We’re headed into the home stretch of the Toronto Fringe Festival! I had two shows to kick off this week, both at the main Fringe hub at Soulpepper Theatre. I love getting to bump into folks and talking to the volunteers while we wait in line; so much of Fringe is the wonderful social aspect of it too!
Photo byAshley Loyst
Snacey! – Pitch In Productions
Do snakes have birthdays? How would they know which day to use: when they hatch or when they first shed? Snacey isn’t sure, but as far as her mother is concerned, snakes don’t get to have birthdays. Snacey!, written and directed by Priscila González with music by Ira Salo, is a musical about how we can always change the trajectories we’re on, and that we’re not bound by society’s expectations. Though it’s designed (and originated) as a Theatre for Young Audiences show, definitely heed the PG warning before bringing your littlest theatre goers.
Snacey gets bullied quite a bit at school. She’s one of the few predators in her class, and her anger often gets the better of her. When she destroys her bully Quarley’s birthday party, she begins a cycle of bad choices, which is unhelpfully perpetuated by her mother Vena. Unfortunately, Snacey ends up hurting a lot of her friends, including her best friend Birt. But once Snacey decides to change her ways, nothing will stop her from choosing kindness!
I was a little shocked by just how violent Snacey! is; I happened to be at a relaxed performance, and so those moments were explained to us beforehand, and I was quite thankful for that. I understand that we’re trying to teach kids that anger can hurt other people, but do we have to go so far as death?
Laura Dae, Autumn Davis, Gabriela Dereje, Nasim Ramirez, Iza Rincón, and Pippa Van Beek-Paterson all give excellent performances in Snacey! Their puppetry work, singing, and vulnerable acting make for a great expereince.
I think we can all learn a bit from Snacey!: we get to choose our own life, no matter what expectations are thrown our way. And by breaking the cycles of those expectations, we can make the world a better place.
https://fringetoronto.com/fringe/show/snacey
Photo courtesy of Scott Cavalheiro
2% of Condoms – Canadian Apocrypha
Imagine discovering that you and your best friend are both bastards who grew up during the Y2K era? What better thing to do than write a comedy sketch show about it! 2% of Condoms is a hilarious show created by Nikki Bon and Claire Cavalheiro, with direction and dramaturgy by Scott Anthony Cavalheiro. Taking a look at their relationship with men, which may (or may not!) stem from their lack of a father figure growing up, 2% of Condoms is funny and heartwarming in equal measure.
Bon and Cavalheiro’s friendship shines throughout the production, as the two of them delve into their pasts to show how it’s shaped their current lives. I loved seeing how they worked in the facts of their real lives into the show: using sketches ranging from WW1 trench warfare to being a young woman growing up in the 2000’s, to bedtime lullabies warning of marrying drummers, 2% of Condoms runs the gamut of comedy. As a fellow millennial who was also in my 10’s in the 2000’s, many of the themes in these sketches hit home for me. Especially in the summer camp scene, where they’re worried about not getting to hang out with the cool kids and Claire is worried about her unshaven legs – it was like watching my own teenage years play back before my eyes. But I also think that 2% of Condoms is relatable to everyone; behind the comedy, there are also very vulnerable and human emotions which Bon and Cavalheiro are talking about, and we feel those so deeply.
2% of Condoms is definitely a show which should be on your Fringe list this year! From their sense of humour to their loving friendship, Bon and Cavalheiro truly give it their all on stage.
https://fringetoronto.com/fringe/show/2-condoms
Cover Photos: Iza Rincon, Nasim Ramirez, Laura Dae, Pippa Van Beek-Paterson. Photo byAshley Loyst. Nikki Bon on the left, Claire Cavalheiro on the right. Photo courtesy of Scott Cavalheiro.
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