CFCR Fringe Festival Flyer

Fringe Fest Flyer (08/05)

2011-08-05T11:44:00.000-07:00

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.

Fringe Fest Flyer (08/04)

2011-08-05T11:33:00.000-07:00

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

More Progress!

2011-08-04T12:10:00.000-07:00

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):

Big Shot (my current favorite)
The Sucker Punch
Giant Invisible Robot
The Surprise
Oh, That Wily Snake!

Honorable Mentions: My Brother Sang Like Roy Orbison, The Last Goddamned Performance Piece, The Wet Dream Catcher, Breakfast in Vegas, `33, Sofa So Good, Rat Bag, Bertha.

Fringe Fest Flyer (08/03)

2011-08-03T13:09:00.000-07:00

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

Fringe Fest Flyer (08/02)

2011-08-02T12:55:00.000-07:00

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

Progress

2011-08-02T10:00:00.000-07:00

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:

Bertha
The Sucker Punch
Giant Invisible Robot
Rat Bag
Oh, That Wily Snake!

Honorable Mentions: My Brother Sang Like Roy Orbison, The Last Goddamned Performance Piece, The Wet Dream Catcher, Breakfast in Vegas, `33, Sofa So Good.

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)

2011-08-02T09:43:00.000-07:00

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

Fringe Fest Flyer (07/29)

2011-07-29T12:27:00.000-07:00

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

Fringe Fest Flyer (07/28)

2011-07-28T13:03:00.000-07:00

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:

Bertha
My Brother Sang Like Roy Orbison
Oh, That Wily Snake!
Twenty Five

Andrew:

Big Shot
Bertha
Jem Rolls is PISSED OFF!
My Brother Sang Like Roy Orbison
The Sucker Punch
The Wet Dream Catcher

Chris

'33 (a kabarett)
Giant Invisible Robot
My Brother Sang Like Roy Orbison
The Progressive Polygamists
Rat Bag
The Surprise

Fringe Fest Flyer (2011)

2011-07-28T12:52:00.000-07:00

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!

Fringe Fest Flyer (08/06)

2010-08-06T11:36:00.000-07:00

It is with some wistfulness that I write this post, as it describes the final edition of the 2010 Fringe Fest Flyer. As always, it's been a great pleasure to participate (even in a tangential way) in the exciting, vital theatrical carnival that is the Fringe. I'd like to take this opportunity to thank CFCR, SaskLotteries, the performers, and *you* (the listeners) for making this show possible and, as a result, giving me the best imaginable summer job!

In today's program, you'll hear a thirty second review of Wanderlust, as well as interviews with Amy Lester (from The Unhappy Barista), Randi Miller and Adrianna Boucher (from Marion Bridge), and Jacklyn Green (from Much More Munsch!).

Listen online here.

Remaining showtimes for the productions discussed in today's show are as follows:

Wanderlust
Playing at the Broadway Theatre
Sat Aug 7 4:15 pm

The Unhappy Barista
Playing at Victoria School South
Sat Aug 7 6:15 pm

Marion Bridge
Playing at Victoria School South
Sat Aug 7 4:00 pm

Much More Munsch!
Playing at the Cosmopolitan Senior’s Centre
Fri Aug 6 2:45 pm
Sat Aug 7 4:45 pm

Fringe Fest Flyer (08/05)

2010-08-05T12:06:00.000-07:00

In today's program, you'll hear the CFCR Review Crew (consisting of myself and Nicole Marcoux) discussing The Only Friends We Have, The Sputniks, The Eternity Project, and Rum and Vodka, as well as my interviews with James Popoff (Hockey Dad: A Play in Three Periods) and Otto and Astrud Rot (Die Roten Puncte: Kunst Rock).

Listen online here.

