I'm not a camper, so I was interested to hear about the humorous mishaps that can happen with a newbie to camping. The dynamic between the two actors was funny, if predictable. Good lighthearted entertainment. Appropriate for young children. ~ reviewed by Karen Flynn
2 Comments
Viktor Barkar of Vancouver Puppet Theatre has some really beautiful puppets. This show really made me wish I was a kid again so I could sit on the mat in the front of the marionette stage and experience the show as it is meant to be experienced. As an adult, I had to settle for sitting on a slightly uncomfortable chair, craning my head to see the floor of the small part of the stage that was being utilized. Baba Yaga and the Black Flower is a fairy tale for children. It is simple and short and good eventually triumphs over evil. Viktor Barkar the puppeteer does all the voices with a joy and dedication that it utterly charming. I wanted more spookiness, like the online trailer suggested. Maybe there is an atmospheric puppet movie in the future? Now THAT will get me squealing like an excited child! If you're an adult who likes puppets, likes me, you'll likely get a kick out of this show, but it's better to go with kids and to experience the magic vicariously through them. Baba Yaga and the Black Flower by Vancouver Puppet Theatre is playing at the False Creek Gym 6 - 16 September as part of the 2018 Vancouver Fringe Festival. ~ reviewed by Danielle Benzon
Absolute Magic was definitely magical. Keith Brown did everything right, his magic was believable, funny, and engaging. If you enjoy magic or you are looking for a good show to take your kids to, I would recommend this one. Keith has been doing magic for over 10 years and he has performed in over 22 countries. His passing resemblance to Harry Potter (although Keith is proclaimed to be hotter) makes it seem even more likely that he might make you levitate, or at least confuse you by reading your mind. Absolute Magic by Keith Brown is playing at Studio 1398 September 6 - 16 as part of the 2018 Vancouver Fringe Festival. ~ reviewed by Annina Engelbrecht
Adjunct Professor of Law at Washington and Lee University. CEO at Westmoreland Coal. CEO at Telescpectrum Worldwide. President and CEO at Jackson Hewitt. President and CEO at Farm Fresh Inc. This is not the CV of a Fringe performer. At least not usually. But this year Keith Alessi has come to Fringe to show as that even a recovering executive might have something to offer the arts. This show is exactly the kind of intimate and vulnerable performance we come to the Fringe to see. I am not particularly a banjo fan, but after seeing this show I now understand the appeal. Alessi weaves beautiful stories for us, some moving, some funny, but all are accompanied and enhanced by the 3 banjos he has on stage with him. For the banjo enthusiasts in the group you will be tickled by the occasional banjo joke and Alessi’s solo performances of some very famous songs, and one at least he wrote himself. Tomatoes Tried to Kill Me But Banjos Saved my Life has toured Canada’s Fringe scene from Toronto, through Edmonton and now in Vancouver. Next Alessi will be taking his show international and heading over to Australia. Working with a very talented group of performers, Alessi may be a newcomer to Fringe, but I don’t think it will be his last time charming an audience from the stage. Check out his website TomatoesTriedToKillme.com to enjoy some of Alessi’s favourite places, banjo builders and music. He is also offering comp tickets on his website, so if you feel like you need to see this show, but are tight on cash, you can email them and request one. Tomatoes Tried to Kill Me But Banjos Saved my Life is playing at Carousel Theatre 6 - 16 September as part of the 2018 Vancouver Fringe Festival. ~ reviewed by Brieanna Fiander
With the stage presence of both a touring magician and a mad scientist, Louis Pezzani did not let a relatively small matinee audience discourage him from making the absolute most of his production: Mind Magic. Pezzani skillfully demonstrated his ability to not only influence the minds and read the behaviour of the audience as promised, but to use his natural charisma to captivate and lead audience members to believe in that which seemed impossible until it was before our eyes. In some ways the experience of Mind Magic left me with more questions than answers, but with that came a feeling that anything is possible with the power of clear and directed intention. Mind Magic by Louis Pezzani is playing at False Creek Gym 6 - 16 September as part of the 2018 Vancouver Fringe Festival. ~ reviewed by Madisen Steele
Wastelands is the story of the last human on Earth, Hero, and her last 3 years in “plastic purgatory” otherwise known as the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. The performance begins with a tragedy, one which only seems to really matter to Hero, but we are brought along to help find the perpetrators and bring them to justice. Hero introduces her collection of garbage puppets, Wilsonesque (Castaway) creations of hers, who act as treasurer, secretary, Vice President, and the chair of recreation committee. With these creations and a plethora of swear words she tells us about how they ended up on the island and why it’s pointless to try to leave. Highlights of the show include the acid rain, national anthem, and the wonderful puppetry that brings the other 4 characters to life. Savanna Harvey builds a fantastical world for us and while the story is often funny it is unexpectedly sorrowful, frustrating, and intense. The work Harvey did with puppeteer coach Lindsey Zess allows the 4 puppets to become unquestionable characters with their own personalities and opinions on the situation as it unfolds. The venue presented its own unique challenges as bring your own venue stages often do. Positioned in a parking