The first day of the Toronto Fringe Festival is certainly a high-energy and high-anticipation event! I hit the ground running this year with three shows on this opening day, and I was immediately reminded of why I love Fringe! To see so many little ones enjoying the outdoor activities at Kids Fest, the community of fellow Fringe Goers you meet in line for shows, and just the general buzz of excitement brings a delightful sense of community.

Doctor Dolittle – Humpty Dumpty Puppet Theatre

Nothing like a show at Kids Fringe to start off the Festival! Humpty Dumpty Puppet Theatre’s adaptation of Doctor Dolittle is fun for the whole family. Taking us on a journey to Africa and back again, Doctor Dolittle’s songs, adorable puppets, and delightful characters make for an enchanting trip to the theatre.

The dear Doctor Dolittle is a very special vet: he’s able to actually talk to the animals he treats! Making sure to help every creature big and small, aided by his trusty dog, Doctor Dolittle has really made a name for himself! He’s asked by a monkey friend of his to go to Africa and help her fellow monkeys, who all have some sort of illness. But trailing the Doctor and his friends are two evil pirates! Will Doctor Dolittle be able to save the monkeys in time?

The set for Doctor Dolittle acts as both a puppet theatre as well as showing the audience where in the world we are throughout the performance. Going from town to ocean to jungle, there’s always a new surprise when the curtains open. The costumes are simple yet fun, it’s easy for the audience to know just who everyone is. However, the real stars of the show are the puppets! Everything from ailing rabbits, to my personal favourite the Push-Me Pull-You, are performed by wonderful puppeteers. Adding to the magic are the catchy songs created especially for this production which will certainly bring a smile to everyone’s face!

Make sure to bring your little adventurers out to Doctor Dolittle as part of the Fringe’s Kids Fest!

Doctor Dolittle | Toronto Fringe Festival (fringetoronto.com)

Tape – Jim & Grew Theatre

What is morality? And what does it truly mean to be a moral person? These deeper questions behind Stephen Belber’s Tape make it a gripping roller coaster ride. With hard-hitting performances of an intriguing script, Tape is certainly a play you’ll be thinking about long after you’ve left the theatre.

Vincent is in Lansing to visit an old friend who has a film in the Lansing Film Festival. The two have known each other since high school, even briefly dating the same girl at the end of their senior year. John, the filmmaker, shows up at Vincent’s hotel room before the two are supposed to go out for a night on the town. However, neither of them end up having the fun evening they thought they were going to have. Arguments lead to confessions, confessions to regret, and by the time Amy, their former girlfriend, comes over, there is plenty to discuss amongst the three of them.

Along with Belber’s unpredictable and nuanced script, the performances in Tape make it a stand-out show. Thomas Sarigiannidis’ portrayal of Vincent perfectly plays into myriad stereotypes of “the guy who peaked in high school.” His suave yet chaotic Vince gives the production its twists and turns. Whereas Joel Pettigrew’s John thinks he’s changed so much, and lords that over Vince, yet we see things might not be so cut and dry. Pettigrew gives a layered performance of this very complex character. Jada Rifkin’s Amy is powerful and fierce, clearly the one in the group who has indeed moved on from her high school days. Her entrance into the play signals a clear shift, and Rifkin keeps that feeling going until the final moment.

Tape should absolutely be on your Fringe list for this year. Tackling difficult issues with honesty, Tape is a fascinating and thought-provoking new work.

Tape | Toronto Fringe Festival (fringetoronto.com)

Barry Potter and the Magic of Wizardry – Dirk Darrow Investigations

Wands at the ready, wizards! It’s time for a fun-filled and magical performance by Fringe veteran Tim Motley. Based in a certain Wizarding World which we’ve all become familiar with, Motley’s impressive slight of hand magic takes centre stage as he plays Barry Potter, the “real” boy who lived. Motley’s awe-inspiring illusions and well-placed puns make Barry Potter and the Magic of Wizardry a delight from start to finish.

Fans of the series and newcomers alike will have plenty of fun in Barry Potter, as Motley weaves his own tale in the Wizarding World. Full of familiar names and places, our journey with Barry takes us from Hogwarts to London, Diagon Alley to some more seedy alleys in the muggle world, all while displaying his impressive magical prowess.

Motley has worked audience participation into the show exceptionally well, using patrons of all ages to help him weave his wondrous tale. There’s one illusion in particular where I thought that the person he had to help him was being quite contradictory and I couldn’t understand why they’d be doing so. By the end, I realized it was all part of the trick and I had been totally bamboozled! Magic shows perpetually delight me; the skill and showmanship involved in these illusions is on a whole other level. For this one to then make references to such a formative series in my life only enhanced my enjoyment of the piece.

Witches and wizards of all ages will have a fabulous time at Barry Potter and the Magic of Wizardry. With magical illusions expertly driving the story, Barry Potter will have you believing that magic is real.

Barry Potter and the Magic of Wizardry | Toronto Fringe Festival (fringetoronto.com)

And that’s a wrap on Day 1 of Fringe! Keep and eye out here and on my social media for lots more Fringe content coming to you daily!

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