Remaining showtimes for the productions discussed in today's show are as follows:

The Only Friends We Have

Playing at the Cosmo Senior's Centre
Thurs Aug 5 10:00 pm
Fri Aug 6 4:30 pm

The Sputniks

Playing at Victoria School South
Fri Aug 6 5:30 pm
Sat Aug 7 2:15 pm

The Eternity Project

Playing at Victoria School South
Fri Aug 6 9:00 pm

Rum and Vodka

Playing at the Broadway Theatre
Thurs Aug 5 8:00 pm
Sat Aug 7 10:15 pm

Hockey Dad: A Play in Three Periods
Playing at the Broadway Theatre
Fri Aug 6 5:30 pm
Sat Aug 7 2:15 pm

Die Roten Puncte: Kunst Rock)
Playing at the Cosmo Senior's Centre
Thurs Aug 5 4:30 pm
Sat Aug 7 1:00 pm

Progess (31 down, 5 to go)

2010-08-05T10:01:00.000-07:00

As revealed by the title of this post (spoilers!!), I've now seen the majority of shows in this year's festival, which has caused me to revise my Top Picks (as can be seen below). I'd heartily recommend any of the shows mentioned below, though each for distinct reasons... My favorites run the gamut from high-energy musical theatre to one-handed storytelling shows, though they are united by their multifaceted approaches to their respective subjects: each carefully balances humor, pathos and reflection (albeit in different proportions).

With that wordy introduction aside, here is my current Top Six:

Death: LIVE!
Elephant in Zulu
The Guitar Teacher
The Only Friends We Have
The Sputniks
Wanderlust

Other notable productions include: When Harry Met Harry, The Eternity Project, The Pig of Happiness, Shorts, Marion Bridge, Rum and Vodka, One Man Riot, and Biome (though the last is only recommended if you enjoy dance theatre and are willing to engage with it).

Fringe Fest Flyer (08/04)

2010-08-04T12:05:00.000-07:00

In today's program, you'll hear an interview with Matt Chapman, Josh Matthews, Sarah Petersiel, writers and stars of The Only Friends We Have, as well as my talk with Alan Giraud from When Harry Met Harry. Finally, I review two productions that I've quite enjoyed: Elephant in Zulu and The Guitar Teacher.

Listen online here.

Remaining showtimes for the productions discussed in today's show are as follows:

The Only Friends We Have

Playing at the Cosmo Senior's Centre

Wed Aug 4 6:00 pm
Thurs Aug 5 10:00 pm
Fri Aug 6 4:30 pm

When Harry Met Harry

Playing at Victoria School North

Fri Aug 6 5:45 pm
Sat Aug 7 8:30 pm

Elephant in Zulu

Playing at Victoria School South

Thurs Aug 5 9:00 pm
Sat Aug 7 8:00 pm

The Guitar Teacher

Playing at the Broadway Theatre

Thurs Aug 5 5:45 pm
Sat Aug 8 6:15 pm

Fringe Fest Flyer (08/03)

2010-08-03T12:22:00.000-07:00

In today's program, you'll hear an interview with Shawn Erker and Mikhael Wirt, stars and creative team behind The Eternity Project, followed by a musical selection from the new Die Roten Puncte show Kunst Rock ("Burger Store Dinosaur"). I also speak with Jules Mercier and Brian Cochrane, from Rum and Vodka, as well as playing an excerpt from James Popoff's Hockey Dad: A Play in Three Periods.

Listen online here.

Remaining showtimes for the productions discussed in today's show are as follows:

The Eternity Project

Playing at Victoria School South

Wed Aug 4 7:45 pm
Fri Aug 6 9:00 pm

Die Roten Puncte

Playing at the Cosmo Senior's Centre

Tues Aug 3 9:15 pm
Thurs Aug 5 4:30 pm
Sat Aug 7 1:00 pm

Rum and Vodka

Playing at the Broadway Theatre

Wed Aug 4 9:15 pm
Thurs Aug 5 8:00 pm
Sat Aug 7 10:15 pm

Hockey Dad: A Play in Three Periods

Playing at the Broadway Theatre

Tues Aug 3 4:15 pm
Fri Aug 6 5:30 pm
Sat Aug 7 2:15 pm

Progress (and Current Top Five)

2010-08-03T11:52:00.000-07:00

Hey Saskatoon,

Fringe Festing is treating me quite well this year. I've currently seen twenty-two of the thirty-six productions in this year's Fringe, and have been favorably impressed with quite a few of them. In particular, my current Top Five (in alphabetical order) include:

Death: LIVE!
Elephant in Zulu
The Only Friends We Have
Shorts
The Sputniks

Other notable productions include: When Harry Met Harry, The Eternity Project, The Pig of Happiness, and Biome (though the last is only recommended if you enjoy dance theatre and are willing to engage with it).

