Mending Fences in Hudson

Mending Fences by Norm Foster; Directed by: Andrew Johnston; Featuring: Paul Van Dyck (Drew, Young Drew, Young Harry), Bill Rowat (Harry, Harry's Father) and Melanie Doerr (Gin, Lori, Harry’s Mum); Playing at Hudson Theatre June 24th to July 11th.

Described as a sparkling comedy written and performed with wit and humanity. What happens when a son, estranged for 13 years, returns to his gruff and uncommunicative father. In Foster’s deft hands, histories are revealed, vulnerabilities laid bare, and laughter is always close at hand. This promises to be a refined piece of theatre that tugs at the heartstrings while it tickles the funny bones; rising above sentimentality to tell a genuinely interesting story.

A well cast ensemble is in good form, Van Dyke and Rowat are believable as father and son; Rowat and Melanie Doerr have great chemistry on stage and she delivers a show stopping monolog that garners well deserved applause from the audience. The actors play more than one character and with a minimalist approach using some minor costume and physical adjustments between characters that works well. One simple interior stage design serves the play well as a multiple purpose set for the entire play. Some rather rough yet sufficient lighting design changes also help to move the story from one period to another as this non-linear story unfolds. Seven (7) bean salad will never taste the same. GO C IT!

Theatre Train Events 2010: Three Theatre Train Events will be taking place this summer. Each Theatre Train Event is in conjunction with a separate live theatrical show: June 26th (Mending Fences), July 17th (Celebrity) and August 7th (Snake In The Grass).

Celebrity, by/de Peter Quilter July 15th - August 1st. Train date: July 17th - Show times 2:00pm and 5:30pm.

Snake in the Grass, by/de Alan Ayckbourn August 5th - August 22nd; Train date: August 7th - Show times 2:00pm and 5:30pm.

Experience a private return train ride from Montreal or Beaconsfield to the delightful charming village of Hudson. Relax, shop or dine at one of the many charming boutiques and restaurants. Then top your day off with a first-rate performance at the celebrated Hudson Village Theatre. Tickets are only available through the AMT (Montreal Metropolitan Transport Agency) AMT Office hours: 8:30am to 4:30pm Monday to Friday. You must call or email in order to purchase your tickets. There are no online purchasing options. AMT ticket phone line: 514-287-7866 AMT ticket email: escapadesentrain@amt.qc.ca Price: $55.00 per event (including taxes).

Box office: 450-458-5361 www.villagetheatre.ca

The Jazz Singer shimmies into the Segal Center.

The Segal Centre for Performing Arts presents the musical version of The Jazz Singer, a Dora Wasserman Yiddish Theatre production. The play that inspired the 1927 Hollywood film starring Al Jolson and that signaled the transition to sound films.

Segal Centre resident composer and lyricist, Elan Kunin, adapted the original 1925 play by Samson Raphaelson. The multi-talented Kunin wrote the music and lyrics and also plays the lead role in this world premiere of the musical version of The Jazz Singer, the story of a cantor’s son whose dream of making it big on Broadway challenges his father’s wishes. “The generational conflict between Old World traditions and American acculturation explored in The Jazz Singer still resonates strongly today....” says Bryna Wasserman, Artistic Director. "...An immensely talented design team brings our Yiddish production of this timeless piece to life, through the creative set design of John C. Dinning, first-rate musical direction by John Gilbert and stunning choreography by Jim White."

Director Bryna Wasserman blends community cultural theatre with a professional cast that includes some of Canada’s finest performers, as well as emerging talent from diverse cultural backgrounds, reflecting the Segal Centre’s mission to build intercultural bridges through the arts. The costumes by James Lavoie are outstanding and the stage design is magnificent with multiple set changes that include a revolving stage. The band of musicians are in great form and the tunes very timely remaining true to the times of the period yet still catchy. A very large cast, at times overcrowding the stage, belt out the songs with compassion as they dance along with great passion. The ensemble is well cast with stand out performances delivered by Elan Kunin, David Bushman, Nadia Verrucci, Lisa Rubin, and Chris Barillaro.

Playing June 6 to 27 to sold out houses this is a gem that you don't want to miss. Presented in Yiddish with translation into English and French. Most of the dialogue in in Yiddish however a lot of the musical lyrics remain in English. GO C IT!

Fringe Fried A Summary of Fringe XX 2010.

On Arts Notebook CINQ 102.3fm we conducted 12 interviews this season over 4 weeks:
- May 29th, Geoff Agombar Fringe Communications Director - preview and Fringe For All.
- June 5th, Shavirez, Jesus Jello, and Robby Who?
- June 13th, Fruitcake, Misadventures of a Massage Therapist, Third Time Lucky, & Wide Load.
- June 20th, A Trip to Coney Island, How Coyote Was Swallowed by the Sandia Mountains, Blind to Happiness, & Just Us in the Bed Room.

A summary of the 2010 Fringe XX blog reviews. The number of productions covered by the contingent of reviewers on the blog totaled 40, with 60 reviews: Dee Arr 20; Sylvester 15; Scooby Doo 12; Tin Tin 9; RaTaTa 4. Over 70% of the productions reviewed got a favorable rating of 3 cents to 5 cents. A Fingetastic positive average. Overall the comedies favored the highest and dance rated lowest.

