Katelynn Engel

If British comedy isn't your cup of tea, I can understand why you may not enjoy this stand-up comedy set. However, that's not the case for me. I've always had a sense of humour that others find weird. British humour rarely fails to make me laugh.

Andrew Silverwood is a hilarious comedian. He uses the right amount of crowd work while still staying on track with his material. During my experience of seeing this set, Silverwood walked outside and was already entertaining the line of people waiting to enter the venue.

Normally, when I see a show that I'm reviewing, I take notes. At a certain point, I decided to simply enjoy the show. I liked it so much that I didn't want to be a reviewer in that moment. I just wanted to laugh. So that's what I did.

Again, if British comedy isn't your thing, I wouldn't necessarily recommend this show; nonetheless, if it is your cup of tea, you shouldn't miss it.

"There ain't no thing a woman can't do," and Mandy Williams sure lives up to it. Mandy Williams' 'The Funny Thing About Men' is a fantastic, hilarious, and relatable show.

Williams never had a dull moment on stage. She filled the space with energy, wit, and song, leaving me laughing, smiling, and singing along in my head. Almost every woman nodded along to the relatable situations Williams shared. That's not to say the men in the audience weren't also having a good time.

At the end of the performance, an audience member came up to talk to Williams, and Williams stated something along the lines of, "I don't want to be rude to the men; I simply want to show some recognition for everything women do."

"What a lucky girl I am" to have seen this production during my first Fringe experience. I would highly recommend this show for anyone looking for a good laugh and a relatable story about relationships.

I want to start by stating that this is not my type of show.

Robert Peng's stand-up comedy routine was filled with a lot of crowd work, Canadian and sexual jokes, as well as jokes centered around being Asian.

I found myself giggling at some jokes, but I also felt a bit awkward afterwards. Nevertheless, many people in the audience cackled and had a wonderful time. He was very energetic and upbeat from the moment he took the stage.

While I can appreciate the confidence behind his jokes, some of the sexual and cultural humour did not resonate with me.

A show with a "Norwegian sense of humour." When humour and darkness are properly balanced, it makes for a beautiful show. Amy DeFelice's direction of David Greig's 'Being Norwegian' was all of that and more. Sean, played by Cody Porter, gets to learn all about Lisa, played by Clarice Eckford, and what makes her Norwegian. Oh boy, "...there's something different about her."

Lisa's outgoing and strong personality contrasts well with Sean's defensive and nervous style. The two actors played this dynamic beautifully, making each interaction feel real. Oftentimes, I thought I was watching a real conversation take place. The chemistry, movement, and flow of words created a real environment.

The shift from comedy to darker emotions was done so professionally and effectively. The build-up of tension wasn't sudden; the tension developed naturally, as though it was a real situation between two people who had just met. As I write this review, I've seen six Fringe shows, and so far, this is my personal favourite of the six. I highly recommend seeing 'Being Norwegian'.

It's only in true Mae West fashion for everything to go wrong. Although Wendi Wynazz had a chaotic opening night, the show did not shy away from being a memorable and fun event. Even with props in the wrong places, a crazy wardrobe change, and running a bit late, it never seemed to faze Wynazz. I often asked myself if the mistakes were real or not because Wynazz did such a wonderful job improvising. Wynazz's crowd work had everyone laughing and allowed for a personalized experience, with every showing offering something different. "A bold and sexually unapologetic leading lady" is one of many ways to describe Wynazz's portrayal of Mae West. Hilarious, engaging, and witty are just some of the words I'd use. I often found myself forgetting to write notes because I was so engaged. If you're looking for a fun-filled night of laughter and some chaotic history, this is a show I wouldn't miss.

Judith Betzler's show 'Beings' is one some people may overlook because it seems like another silly alien story, but this is far beyond that. This play raises awareness about the 60's Scoop and some of the dark parts of Canadian Indigenous history without creating an environment that was too heavy.

Sitting in the audience, I was immediately intrigued and transported into the world of this story. Having the land acknowledgment be an alien voice instantly added to the atmosphere. The whole theatre stood dark; the only things visible were Betzler's white shoelaces glowing in the dark, giving the scene an alien, almost magical feel.

I was impressed by the commitment and level of detail Betzler brought to this production. Every movement had a purpose and felt real rather than staged. Betzler took the time to tell the story, unafraid to use silent moments. This created genuine, everyday moments. The words Betzler used were descriptive and purposeful. I could picture the story so vividly even though the set was a simple campground.

I recommend this play because it is intriguing, well-performed, and eye-opening.

"Life hands us roles, and we play them." Lindsay Smith-Munoz's 'Shakespeare's Judgment Day' presents a woman who has always longed to be on stage performing Shakespeare. Instead, her life on the stage moves to the screen when she plays the famous role of Sarah Connor, portrayed by Liz Johannson, in 'Terminator'.

Personally, this show wasn't my cup of tea, but that's not to say it wasn't well done. The body movement and projection allowed the story to be portrayed successfully. Something impressive to note is the flow between modern and Shakespearean language. The actors clearly rehearsed a lot, making the switches look effortless.

The few cameos within the production were done well and added fun lighthearted moments. Overall, the acting, use of costumes, and use of sound complemented the story well.

"It's really not important whether you win or lose; it's about how you spin the story." Bil Lepp's storytelling act was a hilarious addition to my Fringe experience. The way in which Lepp tells stories creates an engaging and joyful adventure.

Within the first few moments of the set, most of the audience was laughing aloud, with the rest giggling. Lepp prefaced the show by stating that the performance would weave between fact and fiction to the point that you wouldn't know what parts are real anymore. Every quick one-liner had the audience erupting in laughter. I found myself smiling for the whole hour. A show that included "macaroni, glue and glitter," elephants with importance, and "two seven-year-old hydrologists." "Now dwell on that, and maybe you'll learn something."

I dwelt on it, and I recommend this Fringe show if you're looking for a good laugh.

"We are the voices, we are the ones." I chose this quote to start my review because Dwayne Morgan's one-man performance builds on the idea that everyone should have the right to be who they want to be. Unfortunately, the world we live in doesn't allow for that. "A Life In 60 Minutes" expresses hard-to-talk-about topics in such a relatable and thoughtful way while giving a voice to issues that need to be heard. Morgan speaks about the struggles human beings encounter when they are Black people, women, immigrants and/or Indigenous people. I personally enjoy when people bring up the problems of our world and society instead of ignoring that there's a problem to begin with. Although Morgan talks about deep and heavy topics, the room and mood never felt too heavy. A few comedic lines sprinkled in the performance allowed for any potential tension to be cut. Through poetry, Morgan was able to express these ideas in such a way that left the room feeling safe rather than uneasy. Something I took away from this performance was the line, "Your intellect is a switchblade that will always be sharper than your tongue." This is a strong and relatable statement that resonated with me because it emphasizes the power of intellect and knowledge. I hope all who see his performance take away something meaningful from the experience. Morgan's one-man performance reminds us that our voices matter and that the stories and struggles we face deserve to be heard.