Fringe Fest Flyer (08/02)

2010-08-02T10:53:00.000-07:00

In today's program, you'll hear an interview with Elison Zasko, star and writer of The Sputniks (one of my favorite shows from the 2008 Fringe). I also speak with Bremner Duthie, erstwhile opera singer turned cabaret performer and star of The Pig of Happiness, as well as Nathan Howe and Chris Hopke from the local production Robots Eating Humans.

Listen online here.

Remaining showtimes for the productions discussed in today's show are as follows:

The Sputniks

Playing at Victoria School South

Tues Aug 3 4:00 pm
Fri Aug 6 5:30 pm
Sat Aug 7 2:15 pm

The Pig of Happiness

Playing at Victoria School South

Mon Aug 2 5:30 pm
Wed Aug 4 4:30 pm
Fri Aug 6 7:15 pm
Sat Aug 7 12:30 pm

Robots Eating Humans

Playing at Victoria School South

Wed Aug 4 7:45 pm
Fri Aug 6 2:30 pm

Fringe Fest Flyer (07/30)

2010-07-30T12:54:00.000-07:00

In today's program, you'll hear a thirty-second review of Death: LIVE! (my favorite of the four shows I saw yesterday), as well as interviews with Julie Grant and Liisa Murray (choreographers and dancers in Biome), Max Arnaud and Pamela Paul (Daydream), and Alice Nelson (creator and star of Elephant in Zulu).

Also, the technical difficulties discussed in my previous post have now been resolved, which means that you can now listen to episodes of the 2010 Fringe Fest Flyer online. Thanks to Jay (CFCR's talented and lovely program director) for getting this sorted out.

Remaining showtimes for the productions discussed in today's show are as follows:

Death: LIVE!

Playing at Victoria School North

Sat July 31 5:45 pm
Mon Aug 2 7:45 pm
Tues Aug 3 9:30 pm
Thurs Aug 5 4:00 pm
Sat Aug 7 6:15 pm

Biome

Playing at Victoria School North

Fri July 30 6:30 pm
Sun Aug 1 2:15 pm
Mon Aug 2 4:00 pm
Wed Aug 4 9:30 pm
Thurs Aug 5 8:00 pm
Sat Aug 7 10:15 pm

Daydream

Playing at the Broadway Theatre

Sat July 31 12:15 pm
Sun Aug 1 3:45 pm
Tues Aug 3 8:15 pm
Thurs Aug 5 2:00 pm
Fri Aug 6 9:15 pm

Elephant in Zulu

Playing at Victoria School South

Fri July 30 4:15 pm
Sat July 31 8:00 pm
Mon Aug 2 9:00 pm
Tues Aug 3 2:15 pm
Thurs Aug 5 9:00 pm
Sat Aug 7 8:00 pm

Tonight Only: Special Ticket Offer for 'When Harry Met Harry'

2010-07-29T12:50:00.000-07:00

$5 TICKETS - TONIGHT ONLY (July 29th) for When Harry Met Harry when you say the password ('PRINT DEPARTMENT') at the door. (Regular ticket price $12)

Show starts at 8pm at Victoria School North, Entrance from 12th Street.

Fringe Fest Flyer (07/29)

2010-07-29T12:33:00.000-07:00

In today's program, Andrew Keith and I discuss our favorite picks from Fringe Eve (the official Fringe Festival preview night), which include Daydream, Die Roten Puncte: Kunst Rock, Hockey Dad, The Only Friends We Have, The Pig of Happiness, The Sputniks, and Wanderlust. Even though this was a fairly exhaustive conversation, it still fails to encompass all of my favorites from preview night, as it doesn't mention The Guitar Teacher, Elephant in Zulu, and When Harry Met Harry - all of which I'm quite looking forward to.

You'll also hear interviews with Martin Dockery (writer and star Wanderlust), as well as interviews with Joel Crichton and Jon Lachlan Stewart (the writers and two cast members from Death: LIVE!). During our interview, Jon made a wild offer: if you call his cellphone ((780) 700-4235), he will give you a free ticket to a Death: Live! showing of your choice. One would be foolhardy not to take advantage of such an offer.

Note: I plan to host my programs online again this year, but due to technical difficulties will not be able to do so today. I will post a link to a downloadable version of today's show ASAP.

Showtimes for the productions discussed in today's show are as follows:

Wanderlust

Playing at the Broadway Theatre

Thurs July 29 10:00 pm
Sat July 31 4:30 pm
Sun Aug 1 8:00 pm
Tues Aug 3 6:15 pm
Wed Aug 4 2:00 pm
Sat Aug 7 4:15 pm

Death: LIVE!

