Listen online here (coming soon)
In today's show, the review crew and I discuss five productions (The Suckerpunch, The Surprise, Twenty Five, The Wet Dream Catcher, and Big Shot); we hear a song from Europe: A Savvy Girl's Guide; and I chat with Berkley Staite - Associate Director of the Fringe - about the future of the festival.
Friday, August 5, 2011
Fringe Fest Flyer (08/04)
Listen online here
In today's show, I interviewed Shawn Erker from Three Seconds to Live; spoke to Richard Lee, Joelle Prefontaine and Joel Crichton from Twenty Five; discussed `33 (a kabarett) with the review crew; and chatted with Melanie Gall (creator and star of The Sparrow and the Mouse).
Three Seconds to Live (Playing at the Cosmo Seniors' Centre)
Fri Aug 5 - 8:30pm
Twenty Five (Playing at the Victoria Upstairs)
Thurs Aug 4 - 10pm
Fri Aug 5 - 5:30pm
Sat Aug 6 - 5:10pm
`33 (a kabarett) (Playing at the Broadway Theatre)
Thurs Aug 4 - 10pm
Sat Aug 6 - 6:20pm
The Sparrow and the Mouse (Playing at the Victoria Gym)
Thurs Aug 4 - 8:40pm
Sat Aug 6 - 8:10pm
In today's show, I interviewed Shawn Erker from Three Seconds to Live; spoke to Richard Lee, Joelle Prefontaine and Joel Crichton from Twenty Five; discussed `33 (a kabarett) with the review crew; and chatted with Melanie Gall (creator and star of The Sparrow and the Mouse).
Three Seconds to Live (Playing at the Cosmo Seniors' Centre)
Fri Aug 5 - 8:30pm
Twenty Five (Playing at the Victoria Upstairs)
Thurs Aug 4 - 10pm
Fri Aug 5 - 5:30pm
Sat Aug 6 - 5:10pm
`33 (a kabarett) (Playing at the Broadway Theatre)
Thurs Aug 4 - 10pm
Sat Aug 6 - 6:20pm
The Sparrow and the Mouse (Playing at the Victoria Gym)
Thurs Aug 4 - 8:40pm
Sat Aug 6 - 8:10pm
Thursday, August 4, 2011
More Progress!
Well, it's been a long haul in places, but I'm now getting close to having seen all of the shows from this year's Fringe (only five more to go). This means that I can now update my recommendations!
Here are my top picks for the festival (as of Thursday morning):
Here are my top picks for the festival (as of Thursday morning):
- Big Shot (my current favorite)
- The Sucker Punch
- Giant Invisible Robot
- The Surprise
- Oh, That Wily Snake!
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
Fringe Fest Flyer (08/03)
Listen online here
In today's show, I interviewed Veronica Russell from A Different Woman, played a tune from Joel Crichton's Twenty-Five, and spoke to Elinza Pretorius and Amber Green from Suicide(s) in Vegas.
Remaining showtimes for each of these productions are as follows:
A Different Woman (playing at the Broadway Theatre)
Wed Aug 3 - 8:40pm
Fri Aug 5 - 6:50pm
Twenty Five (playing at Victoria Upstairs Auditorium)
Wed Aug 3 - 4:10pm
Thurs Aug 4 - 10pm
Fri Aug 5 - 5:30pm
Sat Aug 6 - 5:10pm
Suicide(s) in Vegas (playing at Victoria School Gym)
Wed Aug 3 - 6:30pm
Fri Aug 5 - 4pm
Sat Aug 6 - 9:40pm
In today's show, I interviewed Veronica Russell from A Different Woman, played a tune from Joel Crichton's Twenty-Five, and spoke to Elinza Pretorius and Amber Green from Suicide(s) in Vegas.