1 cents = 3 / 6% 2 cents = 14 / 23% 3 cents = 14 / 23% 4 cents = 14 / 23% 5 cents = 15 / 25%

FUNDERSTORM - Fringe XX

FUNDERSTORM, Petit Campus, Venue #2. This show is SO GAY! Not in the sense youngsters have been using it these days, but because the play includes a naked guy, another masturbating under a blanket, the 4 guys playfully sharing their fears, with plenty of uncomfortable moments and sex faces! They are 4 cosmopolitans a few inches shy of 'Sex and the City'! They must be part of the new breed of sensitive straight men! The show made me laugh, like the young women beside me, the two of us making up most of the audience, but also uneasy. Was it because it was too intimate or too unrealistic ? 3 cents. TinTin

Just Us In The Bedroom - FRINGE XX

Just Us In The Bedroom @ Portuguese Association, Venue #7. By Just Us Producing - Canada, Iceland, Germany. Winners of the 2009 Spirit of the Fringe award. Invited to return as guests of the Fringe this season. The audience enters and the performance has already started, or has it. Much of what we see and hear is in a questionable and ambiguous reality. The two characters on stage, David and Beckky, are real people in a very unreal world. With a dream like quality and accompanied by a live musical cello instrument, they deliver a poetic text that is very abstract and absurdest; and much like in a dream, what goes on beneath the covers is unexplainable. It is not a comedy nor a drama but it is very experimental and a brave new work. 3 cents. Dee Arr

Jean et Beatrice - FRINGE XX

JEAN ET BEATRICE @ Mainline Theatre Venue #6. By Les Cousins Germains - France. This is an highly intense show with a highly beautiful intensity. Happily, the comical bits provided a balance that kept me from choking up. A woman feeling dry wants to find the recipe for love with a man feeling empty, raising the age old question: what's love? For her, it's first being interested, moved and then seduced, and that's exactly what this show does; it seduces the audience into loving it. That must be what love is, of this play anyway. A well balanced mix of excellent acting and seamless direction. 4 cents. TinTin

METEOR - FRINGE XX

METEOR @ Petit Campus Venue #2. When going to an improv show, I expect a lot of so-so sketches and very few gems. It's just part of 'the game'. METEOR was no exception to this trend, at least the show I attended. I really appreciated that the trio of actors remained dynamic throughout, even smirking, showing that they love what they do. It cannot be too selfindulgent, the audience has to also love and enjoy what they are watching. It makes the difference between an improv show that's fun and one that's really so-so to dull. The most fun was that we were provided with streamers to throw at the stage; My second throw crashed...much like a lot of what I saw at Meteor. 2 cents. TinTin

How Coyote Was Swallowed by the Sandia Mountains - Fringe XX

How Coyote Was Swallowed by the Sandia Mountains @ Espace 4001 (Geordie). By Crazy Going Slowly Players. Written by Anna Roth Trowbridge. Directed by Nathaniel Bryan. Featuring Nathan Bitton (Leo), and Alex Vincent (Scilla). A reincarnation of the honours thesis in Drama and Cognitive Science "A One Man Show or My Brother" (2009) that was originally mounted at McGill's Players' Theatre (see review earlier on this blog). It is part memory-play and part folk-tale. Scilla, Leo's kid sister, tries to learn about and tries to rationalize why her brother, who suffered from bi-polar disorder, left the cold reality of Montreal to end up killing himself in the mystified wilderness of New Mexico. She writes a play to connect with her memory of her brother and to better understand his untreated mental disorder. A struggle then ensues between sanity and insanity, a sister and a trickster, two playwrights that remember things very differently, and we see a story unfold through two very contrasting points of view.

From strictly a creative dramatic perspective there are still some important elements yet to be discovered and that remain undeveloped in this version. Getting out of the analytical brain and into the theatrical brain is always a challenge when dealing with this type of subject matter and from such technical sources. Taking bigger risks and pushing the envelope farther are what is needed to take this play over the creative precipice. However, a very well written, well staged and very well performed piece of important theatre. The movement and interpretation of Nathan Bitton capturing every nuance of his character Leo/Coyote felt very genuine and was quite intriguing. 4 cents. Dee Arr

The Duck Wife - FRINGE XX

The Duck Wife / La femme canard @ Tangente Venue #1. By Inertia Productions - Montreal. Brilliant! Manifique! A creative fusion of the elements of performance art melding them into one very moving and highly entertaining piece of bilingual theatre. Based on an Inuit myth as the tale unfolds about a hero in pursuit of his wife is brought vividly to life in an abstract with a touch of the absurd style, and yet with a thread of still subtle realistic fashion. Dance, live new age-rock music: both instruments and vocals, multimedia projections, eclectic colorful costumes, and powerful performances from a talented and agile ensemble make this production a sure fired hit. The 3 piece band on stage from Brooklyn, Grub Animal, known for their "new wave", hard core, rock styling fit right in interacting with the other performers, even getting into the act. Captivating from the first word uttered and the first move made to the last note played. Bravo! 5 cents. Dee Arr

Blind To Happiness - FRINGE XX

Blind To Happiness @ Espace 4001 (Geordie) Venue #3. By Maple Suroor Productions (Kuwait). Tim C. Murphy is not blind to creating thought provoking and intellectual theatre. A very original and intelligent play that one will enjoy more if you just sit back and trust the performer to make you happy. A solo performance that captivated my attention and that held my interest from the moment he set foot on stage. A creation of three separate very distinct and unique characters; One that is based on a true to life individual, and two that are imaginary. I applaud this type of solo play as opposed to the usual 'It's all about me.' dribble. It demonstrates true talent! 5 cents. Dee Arr

