FRINGE FOR ALL FOR ONE June 2 Café Campus

Du 12 au 22 JUIN
FRINGE The 18th ST-AMBROISE MONTREAL FRINGE FESTIVAL!
Le festival international de l'expression libre.

“La meilleure planque en ville pour s'exclamer 'What the f***!'”

In 1947 some artists feeling excluded from the Edinburgh Scotland International Festival decided to perform their shows at the exact same time. Later, journalists referred to these shows as the “Festival Fringe” and an international movement was born! The first Canadian Fringe Festival was held in1983 in Edmonton; since then, more than 30 Fringe Festivals have sprung up all across Canada and the United States. The 1st in Montreal was in 1991 and took place on St-Laurent Boulevard.

In 1996 I first discovered the FRINGE; I've attended every year since. Volunteering from 1999 to 2007, and on staff for 3 years: 2002, 04, 05. Volunteering for the FRINGE even if only for (4) hours will get you into a Play of your choice for FREE!

In 1996, Jeremy Hechtman, the current producer of the festival, moved it to the campus of McGill University. In 1999, the festival returned to the Main, and has since grown to become a bilingual French and English performing arts festival and one of the Plateau - Mile-End and Greater Montreal largest cultural events.

In 2008 over 50,000 spectators are expected to attend 90 companies from: 8 countries, 5 Canadian provinces, and 5 US states;  in over ten venues including: Cabaret et Studio Juste pour Rire, Théâtre La Chapelle, Théâtre Ste-Catherine, Éspace Geordie, Tangente, entre autre; presenting 700 performances in 11 days. Fringe Central offers numerous free concerts and special events with outdoor stage, beer tent and central box office located in Parc des Ameriques Rachael et St-Laurent. Ticket prices range from free to a maximum of $9 and 100% of this price is returned directly to the artists.

The 2008 Fringe season kicks off Monday June 2, 8pm, at Café Campus with our annual Fringe-For-All preview night: a free evening of performance where local Fringe companies will impress the assembled audience and is your best chance to determine the must-see shows of 2008. The festival opens at 6pm, Thursday, June 12, with a free outdoor concert and party at Fringe Central.

Here is a pre-view of some of those must see Plays:

‘The Dragpiper’
*Miss Gina, Dragpiper extraordinaire, is on a quest where Braveheart meets Priscilla Queen of the Desert, in search of a new home; except this ‘Dorethy is in high heels, fishnets and fake eyelashes. Two-spirited lipstick prophets tell secrets while Celtic hearts and blaring pipes escort you down the lost highway from Winnipeg through northern Ontario to La Belle Province.

‘Degrassi! The Musical’
Your favorite 80’s TV tales of teenage pregnancy, fake drug deals and swamp-related pornography all in musical form! Degrassi Junior High comes alive with instant classics like “There’s Nothing Wrong With Lesbians” “You Oughta Be Kicked in the Head” and a very special tap dance number, “He Touched You/Me.”
‘Le Cocu Clan’ est une pièce folle, burlesque, croustillante et puncher...bref, vous n'aurai pas le temps de vous ennuyer. Jouée devant plus de 3,000 personnes en région, elle vient  maintenant voir s'il y a autant de curieux que de cocus ici aussi.

“The official Napolean Dynamite Dance Class” This dance piece at Mange mes Pieds Dance Studio and has some interesting gay characters in the story line.

‘Peg-Ass-Us’ **A tale of boy-meets-girl, and the whole involves much more than the sum of their parts! In a no-holes-barred sexploration of ‘pegging’ these lovers tease along the delicious line between fetish & preference, queer & straight, give & take, wrong and oh-so-right. Produced by packofothers.org from NYC who coincidentially return to Montreal in October for La Récolte V with a production entitled ‘Fluid’.

The FRINGE FOR ALL is at Café Campus, Monday June 2nd 8pm.
A free entry event to see 2min. promotional samples of the Plays

18th ST-AMBROISE MONTREAL FESTIVAL FRINGE 12 au 22 juin. Billeterie et detailed programming information www.montrealfringe.ca Tél: 514.849.FEST.

‘Les z'enfants d'choeur’ au Gesu: le billet le plus 'HOT' à Montréal en juin.

Tel que publier dans Fugues (pg 114) juin 2008.
arts on aime le théâtre

Collaborateur Davyn Ryall Traduit par Stephan Turgeon

Du 12 au 21 JUIN
‘Les z'enfants d'choeur’/
‘Altar Boyz’ au Gesù.
 