Remaining showtimes for each of these productions are as follows:
A Different Woman (playing at the Broadway Theatre)
Wed Aug 3 - 8:40pm
Fri Aug 5 - 6:50pm
Twenty Five (playing at Victoria Upstairs Auditorium)
Wed Aug 3 - 4:10pm
Thurs Aug 4 - 10pm
Fri Aug 5 - 5:30pm
Sat Aug 6 - 5:10pm
Suicide(s) in Vegas (playing at Victoria School Gym)
Wed Aug 3 - 6:30pm
Fri Aug 5 - 4pm
Sat Aug 6 - 9:40pm
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
Fringe Fest Flyer (08/02)
Listen online here
For today's program, I interviewed Bremner Duthie, a multi-talented vocalist / actor / writer (and all-around nice guy), who stars in `33 (a kabarett) - a musical tour-de-force depicting an impresario's response to a Nazi raid on his club in pre-WWII Germany. I also spoke with Jerod Blake and Dustin MacDougal, the writer and one of the actors here to present Fuel: A One Act Play - a dark yet human story about addiction, with a twist. Next, Nicole Marcoux and I reviewed Bertha and, finally, the show concludes with a whimsical interview with Martin Dockery and Vanessa Quesnelle from Oh, That Wily Snake!
'33 (a kabarett) (Playing at the Broadway Theatre)
Wed Aug 3 - 5pm
Thur Aug 4 - 10pm
Sat Aug 6 - 6:20pm
Fuel: A One-Act Play (Playing at the Victoria School Gym)
Wed Aug 3 - 4:50pm
Thurs Aug 4 - 10:10pm
Bertha (Playing at the Victoria Upstairs Auditorium)
Wed Aug 3 - 8:30pm
Thurs Aug 4 - 5:20pm
Fri Aug 5 - 7pm
Oh, That Wily Snake! (Playing at the Broadway Theatre)
Tues Aug 2 - 10pm
Thurs Aug 4 - 8:40pm
Sat Aug 6 - 5pm
The Surprise (Playing at the Broadway Theatre)
Tues Aug 2 - 3:50pm
Wed Aug 3 - 10:40pm
Fri Aug 5 - 8:50pm
For today's program, I interviewed Bremner Duthie, a multi-talented vocalist / actor / writer (and all-around nice guy), who stars in `33 (a kabarett) - a musical tour-de-force depicting an impresario's response to a Nazi raid on his club in pre-WWII Germany. I also spoke with Jerod Blake and Dustin MacDougal, the writer and one of the actors here to present Fuel: A One Act Play - a dark yet human story about addiction, with a twist. Next, Nicole Marcoux and I reviewed Bertha and, finally, the show concludes with a whimsical interview with Martin Dockery and Vanessa Quesnelle from Oh, That Wily Snake!
'33 (a kabarett) (Playing at the Broadway Theatre)
Wed Aug 3 - 5pm
Thur Aug 4 - 10pm
Sat Aug 6 - 6:20pm
Fuel: A One-Act Play (Playing at the Victoria School Gym)
Wed Aug 3 - 4:50pm
Thurs Aug 4 - 10:10pm
Bertha (Playing at the Victoria Upstairs Auditorium)
Wed Aug 3 - 8:30pm
Thurs Aug 4 - 5:20pm
Fri Aug 5 - 7pm
Oh, That Wily Snake! (Playing at the Broadway Theatre)
Tues Aug 2 - 10pm
Thurs Aug 4 - 8:40pm
Sat Aug 6 - 5pm
The Surprise (Playing at the Broadway Theatre)
Tues Aug 2 - 3:50pm
Wed Aug 3 - 10:40pm
Fri Aug 5 - 8:50pm
Progress
Hiya Saskatoon!
Well, it's been a crazy weekend... Since the beginning of the festival, I've now seen twenty-two shows (seventeen of which I attended on Saturday, Sunday and Monday). Having now seen approximately two-thirds of the shows from this year's festival, I'd like to offer a few of my recommendations, though I do so with a caveat: I know how subjective the reviewing process is.
I have had a few experiences at this festival where either a) I've left the theatre feeling elated, charmed, enlighted or otherwise engaged while walking past people shaking their heads in confusion or disgust, or b) sat through a performance with my head in my hands only to hear the patrons sitting in front of me exclaim, "Well, that was just *so* good!" There are a huge variety of factors at play: age, literacy, sense of humour, openness to new/weird experiences, etc., and I can't pretend that my preferences are in any way normative. That said, having seen well over one hundred Fringe plays in the last four years, I do feel like I have a critical perspective that may be of some value.
