Michael Neri-Leebody
This is a 30 minutes show in search of an hour’s worth of content. The show just does not sustain any momentum and does little to really explore the topic it seems to set out to do: Celebrate or highlight Houdini’s Canadian tour.
It is effectively two big illusions that we have all seen before and some window dressing that does not engage the audience.
There is definitely material to mine here, the show needs a little more work. Also, the Jack Benny bit is completely out of place and falls flat.
Bil Lepp brings some great “fireside chat” storytelling to the Fringe. He says this is his first show in Edmonton. I certainly hope he comes back. His show is a funny and charming meditation on childhood innocence and friendship. I feel like we are missing something not having Skeeter there, but he did a fine job.
Genuine laughs and heart. If you were a fan of the Vinyl Cafe on CBC, this is your show.
The play starts with awkward first date vibes (which is tough to watch but this is intentional as the actors here play it perfectly) but ends with real heart.
Some reviews have criticized this play for its unexpected tangent mid way through. I disagree. The scene plays out and the audience is genuinely on their toes wondering “whoa, where is this going?”. That is the magic of the Fringe.
Trust these two actors, they stick the landing. I will see anything they are in at future Fringes. This is well worth your time and money. See it before the end of the festival, you will not be disappointed.
There is an idea here, it needs to be worked on. Sometimes the Fringe gives us an experiment that does not work, sadly this is one of those shows. The set up is interesting, the problem is the story jumps from scene to scene and doesn’t really develop a story, just events with zero notion of how we got there. The two leads honestly give it their all, it is a shame the material just let them down.
Felice plays up the socially awkward bit to lure the audience in, then she unleashes some serious skills. So many magicians try the “big show theatrics”, this show is not that. This show goes completely the opposite direction and it works. All of the focuses on Felice’s raw talent and she is really really good. Don’t miss this one.
Saw his first show of the run, beyond some minor technical difficulties you could see this was a show he has been working on and mining it for gold. His lecture format works perfectly and the use of an old school overhead projector adds a charm that transported me back to lecture halls of the past. This show will only get better with time, this is one you should not miss.
Even if you have never watched the WWF or look down your nose at professional wrestling, you need to put your doubts aside and see this show. I walked in skeptical and walked out a believer. He captures the essence of "Macho Man" from the 80s and it is a joy to see the character and the man explored by this very talented artist. I'd pay ten times the cost of a ticket to see him explore this character even more in the future.
Master storyteller who clearly has a love of his subject. His stories draw you in like the best old radio dramas of the 1930s and 1940s. If you want to see the art of storytelling done right, do not miss this show.
Billed as an award winning show, I cannot for the life of me see why. Doing "my immigrant parents are upset I didn't become a doctor or lawyer" jokes in 2026? Are you kidding me? Perhaps my expectations were too high. Hard pass. Save your money.
The amount of love this artist has for the subject matter is on full display. Well researched, perfectly written and the performance was one of the best I have seen in a decade of Fringing. Kept her cool through a minor technical issue and stayed in character. If I could give it six stars I would.