Playing at Victoria School North

Thurs July 29 2:15 pm
Sat July 31 5:45 pm
Mon Aug 2 7:45 pm
Tues Aug 3 9:30 pm
Thurs Aug 5 4:00 pm
Sat Aug 7 6:15 pm

Back in the Saddle (Fringe 2010)

2010-07-29T08:00:00.000-07:00

Hello loyal listeners and Fringe partisans,

I'm ecstatic to be back for my third consecutive year hosting the Fringe Fest Flyer for CFCR 90.5 FM. Things are off to a great start for me this year! Not only have I already assembled nine interviews before the first day of Fringe festivities (accounting for a pretty sizable portion of my content requirements for the show), but I'm also really excited about this year's festival. A large contributor to my current zeal is last night's Fringe Eve preview performance (emceed capably by Berkley Staite), which was fun and engaging, providing tantalizing snippets of many of the great shows that I'll have a chance to see over the course of the festival. I can hardly wait!

As always, I promise that I will see all of the shows in the Main Fringe (and will, if possible, also attend the Kid's Fringe performances as well).

See you out there!

Concluding Reflections

2009-08-09T12:01:00.000-07:00

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

2009-08-09T11:40:00.000-07:00

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)

2009-08-07T12:20:00.001-07:00

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)

2009-08-07T12:07:00.000-07:00

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)

2009-08-06T11:31:00.000-07:00

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!

2009-08-05T12:08:00.000-07:00

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)

2009-08-05T11:58:00.000-07:00

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!

2009-08-04T13:22:00.000-07:00

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)

2009-08-04T13:13:00.000-07:00

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

2009-08-04T09:00:00.000-07:00

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)

2009-08-03T08:54:00.000-07:00

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!

2009-08-01T23:55:00.000-07:00

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!

2009-08-01T23:51:00.000-07:00

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!

Fringe Fest Flyer (07/30 and 07/31)

2009-07-31T13:21:00.000-07:00

Hello loyal listeners,

On my shows from the last two days, I have spoken to Berkley Staite (an integral member of the Fringe support staff), interviewed the cast and crew of Reflections on Giving Birth to a Squid, reviewed Burlesque Unzipped: From Shakespeare to the Shimmy, and interviewed the writer/performers of Chaotica (Cristel Bartelse) and Grandpa Sol and Grandma Rosie (Lana Schwarcz).

Showtimes for these shows are as follows:

Reflections on Giving Birth to a Squid
Playing at the Off Broadway Arts Centre
Sat. August 1 @ 4pm
Sun. August 2 @ 4:50pm
Mon. August 3 @ 3:05pm
Wed. August 5 @ 7pm
Fri. August 7 @ 5:15pm

Burlesque Unzipped: From Shakespeare to the Shimmy
Playing at the Victoria School Auditorium
Sat. August 1 @ 6pm
Sun. August 2 @ 8:45pm
Tues. August 4 @ 9:15pm
Thurs. August 6 @ 4pm
Sat. August 8 @ 2:15pm

Chaotica
Playing at the Victoria School Gym
Sun. August 2 @ 12pm
Mon. August 4 @ 3:30pm
Wed. August 5 @ 6pm
Fri. August 7 @ 9:30pm
Sat. August 8 @ 6:30pm

Grandpa Sol and Grandma Rosie
Playing at the Victoria School Gym
Sat. August 1 @ 7pm
Mon. August 3 @ 12pm
Tues. August 4 @ 2pm
Thurs. August 6 @ 5:45pm
Fri. August 7 @ 4pm

Reminder: this year, you can find out everything you need to know about upcoming shows (and even buy tickets) on the newly redesigned 2009 Fringe Festival website.

One More Time!

2009-07-29T15:54:00.000-07:00

Hello loyal listeners! Chris Jensen here.

Can you feel the excitement wafting through the air (accompanying the mouth-watering aroma of samosas)? I can! The Fringe Fest is on again and I'm here, anxiously awaiting my chance to provide you all with another 7 shows worth of interviews, reviews and insider perspectives on the 20th annual Saskatoon Fringe Theatre Festival.