So with that proviso out of the way, here are my current favorites:
As an aside, my favorites represent the productions that I think have strongest combination of exemplary writing, performance and direction, whereas the honorable mentions are plays that I found to be of a generally high quality, but that may have been lacking in one or more of these areas.
Well, it's been a crazy weekend... Since the beginning of the festival, I've now seen twenty-two shows (seventeen of which I attended on Saturday, Sunday and Monday). Having now seen approximately two-thirds of the shows from this year's festival, I'd like to offer a few of my recommendations, though I do so with a caveat: I know how subjective the reviewing process is.
I have had a few experiences at this festival where either a) I've left the theatre feeling elated, charmed, enlighted or otherwise engaged while walking past people shaking their heads in confusion or disgust, or b) sat through a performance with my head in my hands only to hear the patrons sitting in front of me exclaim, "Well, that was just *so* good!" There are a huge variety of factors at play: age, literacy, sense of humour, openness to new/weird experiences, etc., and I can't pretend that my preferences are in any way normative. That said, having seen well over one hundred Fringe plays in the last four years, I do feel like I have a critical perspective that may be of some value.
So with that proviso out of the way, here are my current favorites:
- Bertha
- The Sucker Punch
- Giant Invisible Robot
- Rat Bag
- Oh, That Wily Snake!
As an aside, my favorites represent the productions that I think have strongest combination of exemplary writing, performance and direction, whereas the honorable mentions are plays that I found to be of a generally high quality, but that may have been lacking in one or more of these areas.
Fringe Fest Flyer (08/01)
Listen online here
In today's program, I interviewed the charming story-teller / poet / novelist / tour-guide turned Fringe performer Lisa Pasold about her show Breakfast in Vegas. While the personal history that brought her to our festival is interesting, I think the most intriguing aspect of her show (which I've now seen) is that it was explicitly written for the Saskatoon Fringe.
Next, I aired a clip from Jon Lachlan Stewart's Big Shot. I've yet to see this show, but have heard nothing but raves from my fellow reviewers, so it is high up on my list.
Following that, you'll hear an interview with Emmelia Gordon and Pippa Mackie from The Progressive Polygamists. Once again, I've yet to see this show, but the buzz has been quite positive and it is apparently selling extremely well. Buy your tickets early!
Finally, the program concludes with a selection from Melanie Gall's The Sparrow and the Mouse - an exploration of the early life of Edith Piaf through her music. Gall's powerful voice (an asset developed through her extensive operatic training) is an excellent fit for Piaf's challenging arrangements.
Breakfast in Vegas (Playing at the Broadway Theatre)
Tues Aug 2 - 8:30pm
Thurs Aug 4 - 7:10pm
Sat Aug 6 - 3:30pm
Big Shot (Playing at the Victoria School Upstairs Auditorium)
Mon Aug 1 - 8:10pm
Tues Aug 2 - 10pm
Sat Aug 6 - 10pm
The Progressive Polygamists (Playing at the Broadway Theatre)
Tues Aug 2 - 5:30pm
Thurs Aug 4 - 5:40pm
Fri Aug 5 - 10:30pm
The Sparrow and the Mouse (Playing at the Victoria School Gym)
Tues Aug 2 - 10pm
Thurs Aug 4 - 8:30pm
Sat Aug 6 - 8:10pm
In today's program, I interviewed the charming story-teller / poet / novelist / tour-guide turned Fringe performer Lisa Pasold about her show Breakfast in Vegas. While the personal history that brought her to our festival is interesting, I think the most intriguing aspect of her show (which I've now seen) is that it was explicitly written for the Saskatoon Fringe.
Next, I aired a clip from Jon Lachlan Stewart's Big Shot. I've yet to see this show, but have heard nothing but raves from my fellow reviewers, so it is high up on my list.
