Summer Maybank
Two ex-cult members who band together in a religious revival — but will they and their relationship survive it? The Prophet is a two-person play about Jeremy, a man who can predict the future, and Katherine, a woman who believes Jeremy can help her become powerful.
In this show, Jayden Baldry (Jeremy) had some phenomenal acting moments, and it had some impressive set, lighting, and sound elements. However, the story of this show felt very confusing and incomplete. It seemed as though character motivation and backstory were missing, and the overall plot of the story was very confusing and unclear. There were some very funny moments throughout the show, but what exactly they were making fun of was not clear. Simply, by the end of the show, I was not sure what the message or point of the play was.
However, despite all of this, the acting and technical elements of the show really shone through! Baldry’s comedic acting had the audience frequently laughing, and the technical elements of the show were very impressive. Props such as hilariously oversized cigarettes added greatly to the comedy of the show, and the lighting and sound of the play were dramatic and effective. Despite the story’s shortcomings, it is clear that the actors, technicians, and crew have worked very hard on this show.
The Prophet had great acting, comedy, and tech! Though it was quite hard to follow in some parts, watching this show remained an enjoyable experience.
If you are looking for an absolutely fantastic musical improv show that will have you falling out of your seat laughing, this is the show for you! Offbook: The Improvised Musical is a musical that is completely improved — improvised lines, choreography, songs, and even live music.
Four incredibly talented actors, 2 fantastic musicians, and a phenomenal tech crew work together to create an entire hour-long story on the spot, based on a prompt from the audience at the start of the show.
This show genuinely had me crying laughing. Incredible singing, music, and truly unbelievable improvisation skills, this show was one of my highlights of this Fringe festival. Witnessing this show was truly impressive. The actors had the audience repeatedly roaring with laughter and the musicians never missed a beat crafting songs on the spot.
Full of music, silliness, and laughter, this show is an absolute must-see for any improv or comedy lover.
Have you been feeling down lately? Would you love a refreshing comedy show that turns actual good news about the world into something funny and entertaining? If so, Total Nileation is the show for you! Comedian Nile Seguin brings to the stage 45 minutes of fantastic comedy based on real world good news happening in the world.
Seguin had the audience laughing from the minute he got on stage — literally, the very first thing he said was hilarious and everyone was laughing from the get go. Seguin created a comedy show based on real life statistics of good news in the world — all the way from climate change to medical news to morality studies, he clearly has done so much educated research in order to make this show what it is now.
One fantastic aspect of this show was that it felt so simply refreshing. A stand up comedy show that is positive, doesn’t make fun of any group, and is genuinely really funny? It was amazing.
If you are looking for a well put together, hilarious, and just genuinely really enjoyable comedy show, make your way down to Nile Seguin’s Total Nileation!
Someone give these guys a bravery award for this show — The Taint Brothers, a two-person comedy show may be one of the most funny and most absurd shows you could witness. Uproariously funny and hilariously strange, this show follows Tony Adams and Peter Rod Jr. as they make a comedy performance out of the ridiculousness of “masculinity.”
From photos of their dogs, choreographed German glute workouts, imagine dragon dance breaks, to separatist ballsacks, this show takes you on a rollercoaster of laughs. During this show it was, simply put, impossible to predict what would happen next.
While being incredibly funny, ridiculous, and playful, Tony and Peter also managed to make this show genuinely meaningful as well. From stories of testicular surgeries to being truly comfortable in one’s own body, the fact that they managed to make one of the most hilarious and wild shows into something eloquent as well is truly impressive.
This show is one of the funniest and weirdest things you might ever see. Be prepared to witness the male body leaving very little to imagination, but also be prepared to laugh the entire show and have a fantastic time.
The Taint Brothers is a beautiful example of what can only be described as “hilariously absurd.” Make your way down to see this show, and don’t forget to check out the merch on the way out — especially the soap.
A man in a cell accused of Witchcraft — a crime he did not commit — and sentenced to death. Hexed: The Accusation of Goodman Briar is a period-piece play comprised of four actors, detailing the last hour Goodman Briar has in his life before he is to be publicly executed for accusations of Witchcraft. As he spends this last hour with his wife, the story of their lives and how they came to be there are revealed to the audience. Memories both fond and tragic, past hopes and dreams, and a shocking twist are uncovered as the play moves forward, the actors’ expert skills leaving the audience hanging on their every word.
A major aspect of this show is that it is incredibly dialogue-based. The show relies heavily on the actors, with no music, minimal props and set, and simple lighting. The actors are what make this play — and they did a truly incredible job. In particular, the married characters of Goodman Briar and Goodwife Briar had the audience truly, truly believing they were in love. I found myself thinking “there is no way these two people aren’t married.” Each actor’s performance was spectacular, with each one carrying so, so many lines throughout the show and executing them flawlessly.
One part of this show that just stood out above all else was the feeling it induced in the audience. A husband and wife spending their last hour together, needing to come to the realization that one of them was about to die, and the other would be left behind. The immense combination of sadness and love — that is not an easy situation to act. These actors performed it phenomenally.
To be frank, this show made me cry. If you would love to see a period-piece play that is intelligent, emotional, and incredibly well done, Hexed is absolutely the show for you.