Once again, I'm planning to make the same unwise pledge: namely, that I will see every play at the festival. Last year, I missed two or three shows (seeing approximately forty shows in ten days)... This year, I'm planning ahead to avoid such a disappointing outcome, in part by employing various sports cliches (like the fact that I'm going to "give it 110%"). Wish me luck!

And now, my penance...

2008-08-19T22:02:00.000-07:00

Well, since I had already put it off long enough, I decided that tonight would be the night for my hat-eating extravaganza. I was already up in P.A. visiting my folks, so my mom offered to be involved in my shenanigans, both by helping me construct an edible hat and also by serving as the project's official photographer.

#1) Looking dapper with my pastry-based chapeau...

#2) The time for levity had passed... I began to consider my fate...

#3) The first bite (i.e., "Fortune Favours the Bold!") ...

#4) Suffice it to say, it looked better than it tasted...

#5) Note to self: the "Lady and the Tramp" thing is way less cute when I do it!

#6 - #8) Brim down, crown to go...

#9 - #10) The last few bites were the hardest...

#11) But finally ...

#12) Success!!

Well, that about wraps up my responsibilities for this year's Fringe Fest Flyer. I hope you all enjoyed listening, because I will, if at all possible, be returning next summer!

Top 8 of 2008

2008-08-10T10:55:00.000-07:00

Drum-roll please...

I've decided to rework my recommendations into a snappier format. The reason for this is simple: I'd like to let the performers whose shows I most enjoyed make use of my reviews in their promotional materials. So, without further ado, I'm pleased to unveil...

CFCR 90.5 FM's Top 8 of 2008

Balls
Crude Love
Die Roten Puncte
Inferno Sonata
She Rules with Iron Sticks
The Sputniks
Totem Figures
The Tricky Part

Honorable Mentions: BLAsT!, Busty Rhymes, House, Inflatable Buddha, It's Better to Ride the Dung Beetle..., La Mexicaine De Perforation, Mr. Fox, Nuts! Ten Commandments from the Psych Ward, Roz, The Saddest Girl in the World, Singing at the Edge of the World, Spiral Dive, The Spy, Trashcan Duet

Sincere Gratitude

2008-08-10T10:40:00.001-07:00

I am (reluctantly) watching as my year at the Fringe draws to a close. In the end, I saw 41 plays in ten days: a reasonably impressive figure that doesn't include Fringe Eve, Spoof Night, or the three shows that I saw twice. As much as I'm completely exhausted (a fact that is somewhat exacerbated by attending the closing party until 6:00 AM yesterday), I'm still tremendously grateful for the opportunity. Not only do I hope that I get to do this job next year, but I'd actually be quite happy spending another week watching theatrical performances and talking to people tomorrow (on Monday). It'll be hard to get back into a daily routine that doesn't involve four hours at the studio and four or five plays.

People that I need to thank:
The CFCR staff (Brian, Brent, Joseph and Theo) for showing me the ropes and helping me out around the office; Jay Neufeld for sharing his considerable backlog of experiences; SaskLotteries for funding the program; the station's listeners for giving the whole program a reason to exist; and, last but certainly not least, the performers for agreeing to talk to a greenhorn reporter and making me feel tremendously welcome. All of them helped make my whirlwind week as enjoyable as it was.

Fringe Fest Flyer (08/08)

2008-08-08T11:54:00.001-07:00

In today's show, I spoke with Julia Mackey from Jake's Gift as well as Peter Heyes from The Tricky Part. In addition, there is a rather extensive conversation with Scott Sharplin about the challenges of reviewing theatre (in general) and Fringe plays (in particular).

Showtimes for the productions discussed in today's show:
Jake's Gift
Playing at the Victoria School Auditorium
Fri Aug 8 - 2:30pm
Sat Aug 9 - 5:00pm

The Tricky Part
Playing at the Off Broadway Arts Centre
Sat Aug 9 - 8:40pm

Totem Figures
Playing at the Backstage Stage (at Persephone)
Fri Aug 8 - 10:00pm
Sat Aug 9 - 12:00pm

Newest Top Five

2008-08-08T11:49:00.000-07:00

Die Roten Puncte
Inferno Sonata
The Sputniks
Totem Figures
The Tricky Part

Honorable Mentions: Balls, BLAsT!, Busty Rhymes, House, Inflatable Buddha, It's Better to Ride the Dung Beetle..., La Mexicaine De Perforation, Nuts! Ten Commandments from the Psych Ward, The Saddest Girl in the World, Singing at the Edge of the World, She Rules with Iron Sticks, Spiral Dive, The Spy

The Agony of Defeat

2008-08-08T10:22:00.000-07:00

I've been undone.