Le directeur Stephen Pietrantoni (S.P.) a d’abord entendu parler de la comédie musicale ‘Altar Boyz’ quand elle jouait à New York au Musical Theatre Festival en 2004. Avec ses études en religion et en théâtre, il a été intéressé immédiatement par la pièce à cause de son thème et son message…“Aussitôt que je suis sorti du théâtre, la première fois que je l’ai vue off-Broadway en 2005, j’ai su que je voulais la présenter à Montréal. Son message d’espoir, de tolérance et de soutien mutuel  se rapporte si bien aux défis auxquels on fait face ensemble à chaque jour dans notre ville.” Un de ses plus grands défis a été de distribuer les rôles pour cette production locale. “C’est assez difficile pour une comédie musicale à Montréal… peu d’artistes sont à la fois acteur, chanteur et danseur... en plus, il me fallait cinq hommes bilingues car la pièce est jouée dans les 2 langues.” S.P.

Depuis ‘Les Misérables’, aucune compagnie locale n’a produit une comédie musicale avec une seule distribution bilingue jouant à la fois les versions française et anglaise. En produisant les 2 versions de la pièce, S.P. espère réduire les différences culturelles en créant une occasion pour les communautés francophones et anglophones de partager une même activité culturelle. “Les comédies musicales, à cause du langage universel de la musique, peuvent nous donner un point commun de référence pour que l’on puisse partager l’expérience ensemble.” S.P.

Les chansons dans ‘Les z'enfants d'choeur’ sont des airs pop, joyeux et contagieux. Le message de la pièce peut être pleinement apprécié de tous, peu importe les croyances religieuses. Cette comédie musicale hilarante raconte l’histoire d’un ‘boys-band’ chrétien fictif, à la fin de sa tournée “Gloire à Dieu et aux Cieux”. Ils chantent, ils dansent et ils feront tout pour vous faire chavirer le coeur. Venez vous éclater avec Mathieu, Marc, Luc, Juan et Abraham. Venez joindre les z'autres gars pour la première production Canadienne de ‘Altar Boyz’, présentée aussi pour la première fois en français sous le nom ‘Les z'enfants d'choeur’!

Version française co-traduite par Claire Armange et Stephen Pietrantoni; Directeur musical, Chris Barillaro;  Chorégraphie, Robin Henderson;  Décor, Jeremy Pinchuk; Accessoires, Pierre Martin; Vidéographist Nathaniel Siri ; Costumes gracieuseté de Evidence Clothing
et chaussures gracieuseté de Adidas.

Produit par le Centre Éducatif pour le Théâtre à Montréal (C.E.T.M.) qui fournit des services de support administratif aux compagnies de théâtre indépendant de Montréal.
CETM crée des événements qui donnent aux artistes locaux l’opportunité d’être vus et de souligner leur talent tels ‘Le Spotlight’, mercredi le 21 mai à 20h au Gésù (www.lespotlight.ca), un événement à la fois amusant et éducatif, et ‘The Festival of New Musicals’ à la mi-août.

“Nous aimerions faire de Montréal un incubateur de nouvelles comédies musicales, ce qui pourrait aider à mettre notre ville sur la carte culturelle mondiale de façon significative.” S.P.

‘Altar Boyz’ au Théâtre Gesù, 1200 Bleury, Montréal. En francais : les 12, 14, et 20 juin à 20h, et le 21 juin à 14h. En anglais: les 13, 19, et 21 juin à 20h, et le 14 juin  à 14h. Sièges assignés. Réservation au 514-861-4036 ou www.gesu.net/billetterie.htm . Prix : $40 plus $1.50 de frais de services.  

‘Altar Boyz’ at Gésu June's Hottest Ticket in Town!

As published in French in Fugues (pg. 114) June 2008.
arts on aime le theater

Par Davyn Ryall

Du 12 au 21 JUIN
Les z'enfants d'choeur
‘Altar Boyz’ à Gésu.
 
Director Stephen Pietrantoni (S.P.) first heard of ‘Altar Boyz’ when it opened in New York at the Musical Theatre Festival in 2004. As an undergraduate with a double major in religion and theatre he was immediately drawn to the Play because of it’s themes and it’s message…

“As soon as I left the theatre the first time I saw it off-Broadway in 2005, I knew I wanted to bring it to Montreal.  Its message of faith, tolerance and mutual support relates so well to the challenges we face together everyday in our city.” One of the greatest challenges for the director was casting this local production. “It is difficult enough to cast a musical in Montreal… there are so few ‘triple threats’ actors, singers, dancers… add to that it required an ensemble of five (5) males and the Play is performed in two languages.” S.P.