7 (x1) Samurai - FRINGE XX

7 (x1) Samurai @ MAI Venue #9. Written, directed, and performed by Davis Gaines, Arlington Virginia. David is like WOW! from the world of mime. Comes to us with incredible credentials and great reviews touting his best solo show in DC and Florida. How does one encapsulate a 3 1/2 hour movie into a 60 minute show? Somehow David accomplished this with humour and impeccable mime skill. However, I was just as bored here as I was watching the movie. If you loved the 7 Samurai then surely you'll love this. Scooby took a cat nap and couldn't wait for a fire hydrant break. There were lots and lots of laughs and cheers from the rest of the audience however. 5 cents (for the production) 1 cent (for the dialogue). Scobby Doo

Recess - FRINGE XX

Recess @ MAI Venue #9. By Keep It Movin' Productions. A high energy solo performance writen and performed by Una Aya Osato. Miss White a Bronx school teacher decides to let her students be taped on video with messages of hope for the Afro-American president Obama. Takes the audience into the hearts and minds of the children. Touching stories from the kids who have not got much to rely on or look forward to in their lives. Una plays all the characters and is amazing when switching from one to another with humor and tragedy, but above all a feel of reality that is deeply touching. 5 cents. Sylvester

Recess By Keep it Movin' Productions. A one woman multimedia show that rocked and moved me in ways that will stay with me for quite awhile. Una Aya Osato is a teacher from New York City and from her years of experience decided to write and perform this piece that is so very touching. She delightfully plays all the boys, girls, and adults that interchange from video to stage very smoothly. How misunderstood children can be and all the details of their precious and complicated lives in the Bronx weave a story that grabs you line after line and pulls you into feeling like your one of them in the playground. Children that are funny, energetic, and sad, each living through the experience of growing up in a world run by adults who end up being more affected by the children then they realize. A subtle yet powerful piece that reflects timelessly on the education system in ways that almost everyone can relate to. 5 cents. Scooby Doo

Heart Strings - FRINGE XX

Heart Strings @ La Chapelle Venue #10 By Tanya Elchuk & Amy Crnkovic - Thunder Bay. What is it is about clowning?... My heart cringes when I see people doing far to much of it and being much to loud and acting so over the top that I just want to yell back at them: "Take it easy, please!" This "acting" style is not for me and may or may not be for you too? The "story" was very predictable on top of it, with of course a happy ending. A surrealist romantic comedy about hearts in a box without instructions, the pain and the defeat, and oh yeh, the dispair too. In very proper English. 2 cents. Sylvester

La Parade Cachée - FRINGE XX

La Parade Cachée By La Feintse - Montreal. Hour Stage Venue #4. Written, directed and performed by Maude Bouchard. Music by Yana Ouellet. Leaving the play thinking "I didnt get it"; And apparently, I wasnt the only one; -It took quite a while before the audience started to applaud at the end. Probably because it felt unfinished. Significance of the title? -I don't even get what the title "Parade Cachée" (Hidden Parade) refers to after seeing the play? It would have been a good idea if the author had completed the puzzle for us. Nevertheless, it is still a nice exploration of emotions, well delivered performance, and supported by a good soundtrack. If you're in for a ride without a expecting to end in any specific destination, then it's a show for you. 2 cents. TinTin

Autant s'Emportent les Gens - FRINGE XX

Autant s'Emportent les Gens By Sur la coche - Montreal. Petit Campus Venue #2. I loved this show! I love most musicals and this one is also hilarious from start to finish. The actors all have great comical talent and good voices to match with the catchy tunes. The direction and choreography contribute to the sustained rhythm of the show. It's also fun that the action takes place here in Montreal; it makes us feel that much closer to the characters. I would like it to be made into a bigger and longer production, but maybe the pacing would suffer from it. Go find out what happens to the guy everyone confides in when he needs to confide in someone. 5 cents. TinTin

Les Quatre Petites Filles - FRINGE XX

Les Quatre Petites Filles By Pretium Doloris @ MAI Venue #9. At first, upon walking not knowing what to expect, it takes quite a while to realise what is going on?! The text delivered by the four little girls is just a series of words put together as a child would do to express some tall tale that only they can see in it's full extent. As they go deeper into the play and we get familiar with the children's world, we start feeling what their universe is about and what the little girls are going through. Beautiful visually as well. You'll want to leave your brain at the door and open your heart wide to live this oniric journey with them, and then leave with a lightness of foot and heart. 4 cents. RaTaTa

L'@mour2.com - FRINGE XX

L'@mour2.com @ MAI Venue #10. By Theatre Conversion / Belvedère - Ottawa. Cute show about dating web sites and how to handle or to not handle this phenomena. Although the gang is very young and not that experienced as actors, I appreciated the play a lot; it is well thought out and uses hilarious visuals from any dating site you can imagine (If you ever wanted to date a cowboy? It exists!) and covers all the do's and don'ts if you want to make it in the world of the digital discotheque. I left with a smile on my face. En francais. 3 cents. Sylvester

L'@mour2.com @ MAI Venue #10. By Theatre Conversion / Belvedère - Ottawa. "Dating web sites 101" That's what L'@MOUR2.COM should have been called because it's not really a show, it's an animated lecture, complete with slides of examples, statistics, etc. Problem is trying to fit the author's two years of research into 45 minutes. It results in slides you cant always read if you want to watch the young actors, or should I say, students - acting because they're okay but obvious novice beginners. In other words, not so much entertaining as it is interesting and very informative. 2 cents. TinTin

