Concluding Reflections

Well, the 2009 Fringe is officially over. The circus has left town. As we sweep off our streets and start taking down the posters plastering Broadway, the traveling theatrical sideshow will be in Edmonton getting ready to do it all over again. As I mentioned on my last show, I feel extremely honored to have been given the opportunity to interact with this coterie of passionate and creative people.

I very much hope that I'll covering the Festival again in 2010. This job has proved to be one of the highlights of my year twice-running and I'd like to make it a hat-trick.

On an unrelated note, I did in fact manage to see all thirty-two plays in this year's Festival (note: I did not attend Kid's Fringe performances), which means that my hat is safe... for now!

Best of Fringe 2009

CFCR 90.5 FM's Fringe Top Six (2009):

• The Accident
• Edmund
  
• The Honeymoon Period is Officially Over
• pornStar
• Reflections on Giving Birth to a Squid
• Raunch

Honorable Mentions: Blue is the Water, Boatload, Fringe Unzipped: The Story of Burlesque, G-Men: Defectives, Grandpa Sol and Grandma Rosie, The Importance of Being Earnest, Lysistrata, Matadora, More Bange For Your Buck, Remixed Nuts, Spiral Dive II, Weaverville Waltz

Fringe Fest Flyer (08/07)

In today's program, you'll hear interviews with Jonno Katz (star and writer of The Accident), Alice Nelson and Jacqueline Russell (the stars of Raunch), and with Charlie Peters and Jordan Svenkeson (performers in For Want of a Knob). You'll also hear brief reviews of The Accident, Grandpa Sol and Grandma Rosie, and The Honeymoon Period is Officially Over.

Listen online here: Fringe Fest Flyer - August 07

Remaining showtimes for these productions are as follows:
The Accident
Playing at the Broadway Theatre
Fri. August 7th @ 9:05 pm
Sat. August 8th @ 7:30 pm

Grandpa Sol and Grandma Rosie
Playing at the Victoria School Gym
Fri. August 7th @ 4:00 pm

The Honeymoon Period is Officially Over
Playing at the Broadway Theatre
Fri. August 7th @ 3:30 pm
Sat. August 8th @ 9:15 pm

Raunch
Playing at the Broadway Theatre
Fri. August 7th @ 7:20 pm

For Want of a Knob
Playing at the Off-Broadway Arts Centre
Fri. August 7th @ 7:30 pm
Sat. August 8th @ 4:00 pm

Day #9: Joy and Pain (Sunshine and Rain)

Well, nine days into the 2009 Fringe Festival, I'm still going strong but gradually realizing that this particular roller-coaster ride is soon going to be over (boo!). Though it's been a huge time commitment (and though sleep deprivation is starting to take its toll), I have been looking forward to this assignment all year... and the festival has not disappointed. As I mention in today's show, I am tremendously grateful to everyone that made it possible: CFCR (for hiring me), SaskLotteries (for providing funding), 25th Street Theatre (for running the festival) and to the performers and creative personnel that I have had the pleasure of getting to know over the past week. Sigh.

Chris's Top Picks (thus far):

• Reflections on Giving Birth to a Squid
• PornStar
• Raunch
• The Importance of Being Earnest
• The Accident
• The Honeymoon Period is Officially Over

Honorable Mentions: Boatload, Fringe Unzipped: The Story of Burlesque, G-Men: Defectives, Grandpa Sol and Grandma Rosie, Lysistrata, Matadora, Spiral Dive II, Weaverville Waltz

Fringe Fest Flyer (08/06)

In today's program, you can hear my conversations with the cast/creative team of Say Shoot, the writer and star of The Last Straight Man in Theatre, and some of the local talent involved with The Centre of the Universe.

Listen to this episode online here: Fringe Fest Flyer - Aug. 06

Showtimes for the productions are as follows:
Say Shoot
Playing at the Victoria School Upstairs
Thurs. August 6th @ 9:20 pm
Sat. August 8th @ 5:45 pm

The Last Straight Man in Theatre
Playing at the Off-Broadway Arts Centre
Fri. August 7th @ 8:45 pm
Sat. August 8th @ 8:45 pm

The Centre of the Universe
Playing at the Victoria School Auditorium
Sat. August 8th @ 3:00 pm

Day 7: Over the Hump!

As Wednesday has come to be known in colloquial parlance as the "humpday," it is perhaps fitting that I have crested my own personal Fringe Festival show viewing hump. Yesterday, I was quite tired but still managed to fit in four shows, bringing my total up to twenty two, which means that I only need to see ten more shows over the next four days. I may choose to attend some of the Kid's Fringe performances as well, but they'll be considered extra credit assignments.

Chris's Top Picks (thus far):

• Reflections on Giving Birth to a Squid
• PornStar
• Raunch
• Weaverville Waltz
• The Importance of Being Earnest

Honorable Mentions: The Accident, Boatload, Lysistrata, Fringe Unzipped: The Story of Burlesque, Matadora, Spiral Dive II

Fringe Fest Flyer (08/05)

In today's show, I interview two cast members from Rat Tales, as well as the writer and director of Artemis Burning and two touring street performers (DynaMike and Piper McKenzie). I also present my review of The Importance of Being Earnest, which (after seeing 22 shows) remains one of my favorite pieces in this year's festival.

