I have seen Fear Fables every year it’s been put on at the Fringe. As with any anthology show, there are a few high highs, a few low lows, and plenty of numbers in between the two. While I can always count on Emmonia’s cheeky hosting, beautiful set pieces, stunning costumes, and an effective ending, there are also some common misfires. Shoehorning performances that don’t quite fit into the theme and lackluster lip syncs are just as common in this show.

While there were a few highlights in the show this year, particularly Karly Klimax’s hilarious, energetic, and well-rounded number, the gap in quality between the performances was noticeably wider than in previous years.

This is the kind of show that should be in a more intimate venue. With a theatre like the Westbury, you could theoretically be seated several metres away from the performers and miss the details. The space feels cold, and the classic interaction between drag queen and audience becomes awkward and sterile. There’s no dancing through the crowd to collect cash or do bits with the audience. If a queen wants to climb the risers, the house lights go up and the magic of this spooky show is immediately disrupted.

To pick on one more small element that made a big difference, one of the numbers had music that was much quieter than the others. This muted the effect of the performance and honestly kind of felt awkward. I don’t know if this was an issue with the audio file or the techs or what, but it made for a somewhat subdued crowd.

This wasn’t enough to turn me off Fear Fables, but next year I likely won’t prioritize it in my schedule.