Afternoon Tea with Jane Austen - FRINGE XX

Afternoon Tea with Jane Austen @ Association Portuguaise Venue #7. By Orange Wine Productions - Montreal. Fans of Jane Austen, be on the alert! This is your chance to check your knowledge about the spirit behind such beloved stories like: Pride and Prejudice, Mansfield Park, and Sense and Sensibility. With a promise to gain some insight into the famous author the play started out really well with Jane asking questions and interacting with the audience. Tali Brady has created a great character with an impeccably accurate accent. Unfortunately what brings the play down is the lack of direction; the blocking (staging) is very stiff and does not come any further than some basic minimal pacing including the grabbing of papers and books and sipping a cup of tea. I would like to have seen more movement integrated and would have loved to have seen much more dancing at the ball. Alas, Jane Austin remains a mystery. 2 cents. Sylvester

AFTERNOON TEA WITH JANE AUSTEN, Portuguesse Association Venue #7. Remember when you had to talk in front of the class in high school about your favorite author's life, dressed like him or her and with props? That's what the play feels like, but this student deserves an A+. I didn't read Jane Austen's novels but I've seen the screen adaptations and I was hoping to feel drawn into that universe here, and I got my wish. However, if you're not interested in Jane Austen, then it's not a show that'll win you over, but if you want to learn about her, it's a great way to do so. 3 cents. TinTin

Jesus Jello - FRINGE XX

Jesus Jello: The Miraculous Confection at the Freestanding Room Off-Venue #B. Written & co-directed by Joanne Sarazen, and co-directed by Lindsay Wilson. A stellar all star local cast in a talented ensemble featuring: Joseph Bembridge, Catherine Lemieux, George Bekiaris, Patrick Charron, Tristan D. Lalla, Joanna Noyes, Thomas Preece, and Emily Quaile. All are great and well cast in their roles; stand outs were Joseph Bembridge, Patrick Charron, and Catherine Lemieux who steals the show from the first note to the final tableau we can't take our eyes and ears off her. A clever very well written text, current yet with just the right measure of retro appeal. Costumes, and in particular the compact original set design are also both noteworthy. Get your 'Jesus Freak' on and giggle your jello over to the Freestanding Church and get a taste of this hilarious laugh out load bowl of delightfully inspirational confections. 4 cents. Dee Arr

Jesus Jello is miraculous. -Miles Wilson wakes up in his hospital bed after a mild concussion to behold the face of Jesus Christ in a bowl of lemon lime jello. This causes his family to embark upon a holy crusade of exploitation that gets the attention of a disenchanted gay couple, a recently widowed woman, and God almighty. "After all, who has a bigger God complex than God?" A wonderful incursion into the life's of men and women, into their despair and loneliness, and a gospel of a love over acceptance for the present we all share with one another. 4 cents. RaTaTa

Miss Sugarpuss Must Die - Fringe XX

Miss Sugarpuss Must Die! At MAI Venue #9. Lets hope she doesn't! What a wonderful show shootin' straight from the hip! And 'HIP' it is. Cute, curly, staggering all the way to the vaudeville stage, Miss Sugarpuss tells the tale of how she grew up into being the troubled Holly Gautier Frankel. Seems that through some difficulty, out of some life challenges, and coupled with sadness and a desire to empower her creativity, Miss Sugarpuss was born to ignite and set fire to Holly's heart and ass; -wigglin' it onto the Burlesque scene. The problem is, does she take up too much room and garner all the glamour while Holly fights to find her true self? Go see for yourself and find out who lives to tell the tale? Exquisite vocals, sex appeal, powerful dancing and shimmying: Holly's got it all and then some. Directed by Paul Van Dyke. 5 cents. Scooby Doo

Miss Sugarpuss Must Die! @ MAI Venue #9. By Tappyco Inc. -Montreal. Miss Sugarpuss is an amazing show with burlesque, songs, and a lot of humor, great costumes and even some booze. Great lighting design, and a wonderful performance by Holly Gauthier-Frankel. A touching story behind the scenes of the world of burlesque. I loved all of it! I am fan! Forever! 5 cents. Sylvester

Miss Sugarpuss Must Die! @ MAI Venue #9. By Tappyco Inc. -Montreal. Co-Written and performed by Holly Gauthier-Frankel. Co-Written and directed by Paul Van Dyck. Who would want to kill Miss Sugarpuss and why? Motive is always the key to finding the culprit. What do you do as an artist when the persona you create becomes more popular than the creator? Which one do the people who you love, love more? A solo variety performance of dance, song, and spoken word delivered by a larger than life character, or is it the artist that is the star...remains to be seen.
Winner of the Centaur English Theatre award at this season's Frankies, audience member and fans will get to see the show again or discover it for the first time. Great set, lighting, staging, and beautiful costumes. A delightful performance filled with plenty of sights and sounds for the eyes and ears. Burlesque lives on through Miss Sugarpuss, that's her name, what's yours? 4 cents Dee Arr

More DANCE moves from the Hoofers @ FRINGE XX

Oppo @ Tangente Venue #1. By Imbroglio - Montreal. Two wonderful dance pieces by two great movers, Stu McIntyre and Caroline Rochefort. One piece is quite poetic, the other piece theatrical and very comical. Merging aerials, multimedia projection, dance theatre, and great acting (which is rare for dancers in general) to create a double bill that will appeal to everyone from contemporary art enthusiasts to a general audience. Athletic, vibrant and humorous. I do not want to give to much away as I was pleasantly surprised by both pieces. 4 cents. Sylvester

