Tommy Ma
This is such an innovative and polished piece, with such a high degree of production difficulty, with analog overhead protectors, video cameras, puppetry, and soundscapes. The duo pulled it off in La Cité Francophone theatre, and it was such a visually beautiful piece. This production is a top tier Fringe piece, and is an example of the beauty that Fringe can offer. Go see the holdover shows, as it would be lovely to see this production in a new venue (the Arts Barns).
A solid performance by an authentic 2-actor cast. You definitely feel the yearning and the loneliness of the characters, and the subtle longing of the strangers is a nice palate cleanser for the typical Fringe piece. It's an interesting selection of this overseas play, and while the script seems a little flat, perhaps that's just the writing "being Norwegian".
The actors make this play worthwhile, and it'll be interesting to see how they remount this at the Varscona. A Fringe recommend.
This storytelling performance is a strong retelling of the history of a key WWF wrestler, with some personal anecdotes mixed in. It's a strong example of a good Fringe storytelling show. It is true that you don't need to "know wrestling" to follow the performance. Though some familiarity with Fandom and the 80s would help one keep engaged. A strong accomplishment from a touring performer.
Most veteran Fringe patrons need to see at least one weird performance, that makes you go "What The - !!!!!". This is the best weird, uh, comedy play? Clown show? Whatever this was, it hit the mark of Fringe unhinged zany action, and you definitely wouldn't see this during a typical Winter Playhouse season.
The audience participation, physical humor, adult banter -- all was completely bonkers, and the performers carried the "narrative" well. The well attended weekend crowd was super into the bizarre actions and reactions.
While I probably wouldn't bring my grandmother to this particular act, this is the perfect example of a wacky Fringe show, and is a must-see for Fringe veterans.
From a magic performance perspective, Brett performs strong, impressive tricks. The narrative was well researched but a little flat, but that's ok. We weren't there for a history lesson, we were there to watch cool tricks, and the performer definitely put blood, sweat, and tears into this piece. A good representation of Fringe Magic.
This 2-person play addresses a very intriguing premise on how we deal with grief and death. The direction and the production is solid, and the acting is good. And the script does stick the landing.
For future runs of the show, I'd suggest a mild reworking of the first half -- it was somewhat scattered to follow, and felt a little slow and cliched. Some reorganizing or trimming of the early scenes would bring a stronger payoff.
As it was, this emerging play by up-and-coming Fringe artists is worth a risk. A decently fulfilling watch.
What do you get when you have a solo act that provides a one hour Austin Powers-esque film noir pastiche, inside a church auditorium? Well, you get your quintessential Fringe show.
Mr Canyon is a solid character, and the show is decently paced with excellent direction and production. A packed house on a weekend evening. This is a clear example of a "typical good Fringe experience".
This is a brand new production, and Gwendolyn should be proud of the audacious and intriguing premise. Initially positioned as a humorous vaudeville spirit act, the narrative closes well at the end, with a lovely homage.
I will be honest, not all parts of the script stuck the landing, particularly in the first half. It was a bumpy ride. As a new production, they'll probably want to do more development and re-work. But the seeds of warmth are there, the production has heart, and as the show wrapped up, you realize that this is a very innovative concept.
Acting was solid for this two-person narrative. Good production value and visuals as well. Note that this is set in the pre-Victorian era, so the script may not be to everyone's fancy or interest. I almost wonder if the program blurb could be jazzed up to set better expectations for the audience, though this play stands decently, and was well attended for a weekday afternoon performance.
Chase is a reliable and dependable Fringe act, and always a strong recommend. This set mixes strong guitar and vocals with personal, meaningful storytelling. This is a perfect show to share with a Fringe newcomer.