I failed to check my program before attending Totem Figures last night and didn't see that it was 90 minutes long. As a result, I missed Trojan Women, which throws my entire schedule into disarray and prevents me from seeing everything. Ack!

Regardless, I'm currently at 34 shows and will continue see plays today and tomorrow. I'll still hit the 40+ mark, but will nonetheless fall short of my lofty goal. As a result, the final entry on this blog will be a picture of me eating a hat (albeit one that may be more "pastry-based" than the typical piece of haberdashery). I'm not sure when I'll have time to bake a cake/pie hat, given that my defense is next week, but it will be within the next fortnight.

Fringe Fest Flyer (08/07)

2008-08-07T12:38:00.000-07:00

In today's show, I spoke to Rachel Kent from Miss Rachel Explains It All, Randy Rutherford from Singing at the Edge of the World, Barry Smith from American Squatter, and Gillian and Russell Bennett from Crude Love. I also offered some editorial opinions on the so-called "Spat at the Fringe" and Matt Keyes reviewed Robinson Crusoe and Crude Love.

Showtimes for these productions are as follows:
Miss Rachel Explains It All
Playing at the Off Broadway Arts Centre
Thurs Aug 7 - 4:15pm

Singing at the Edge of the World
Playing at the Off Broadway Arts Centre
Fri Aug 8 - 6:00pm
Sat Aug 9 - 4:35pm

American Squatter
Playing at the Back Stage Stage (at the Persephone Theatre)
Fri Aug 8 - 6:00pm
Sat Aug 9 - 2:00pm

Crude Love
Playing at the Off Broadway Arts Centre
Thurs Aug 7 - 7:30pm
Fri Aug 8 - 4:15pm
Sat Aug 9 - 10:50pm

Moving right along... (more progress)

2008-08-07T00:13:00.000-07:00

To quote the Muppet Movie, I am indeed "moving right along" in my fool's attempt to see every show in the Fringe. I'm currently sitting at 30 shows, which means that I can potentially achieve my goal (as long as I see 5 shows a day on Thursday, Friday and Saturday).

My newest top five:

Die Roten Puncte
Inferno Sonata
Nuts! Ten Commandments from the Psych Ward
The Sputniks
The Tricky Part

Honorable Mentions:
Balls, BLAsT!, Busty Rhymes, House, It's Better to Ride the Dung Beetle..., La Mexicaine De Perforation, The Saddest Girl in the World, Singing at the Edge of the World, She Rules with Iron Sticks, Spiral Dive, The Spy

Fringe Fest Flyer (08/06)

2008-08-06T23:57:00.000-07:00

Hey folks!

Sorry for the late update today. I was really pressed to get the show to production on time, which, when coupled with the fact that I had to rush out at exactly 2pm to go to another show, meant that I couldn't do my update until I got home. These 14 hour days are catching up to me, I tells ya!

Enough belly-aching!

On today's show, we talked to Tina Teeninga from The Saddest Girl in the World and Lucy Hutson from It is better to ride the dung beetle than it is to tread on soft carpet, as well as the casts of TELEGRAMS from the New Canadian Cinema and Inflatable Buddha: Bigger than Jesus. Also, the show started with a rant against some Star Phoenix reviews that I found to be particularly egregious, as (in my opinion) they drastically undervalued The Sputniks, Inferno Sonata and The Saddest Girl in the World.

Showtimes for these productions are as follows:

The Saddest Girl in the World
Playing at the Victoria School Attic
Sat Aug 9 - 11:45 am

It is better to ride the dung beetle than it is to tread on soft carpet
Playing at the Victoria School Attic
Fri Aug 8 - 9:15 pm
Sat Aug 9 - 1:30 pm

TELEGRAMS from the New Canadian Cinema
Playing at the Victoria School Attic
Thur Aug 7 - 9:10 pm
Sat Aug 9 - 5:00 pm

Inflatable Buddha - Bigger than Jesus
Playing at Persephone Theatre's Backstage Stage
Thurs Aug 7 - 10:00 pm

Fringe Fest Flyer (08/05)

2008-08-05T12:53:00.000-07:00

On today's show, you'll hear a review of Spiral Dive and an interview with its cast, an interview with Rob Gee (of Nuts! Ten Commandments from the Psych Ward fame), as well as interviews with the casts of Woody Sed and La Mexicaine de Perforation. Huzzah!