Oppo @ Tangente Venue #1. By Imbroglio - Montreal. The running time is 50 minutes, not 60 as listed. There are two parts to this production: A solo "Cheyen" by Caroline Rochefort with 20 minutes of aerials from a white sheet suspended from the ceiling; no dancing, or big CdS moves here, just some elaborate stretching. Good sound-music selection and video projection. A 10 minute intermission (we are asked to exit and return) to remove the sheet, the second part starts off as a duet with Rochefort and Stu McIntyre, who is strikingly tall for a male dancer btw. Slow in getting started this part finally get moving and saves the production with it's originality, acrobatics, and theatrics. Good chemistry too. 3 cents. Dee Arr

Aureila and Imago @ Tangente Venue #1. By Brianna Stark - Vancouver. A fast paced high energy music multimedia solo performance. Synchronizing video imagery with expressive movement. Great projections, great soundtrack, and a strong performance. A bit to long and also not challenging enough as a choreography, but Brianna has a great presence which was fascinating to watch. 3 cents. Sylvester

Aurelia and Imago @ Tangente Venue #1. By Brianna Stark. Is just that for my heart: STARK! An intellectual attempt at the questionable evolution of life and although chocked full of many different types of media, I felt very little interest after the first five minutes. I kept hoping something would kick in and rock my world. However, nothing changed by the time I left the theatre other than my thirst for inspiration. To me there's nothing worse than a date without 'Scooby Snacks' and boy was I hungry after this one. I wished she would have kicked off those damn character shoes and felt the Earth's support. She was always searching for her footing and balance and it was extremely distracting. Perhaps it was intentional??? I wanted to see her feet on the ground getting down right gritty for us. 2 cents. Scooby Doo

Three @ La Chapelle Venue #10. By Our Productions - Montreal. The MAP Project is an ongoing theatre research group exploring the mind, action, and personality. Searching for identity by young Mile End type-hipsters who whine about how life sucks. Lots of modern (offensive) language, "fuck" and "shit" all over the place. Reality television scenes, peer group meetings, beer can rituals and some nice narcissistic 'nowadays' scenes combined with a lot of repetition of the text.... Couldn't really get into it enough to hold my attention throughout, but might be a nice mirror for the younger audience. 2 cents. Sylvester

-Cache ce péché que je ne saurais voir... @ La Chapelle Venue #10. By Tarente Théâtre - Laval. Nice concept using 7 keywords to construct scenes about modern every day life. Alas, a bit predictable and in parts somewhat overacted. En Francais. 2 cents. Sylvester

-CREATION @ MAI Venue # 9. By Le Corps Entropique - Lyon, France. An accordionist, an actress, and a light man on a bike to get the lights going that surround the actress and the musician are the principle elements of this performance piece. The light experiment is nice although it does not add any enhancement to the piece itself. The story is about the women's body, and evolves from head to toe about pregnancy and the delivery of life. There were some touching moments but the performance was stuck when it comes to the movement. The visual was impressive at first with a large red drape all over the stage but there was not much more development and exploration there. En francais. 2 cents. Sylvester

A Trip to Coney Island - FRINGE XX

A Trip to Coney Island @ Geordie Espace 4001 Venue #3. By Zero Boy Productions - N.Y.C. Great show! Humor, nostalgia, history all in one by one performer who made a great soundtrack while taking his nephew to Coney island. Not to miss! I was blown away and felt like I was a kid again and on top of that I learned a lot about the fascinating world of Coney Island. 4 cents. Sylvester

A Trip to Coney Island @ Geordie Espace 4001 Venue #3. By Zero Boy Productions - N.Y.C. Co-written and directed by Armitage Shanks. The 'sights' and 'sounds' of the N.Y.C. buroughs are brought to life at the Fringe by this charismatic solo artist giving all of us a 'taste' of the tradition, the history, the mystery, and the eternal charm of this famous attraction called Coney Island. As we meander our way to our seats in the space we're greeted by vibrant decorative tapestries that are suspended above the stage, and 'carnivalesque' music plays in the background creating a fitting ambiance for the setting of the play. Enter a larger than life man in a quirky outfit with a flare of flamboyance introduced as Uncle Zero. He is taking his nephew (the audience) to visit Coney Island located off Manhattan Island beyond Brooklyn. Ride the roller coaster and other amusement rides, stroll along the beach side, or have some cotton candy and even enjoy an original Nathan's hot dog all while being thoroughly entertained. The only thing disappointing about this show is that it had to end as it will leave you wanting more. 4 cents. Dee Arr

A Trip to Coney Island With Uncle Zero Boy: Certainly had Scooby Doo working up an appetite for hot dogs and cotton candy. Zero boy packed in a non stop ride through his precious Coney Island. Sounded like lots and lots of fond memories were had there for someone! This guy is so precise with his movement and vocal delivery that it took about the first ten minutes to adjust to what I was experiencing. Here I thought George Lucas had cornered the market on special effects? Never ever seen or heard anything quite so extraordinary as Zero Boy. How does he do it? Fastest fullest 45 minutes of my Fringe life! Delightful, skilled and chocked full of fun! 5 cents. Scooby Doo

Shoshinz - FRINGE XX

Shoshinz presents: A Day in the Life of Miss Hiccup @ The Mission Santa Cruz Venue #8. All the way from Tokyo Japan for the third time in Montreal, Yanomi presents a delightful character that can entertain both children and adults. Miss Hiccup lives alone, but isn't lonely as she is forever accompanied by a raucous cast of sounds and music making her life an absurd adventure. A clown without the nose, Miss Hiccup has simple yet practical applications in her life. For example while she is on the potty (fully clothed, fear not) the toilet paper roll doubles as sheet music while she sings and conducts an operatic creation, complete with flush finally. She hums a baby to sleep with music even Freddy Mercury would be proud of. The music, attitude and antics of Miss Hiccup will make you smile. 3 cents. Scooby Doo

