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SELF-ish is the story of a woman, Esther (played by Diana Bang), in her mid thirties navigating the trials and tribulations that come along with that phase of life, additionally burdened and gifted with her Korean-Canadian family. As the play progresses we meet various members of her family, all played skillfully and hilariously by Esther. Bang puts on a strong and physical performance running, crashing, punching and kicking her way around the stage. While the play starts off quite funny as the story progresses we discover that Esther may be using all the sarcasm and humour to detract from some emotional family dynamics. I was most struck by how Esther’s frustrating and sometimes sad moments are framed in a funny way, but this approach shifts as the play evolves into a more sentimental discussion. SELF-ish by Classy Little Bitch Productions is playing at the Revue Stage 6 - 16 September as part of the 2018 Vancouver Fringe Festival. ~ reviewed by Brieanna Fiander
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It turns out that “fancy brains” can belong to funny people. Francis Brian Shaw is one such person. This show is his fifth instalment of Fancy Brain. This instalment is subtitled The Reckoning. Francis is said to have performed hundreds of stand-up comedy shows all across Canada including major city shows in places like Calgary and Toronto. Shaw has excellent stories. He shares in a way that is personal, human and relatable. His stories are unique and his jokes are vulnerable. He shared a lot about how the comedic brain works. I felt this great theme tied the show together and could have been even stronger. I wanted more physicality in his storytelling. If he had savoured the stories more, the audience could have absorbed them better. The Fancy Brain Show: The Reckoning is playing at the Revue Stage 6 - 16 September as part of the 2018 Vancouver Fringe Festival. ~ reviewed by Annina Engelbrecht
This one woman show by 17-year old Laurel A. Trueman is packed with laughs that anyone of any age can relate to. Confident, silly, and at many times endearing, this young actress shares with you all the funny ways she put off creating the show she’s on the stage performing- a grandiose apology of sorts that truly is something worth watching. Before I saw Trueman on stage, I felt skeptical about the show, questioning the value of an adult acting out teenage drama. But this all changed once I saw Trueman on stage, and realized that she herself is actually a teenager. This isn’t an emo teenage drama- this is the story of the way we all justify procrastination, and is most keenly told through the lens of a teenager’s honesty with herself and with us. So I recommend this show for both teens and adults. But even if you don’t see Trueman in this year’s Fringe Festival, I guarantee you’ll be seeing her on the screen and on the stage for many years to come. Hardly Trying is playing at the Revue Stage 6 - 16 September as part of the 2018 Vancouver Fringe Festival. ~ reviewed by Elizabeth Goode
Playwright and performer Shawn O’Hara is spectacular as Brad Gooseberry, Field Zoology professor and adventurer. Everything about this performance is carefully crafted to appear a though it were thrown together. The music playing when you first enter sets the stage for what is 60 minutes of comedic genius. You will be entertained by classic cartoons, tales from some familiar and local wildlands, and some improvised and often physical Q and A. Nearly every line elicits some reaction from the audience, most of them good. O’Hara leaves some time at the end to improvise answers to questions from the audience, would have liked to have seen more performance from him and to have shortened this section up. Shawn O’Hara is a local writer and actor coming from Victoria. With experience in animation and voice over, O’Hara brings his various talents to the table to create the University course we all wish we took. This is not his only performance at the Fringe, you can catch him and Abdul Aziz at Fake Ghost Tours. Field Zoology 101 by Shawn O'Hara is playing at the Revue Stage 6 - 16 September as part of the 2018 Vancouver Fringe Festival. ~ reviewed by Brieanna Fiander
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
This was a really enjoyable show. A touching look into our treatment of old people in our society, especially those with dementia and Alzheimer's as well as how the system treats those who look after them. Patients with these illnesses can so often get violent and aggressive. This, combined with the stresses and lack of support for nurses who care for them, can really burn out caregivers and de-humanize them who, in turn, de-humanize their patients. It is an important show to make us more aware of the sensitivity that is needed and how much systems like the NHS need to change. This is not just relevant to the UK treatment systems though. I liked the Whodunnit aspect, it made it a little more entertaining and humourous, but I think once it was established it was put aside a little, to establish the other characters and possible suspects in a way that almost made you forget the whodunnit part and get lost in the new characters. Perhaps there is a way of introducing them that still feels much a part of the whodunnit mystery. Gee uses music and lights to add depth to some characters and scenes. Worth seeing is his detective character that speaks in idioms and proverbs that are completely mashed together with other similar meaning idioms and proverbs. This performance is flawless and just when you think you won't laugh at it again, you find yourself chuckling again at his delivery. A must see whether you have any connection the Alzheimer's or not. Forget Me Not - The Alzheimer’s Whodunnit by Rob Gee is playing at the Revue Stage 6 - 16 September as part of the 2018 Vancouver Fringe Festival. ~ reviewed by Ferne Brown
Poly Queer Love Ballad created by Anaïs West and Sara Vickruck performed at Revue Stage is a beautiful, sweet show about two women trying to navigate a polyamorous relationship. As a musical, the music and songs intermixed throughout enhance the performance to create a special story that really hit home for me. West and Vickruck have great chemistry together and you’ll feel for both of their characters as their relationship progresses. Through songs, poetry, monologues and costume changes they artfully build a queer romance that has its ups and downs. They handle the topic in a beautiful, sincere manner and highlight the importance of communicating your personal needs as well as listening to your partner’s needs and wants when building a relationship. I think anyone can appreciate the story West and Vickruck are telling, and I feel like queer women will find it especially resonating. Poly Queer Love Ballad is playing at the Revue Stage on Granville Island 6 - 16 September as part of the 2018 Vancouver Fringe Festival. ~ reviewed by Jenna Masuhara Click "read more" for the full video transcript.Sharing their thoughts on body image, beauty, dating and societal expectations these sisters reveal their judgements and insecurities through what many would consider healthy and normal sibling ribbing. But does being a sibling excuse such scathing comments? Is it okay for a once 'fat' person to make 'fat' jokes and for us as an audience to laugh at them? In a conversational, one woman show written by one sister and read/performed by the other, Big Sister leads you to ask yourself these questions. Although a comedy, it's probable that you may shed a tear as these performers expose their unabashed thoughts and feelings of and for each other and leave you with the final question.. do you really know your sibling? Big Sister by Rapid Pitch Productions is playing at the Revue Stage on Granville Island 6 - 16 September as part of the 2018 Vancouver Fringe Festival. ~ reviewed by Karen Roller Click "read more" for the full video transcript. |
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