Showtimes for these productions are as follows:
Spiral Dive
Playing at the Victoria School Gym
Wed Aug 6 - 7:50 pm
Fri Aug 8 - 6:00 pm

Nuts! Ten Commandments from the Psych Ward
Playing at the Victoria School Gym
Tue Aug 5- 9:35 pm
Thu Aug 7- 4:15 pm
Sat Aug 9- 8:35 pm

Woody Sed
Playing at the Victoria School Gym
Thu Aug 7 - 2:30 pm
Fri Aug 8 - 10:00 pm

La Mexicaine de Perforation
Playing at the Victoria School Gym
Wed Aug 6- 10:05 pm
Sat Aug 9- 11:45 am

More progress...

2008-08-04T23:18:00.000-07:00

Sitting at 21 shows now.

Additional alterations to the top five:

Die Roten Puncte
Inferno Sonata
Nuts! Ten Commandments from the Psych Ward
She Rules with Iron Sticks
The Sputniks

Honorable Mentions:
Balls, BLAsT!, Busty Rhymes, It's Better to Ride the Dung Beetle..., La Mexicaine De Perforation, Spiral Dive

Progress... (in the continuing battle against hat eating)

2008-08-04T13:34:00.000-07:00

Well, I've now seen sixteen shows, which has led to a bit of an alteration to my running top five. Here are my new selections (in alphabetical order):

Die Roten Puncte
Inferno Sonata
It's Better to Ride the Dung Beetle...
She Rules with Iron Sticks
The Sputniks

Honorable Mentions:
BLAsT!, La Mexicaine De Perforation

Once again, just so that I don't get harangued on the street, I must point out that It's Better to Ride the Dung Beetle is performance art. I liked it, I thought that it was well thought-out and well acted, it made me think, but I can easily imagine someone reacting poorly to it (especially if they did not feel like being challenged).

Fringe Fest Flyer (08/04)

2008-08-04T13:01:00.000-07:00

In today's show, we interviewed Brigette DePape, who wrote and stars in She Rules with Iron Sticks, Penny Ashton from Busty Rhymes, Elison Zasko from The Sputniks and Susan Freedman from Sixty-Four and No More Lies. Also, you'll hear brief reviews of She Rules..., The Sputniks, and BLAsT!

Showtimes for the productions discussed in the current show are as follows:
She Rules with Iron Sticks
Playing at the Broadway Theatre
Mon Aug 4- 5:00 pm
Thu Aug 7- 6:00 pm
Sat Aug 9- 8:30 pm

Busty Rhymes with MC Hot Pink
Playing at the Off-Broadway Arts Centre
Mon Aug 4- 8:55 pm
Wed Aug 6- 10:20 pm
Sat Aug 9- 2:55 pm

The Sputniks
Playing at the "Backstage Stage" (Persephone Theatre)
Mon Aug 4 - 6:00pm
Tues Aug 5 - 8:00pm
Fri Aug 8 - 2:00pm
Sat Aug 9 - 6:00pm

BLAsT!
Playing at the Victoria School Attic
Mon Aug 4- 4:45 pm
Wed Aug 6- 4:45 pm
Thu Aug 7- 7:30 pm
Sat Aug 9- 8:45 pm

Sixty-Four and No More Lies
Playing at the Victoria School Attic
Mon Aug 4- 3:15 pm
Tues Aug 5- 6:10 pm
Thu Aug 7- 4:15 pm
Sat Aug 9- 7:15pm

Progress...

2008-08-03T10:09:00.000-07:00

Well, in keeping with my on-air commitment, I'm still on track to see all of the shows at this year's Fringe. At present (three days in), I've seen 12. By my reckoning, as long as maintain this rate, I should be able to see everything (with the exception of the Kid's Fringe shows).

Current Top Five (in alphabetical order):

Die Roten Puncte
Inferno Sonata
It's Better to Ride the Dung Beetle...
La Mexicaine De Perforation
The Sputniks

Note: It's Better to Ride the Dung Beetle is a piece of performance art. It's challenging and ambiguous (much like an instrumental composition or a piece of choreography). I can't say that I "got" the significance of all of the imagery, but it certainly made me think. This being said, I would definitely understand if someone found it perplexing or off-putting.