Listen online here: Fringe Fest Flyer - August 05

Remaining showtimes for these productions are as follows:
Rat Tales
Playing at the Off-Broadway Arts Centre
Wed. August 5th @ 2:00 pm
Thurs. August 6th @ 3:15 pm

The Importance of Being Earnest
Playing at the Victoria School Auditorium
Wed. August 5th @ 4:00 pm
Thurs. August 6th @ 7:30 pm
Sat. August 8th @ 8:15 pm

Artemis Burning
Playing at the Victoria School Auditorium
Wed. August 5th @ 7:45 pm
Fri. August 7th @ 5:45 pm

Fringe Fest Flyer Online!

After hearing the multitudes clamouring for an online archive of these shows, I decided that it was probably a good idea. Below, you'll find download links for each of the episodes that have already aired. All subsequent shows will simply be posted alongside their respective blog entries.

The people have spoken!

• Fringe Fest Flyer - July 30th (note: as this episode was taped live, the audio quality is somewhat poor... this is only the case for this particular episode!)
• Fringe Fest Flyer - July 31st
• Fringe Fest Flyer - August 3rd
• Fringe Fest Flyer - August 4th
  

Fringe Fest Flyer (08/04)

In today's show, you'll hear interviews with Anne Wyman from PornStar and Chris Bange from More Bange For Your Buck, as well as a glowing review of Randy Rutherford's Weaverville Waltz.

The remaining showtimes for those productions are as follows:
PornStar
Playing at the Victoria School Upstairs
Thurs. August 6th @ 5:45 pm
Sat. August 8th @ 4:00 pm

More Bange For Your Buck
Playing at the Off-Broadway Arts Centre
Tues. August 4th @ 6:50 pm
Thurs. August 6th @ 6:20 pm
Sat. August 8th @ 5:15 pm
Note: More Bange For Your Buck is a late addition to the festival and, as a result, it is not in the program.

Weaverville Waltz
Playing at the Victoria School Upstairs
Tues. August 4th @ 6:45 pm
Wed. August 5th @ 2:30 pm
Sat. August 8th @ 5:40 pm

Day #6 Update: Movin' Right Along

Due to some personal time commitments (i.e., spending time with family and friends), I've fallen a bit behind schedule, but everything is still looking promising for seeing every show... My only regret is that I may not be able to revisit some favorite pieces. We'll have to see!

Chris's Top Picks (thus far):

• Reflections on Giving Birth to a Squid
  
• PornStar
• Raunch
• Weaverville Waltz
• The Importance of Being Earnest
  

Honorable Mentions: Matadora, Lysistrata, Fringe Unzipped: The Story of Burlesque, The Accident

Fringe Fest Flyer (08/03)

On today's program, you can hear interviews with Gemma Wilcox from The Honeymoon Period is Officially Over and Jaysen McDonald from Boatload. Also, I review my three favorite shows that I've seen thus far: Raunch, PornStar and Reflections on Giving Birth to a Squid.

Showtimes are as follows:
The Honeymoon Period is Officially Over
Playing at the Broadway Theatre
Mon. August 3rd @ 4:50 pm
Wed. August 5th @ 3:45 pm
Fri. August 7th @ 3:30 pm
Sat. August 8th @ 9:15 pm

Boatload
Playing at the Off-Broadway Arts Centre
Tues. August 4th @ 3:20 pm
Wed. August 5th @ 9:15 pm
Fri. August 7th @ 3:30 pm

Raunch
Playing at the Broadway Theatre
Mon. August 3rd @ 6:45 pm
Tues. August 4th @ 3:15 pm
Wed. August 5th @ 9:20 pm
Fri. August 7th @ 7:20 pm

PornStar
Playing at the Victoria School Upstairs
Tues. August 4th @ 2:00 pm
Thurs. August 6th @ 5:45 pm
Sat. August 8th @ 4:00 pm

Reflections on Giving Birth to a Squid
Playing at the Off Broadway Arts Centre
Mon. August 3 @ 3:05pm
Wed. August 5 @ 7pm
Fri. August 7 @ 5:15pm

Day #3 Update: On Schedule!

Well, I'm definitely on track to see all of the shows at this year's Fringe. I'm three days in and have already seen thirteen plays (roughly 35% of the shows on offer). At this rate, I'll be able to catch some favorites multiple times. Huzzah!

Chris's Top Picks (thus far):

• The Importance of Being Earnest
• PornStar
• Raunch
• Weaverville Waltz
  

Honorable Mentions: Matadora, Lysistrata, Fringe Unzipped: The Story of Burlesque

Fringe Fest Improv Cage Match!

Ahoy Fringe Fanatics!

Apparently the lovely and talented casts of this year's many Fringe plays are not content to sit back and entertain you with their various theatrical spectacles... Instead, they've organized an improv comedy beat-down that will be taking place tomorrow night (Sunday the 2nd) at 10:30pm (at the Off-Broadway, I believe). Should be fun. I plan to be there!

If I get any more information, I'll definitely post it here!