The summer rain couldn’t dampen the spirits of the Fringe goers for Day 2 of the Toronto Fringe Festival! I was able to take in 3 shows today, and I’m so excited to tell you all about it.

Things We Lost in the Fire

Calamities collide in Promise Productions’ The Things We Lost in the Fire. After a massive fire destroys a historic building, the residents are being questioned as to the fire’s origins. Through their questioning, we learn about the people who live there and their struggles. A moving drama with terrific performances, Things We Lost in the Fire has messages we all need to hear right now.

Things We Lost in the Fire is written and directed by Deon Denton, who also gives a stellar performance as Miss Effie. I enjoyed how the police questioning after the fire was interspersed with the scenes showing us the events that led up to this devastating event. This narrative structure allows us to learn a great deal about the residents while also gain an understanding of the stakes at play.

Also giving stand-out performances were Jordan Kewell, Marissa Rasmussen, Lizette Mynhardt, and Ridley Pierce. Each member of the cast had a difficult story to tell, but they all handled their roles with grace and passion. While they each play a sort of stereotype, they give nuanced performances, which is impressive in such a short timeframe.

At is core, Things We Lost in the Fire is less about what is lost, and much more about what is found: Community. In a time where it seems that we’re more separated than ever, this message truly hit home. Make sure to add Things We Lost in the Fire to your Fringe list! For information and tickets, visit: Things we lost in the Fire | Toronto Fringe Festival (fringetoronto.com)

Levels the Play

Final exam question: what do you get when you add six friends in grade twelve, trying to find their identities, a date to prom, and a college program, plus a healthy dose of music, Shakespeare, and voguing? You get Levels the Play! An excellent play with music created and directed by Abby Grass and Clarence (CJ) Jura, Levels the Play delves into the difficult but very real issues facing today’s youth.

While dealing with very heavy and adult material at times, Levels the Play shows the reality of the breadth of issues facing today’s youth. The discussion around sexuality, gender identity, and sexual assault are handled with care by the writers and performers. However, seeing these issues discussed, particularly in the context of young adults, is extremely important and I commend the creators on tackling these subjects. All of this is juxtaposed with the delightful performances in the play; the musical numbers are great fun, and provide the perfect balance for the play.

Levels the Play boasts a wildly talented cast of young artists: Nadia Casandra, Tavaree Daniel-Simms, Annelise Forbes, Luca McPhee, Isaiah Nembhard, Chris Otchere. Throughout the play we see what true triple-threats they are! Chris Otchere’s ballroom performance during the piece is definitely a highlight for me, as well as the history given about the ballroom scene and its importance to queer culture.

Levels the Play is joyful, real, and heartwarming. I highly recommend seeing it during Fringe. And if you love the original music for the piece, like I do, you can download the album on your favourite streaming platform! For more info and tickets, visit: Levels the Play | Toronto Fringe Festival (fringetoronto.com)

Hullaboo and the End of Everything

What happens to our imaginary friends as we grow up? Hullaboo is frightened to find out the answer in Hullaboo and the End of Everything. This delightful two-hander hits you right in the heart with its child-like joy and the crushing reality of growing up.

Hullaboo is Mikaila’s imaginary friend, and he tells us all about the adventures he and Mikaila used to go on when she was small. Now that she’s twelve, she’s not really playing with him any more, and he’s unsure as to what will happen. This touching journey of memories and fantastical exploits makes you long for the innocence and simplicity of youth. I love that the story is told from Hullaboo’s perspective, as we get to understand his fear and uncertainty about what’s going to happen next. But it’s also the side of things we don’t often consider when going through the growing-up process ourselves, which makes it all the more endearing and emotional.

Andrew Wade plays Hullaboo alongside Bonnie Duff as Mikaila. These incredible performers are high-energy and exude the wonder and imagination of the young ones they play. Their comedic timing is spot on while also being able to evoke plenty of pathos throughout.

For the young and young-at-heart, Hullaboo and the End of Everything will leave you smiling with a tear in your eye. For more information and tickets, visit: Hullaboo and The End of Everything | Toronto Fringe Festival (fringetoronto.com)