If you have any reverence for Shakespeare’s “greatest work,” you’re discouraged from attending this performance by it’s own show brief. Luckily, my reverence impulse leads inevitably to an irreverent impulse, because I believe irreverence can be one of the highest forms of praise. In any event, this show by turns mocks, in an explicit attempt … Continue reading “A Better Play Than Hamlet” Isn’t
Go: Fish Saw
This adorable little show, about a family who survives a tsunami in Japan, is weird-artsy as all get-out, and charming to boot. Co-Creator/Performer Sachie Mikawa weaves a magically-real tale about a young girl, resident in a rambling inter-generational noodle house by the sea, and her relationship with a denizen of the deep known as Mister … Continue reading Go: Fish Saw
“Underneath it All” is a Brave New Work
Underneath it All, written and performed by Hannah Gibson-Fraser and Jodi Morden, is a dark and fragmented look into the lives of two women and how their conceptions of love and monogamy are affected by experiences of abuse and mental illness. It’s a truly harrowing tale that is, tragically, a reality for many women living … Continue reading “Underneath it All” is a Brave New Work
“Movin’ Melvin Brown” is a Truly Impressive One-Man Cabaret
Movin’ Melvin Brown: A Man, A Magic, A Music! is a unique opportunity to see a performer from the golden age of rock ‘n roll who has honed his gifts over the years. Even though he turns 72 this year, Melvin Brown still sings and dances his way through this one-man cabaret in a performance … Continue reading “Movin’ Melvin Brown” is a Truly Impressive One-Man Cabaret
“Lub Dub” Where’s the Rub?
Lub Dub, presented by NickelPumpernickel, is described in the Ottawa Fringe Festival show program as being unclassifiable, collaborative, experimental, comedy, and performance art. It is a mostly improv-based show interwoven with moments of storytelling that “speaks to the backgrounds of [creator-performers] Monica Joan Ogden, as a Filipina settler woman, and Tony Adams, as a European settler … Continue reading “Lub Dub” Where’s the Rub?
“Xave Ruth: Music + Comedy + Math” = a Fun, if Loose Ride
Xave Ruth shows off the talents of a performer who, while not fully professional, could make a decent go of it with a little more time to tie his material together into a polished progression of songs. Music + Comedy + Math is a concert-style show with heavy amounts of audience participation (you get to … Continue reading “Xave Ruth: Music + Comedy + Math” = a Fun, if Loose Ride
“How I Lost One Pound” Missing More Than The Musical
How I Lost One Pound, the Musical How I Lost One Pound, the Musical is something of a misnomer, as it is not actually a musical. The title also suggests a personal journey through weight loss attempts and an irreverent sense of humour, but it’s hard to tell what this show is exactly, since it … Continue reading “How I Lost One Pound” Missing More Than The Musical
Luna: Orbital Velocity Achieved
Vanessa Quesnelle (known to Ottawa Fringers from Moonlight After Midnight, and Love is a Battlefield) is producing her first solo work in 5 years at the festival. Quesnelle puts her considerable vocal chops, strong physicality, and sharp writing on display in a piece that weaves all three elements into a coming-of-age story that blends creation … Continue reading Luna: Orbital Velocity Achieved
DEB Talks: Preaches to the Choir
This piece is an outgrowth from a project that premiered at Fresh Meat in 2016, featuring a host of new segments to bring it’s running time up from 20 to just over 50 minutes. Creator/performer Deborah Ring plays a bevy of characters, each of whom possesses a uniquely bent worldview that they present in a … Continue reading DEB Talks: Preaches to the Choir
“Hotter than Potter” Another Success for Keith Brown
Keith Brown is not a new name at the Ottawa Fringe – a couple of years ago he made a name for himself here with his easy going stage presence, mind-boggling tricks, and dashing smile – and with Hotter than Potter he keeps up the gold standard that those who have seen him perform before … Continue reading “Hotter than Potter” Another Success for Keith Brown
The New Ottawa Critics 