Uncalled For Hypnogogic Logic - FRINGE XX

Uncalled For Presents: Hypnogogic Logic @ Just For Laughs Studio Venue #5. To the regular Fringe crowd there is no denying the overall appeal of the popular attraction, the Uncalled For boys. Matt, Anders, Mike, and Dan know their audience and once again this season are all in hyper good form in this their latest edition of another elaborate comedy improve/play. Focusing on the world of dreams and all that we experience in them is a good choice at this stage in their carriers as it will appeal to an even broader audience than their staple of Fringe and improve-sketch fans. Not sure if it was just the energy of the late night performance I attended, or if it is consistent with each presentation, but tonight Dan Jeanotte and Mike Hugues were exceptional HOT like five alarm fire chill peppers! 5 cents. Dee Arr

Uncalled For Presents: Hypnogogic Logic @ Just For Laughs Studio Venue #5. Hypnogogic Logic or Illogic? The hallucinatory reasoning found between waking and sleeping. Wacky as usual and extremely well crafted, rehearsed, polished, fun and delightful, Uncalled For (A Fringe & Montreal staple.) are definitely called for and are as delicious as Scooby's bite sized snacks. (And we all know how much Scooby loves snacks.) From sheep counting humans to fall asleep to literally "Kitchen Nightmare's", one can count on staying wide awake through the whole show about the questionable space between the dream world and waking state also known as alpha. A mind bending comedic journey. Much fun! 5 cents. Scobby Doo

Uncalled For Presents: Hypnogogic Logic @ Just For Laughs Studio Venue #5. A full hour of high quality humor and whit from the fabulous four guys from the comedy improve group Uncalled For. The theme is the world of dreams which resulted in a non-linear hallucinating show full of gags and visually strong acting and inter acting. Newspapers, elderly ladies, whine tasting, the Apocalypse, and disco dancing are some of the fast moves of Uncalled For's dreamworld. Strong text all wonderfully paced with the speed of a gazelle. The absurdest transition's between the scenes made it a dream you want to cherish afterwords. In the tradition of Monty Python. 5 cents. Sylvester

How to Survive an Existential Crisis-FRINGE XX

How to Survive an Existential Crisis @ Geordie Espace 4001 Venue #3. Presented by Nothing Everything Productions (Montreal). A fantastic multimedia extravaganza that dives into the soul and touches on so many layers of the human experience by exceptionally vulnerable and talented actor Jake Freekin Smith from....well he's not exactly sure where to say where he's from but wherever doesn't matter anymore since he's discovered the key to his existential crisis. Live music, video projection, dance, and storytelling make a deeeeeeeeeeelisciously delightful and very moving show that is deserving. Directed by Emily Quaile. 5 cents. Scooby Doo

How to Survive an Existential Crisis @ Geordie Espace 4001 Venue #3. Presented by Nothing Everything Productions (Montreal). Jake Freekin Smith bares more than just his bod on stage, he also bares his soul while delivering an outstanding one person show. What makes it special is the unique innocence and raw emotion of the storytelling; This sets it apart from other solo shows in that it is 'REAL' and not just another "this really happened to me, now sit down and listen to me" type of monologue. Captivating from start to finish with a quality multimedia presentation including projection, live music, seamless blocking of transitions, and a flawless performance. It will definitely appeal to the Mom's in the audience and if it were a film it could risk being labeled as a "chick-flick", but there is definitely something for everybody here. 5 cents. Dee Arr

Dance Animal Freaks of Nature - FRINGE XX

Dance Animal - Freaks of Nature @ Studio Just For Laughs Venue #5. The world's first ever comedy-dance tribe, Dance Animal (J.F.L. Fringe 2009 winner) returns to the Fringe this season with some of the original animals and a few new ones too. Unsure that choreographer Robin Henderson could top last year's super success tales, which I also saw again at the Wild Side in January @ Centaur, I wasn't expecting much different this time around. However, not only does the program build with each number during the run of the show but it creshendos actually surpassing last year's 'funanimal' success. The production takes the pretension out of the world of dance and makes it accessible and very entertaining for a general audience. A show that is appealing for all but is listed as 16+ probably due to the venue's bar. I'd like to "hear" more from the animals, -this is the biggest issue "the sound". The dialogue is too low (Projection!) and the music is too loud! (Both are unbalanced competing against the background noise of crowd and the space). Next time around however, I'm sure that there will be a next time, I'd like to see some more 'diversity' in the casting of both body and ethnic types. 4 Cents. Dee Arr

Dance Animal presents: Freaks of Nature @ JFL Venue #5. Are they overdoing the humping? Or just appealing to the animal instincts that might lie in everyone in the audience? Judging by the energy flow in the room after their surprise finalé, I say they got the animal out without a doubt! 5 cents. RaTaTa

Poison The Well - FRINGE XX

Poison The Well @ Espace Geordie 4001 Venue #3.
Already a fan of Elison Zasko ('Sputniks' my pick of Fringe, and one of my top ten of 2008) I was looking really forward to this one; And I wasn't disappointed. Finally a 'Play'! A real piece of solid theatre in a barrage of light Fringe fluff. Written, directed, and co-starring Andrew Conner (Cody Rivers Show). It has all of the elements that are the making of a hit play: an original concept, a very well written text -precise, informative and with a twist, well acted eloquent performances, good direction. I would have liked to see the projection tighten up and focused. Also would have liked to see the direction (staging) more developed and refined. Possibly in a future mount of this production with legs. 4 cents. Dee Arr