Following that, you'll hear an interview with Emmelia Gordon and Pippa Mackie from The Progressive Polygamists. Once again, I've yet to see this show, but the buzz has been quite positive and it is apparently selling extremely well. Buy your tickets early!
Finally, the program concludes with a selection from Melanie Gall's The Sparrow and the Mouse - an exploration of the early life of Edith Piaf through her music. Gall's powerful voice (an asset developed through her extensive operatic training) is an excellent fit for Piaf's challenging arrangements.
Breakfast in Vegas (Playing at the Broadway Theatre)
Tues Aug 2 - 8:30pm
Thurs Aug 4 - 7:10pm
Sat Aug 6 - 3:30pm
Big Shot (Playing at the Victoria School Upstairs Auditorium)
Mon Aug 1 - 8:10pm
Tues Aug 2 - 10pm
Sat Aug 6 - 10pm
The Progressive Polygamists (Playing at the Broadway Theatre)
Tues Aug 2 - 5:30pm
Thurs Aug 4 - 5:40pm
Fri Aug 5 - 10:30pm
The Sparrow and the Mouse (Playing at the Victoria School Gym)
Tues Aug 2 - 10pm
Thurs Aug 4 - 8:30pm
Sat Aug 6 - 8:10pm
Friday, July 29, 2011
Fringe Fest Flyer (07/29)
Listen online here
In today's program, I spoke with Jon Lachlan Stewart, writer and star of the one-man drama Big Shot. I was particularly impressed by his obvious passion for producing serious theatre within the Fringe format. Given that he was part of the creative team behind last year's Death: Live! (one of my favorites from the 2010 Fringe), I really looking forward to checking out his show. (As an aside, I'm also anticipating that I'll enjoy Twenty Five, which was written by another Death: Live! alumnus.)
I also interviewed the always affable Jayson MacDonald, who is back in Saskatoon with his beloved hit play Giant Invisible Robot. Having seen Jayson's theatrical outings at the last three Fringe festivals, I'm quite interested to see G.I.R., as it was the first piece that he wrote for the Fringe circuit and, based on our interview, it sounds like many of the idiosyncratic stylistic touches that have come to characterize his later plays were first explored in this show. Intriguing!
Giant Invisible Robot (Playing at the Broadway Theatre)
Fri July 29 - 9:10pm
Sun July 31 - 3:50pm
Mon Aug 1 - 6:40pm
Wed Aug 3 - 3:30pm
Fri Aug 5 - 5:20pm
Sat Aug 6 - 10pm
Big Shot (Playing at the Victoria School Upstairs Auditorium)
Fri July 29 - 4:50pm
Sat July 30 - 8:10pm
Sun July 31 - 4pm
Mon Aug 1 - 8:10pm
Tues Aug 2 - 10pm
Sat Aug 6 - 10pm
In today's program, I spoke with Jon Lachlan Stewart, writer and star of the one-man drama Big Shot. I was particularly impressed by his obvious passion for producing serious theatre within the Fringe format. Given that he was part of the creative team behind last year's Death: Live! (one of my favorites from the 2010 Fringe), I really looking forward to checking out his show. (As an aside, I'm also anticipating that I'll enjoy Twenty Five, which was written by another Death: Live! alumnus.)
I also interviewed the always affable Jayson MacDonald, who is back in Saskatoon with his beloved hit play Giant Invisible Robot. Having seen Jayson's theatrical outings at the last three Fringe festivals, I'm quite interested to see G.I.R., as it was the first piece that he wrote for the Fringe circuit and, based on our interview, it sounds like many of the idiosyncratic stylistic touches that have come to characterize his later plays were first explored in this show. Intriguing!
