Toronto Fringe Festival Pre-Picks
A list of 5 shows that on paper look good - even great
If you head out to the Toronto Fringe Festival, beginning this coming Wednesday, July 4th, you'll need some help deciding what shows to see and what shows to avoid.
Now there is no guarantee that these shows will be any good, but on paper, they sound intriguing.
In no particular order, here are 5 shows that might be worth getting in line for.
1. Expiry Dating
Written by Alison Broverman
Featuring Mark Andrada and Alison Broverman
"This play won the 2007 Toronto Fringe New Play Contest, and was the first play ever serialized in a Canadian national newspaper (the National Post). It's a witty and moving comedy about love on a deadline."
Tarragon Theatre Extra Space
2. Conservatives In Love
Written by Dave Carley
Featuring Jason Jazwary, Richard Lee, Anne Page, and Naomi Snieckus
"Conservatives In Love is a shocking inside look at what conservatives do when they think we aren't watching." I saw a reading of this play in January 2007, and laughed. A lot.
Miles Nadal J.C.C.
3. Celine Speaks
Written by Laura Landauer and Sue Miner
Performed by Laura Landauer
Directed by Sue Miner
Laura Landauer has worked as a Celine Dion impersonator for two and a half years, and she has created a show celebrating the Canadian icon and her blockbuster run in Las Vegas over the past 5 years. Filled with songs, guest appearances, and never before seen duets, this is a show for not only fans of Celine Dion, but those who can't stand her.
George Ignatieff Theatre
4. Monkey Love
Written by Maureen Gualtieri
"Combine two international teams of scientists, over five hundred hot-tempered rhesus monkeys, and one - possibly unattainable - goal in the crucible of a top-secret lab, and what do you get? Monkey Love."
Theatre Passe Muraille
5. Just So Stories
Written by Robert Watson
Directed by Andrew Lamb
Just So Stories is based on classic Rudyard Kipling stories, produced by the creative team behind last year's hit KidsVenue show, The Balloon Tree.
Palmerston Library Theatre
Many shows will be worth checking out, so keep your ear to the ground about what productions the audiences are talking about. The beer tent at the Fringe Club is a great place to share thoughts and to hang out with performers while sitting on the patio. As well, the Fringe Club has internet access, so you can post your reviews online and see what everyone is talking about. It's a good idea to snatch up tickets as soon as possible to shows that you definitely want to see, and there are a few ways of saving money with a Fringe pass. Click on the Fringe Toronto website to see what deals can be had. You can find out more information on the Fringe by clicking here.
Good luck and happy fringing!
