FRINGE: 5 shows by Masters
They are the Masters of the Fringe. They stand, like the Colossus of old, towering over our annual theatrical binge, carrying a record of past hits. These are the names to check first because they are the ones who quickly sell out. Such is Stewart Lemoine. He wrote his first play, All These Heels for […]
HOW RUDE! Tales of Fringe audiences
There are 203 plays at the 2015 Edmonton International Fringe Festival this year – many times more than the number of productions throughout the entire rest of the regular season, and with that comes many more patrons who never see any other kind of theatre but the Fringe, once a year. Sometimes in an inebriated […]
Amber Nash puts a little ‘Pam’ in Fringe play
The name Amber Nash may not mean anything to you, but her voice undeniably will. The American actress voices the curvaceous, openly bi-sexual, hedonistic, human resources director Pam Poovey in FX’s hit adult-animated espionage satire cartoon Archer. Nash is in Edmonton for her one-woman show What’s Wrong With You? during Edmonton’s 34th International Fringe Theatre […]
FRINGE: Revenge of the Reviewed!
Fringe artists have had a tempestuous relationship with their critics since there was Fringe. It’s symbiotic. Artists need critics. Critics need things to criticize. As local theatre guru Kenneth Brown says, “Intelligent criticism is a vital part of theatrical culture.” Artists court the media’s favour to drum up ticket sales. They depend on favourable reviews […]
MUSIC PREVIEW: One Fringe to rule them all
There is a condition unique to Edmonton – or any other winter city, for that matter – called Seasonal Hyperactive Festival Exhaustion Disorder, or SHAFED, that results in such a manic rush of summer fun that events that would normally merit full attention get shafted. Such is the case with the Fringe – the biggest […]
Holdovers methadone for Fringeheads
To ease the crushing existential pain from Post Traumatic Fringe Disorder (PTFD), three Fringe venues are presenting holdovers of hits through this last, precious week before school starts. It’s hard to go cold turkey from 10 days of more than 200 plays in what turns out to be the most successful edition of the Edmonton […]
Fringe festival stuck with star system
Fringe artists hate the star rating system – and they love the star rating system. Is it time to get rid of it? Fringe artists recently replied, “Yes … but no!” Rest assured that any thespian bestowed a four or five-star review from one of the area print publications will be out there at the […]
FRINGE: Redheads have more fun!
If you’re not already a sucker for redheads, you will be after seeing Rebecca Perry in her creative and original one woman show “Confessions of a Redheaded Coffeeshop Girl” (Venue 42) at the Edmonton Fringe. Perry plays Joanie, a 20-something girl stuck working at a Toronto area coffee shop and trying to figure out her […]
Fringing in the French Quarter
Rapide! Dispatch one accordion player, one mime and more wine to La Cite Francophone immediately! Mon Dieu, those poor tourists have nothing to do while they’re waiting for their plays at the Fringe! So polite. Some people out East actually can’t believe that Edmonton has a French Quarter – but there it is, just a […]