Giant Invisible Robot (Playing at the Broadway Theatre)
Fri July 29 - 9:10pm
Sun July 31 - 3:50pm
Mon Aug 1 - 6:40pm
Wed Aug 3 - 3:30pm
Fri Aug 5 - 5:20pm
Sat Aug 6 - 10pm
Big Shot (Playing at the Victoria School Upstairs Auditorium)
Fri July 29 - 4:50pm
Sat July 30 - 8:10pm
Sun July 31 - 4pm
Mon Aug 1 - 8:10pm
Tues Aug 2 - 10pm
Sat Aug 6 - 10pm
Thursday, July 28, 2011
Fringe Fest Flyer (07/28)
Listen online here
In today's show, I interviewed the eminently charming Rob Gee, writer and star of Rat Bag. If you're interesting in seeing his show, it's playing at the Cosmo Seniors' Centre at the following times:
Thurs July 28 - 8:30 pm
Sat July 30 - 5:10 pm
Sun July 31 - 10:00 pm
Tues Aug 2 - 6:40 pm
Thurs Aug 4 - 5:00 pm
Sat Aug 6 - 2:20 pm
I also spoke with the CFCR Review Crew (which consists of Nicole Marcoux, Andrew Keith, and myself) about our reflections on the PotashCorp Fringe Fest's Preview Night - wherein each company is given the promotional opportunity to present a two-minute snippet from their shows to a live audience. Given the challenges of the Preview Night format, which include the tight time constraints, the rudimentary tech, and the challenge of performing in a venue which may not be your own, I was favorably impressed by sheer number of acts that one or more of us found compelling, as well as the variance between our picks. Here's the breakdown:
Nicole:
In today's show, I interviewed the eminently charming Rob Gee, writer and star of Rat Bag. If you're interesting in seeing his show, it's playing at the Cosmo Seniors' Centre at the following times:
Thurs July 28 - 8:30 pm
Sat July 30 - 5:10 pm
Sun July 31 - 10:00 pm
Tues Aug 2 - 6:40 pm
Thurs Aug 4 - 5:00 pm
Sat Aug 6 - 2:20 pm
I also spoke with the CFCR Review Crew (which consists of Nicole Marcoux, Andrew Keith, and myself) about our reflections on the PotashCorp Fringe Fest's Preview Night - wherein each company is given the promotional opportunity to present a two-minute snippet from their shows to a live audience. Given the challenges of the Preview Night format, which include the tight time constraints, the rudimentary tech, and the challenge of performing in a venue which may not be your own, I was favorably impressed by sheer number of acts that one or more of us found compelling, as well as the variance between our picks. Here's the breakdown:
Nicole:
- Bertha
- My Brother Sang Like Roy Orbison
- Oh, That Wily Snake!
- Twenty Five
- Big Shot
- Bertha
- Jem Rolls is PISSED OFF!
- My Brother Sang Like Roy Orbison
- The Sucker Punch
- The Wet Dream Catcher
- '33 (a kabarett)
- Giant Invisible Robot
- My Brother Sang Like Roy Orbison
- The Progressive Polygamists
- Rat Bag
- The Surprise
Fringe Fest Flyer (2011)
Hello Saskatoon!
After a year's hiatus from radio during my sojourn in Toronto (where I'm currently working towards my PhD), I am finally back in my beloved hometown... and just in time for this year's Fringe Festival! As always, it is a sincere pleasure to presented with the remarkable opportunity to interview performers, to review shows, and - for a short time - to eat, sleep and breathe Fringe!
Given that I take my job seriously, I promise to eat my hat if I fail to see all 34 productions in this year's lineup, as it is only with the knowledge derived from this process that I feel I can provide truly informed reviews and recommendations. Stay tuned to the blog to hear about my progress on this Quixotic theatrical mission.
See you on Broadway!
After a year's hiatus from radio during my sojourn in Toronto (where I'm currently working towards my PhD), I am finally back in my beloved hometown... and just in time for this year's Fringe Festival! As always, it is a sincere pleasure to presented with the remarkable opportunity to interview performers, to review shows, and - for a short time - to eat, sleep and breathe Fringe!
Given that I take my job seriously, I promise to eat my hat if I fail to see all 34 productions in this year's lineup, as it is only with the knowledge derived from this process that I feel I can provide truly informed reviews and recommendations. Stay tuned to the blog to hear about my progress on this Quixotic theatrical mission.
See you on Broadway!
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