Day 8 of Fringe brought me back to Theatre Passe Muraille for 3 shows, and then down to the Al Green Theatre for my last review for Intermission. It was my last super busy day of the festival, and it was very rainy, but I was happy for a nice dinner break in between my two venues, and to have seen great theatre and lots of friends!

1 Santosh Santosh 2 Go: Tosh Finds His Groove – FNO

How do we measure success? Tosh has a chart, a literal chart by which he measures his success against that of his sisters. But ultimately, isn’t doing what makes us happy a true sign of success? Tosh grapples with this question, and many more, in 1 Santosh Santosh 2 Go: Tosh Finds His Groove. A hilariously funny addition to the clown line-up of this year’s Fringe, Tosh is sure to tickle your funny bone.

Something that I’m loving about the clown shows this year at Fringe is how despite the comedy and silliness, they all have a very emotional heart to them, and Tosh Finds His Groove is no exception. Couched in the more comedy driven moments is pointed commentary about societal and parental pressures, the measure of success, and the disappointment of not receiving support, particularly from one’s parents. We feel for Tosh as he tries to find love (but rejects everyone because his parents won’t approve), cleans his apartment for his parents to come over (only for them never to show up), and really just try his best to live up to their expectations. It’s something we’ve all felt, and they make no mistake of pointing that out to us during the show.

Srutika Sabu plays Tosh with all of the charisma of a Bollywood star. The fact that this is very close to Sabu’s real life story, yet she chooses to tell it from a male’s perspective adds even more layers of meaning to their show. Sabu is joined by Mahdi Mozafari, who acts as narrator and occasional scene partner. Their chemistry is fantastic, and Mozafari’s ability to improvise based on audience reactions yielded hilarious results.

A stand out moment for me, and any “Hot Ones” fans, is when Tosh puts a few drops of Da Bomb Beyond Insanity onto their food. The visceral reaction from the audience as Tosh pulled out the bottle of hot sauce was so immediate, all of us yelling “NO! DON’T DO IT!” without even thinking. I can’t imagine how Sabu must feel every day they perform after ingesting just a small bit of that powerful sauce.

Get your groove on and see 1 Santosh Santosh 2 Go: Tosh Finds His Groove. I can’t wait to see more from this talented artist!

https://fringetoronto.com/fringe/show/1-santosh-santosh-2-go-tosh-finds-his-groove

POZ – Theatre Topikos

Two dots. That’s all it took for Mark Keller’s life to change forever. In his powerful new play POZ, Keller looks at everything from his HIV diagnosis to his coping mechanisms, relationships to isolation. Directed by Nick May, this moving look into what life with HIV looks like now is sure to tug on your heart strings.

Mark knows his history, he knows what a diagnosis of HIV used to mean. While medically, we’re able to do so much more now to make HIV undetectable, and therefore not transmit-able, the stigmas attached still permeate today’s society. We watch as Mark struggles not only to tell his family and close friends (and learning the difference between who to tell and not), but also how disclosing his status on dating apps was difficult and often degrading. The program states that he amassed over 70 screenshots of all of his rejections which he then used to create this play. Turning this difficult time in his life into art is inspiring, and to hear how he continues to inspire others through the Bike Rally is the cherry on top to the whole thing.

Keller is an engaging storyteller, and I have to applaud the fortitude it takes to talk about such a sensitive topic through this piece. You can feel his emotions and passion permeating every aspect of the piece. Alan Shonfield plays “everyone else” in Mark’s life: from doctors to partners and everything in between, Shonfield wears many hats throughout the performance. Working in tandem to tell this moving story, Keller and Shonfield are a dynamic duo. Amber Pilon has an amazing turn as Bambi Marshall, The mysteriously Southern real estate agent from Ontario. Acting as a sort of fairy godmother type figure to encourage Mark on his ride, Pilon has that charm and sweetness you only find south of Kentucky.

I’m so glad that I was able to get a ticket to POZ. This production had me in tears, both from the heartbreaking nature of the way Keller is treated, but also from the positive strides he’s been taking since. I left the theatre feeling inspired, and grateful that Keller is willing to share his remarkable story with us.

https://fringetoronto.com/fringe/show/poz

The Bluffs – Midtwenties Theatre Society

Do you believe in ghosts? Eleanor wasn’t sure she did either, but after the tragic death of her wife, she just might have to change her mind. The Bluffs is a riveting horror written by Sarini Kumarasinghe and directed by Jacqui Sirois. This haunting tale of family, love, and what happens when it all falls apart will send shivers down your spine.

Eleanor lost her wife Lori six months ago. Since then she’s been listening to a lot of podcasts about grief as she deals with the last of Lori’s things. When she arrives at Lori’s family’s cottage, she’s shocked to find Lori’s brother Jordan living there. The past is brought back to life in more ways than one as the two await the arrival of a potential buyer, Macy, who has more motive to come and see the property than originally anticipated.

The design of this production was great; I loved how the ‘walls’ of the cabin were denoted by the strings along the back and side of the stage. It allowed for us to understand that it’s a wood cabin while also providing some interesting entrance and exit points. The boxes all marked with Lori’s name is a great visual for the why they’re there and the unfortunate work that needs to be done after someone’s passing.

The quartet of actors bringing this story to life are fantastic. Shelayna Christante gives a passionate performance as Eleanor, and there are times where she had me absolutely terrified. Cygnet Watson plays Macy, the potential buyer, and gives a nuanced and chilling performance. Malcom Green’s Jordan is an interesting contrast to the female characters in the play, and he certainly held his own. Justine Christensen rounds out the cast as the Podcast Host. Her calm and collected manner acts as a grounding force for both Eleanor and the audience.

I was happy that I saw this play in the afternoon, any later and I don’t know if I’d have been able to sleep! It’s a fabulous ghost story and one that could easily have a fully staged run in future.

https://fringetoronto.com/fringe/show/bluffs

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