Phew! Thankfully the rain finally broke the nasty heat wave we’ve been experiencing! And in time for the first weekend of Fringe! This weekend also marks the halfway point in the festival for those of us who are reviewing, so now it’s time for the final sprint! I’m always excited for the weekends during the festival because it means that my fiancé can spend the day seeing shows with me. We saw three great shows, had some great food, and enjoyed the nicer temperatures.
Little Astronaut – Starlit Stage Co.
Hazel desperately wants to be an astronaut, she has ever since she was a little kid. She’s now enrolled in an advanced Engineering program, but things aren’t going the way she’d planned. Little Astronaut, written, directed (along with Victoria Zhou), and starring Isobel Arseneau, looks at the rampant misogyny women face when studying in STEM subjects. With catchy, heartfelt songs and a great cast, Little Astronaut should be on your Fringe to-see list!
My fiancé began his university career in a very similar program at U of T, and he could immediately empathize with how Hazel and some of the other characters were struggling through the program. Of course, he didn’t experience the same kind of sexist behaviour which Hazel and her friend Lily experience. From bullying to being someone’s side piece, to a professor who pays Hazel just a little too much attention, the men in Little Astronaut give me the ick (except Isaac, they’re lovely and clearly just trying to fit in). It immediately made me think about my childhood best friend, who has done several degrees (including her doctorate) in STEM programs, and it made me wonder if she faced the same thing as one of the few women in her program. However, I was also pleasantly surprised to see a play which features bullying and trying to find a sense of belonging happening in University; most media depicts these sorts of issues only in high school, meanwhile they can continue long after.
Stand out performances in Little Astronaut are Arsenau as Hazel, Hermela Abiy as Lily, and Joshua Chung as Jonah. This stellar cast works so well together, and to see that they’re predominantly U of T Engineering students themselves is even more mind-blowing. There’s even a live band on stage, playing Nicholas Biancolin’s compositions. I can’t wait to see what’s next for Little Astronaut!
https://fringetoronto.com/fringe/show/little-astronaut
Featuring Will King (left) and Ivy Miller (right)
Orbit – WaxWing Theatre Company
Imagine waking up on the transit and being thousands of miles away from your destination. Roe finds herself lost in deep space with little hope for rescue in Sarini Kumarasinghe’s sci-fi thriller Orbit. This intense two-hander tackles everything from immigration to capitalism, and how annoying automated phone systems are, all taking place in a far-future where inter-planetary travel has been privatized. Thought-provoking and chilling, Orbit is a poignant reminder of our shared humanity.
As a former call centre agent myself, Orbit’s premise was very relatable; though I must admit, I’m glad that I was never dealing with actual life-or-death situations as The Agent has to in this play. Orbit has an excellent balance of humour (particularly around the call centre rules like no swearing) and social commentary. All of the best sci-fi has something to say about our current time by setting it in the future, and Orbit is a prime example of this. From anti-immigration sentiment to our struggles under the weight of our capitalist society, Orbit holds a mirror up to our current selves in a moving and evocative way.
Ivy Miller and Will King give stunning performances as Roe and The Agent. Miller’s Roe is passionate and driven, trying her best to make her dreams come true no matter the cost. King’s Agent starts out as the picture of professionalism, but quickly moves to a more emotionally driven state, making him just as relatable as Roe.
Though there were moments which could have used a bit of tightening up, Orbit is an intriguing and enthralling piece with an ending that’ll melt your heart.
https://fringetoronto.com/fringe/show/orbit
Front row – Gareth Finnigan, Ari Crooks, Kimberly Van Vo
Photo by Declan Meagher
1920’s Walking Around in a Dream – Unspoken Theatre Company
Lookin’ for some gigglewater and a good time? Head on down to Tom Theseus’ speakeasy, and Eggs will set you up! Natalie Kaye’s 1920’s Walking Around in a Dream, directed by Declan Meagher, takes the lovers plot line of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream and puts them in 1920’s Chicago, where the moonshine is always flowing. Featuring fun songs and plenty of 20’s slang, 1920’s Walking Around in a Dream is the elephant’s eyebrows.
Focusing on the lovers plot makes the most sense in terms of getting Midsummer down to a 60 minute show, and they certainly captured the feeling of that part of the play very well. Initially I was kind of bummed, because part of the delight of Midsummer is the magic and fairies, but I hadn’t even considered the borderline magic effect alcohol can have on the mind! I thought this was a very clever device to use in the play and was happy to hear that they still make reference to the purple flower described by Oberon. I also love the references to Sonnet 130, and other Shakespearean works within the text; it’s a lovely nod to the Bard in such a stylized production.
Stand out performances 1920’s Walking Around in a Dream are Gareth Finnigan as Andy, whose energy and stage presence are undeniable, and Ari Crooks as Helen, who plays the scorned to beloved dichotomy beautifully. Tom Beattie, Fabiana Mercurio, Daytoni Raye, Kimberly Van Vo, and Josh Welsh give it their all, singing and dancing their way right into our hearts!
I’ve been overjoyed with the number of Shakespearean adaptations this Fringe, and 1920’s Walking Around in a Dream is another great one to add to your to-see list!
https://fringetoronto.com/fringe/show/1920s-walking-around-dream
Cover Photos: Photo of Joshua Chang, Isobel Arseneau, and Hermela Abiy. Photo by Barry McCluskey
Featuring Ivy Miller. Pictured: Fabiana Mercurio. Photo by Nina Kaye.
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