lot Harvey is at the whim of the weather, people cutting through the alley, business sounds and the Fringe Bar down the road. She did not let any of that distract her though and should be applauded for making the best out of a tough spot. It should be noted that the provided seating is garbage themed and as such not particularly comfortable. There are chairs in the back for those with mobility challenges. The venue accommodates about 30 people, so it’s a very intimate experience. Lighting is particularly tough in this area as early evening showings take you from dusk to night. Harvey has positioned bare bulbs around for light. Although thematically appropriate, they are tough on the eyes. Finding your check in spot and venue is a bit tricky so the instructions are in my video. Check in occurs at the BYOV c tent on the north side of Cartwright St. Wastelands by Pretentious Productions is playing in the Micon Parking Lot 6 - 16 September as part of the 2018 Vancouver Fringe Festival. ~ reviewed by Brieanna Fiander
This show is a wonderfully innocent experience. Katie Purych is just perfect as Mikaila. She plays her with so much energy and draws you into her world of imagination. I loved that her character was strong and didn't need rescuing but was the heroine in her stories and led the adventures. Andrew Wade plays Hullaboo with a tenderness that is so endearing to watch. The show delves into giving up your childhood and venturing into adulthood in a way that is heartbreaking. When the voice of the parents are heard urging Mikaila to leave her friend behind and grow up, you almost want to shout out at them to leave her and not take that imagination away from her, destroying that innocence and becoming a hardened adult. The show makes you reflect on your own life and wonder when the moment was where you stood on the precipice of adulthood and made the jump, letting go of your childhood and ability to disappear fully into your imagination. This really should be made into a full length movie. We need to let children keep hold of their imagination for as long as possible. This show is for all ages and I think kids would love it, so it is a shame that most of the shows are later at night. Bring your kids if you can but otherwise come and enjoy this heartfelt show, and if you have kids, then go home afterwards and play a made up game with them. Hullaboo and the End of Everything is playing at Carousel Theatre 6 - 16 September as part of the 2018 Vancouver Fringe Festival. ~ reviewed by Ferne Brown
Josh Languedoc of Indigenized Indeginous Theatre from St. Albert, Alberta is the creator of this marvellous play. It is about his relationship with his grandfather and is told from the perspective of a young boy reading his story to the rest of his class for a school project. The setting is minimal - a chair in the centre of a stage, a folder of torn and ragged pages on the floor, pages over to front stage right. The actor vividly portrays the young sick boy in a hospital bed from the chair and his recovered self reading from the folder, telling his fellow students about how his story came to him while he was ill. The actor (and writer) moves from one character to another beautifully and seamlessly, holding our attention through the winding tale as it moves through time and space. Eventually he plays multiple characters in the story - the grandfather, raven, young warrior, King, wolf and many others that fill the stories told by his Grandfather. In each case Languedoc subtly inhabits each, giving physical clues so that we never lose track of the story as each character tells his part. I thoroughly enjoyed the play and the performance. I can't think of anyone who wouldn't enjoy it. It's a great tale for children as well as adults. Rocko and Nakota - Tales From The Land by Indigenized Indeginous Theatre is playing at the Waterfront Theatre 6 - 16 September as part of the 2018 Vancouver Fringe Festival. ~ reviewed by Evelyn McKelvie Click "read more" for the full video transcript.This show explores the concept of procrastination through acrobatics. Video games and fiction intertwine with real life. The structure could be stronger, and the show could have been longer, but the script was funny and I really enjoyed the idea of it. One of the main things about the show is it heavily relies on references to video games and anime culture. So if you aren't or in that world of video games or anime, you may feel lost or out of place in the theatre. The only thing keeping those references together is acrobatics. So the show mainly has acrobatics as the glue to keep the audience interested when all she starts to fall. (Haha, get it? Fall? It's acrobatics and they fall. Nevermind...) My Imagination Ran Away Without Me is playing at the Waterfront Theatre 6 - 16 September as part of the 2018 Vancouver Fringe Festival. ~ reviewed by Michelle Williams Click "read more" for the full video transcript.Written and in part performed by Jeff Hoffman. The story of 50 Fun Things is a musical romantic comedy that explores life from both positive and pessimistic angles. Opening with a scene about the current state of their relationship, characters: Kelcie and Seth present to you scenes of the beginnings of their relationship and their quest to find 50 fun things to do. This show is definitely a tear-jerker but it is also just so darn cute that you can’t help but smile. Filled with musical recordings and accompanied by live singing and ukulele, 50 Fun Things will take you on an emotional journey that you will appreciate. And you may even feel better about life after seeing this show. 50 Fun Things by Maniac Productions is playing at the Cultch Historic Theatre 6 - 16 September as part of the 2018 Vancouver Fringe Festival. ~ reviewed by Selene Dublanko Click "read more" for the full video transcript. |
SPONSORED BY:Categories
All
|