Created - and recreated for every performance - by Jennifer Pielak and Peter Abando. Inside Voices was conceived by the two main performers as well as the Production Manager Alison Chisholm.

This is Improv on steroids as the performers create each performance anew based upon the "inside voices" that drive their responses, their actions, and spoken and sung dialogue. The premise of the piece is: "what happens if these inside voices were all let out to play as they wished."

Abando is a marvellous pianist who provides the moment-to-moment sound track throughout the show. Pielak is the one who provides most of the movement and spoken and sung words. (I am curious to know more about how the two communicate and influence each other as they focus on their internal dialogues.) Pielak becomes very child-like and playful through the hour long performance. Abando and the piano are props for her as much as they are cast members. The performers are both well trained, excellent actors and musicians and clearly know their craft.
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I found myself anticipating 'something' even while knowing that each performance would be unique and completely improvised. It must be habit, but once I settled into the flow and let go of expectation the play became joyful and almost meditative.  I recommend it for anyone interested in improv. For those who need structure, story arc, and narrative this will not likely work for you.

Inside Voices is playing at the Firehall Arts Centre 6 - 16 September as part of the 2018 Vancouver Fringe Festival.

~ reviewed by Evelyn McKelvie

I had high hopes for Dyck Spacee – A Spy-Fi Improvised Radio Play based on the description in the Fringe program. As the show unfolded I realized it was heavy (in costuming and content) on the noir and mysterious circumstances, with minimal elements of sci-fi. My night saw the cast of 6 Slapjack City Radio members put on the radio play instalment, Dyck Spacee and the Environmental Activist. As someone with more of a familiarity and interest in sci-fi than noir detective stories, I was a little bored during this instalment. I was underwhelmed by the sci-fi content: we got slime where I had been wishing for aliens, spaceships, or robots.

Upon reflection after the show though, I think the team was highly successful in making the slime central to the environmental activist mystery plot and neatly tying up the story (and solving the case!) in the allotted amount of time.

Sonja’s Favourite Bits:
The foley table with equipment to make the sound effects made a great centre piece and added an interesting element to the improv.

Missed the Mark for Sonja:
Would have loved (and been more engaged by) more sci-fi content.  

Dyck Spacee – A Spy-Fi Improvised Radio Play is playing at the Improv Comedy Institute 6 - 16 September as part of the 2018 Vancouver Fringe Festival.

~ reviewed by Sonja Cvoric

~ reviewed by ​Reija Jean

Gossamer Obsessions by Paul Blinov and Amy Shostak is a surreal sketch comedy experience. The sketches feel vaguely familiar like something you may have overheard in a dream. The script is excellently crafted and continually delights in its mutability and labyrinthine nature. The show combines sketch comedy and improvisation, taking suggestions from the audience. There was even a rhyming section.

This is my favourite Fringe show thus far. It turned night into day. Every time I thought I knew what the joke was, I didn't know what the joke was and was pleasantly surprised. It may be a bit weird, but if you can put up with that, you will definitely enjoy this show. ​

Gossamer Obsessions is playing at the Revue Stage 6 - 16 September as part of the 2018 Vancouver Fringe Festival.

~ reviewed by Annina Engelbrecht

Is That How Clowns Have Sex? A One-Woman, Queer Clown Sex-Ed Show produced by Maximaliste Productions doesn’t shy away from sex talk, and will have you in stitches doing so.

The performer, Fiona Ross, is quirky and sweet, and has the right comedic timing as she playfully acts out different aspects of sex education using her clown character Ms. Beatrice Haven. Don’t expect anything serious or to have your sex questions answered in a clear fashion, but you will be entertained and there will be a lot of laughter throughout.

At times the act can get a bit repetitive, but Ms. Beatrice manages to keep the audience engaged and you never quite know what’s going to happen next. So, if you plan on going make sure to bring a weird, funny, or burning sex question and it just might get answered during the show!  

​Is That How Clowns Have Sex? A One-Woman, Queer Clown Sex-Ed Show by Maximaliste Productions is playing at Your Open Closet 6 - 16 September as part of the 2018 Vancouver Fringe Festival.

~ reviewed by ​Jenna Masuhara

Playwrights: Tom Hill & Devin Mackenzie use humour and a simulated tech conference to alert you about a very serious topic with Hip.Bang! presents Surveil. This comedy duo uses that awkward humour, reminiscent of The Office, to the delight of the audience. These two really embody their characters well; foils of each each other in every way, they strike a hilarious balance between over-confident and socially awkward. Get ready for lots of audience participation for this tech presentation and there might even be some free food. Make sure you arrive early because they’re serious about those waivers!

Hip.Bang! presents Surveil is playing at The Improv Centre on Granville Island 6 - 16 September as part of the 2018 Vancouver Fringe Festival.

~ reviewed by Selene Dublanko

Synopsis: The completely improvised church service for a religion made up on the spot!
A joyous new comedy from Travis Bernhardt, creator of the award winning Charlatan!, Unpossible!, and Chris & Travis. Come sing, laugh, and pray together!

Join Vancouver's own Travis Bernhardt on an exploration of the religion you've always wanted to be be a part of.

This show is great fun. I definitely recommend seeing it if you want to see a show that will have you laughing and singing along. If you are a fan of improv, you will appreciate Bernhardt's incredibly quick wit and ability to run with an idea extensively. He definitely has the gift of the gab.  

I was hoping for more of a developed 'preacher' character that was clearly distinguishable from Bernhardt himself. There were moments that truly resembled a church service but then it seemed to drop off from being an actual sermon to him just riffing on the chosen subject matter philosophically.

This show may not be for kids as it has some language, but if you are a fan of improv and want to have a good laugh during your fringe-ing, then come and see this show. Whether you are religious or not, it is immense fun.

Unscriptured by Travis Bernhardt is playing at Carousel Theatre 6 - 16 September as part of the 2018 Vancouver Fringe Festival.

~ reviewed by Ferne Brown