It was a HOT day at Fringe! But it was also a full day of seeing shows, having delicious meals, and running into lovely friends. The community is what I love the most about Fringe and today was a great reminder of that.
James & Eddie – Skylark Productions
What do you remember about your childhood? Eun-Kyung thinks she remembers it well, but her older sisters are always correcting her about the details. What she does remember are her friends, James and Eddie, and the tragedy that struck their family. Written by M.J. Kang, James & Eddie is an emotionally charged story about two Korean families new to Canada, the bonds they form, and what tears them apart.
Annasofie Jakobsen’s lighting design is of paramount importance, as James & Eddie is told without a set and few props. The various lighting colours let us know when we are in Eun-Kyung’s mind, or living out a memory, or with her in the present. Otherwise, the simplicity in the storytelling is perfect; this is a play of remembrance, there doesn’t need to be much to paint the picture for the audience. The laundry baskets, which are one of two props used, become a vital symbol of safety and imagination for the young ones in the story.
M.J. Kang, Elsha Kim, Katherine Ko bring Eun-Kyung, James, Eddie, and many more characters to life. The three of them have great chemistry and support each other well on stage. James & Eddie deals with really sensitive and difficult topics, and yet it navigates those in a safe and meaningful way. Their portrayals of these young children felt so true to life that it’s hard to remember at times that they’re actually adults!
James & Eddie has moments of childlike whimsy and fun mixed with the horrors and tribulations of the generational trauma that’s been passed down to them. Beautifully performed and expertly written, James & Eddie is a fantastic addition to this year’s Fringe.
James & Eddie | Toronto Fringe Festival
Mathew’s Big Broadway Bash – Toronto Cabaret Productions
Mathew Mac Lean is throwing a party and you’re invited! And what’s best is he’s going to provide the entertainment too! Mathew’s Big Broadway Bash combines your favourite broadway songs with party classics like Mad Libs to create a memorable Fringe show.
I had high hopes for Mathew’s Big Broadway Bash; I started out my career doing musicals as well, and the idea of an involved sing-along style show certainly got me in the door. However, only 4 of the songs throughout the 60 minute run are sing-alongs, the audience is serenaded by Mac Lean for the rest of the show. Jada Prato also performs a dance piece, which is a highlight of the performance.
Mac Lean’s story-telling delivery is almost a little too informal, at times feeling rambly and unprepared. There were likewise several lyric slip-ups throughout the performance; with such recognizable songs as “Tomorrow” from Annie and “Ring Them Bells” by Liza Minelli, it was difficult not to notice. While the audience was able to pick up any slack with the sing along numbers, as we had hand-outs with the lyrics on them, unfortunately Mac Lean was on his own with his solo numbers.
A hilarious highlight of the show is when Mac Lean sings a Mad-Libs style version of “Memory” from CATS. The audience is asked for various words before the show begins, and those become part of the lyrics to one of the most iconic show tunes in history. It makes for a really funny break in the programme and I loved my audience’s choices!
Mathew’s Big Broadway Bash will have your toes tapping and your heart full of song. It’s certainly a fun way to spend an hour during your Fringe!
Mathew’s Big Broadway Bash | Toronto Fringe Festival
My Pet Lizard, Liz: The Shakespearean Existential Crisis that Led to His Ultimate Demise – The Lost Scribe Collective
It’s been a year since Gaz’s beloved pet lizard, Liz, took his own life, and they’re not how to celebrate this Necroversary (I’m totally adding this to my lexicon). And it’s all thanks to that “blasted balding bisexual” William Shakespeare. My Pet Lizard, Liz: The Shakespearean Existential Crisis that Led to His Ultimate Demise, directed by HRH Anand Rajaram, is a charming yet heartbreaking story of the loss we feel when we lose a loved one, whether their blood is cold or warm.
I have to start out by saying what a phenomenal performer Shaharah “Gaz” Gaznabbi is. Their charm, passion, and vulnerability shine in equal measure throughout their performance. You can tell how much of themselves and their experiences they’ve put into this production; it feels relatable from moment one until the end. Then add that they’re a great puppeteer on top of their stage presence as themselves, and you’ve got yourself a highly entertaining 60 minutes.
The ingenuity which was put into the set is mind-blowing; again, this is the kind of artistry I love seeing at the Fringe. The puppet stand is able to be Gaz’s room, High Park, Lizard Church (you read that right), and a huge tree, all with just a few adjustments. I marvelled at the thought and care that went into creating this beautiful world for Gaz and Liz to play in.
My Pet Lizard, Liz also doesn’t shy away from talking about some of the most difficult parts of the theatre industry, all with a cheeky spin. From horrible auditions, to awful critics and critiques, to the jealousy we feel when someone else gets what we want. Yet it’s dealt with in the same careful and empathetic manner as grief and loss.
My Pet Lizard, Liz is a riot! I wish I had the time to see it again, but “alas, parting is such sweet sorrow.”
The Adding Machine – Leroy Street Theatre
The fear of our jobs being replaced by technology is not a new one. The Adding Machine by Elmer Rice was written in 1923, over a hundred years ago, and yet here we are facing down the same issues as these characters: what are we to do if we get replaced by faster, more efficient machines? Directed by Alice Lundy, The Adding Machine takes audiences on a journey from the streets of 1920’s New York, to the underworld and back, following Mr. Zero as he tries to cope with being replaced.
The styling of The Adding Machine adds brilliantly to the themes and time period of the piece. The world Mr. Zero lives in is monochromatic: blacks, whites, and greys are the only colours present until his bloody collar reveals what will become his ticket to the afterlife. Once there, the colours subtly begin to show themselves, until green fields and colourful outfits surround Mr. Zero’s still monochrome existence. The three-headed fate figures, who also comprise Mr. Zero’s full jury of 12, are another haunting image as we transition from the world of the living to the afterlife.
Tim Walker stars as Mr. Zero and gives a stellar performance. His gruff charm plays perfectly for Mr. Zero. Jen McEwen’s over-the-top performance is a perfect contrast to Walker; she made me laugh so hard as Mrs. Zero. Dani Zimmer’s Daisy is as sweet as her namesake, and Zimmer gives a heartrending performance. Qwerty, played by Jamar Adams-Thompson is elegance personified from his language to his mannerisms. Yet there are times when just the angle of his head or the way he speaks sends shivers down my spine. Breanna Dillion rounds out the cast as Lieutenant Charles, though she plays several throughout the play. Her vivacity gives her a strong presence on stage.
The Adding Machine is a stark reminder that it has been ever thus, that we will survive through these new and exciting times, and that maybe what’s waiting for us on the other side isn’t all its cracked up to be.
The Adding Machine | Toronto Fringe Festival
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