Robby Who? - FRINGE XX

Robby Who? @ Petite Café Campus, Venue # 2. It takes two to tango, and three is a crowd, -here we have three stand-up comics all on stage within under thirty minutes and still the laugh measure up against the stage time ratio doesn't hit the laugh meter button. Robby Hoffman alone would have been far better with some substance material that was better developed. Not that there isn't potential for some serious humour here because there is. It isn't enough to play to the home town family and friends crowd like a 'wedding party roast MC'. We are reminded at the opening that this is a Fringe and not the Just For Laughs stage; but if you want to hit the big time and play with the big leaguers you got'ta pull out all the stops and not hold back. 2 cents. Dee Arr

Bernadette / Lux (Extraits) - FRINGE XX

Bernadette / Lux (Extraits) @ Tangent Venue #1. Presented by Fiasco Dance this production is not for all; ie: if you're not a dance fan you probably won't relate nor appreciate it. -Not meaning to come across as pretentious, this production, however reluctantly, does. More movement exercises than actual dance moves, this is very experimental work, more of an exercise, and not meant for general entertainment. Not a dance fan-atic, and only an observer, it came across as somewhat self indulgent. Only one of the pieces of the three Lux experiments, the final one, was appealing in it's originality and ability to relate to a general audience. 2 cents. Dee Arr

BREAKDANCE DOUBLE FEATURE - FRINGE XX

BREAKDANCE DOUBLE FEATURE A Piece of: My Heart (Breaking). @ Tangent Venue #1. A high energy high-jinks dance show with plenty of thrills and chills that are revealed mostly in the first part of the production. Helen Simard and Jennifer Casmir are an amazing duo totally in sink with each other and perfectly coordinated. Very humourous and original creative moves. On the flip side is a very slow and emotional journey demonstrating the power of a young man's crush. Greg Selinger and his raw demonstration of his obsession and heart break through subtle movements is very eclectic. However where the production falters is the transitions, which lacked the respect of a treatment of an equal measure of finesse and creativity. There should have been an announcement and there could have been some music added. Overall easy to relate to, very entertaining, and most importantly accessible to a general audience of all ages. 3 cents. Dee Arr

Third Time Lucky - FRINGE XX

Third Time Lucky @ The Hour Stage Venue #4. Written & performed by Paul Hutchison from Toronto. This is his third (3rd) solo one man show; A former high school teacher that has previously toured as an artist extensively in Canada and south of the border. This solo comedy is not for the light at heart, all be it more likely for the light of foot. More queer than a three dollar bill, Hutcheson invites his audience to join him and get lucky, as we live vicariously through the tales of his travels to Asia and the South Pacific. He takes us on a jaunt through his sexual exploits and he shares his intimate insights into his own sexual self discovery of becoming a whole and complete sexual being as he reached his mid-thirties. A sex-capade that is more a raw rant than a humourous adventure it is delivered with high physical energy and plenty of enthusiasm. 3 Cents. Dee Arr

THIRD TIME LUCKY, Hour Stage, Venue #4. It is a little too much for me. A little too crude, a little too loud, a little too agitated. Aggressive energy, I'd call it as opposed to high energy. One could say it got 'third part lucky' because, probably a little tired by the end, he seemed to tone it down somewhat, and I found it three times better! I also applaud how he interacted with the audience, even turning an unexpected noise into a punch line. However, I worry that the show reinforces the cliché image of the over-sexuality of gay man by the 'general' population. I thought I'd try to counteract this show with my own sex life and some of gay men that I know. I came up with three of whom all are in very stable partnerships, and two of those are in long-term committed relationships. Question is: how can you turn these statistics into an entertaining show? 3 cents. TinTin

Wide Load - Fringe XX

Wide Load - full-frontal junk in the trunk @ the Mission Santa Cruz Venue # 8. Presented by Fringe alumni Big Moves from Boston. Written by Marina Wolf Ahmad featuring herself and Fringe veteran Colette Gagnon in a delightful duet, two-person performance. Publicized as a vaudeville show that promises to provide more pounds of pure entertainment per square inch than any other show you'll see. Focusing on the very weighty social issue revolving around the 'F' word, the three letter one that is, 'FAT'. A high energy in you face 'fat-assery' commentary, filled to the brim with dance moves, Broadway songs and sing-a-longs, and snacks. A semi-autobiographical comedic rant that takes some very high risks to make the point. Big Moves is very moving as it broaches an important subject matter about an edgy social topic, and yet manages to remain entertaining with an air of cabaret & carnival throughout. 4 cents. DeeArr

FruitCake - FRINGE XX

FruitCake -Ten Commandments From The Psysch Ward @ MainLine Venue #6. Written & performed by Rob Gee from Leicester UK. He is a comic, a poet, and a reformed psychiatrist nurse, and he delivers a 'tour-de-force' performance in this one man show. He presents a powerfully energized monologue that charts the night shift on an acute psychiatric ward, as seen through the eyes of a nurse who hears the voice of God, a kindly Jamaican accented woman, -who gives him ten benevolent commandments to get him through his shift and his life. Hilariously filled from top to bottom with clever wit and is very entertaining. 4 cents. Dee Arr

