Montréal Fringe Festival 2006
I ducked in to Montréal for another weekend of the St-Ambroise Montréal Fringe Festival. I was in town for a very brief period, but I did manage to catch four shows which I hope you were able to see. If you missed them, it's not too late to catch showings at the Toronto Fringe Festival.
Uncalled For 4: For Forever (Schedule) (Photograph) I always look forward to the improv sketches that we see at the Fringe. And the Montréal improv groups are just phenominal. This is Uncalled For's fourth year of participation and you can plainly see that they're going places. Each time they come on stage, the show is different. For one night, they had a plethora of guest stars. And for another, they did an improvisational musical. They're very good at pacing, timing, and downright absurdity. What more could you ask for? 4/5.
Terrain de Jeux pour Marionnettes (Schedule) (Photograph) Dominique Leroux unrolls herself from a parachute cocoon. It is white and she is dressed in black. From within the folds of cloth, she gracefully wakes her marionette and together they dance. The marionette grows up, explores the world, and then commits an unpardonable crime. The puppetry is so amazing that it looks like dancer and puppet are two completely separate beings. A very sexy show. 4/5.
Drumheller (Schedule) (Photograph) In the small town of Drumheller, people go missing. Darcy Bruce and Leah Bowen create a cast of six, who are entangled in a rural world of dinosaur bones, made-up facts, and religious conversion. Both actors inhabit powerful and explosive characters, which is exciting to see on a small stage. And half of the characters die by the end. 3.5/5.
The Girl with No Hands (Schedule) (Photograph) Talya Rubin returns to Montréal again for another stunning one-woman play. Her capacity to switch from character to character is subtle yet convincing. She retells the classic fairytale of the Girl with No Hands in a way that is as moving as it is enlightening. This is a must-see. 4.5/5.
Article written for Akachic Records.