shows at fringe and rarely do I retrospectively like them more than I did during the ovation. This is one of those shows -- I have genuinely been thinking about it for days afterwards, and, the more I think about it the more I like it. Clevername theatre has earned their name with a show both darkly funny and genuinely devastating, a credit to the intelligent craftsmanship of the script.

I would recommend familiarizing yourself with Peter Pan and Iceman Cometh before buying your ticket -- you'll get more out of it.

Nonetheless, this show is a real contender for my pick of the fringe.

SNAFU does it again! Consistently excellent, year after year. Baby Tyler always delights, but my highlight from this year's iteration of Epidermis was the nuns. Hansen is a one-of-a-kind creative and a technically stellar puppeteer. As impressive as it is funny.

You will not be disappointed.

I had the privilege of seeing their opening night show -- Sam's Clam and Oyster Bar is a perfect late-night fringe pick for you and ten of your most intoxicated friends (grab a drink at the Grindstone beforehand!). Though more concerned with getting laughs than with presenting a water-tight plot, the laughs are darn good laughs.

Raunchy. Campy. Silly.

Standout performance: Sam Daly is excellent as the mysterious clam salesman.

Lost Sock is a well-crafted and engaging clown show. Clever, heartfelt fun. Made me genuinely want to adopt a sock!