Fruitcake -Ten Commandments From The Psych Ward: is like a wild ride in a revolving door of patients (patience) and the daily life of a Psychiatric Nurse. Rob Gee from the UK shares his experience with wit, music and his own interpretation of the 10 Commandments. Gee has incredible pacing, focus and great sense of poetic rhyme that lightens the load of such a heavy topic. A yummy show! 4 cents. Scooby Doo

Missadventures of a Massage Therapist

Missadventures of a Massage Therapist @ MainLine Venue #6. A very charismatic and high energy monologue delivered by writer/director Jason Brasher, from Winnipeg. He holds our attention as he regales us with tales from behind the scenes of his experience as a massage therapist. Filled with high jinks and schinanigans, from his first job in a bushy wilderness assignment to his worst client experience, it is all meant to be 'good natured' fun. I would have liked it even more if there had been less 'potty humour', and if he'd added a few darker stories of what would be considered to be more erotic tales. These he has deliberately withheld and they would have made us 'care more' about his misadventures. Also would have liked to see included some audience participation integrated into the act. 3 cents. DeeArr

Misadventures of a Massage Therapist Sounds good! Could even feel good! I was hoping to be an audience volunteer but Jason Brasher of Winnipeg barely touched his table, let alone an audience member as he rapidly described his 7 years of experience as a massage therapist. Energetic and intense with high school humour that surely would be appreciated by teenage boys but not teenage dogs. 2 cents. Scooby Doo

There Will Be Lasers - FRINGE XX

There Will Be Lasers @ La Chapelle Venue #10. If you love laser lights, smoke machines, and an uncanny soundtrack combined with poetry like text about how the world is coming to an end, this might be for you! I loved the effects and the soundtrack, but I missed the movement and other emotions, except for the despair that was always there. I still found it interesting enough to give this performance my, 2 cents. Sylvester

Paris Berlin scène de cabaret - FRINGE XX

Paris Berlin scène de cabaret @ MainLine Theatre Venue #6. Oh how promising the title was to me, 'Paris Berlin scènes de cabaret'. The Fringe program listed: Juliette Gréco, Kurt Weil and Cole porter, amongst other big names of the musical treasures of the last century. Alas, although there was a well intended effort to sing a long, a thin but cute story line, and a nice pianist, I was neither in Paris nor in Berlin, and especially not in a cabaret. It felt more like a high school performance, in Montréal. It did not help that one of the actors was reading his lines from his script either. More for friends & family of Alma Viva I'm afraid. En Francais. Sylvester. 1 cent

You & Me and Me & You - FRINGE XX

You & Me and Me & You @ Theatre Saint Catherine, Off Venue A. Featuring improve duo Dan Jeanotte & Kirsten Marie Rasmussen in a one-act improvised play. Audience members are asked to offer up two suggestions for a scene, a circumstance, and an object, for some preselected characters. The actors then run with it, for almost a full hour of a supposedly unrehearsed short play. Although it was obvious that some elements of the story had been preplanned, over all the direction that they took it in was very creative for the most part. There were moments throughout however when I felt that Dan wasn't getting the 'positive' support from his partner that is so essential to a successful improve like: don't question, don't say no, always yes, and move it forward. I did feel it went on a bit too long and would have preferred a shorter story to get warmed up before settling into one long one, and maybe even adding another short one at the end. There is no denning the talent and charisma of Jeanotte and it is worth going to see if only just to watch him entertain and light up the stage. 3 cents. Dee Arr

You & Me and Me & You @ T.S.C. W/ Dan Jeanotte & Kirsten Marie Rasmussen, an improve duo. They take suggestions from the audience to build their show, however one improve lasts the whole hour. Might have been more interesting with five (5) shorter improvs involving more audience participation. Would have loved to see Dan working with another partner; Kirsten is creative but holds the energy back a too much blocking Dan's great improv offers. 3 Cents. Scooby Doo

Esther Goes Pro - FRINGE XX

Esther Goes Pro @ the Fringe OFF Venue A Theatre Saint Catherine. The first show I see at the Fringe XX; "Imagine someone so talented you wouldn't even know it if it hit you in the face with a brick." -Felt like I was hit by a brick, only this brink was made of 's**t'. It wasn't half way over when I had to get up to get a drink, a beer just to make it through the second half. There are high and low levels of camp, and there is good and bad camp. Then there are 'cramp' & 'crap'. This 'show' is more of the latter, and is definitely 'OFF' in more ways than one. 1 CENT. DeeArr

Witnessed... "Esther Goes Pro" @ T.S.C. Somehow I felt uncomfortable when the lead, Liz Vigneault told the audience they're going to think her show is amazing. I'd prefer to be the one to decide that. Honestly it was everything but amazing. What was amazing is that I sat through the whole thing. At this point I quote the Fringe blurb "Imagine someone so talented, you wouldn't even know it if it hit you in the face with a brick. Someone so talented it has become invisible to the naked eye." Invisible it was! I'm sure Lise Vigneault does have talent just not in this particular show. 1 Cent. Scooby-Doo

Festival TransAmérique May 27 - June 12, 2010.

Tragédies Romaines: Coriolanus, Julius Caesar, Antony & Cleopatra; Amsterdam.

The Dragonfly of Chicooutimi; Montréal.
GO C IT!

Domaine Publique; Barcelone.
GO C IT!

Le Très Grand Continental; Montréal.
GO C IT!

...and Counting! (Letter Three); Toronto

The Greatest Cities in the World; Vancouver


Highlights and reviews pending.