Day 7 meant that it was time to head over to the East End theatres for the day! I saw 2 shows at the Aki Studio and 2 at Alumnae Theatre! All 4 shows were great in their own ways and I’m excited to share them with you all!

Sarah St-Fleur: La Québécoise From Toronto – SistaGotJokes Production

Kric! Sarah St-Fleur has a story to share, so gather ‘round! In her first solo show, Sarah delves into her heritage, relationships with her family, and her own childhood in Sarah St-Fleur: La Québécoise From Toronto. Masterful storytelling and cozy atmosphere make this an unforgettable show.

Sarah sets the mood right off the top of the show by talking about the importance of storytelling in her Haitian culture. Making us feel like a part of the family, we witness her story about one of the most intense days of her life. Interjected with more comical and expository stories, Sarah introduces us to her family, what it was like to grow up in Montreal, and what her life’s been like now that she lives in Toronto. Using a mix of English and French to tell her story, St-Fleur truly gives us little slices of her life.

St-Fleur is an engaging storyteller. Her unique perspective, sense of humour, and natural charisma immediately grabbed me and kept me hooked from start to finish. I loved that there were ladies sitting in the row behind me who clearly had a similar background as Sarah, and to hear them all laughing together, especially before she translated what she’d said, was delightful.

Krac! Be ready to listen, laugh, and become part of the family with Sarah St-Fleur. To me, this is what the Storytelling Fringe genre is all about.

Sarah St-Fleur: La Québécoise, from Toronto! | Toronto Fringe Festival (fringetoronto.com)

Gringas – First Born Theatre Company

Everybody loves summer camp, right? Not when you’re stuck at a Spanish summer camp to learn a language you think you already know. The 7 teenagers in Gringas find themselves stuck in the Muskoka’s, and while they start out as strangers, they end up becoming great friends. A story about language and how it informs our sense of self, Gringas will make you laugh as much as it’ll tug on your heartstrings.

The story of Gringas is told in such a way that we get to know each girl individually as well as see the group interact together. While the more comical portions tend to be while the girls are all together, the more heartrending moments come from their monologues throughout the play. They ways in which these girls come into their own is just as unique as they are, and I love how this play shows everything from queer love to outgrowing relationships, confronting biases to embracing their language.

Alejandra Angobaldo, isi bhakhomen, Mercedes Isaza Clunie, Katarina Fiallos, Gloria Freire, Julianna Olave, and Rachel Quintanilla all shine in their roles in Gringas. Their chemistry is fantastic and each give passionate performances. To see such talent in these young performers made me excited to see what they’ll be doing next.

If there are tickets left, get one for Gringas, you won’t regret it. And I truly hope that this powerful, feel-good story will have many more opportunities to be shared in future.

GRINGAS | Toronto Fringe Festival (fringetoronto.com)

You Lost Me: A Sketch Comedy Show – Solo Act

Have you ever had one of those days where everything seems to be going wrong? You Lost Me: A Sketch Comedy Show takes those days and turns them into hilarious sketches. And while they might not have the solutions to those problems, there’s something wonderfully cathartic about understanding that no one is immune from a bad day. This troupe of 7 comedians bring all the laughs to the Alumnae stage with You Lost Me.

The themes of the sketches varied from issues with a new shower head to your friends making fun of your car, the mandala effect to awkward interactions with the opposite sex. What takes this show to the next level is the callbacks which permeate the sketches. Things we haven’t thought about in 3 or 4 scenes magically appear again, making us laugh even harder than before. You can feel the time and effort which was taken to perfect this show, and that polished feel makes me think it’s ready for an even larger audience.

Josh Davis, Jenny Graydon, Tristan Lipton, Stephanie McDonald, Johnny McGroarty, Emma Sexton, and Ryan Williams dazzle the audience with their physical comedy and impeccable timing. I loved their pastel costumes; they had a cohesive look yet each one had their own unique style. They’re able to take just a couple of chairs and turn them into anywhere and everywhere we need to be, letting our imagination easily fill in the rest of the hilarity for ourselves.

You Lost Me certainly doesn’t loose its audience, keeping the jokes rolling sketch after sketch. Now if only I could find my burger gurgling girdle…

You Lost Me: A Sketch Comedy Show | Toronto Fringe Festival (fringetoronto.com)

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