Small Town Boys is a one-man show written and performed by Sean Leclaire Casey, originally a Canadian who now lives in Boston Mass. Casey's powerful tale is his own story of growing up in a small rough town outside of Montreal. Those were the days when being a man meant being tough and affection was shown more through closed fists than clasped hands.

The stage setting effectively creates a ghostly memory of the Freeman Pub, a central character from the story of the lives of these Small Town boys. Casey interacts with the tables and chairs to take us across time and space to meet the boys and men of his youth and tell their tragic tales. It was the most 'theatrical' of the staging I have seen yet at the Fringe.

The show lives up to its billing. It left me and others I spoke to with a sense of regret and loss for those sensitive souls that were entrapped in certain expectations of maleness. The stereotype of the macho male that is forged in those small towns is very much relevant in today's world where a resurgent view of the hyper-masculine, testosterone poisoned male is admired in some quarters of society.

The show is an excellent educational piece to provoke discussion about gender stereotyping, social pressure to conform, and the potential to escape the conditioning of one's childhood. 

Small Town Boys is playing at Waterfront Theatre 6 - 16 September as part of the 2018 Vancouver Fringe Festival.

~ reviewed by Evelyn McKelvie

​Weirdo is pretty much what the name is and so much more, it is magic, a weird magician and a weird time. Robbie T. wins you over with his weirdness and quirks, and overall funny story of his magic skills, growing up and social situations. The fanfare of glitter and quick pause to make sure you got the joke or trick is a great add to keep your audience laughing and wanting more. Robbie T. interacts with audience members, getting them to get out of their seats and embrace their weirdness, while also messing the audience feel safer with his weirdness, letting you know that if your up on stage with him, nothing can go wrong and if it does, comedy! 

Weirdo by Robbie T Subiaco is playing at Performance Works 6 - 16 September as part of the 2018 Vancouver Fringe Festival.

~ reviewed by Michelle Williams