Another great day of theatre in the books! After two late-night shows in a row, I was thankful to be starting my day in the afternoon so I could get some rest and then head out for another full afternoon and evening of theatre!

Fertility Slippers – Textures Theatre

Drink your coffee, look into the cup, and what do you see? Good omens, or bad ones? Even mother can’t for sure tell what the future will hold in Fertility Slippers. A beautiful story about a mother and daughter as they navigate their culture, relationship, and illness. Written by Ece Aydin and directed by Christopher Legacy, Fertility Slippers is an entrancing work bringing Turkish traditions to centre stage.

The two performers of this piece were fantastic: Aida Keykhaii and Parnian Pourzahed. The dynamic of their relationship is made clear from the beginning, and I loved watching it change as the play went on. I also loved the parts where they were talking to their friends who are also mother and daughter, and hearing the different advice given to their respective friend; it was so indicative of who they are as people. Keykhaii and Pourzahed both give moving and captivating performances which make Fertility Slippers a delight to watch.

I really enjoyed the mystic/spiritual practices the mother has: from reading coffee grounds to placing evil eyes in her home, to ensuring her daughter wears slippers so that she’ll be fertile, these traditions ground us in their culture. Fertility Slippers is such a fascinating way to learn more about Turkish culture and yet see how universal mother/daughter relationships truly are.

Fertility Slippers is a charming and emotional play about family, love, and faith in one another. I’m so glad I was able to catch it at the Fringe this year! For more information visit: Fertility Slippers | Toronto Fringe Festival (fringetoronto.com)

Dead End – Great Untold Stories inc

“In every mystery lies a tragedy and in every tragedy, a mystery.”* Dead End is certainly full of both mystery and tragedy as a man’s missing wife turns into far more than a missing persons investigation. Showing a house to prospective buyers, a real estate agent gets a bit more than he bargains for..or does he? Full of twists and turns, Dead End will have you on the edge of your seat until the final moments.

Dead End, written by Michael Posner and directed by Briane Masimok, had me gasping, oohing and totally enthralled from start to finish. A well-written mystery, it gives just enough information as the play goes on yet you don’t have it all sorted out right off the top. I was left guessing until the final moments of the play and I was just thrilled!

This great story is also extremely well acted by Chris Gibbs, Cara Hunter, and Julian Ford. Gibb’s character Kevin is so aggressive throughout the play that he was my indication that something was up, but I didn’t know what. All three performers have beautifully crafted these complex characters and do a brilliant job of bringing them to life. Their interactions with one another, especially at the beginning when everyone is lying to some degree, gives an incredible tension and awkwardness unlike anything I’ve ever seen.

You’ll definitely want to keep up with Great Untold Stories inc and what they’re up to next! Visit: Dead End | Toronto Fringe Festival (fringetoronto.com)

*This lede was provided by the Winnipeg Jewish Mafia. I was too scared of the consequences to not follow instructions. I hope the rest was satisfactory.

The Man with the Golden Heart: A New Musical – Chaos & Light

In a world where our problems feel massive and we feel very small in their wake, it’s hard to feel like the actions of a single person can make a difference. Andrew Seok’s new musical The Man with the Golden Heart reminds us that we leave our mark on every life we touch, and that we often can’t comprehend the influence we’ve had on others throughout our life. Powerful, poignant, and hopeful, The Man with the Golden Heart is the musical we all need right now.

Seok started the performance by saying that his play is about hope and love and you can feel that in every moment of what he’s created. This remarkable story is about a man who can alter reality to give others what they need. I enjoy that the Man with the Golden Heart is not the central character in the 3 story lines we see him change; rather, he stays in the back, always watching to see how the stories will play out, interjecting occasionally, but otherwise being an observer only. We witness the impact of his being in their lives rather than solely his life; this shift in focus makes for an engaging and thought-provoking story. It also makes the moments where we’re let in on the Man’s struggles with his own life all the more powerful, and the music certainly enhances those moments.

The Man with the Golden Heart is played by the incomparable Bruce Dow; his voice fills up Trinity St. Paul’s seemingly effortlessly and I get head-to-toe goosebumps every time he sings. Dow gives a passionate performance and I am thrilled to have seen him on stage again. Charlotte Moore, who plays Mother, gives a similarly stunning vocal performance and brings a calm and grace to her character. Seok himself gives a stand out performance, as well as Tess Benger and Sarah Horsman. The entire cast is brilliant and their voices are incredible; I’ll certainly be ready for whenever I can get my hands on the cast album for this production as well!

I truly hope this inspiration musical gets picked up again for a full production soon. I was still crying long after the show ended, moved by the performances and the message of The Man with the Golden Heart. I hope you were able to be in one of the several sold-out performances at Fringe this year. For more information on the Fringe cast, visit: The Man With The Golden Heart – A New Musical | Toronto Fringe Festival (fringetoronto.com)