Not since ‘Les Misérables’ has a local company produced a musical with a single bilingual cast performing both the French and English versions. By producing the Play in both versions S.P. hopes to bridge cultural gaps and create more occasions for both the French and English communities to share cultural activities. “Musicals, because of the universal language of music, can give us a common point of reference so we can share in the experience together.” S.P.

The songs in Les z'enfants d'choeur are happy and infectious pop tunes.  The story is a joyous exhilarating ‘joy ride’ with a lot of heart and sole. The Play's message about faith, tolerance and mutual understanding is one that everyone can fully appreciate regardless of their specific religious persuasions. C’est comedie musicale hilarante raconte l’histoire d’un ‘boys-band’ cretienne fictif à la fin de sa tournée “Gloire à Dieu et aux Cieux”. Ils chantent, ils dansent et ils feront tout pour vous faire chavirer le coeur. Venez vous éclater avec Mathieu, Marc, Luc, Juan et Abraham. Joindre les z'autres gars pour la premiere production Canadienne de Les z'enfants d'choeur, presentée aussi pour la premiere fois en francais!

French version co-translated by Claire Armange and Stephen Pietrantoni; Musical director Chris Barillaro;  Choreography Robin Henderson;  Stage design Jeremy Pinchuk; Props Pierre Martin; Costumes courtesy of Evidence Clothing, and footwear courtesy of Adidas.

Produced by The Centre for Education and Theatre in Montreal (C.E.T.M.) which provides
direct administrative support services to independent theatre companies in Montreal.

CETM creates events to provide more opportunities of visibility for local performers to be seen and highlight their talent: ‘Le Spotlight’ mercredi le 21 mai à 20h à Gésu (www.lespotlight.ca)
an event that is both fun and educational. The Festival of Next Wave of Musicals, mid-August.

“We'd like to make Montreal an incubator for new musicals, which can help put our city on the world cultural map in a meaningful way.” S.P.

Altar Boyz à Théâtre Gésu 1200 Bleury, Montréal. En francais le 12, 14, et 20 juin à 20h, et le 21 juin à 14h; En anglais: le 13, 19, et 21 juin à 20h, et le 14 juin  à 14h. Sieges assigné. Réservation au 514-861-4036 ou gesu.net/billetterie.htm. Prix $40. Plus $1.50 frais de services.  

Forever Yours, Marie-Lou a Tremblay classic...

Michel Tremblay's classic 7 play Forever Yours, Marie-Lou (Toujours ta Marie-Lou) now at Centaur until May 25. As the mega-Anglo theatre complex Centaur Theatre closes for the 2007-08 season so do the remnants of any trace of its' previous artistic director.

Well almost anyway...out with the old and in with the old could be said about reviving this old horse. This Play gives a whole other meaning to 'Odd Couple'. It is an in your face perspective of the way Tremblay sees the Québecois family. I know that there are many still out there that resemble and mirror the image he projects in the Play, but I also know that in general the 'culture Québecois' has evolved by leaps and bounds in the past 35 years and this cliché image of that generation is an isolated dying out breed.

This old horse would best be either shot and sent to the glue factory or at very least sent out to pasture. Some 'classics' are best keep for school, church, community productions; they don't need to be trotted out every few years to a major production house, chewing up major production budgets, with elaborately clever sets and light design, in order to make them appear to be relevant.

The best thing going for this Tremblays' Play is that it is one of his shorter ones. Running as one act for 1h20 with no intermission.

If you are in withdraw from not seeing a Tremblay Play in Montreal in the past two months then by all means go; He is a master when it comes to writing for actresses who want to portray a 'Mother' of a character. But if you have never seen Tremblays' work on stage then wait for something 'en francais' or my favorite, 'Belles Soeurs'.

With so many other plays to choose from now playing in Montreal, see below, this one can be 'a miss'.

The Short & Sweet of Short Story Long

Short Story Long, is written and directed by Joel Fishbane of Montreal’s Pumpkin Theatre and stars Stéphanie Breton and Stefanie Buxton. At MainLine Theatre, 3997 St. Laurent, to May 17. Drama. 75 minutes.

As the winter theatre season gives way to the spring sprint to Montreal’s summer festival season there are a surprising amount of new independent productions still opening; not wanting to let go of what has been for most a very long and hard winter with plenty of deep snow in a deep well developed theatre season. Mainline is no exception and is warming up after a dark and cold winter season of suicides, murders and abuse, so dress in layers, or run the risk of either being hot or chilly.