“It’s not objectification if there’s a chance that you could get paid!” How To Succeed in Theatre By Trying Really, Really Hard: A Cabaret illustrates just how hard, ruthless, and uncaring auditioning and the job process can be for people who are trying (really, really hard) to succeed in theatre. With a cast of 8, this musical showcases incredible vocal and musical skill while exposing the difficulties that the theatre industry has, and how important it is to remember why we each began to love theatre in the first place.
This show follows each actor reading a book by the same title as the show. As they read each part of the book, it exposes another way that it feels that no matter how hard someone can try, or change their personality, or constantly conform to another’s wishes just to get the chance at an opportunity, sometimes it seems like there just isn’t a way to succeed.
However, while it does show these negatives, it also reminds the audience how beautiful theatre truly is! As said perfectly in the show, “I am not an idiot for caring.” This show allows the audience to come away from the show with an understanding of how hard theatre can be, but also what a meaningful, beautiful, and wonderful home it can be to be a part of.
This show also contains spectacular singing and vocal talent. Multiple actors in this show impressed the audience by acting, singing, and playing piano simultaneously as well. It is clear that so much effort, time, and hard work has come from these actors for this show.
If you love both funny and heartfelt musicals and have ever experienced the entity that is the theatre industry, then How To Succeed in Theatre By Trying Really, Really Hard: A Cabaret is the show for you!
Have you ever wanted to attend a comedy show that covers a range of subjects like hilarious middle school journals, genuinely emotional vulnerability, all the way to ADHD in the French Revolution? Oh, and be ready to both laugh and cry in the very same hour. Oversharer is a stand-up comedy show performed by Kristen Einarson about life getting an ADHD diagnosis at age 29.
One major aspect of this show was how well Einarson blended being honest and vulnerable with comedy. She effectively was very good at making vulnerability funny while not being disrespectful or ignorant! She made the audience feel comfortable and made us laugh, even in vulnerable or uncomfortable moments. She was relatable — by the end of the show, it felt like she had become everyone’s friend.
Einarson is certainly very brave for managing to make this show what it is today. She managed to show the positives and comedy of living with ADHD, but she also acknowledges the immense struggles that come with it. The fact that she does not just gloss over all of the harsh realities about the disorder is what truly makes this show as meaningful as it is.
Though this is a show about living with ADHD, this show could be easily enjoyed by both neurodivergent people and neurotypicals. Though her content is certainly relatable to ADHD havers — being chronically late, losing your keys, and even her line “I talk so much in social situations I became a stand up comedian,” the show’s great comedy and everyday-life material would make the show just as fun for someone who had only just learned about ADHD.
A great blend of hilarious, serious, genuine, and fun, make your way down to the Fringe for Kristen Einarson’s Oversharer.
And a message to Kristen: you don’t need to be calmer or quieter or any less of yourself. You are a hilarious comedian and please continue being the ADHD icon that you are. :)
A cryptic mystery! A dubious suspect! And a jury of puppets ready to crack the case! 12 Angry Puppets is a murder mystery puppet show where 12 puppet jurors have to decide the verdict of a murder case, where every single puppet is played by Adam Francis Proulx — who plays every character absolutely fantastically.
An old woman, a young boy, a nerdy law student, a burly Russian man — Proulx truly displays his remarkable vocal and acting range by acting as 12 entirely different puppets, doing incredible voices and spectacular characterization. Truly, he should consider being an audiobook narrator.
Each puppet consists of changing the facial features and outfit of one puppet! Proulx does this expertly, remaining in character as he changes the puppet’s character, allowing for the audience to remain immersed in the story and continue thoroughly enjoying ourselves, as we absolutely were.
This show was hilarious, interesting, and truly impressive to witness. I even forgot to take notes during the show as I was just having so much fun. Prepare yourself to enter the courtroom as you learn the backstory of each intriguing and humorous puppet, and get ready to fall out of your seat laughing as the mystery uncovers.
Everyone knows the word love, but what does it really mean? What can be defined as love, what counts? And how do we know what love can and should look like? These questions are what the show “it’s how i know” addresses.
This play, made up of four actors who each play countless different characters, is a series of small scenes all with the common theme of love. Now, you could think this only means romantic love — but that’s not the only kind of love that there is. From a painful breakup, divorce, love between a mother and daughter, loving someone who doesn’t love you back, grief, or even a first date, “it’s how i know” shows perfectly that love can come in so, so many forms. Love can even be sitting at the table together playing geometry dash.
A heartfelt, meaningful, and well put-together show, this play is perfect for anyone who has ever wondered what love really means in a person's life. A combination of happy, devastating, funny, and relatable small moments, “it’s how i know” demonstrates well how we all experience love in our lives, no matter how different they may be.
Have you ever wondered what balancing a job, a difficult family, and a polyamorous relationship looks like? If so, Alex and Michael and Hannah might be the show for you. This play comprised of 4 actors is both a love story and a peek into the struggles of life, and how one balances their own happiness with their family’s approval.
Although, to me, this show read as quite cringey and felt uncomfortable to watch at times, it has phenomenal actors, effective use of sets and audio, and a great score. Each actor was thoroughly convincing in their role and truly helped bring this story to life.
This show also does a great job of addressing expectations — both of oneself and from family, and how the feeling of being genuinely loved can allow one to finally feel confident just being oneself.
This show gives the audience a glimpse into what life in a polyamorous relationship in Alberta can look and feel like — both the struggles and the joy that can come with it.