Fringe Fest Flyer (08/01)

2008-08-01T12:54:00.000-07:00

In today's show, we talked to the cast of We Is Blunderstruck, provided a brief review of Inferno Sonata (as well as introducing its playwright and star), interviewed the cast and playwright of 'Beth, and had a lively conversation with Otto and Astrid Rott of Die Roten Puncte.

Show times for these productions are as follows:
We Is Blunderstruck
Playing at the Broadway Theatre
Fri Aug 1- 7:45 pm
Sun Aug 3- 10:00 pm
Mon Aug 4- 3:15 pm
Tue Aug 5- 4:15 pm
Thu Aug 7- 7:30 pm
Sat Aug 9- 3:15 pm

Inferno Sonata
Playing at the Broadway Theatre
Sat Aug 2- 6:45 pm
Sun Aug 3- 1:30 pm
Wed Aug 6- 9:30 pm
Fri Aug 8- 7:45 pm
Sat Aug 9- 6:45 pm

'Beth
Playing at the Off Broadway Arts Centre
Fri Aug 1- 4:00 pm
Sat Aug 2- 10:30 pm
Mon Aug 4- 5:30 pm
Tue Aug 5- 2:30 pm
Wed Aug 6- 6:45 pm
Sat Aug 9- 1:25 pm

Die Roten Puncte
Playing at the Broadway Theatre
Fri Aug 1- 2:30 pm
Sat Aug 2- 5:00 pm
Mon Aug 4- 8:15 pm
Thu Aug 7- 4:15 pm
Fri Aug 8- 9:30 pm

Finally, I would like to encourage our readers to check out The Sputniks (starring Elison Zasko and directed by Jonno Katz). Though it was not included in the print version of the Fringe Festival Program, it promises to be an absolutely excellent show. In its travels across the country, it has been hailed as "a thing of true beauty (Five Stars)" by the Hour (Montreal) and "flawless", "superb", "intelligent, insightful, intriguing" by CBC Winnipeg.

The Sputniks
Playing at the Backstage Theatre (at the new Persephone)
Fri Aug 1 - 4:00pm
Sat Aug 2 - 2:00pm
Tues Aug 5 - 8:00pm
Sun Aug 3 - 4:00pm
Mon Aug 4 - 6:00pm
Fri Aug 8 - 2:00pm
Sat Aug 9 - 6:00pm

Fringe Fest Flyer (07/31)

2008-07-31T13:04:00.001-07:00

On today's show, we interviewed Jono Katz (star of The Spy and director of The Sputniks), Rob Salerno (co-star and writer of Balls!), and Berkley Staite (co-ordinator of the Fringe Festival's Flex program (http://www.25thstreettheatre.org/flex/index.html)).

Showtimes for these productions are as follows:
The Spy
Playing at the Broadway Theatre
Thurs July 31 - 7:45pm
Mon August 4 - 1:30pm
Tues August 5 - 7:45pm
Thurs August 7 - 9:15pm
Fri August 8 - 4:15pm
Sat August 9 - 1:30pm

The Sputniks
Playing at the Backstage Theatre (at Persephone)
Fri Aug 1 - 4:00pm
Sat Aug 2 - 2:00pm
Sun Aug 3 - 4:00pm
Mon Aug 4 - 6:00pm
Tues Aug 5 - 8:00pm
Fri Aug 8 - 2:00pm
Sat Aug 9 - 6:00pm

Balls!
Playing at the Broadway Theatre
Thurs July 31 - 6:00pm
Sat Aug 2 - 8:30pm
Mon Aug 4 - 10:00pm
Tues Aug 5 - 2:30pm
Thurs Aug 7 - 2:30pm
Fri Aug 8 - 6:00pm

As promised in the Jonno Katz interview, here is a promotional video he shot for The Spy while in Albuquerque:

The Spy from Jonno on Vimeo.

Blog setup

2008-07-29T23:01:00.000-07:00

Goodness, goodness. Despite the fact that I consider myself somewhat computer savvy, this is actually my very first blog post ever. Excitement!

Anyway, this blog is basically going to serve as a companion to my daily radio program, providing additional information (dates, times, links) on the performers and performances that we're going to be talking about. If anyone has questions or comments, please feel free to post them. I'll be logging in fairly regularly and will do my best to respond in a timely manner.