The Play is the story of a widow who discovers that her now dead author husband, a famous Montreal writer Lincoln Kennedy, has left his literary legacy to another woman. He’s left his worldly goods and funds to his wife Julianne (Stefanie Buxton) but all his writing and the copyrights are left to an anonymous person with the initials  “AK” we know as Amalthea King (Stephanie Breton) a former lover of his who shows up to ask the wife not to contest the will. The twist at the end is justified by the plot and may not come as a surprise to most.

What matters here is the clever repartee written by Fishbane for the two characters he has created. Understanding and writing for the female when you’re a male writer is always a challenge. If I may be so bold as to add especially if he’s a heterosexual. Women writers are assumed to have a natural insight into the male mind but when one of our ‘men’ take on the task of writing women’s roles we usually steps back and examine more in detail. They (the female characters) can’t be too ‘bitchy’ or too ‘emasculating’ or too ‘sluttish’ or too ‘feminist’ or too passive. The women in Fishbane’s Short Story Long do not come across as too much of any of the above.

The two characters are brilliantly portrayed by both Stefanie and Stephanie B’s. The pacing is quick and the dialogue is fired rapidly throughout the first part of the one act Play. Although I found this quick pace started to drag around the middle of the Play and it then started to pick up but never quiet got back on tract in the later part however overall most of the direction and interpretations were up to the demands of the material.

Having seen a number of Fishbane’s Plays which he has both written and directed; one can’t help but wonder if and when he’ll allow a producer/director to take on his work and add another perspective and vision to the production. Is it a control or insecurity factor? I guess we’ll just have to wait and see. It is refreshing however that Pumpkin Theatre continues to produce both original and entertaining theatre and that represents our Montreal talent in a positive light.
Short

Odd Couple reminisent of colorful times gone by.

Neil Simon’s The Odd Couple: The story of Felix Ungar, a neurotic, too neat-freak news cast writer who, when thrown out by his cherished home by his beloved wife, moves in with his best friend Oscar Madison, a rough around the edges sportswriter. Simon’s play was inspired by a true-to-life experience of his own brother Danny.

The play describes itself best: “Two men - one divorced and one estranged and neither quite sure why their marriages fell apart - who move in together to save money for alimony and suddenly discover they’re having the same conflicts and fights they had in their marriages.”

This is nothing unusual nowadays, divorce rates are over 50% of all heterosexual unions and much less negatively perceived than when this now period play saw the stage for the first time. Except guys who are roommates these days are now often questionably gay or at least often assumed to be.

Admittedly I was apprehensive about seeing the Play of this now classic piece of Americana literature. I’m old enough to have been there when the film premiered (Walter Matthau and Jack Lemmon) and recollect fondly sitting by the black and white set with my late Mother watching the TV series 1970-75 (Jack Clugman and Tony Randel). Seeing the Play that inspired these now familiar (thanks to reruns and syndication) classics might not measure up and tarnish my cherished memories. Entering the theatre as the lights dim I found my seat just in time as the stage lit and I was immediately transported to what appeared as and soon felt much like an ABC 70’s television studio ready to tape an episode before ‘a live audience’.

Oscar readies his apartment to receive his poker buddies for a regular Friday night of poker as a parade of colorful characters enter the scene, all exquisitely played by some familiar and comforting local faces including: Glen Bowser, Mike Paterson and Howard Rosenstein. We are given a very accurate portrayal of the period in: décor, costumes, and styles transporting us to a forgotten time when lime green and orange were ‘Fab’ and dieting meant popping a pill. The age of the sexual revolution unfolds before us reminiscent of such simple yet wildly flower powered and colorful moments as Felix and Oscar take us on their journey of self discovery.

The performances of both Rod Beattie (Felix Ungar) and John Evans (Oscar Madison) remain original in their own right yet respect the characters and incorporate a certain ‘hommage’ to those thespians that previously embodied these roles. An additional treat are the gals from upstairs; A pair of Brits Gwedolyn (Jennifer Morehouse) and Cecily Pigeon (Brigit Wilson) who add sugar and spice to the sauce created by Felix as it boils over in Oscars’ kitchen of mystery meats and good old fashioned junk food.

I did feel there were a few moments here and there where opportunities to detailed direction were left un-nurtured. The production still manages to steer a clear and fast paced course even though it is lengthy and has two intermissions.

Segal Centre for Performing Arts
5151 Ch de la cote Ste-Catherine

Playing: May 04 to 25, 2008.
Reservations: (514) 739-7944; 514-790-1245; www.admission.com.