Fringe 2015:
critiques de Nancy Snipper
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June 4th @ Off venue D (Rialto Studio)
In
Search of Mrs. Pirandello
Feminist
slant packs punch into play
I was fascinated by the theme and polished theatrical production of this
highly imaginative script. Written by Michaela Di Cesare, and marvellously
directed by Cristina Cugliandro, the play put the subject of Mrs. Antonietta
Pirandello centre stage; it was beautifully explored as certain mysteries about
her life were revealed and unravelled. What became evident was the abject
disconnect the marriage suffered between Luigi Pirandello and his wife
Antonietta Portulano (her maiden name). Cleverly, the Searcher (really a
researcher here) who also doubles as his wife tried to uncover their
relationship through a series of letters. Michaela herself doubled in these
roles.
We also see a collision of the past with the future, as Antonietta ends
up in an asylum for insanity; the play opened with her at this stage in her
lonely life – the one tangible solace being the limes she picked off the tree
in Sicily as
a young woman.
The long-suffering Antonietta was intensely performed by Nadia Verrucci,
and she was great. However, it was the writer, Ms. Di Cesare who must be loudly
applauded for crafting such an intriguing play and taking on the lead role. She
played Antonietta with great liveliness and pathos. The double theme of
schizophrenia and the wide abyss between husband and wife blended ironically
into thematic conflicts. The beginning was a tad confusing, but we sorted it
all out as soon as all the characters began to unroll their dialogue.
Furthermore, the theme of searching was cleverly played upon. One must remember
that the playwright himself was best known for his play, “Six Characters in
Search of an Author, Henry IV”.
The set was deliciously cream white with all kinds of clever cardboard
and paper pieces strewn in piles on the floor. The beige lightness to it all
added the right kind of ethereal magic.
The cast was terrific. Bravo to Chip Cuipka who pulled off an exquisite
multi-roled performance dawning distinct characters. As well, Mike Payette
added entertaining lightness to the roles he played.
I was thoroughly impressed by this Off-Fringe production – one that
showed intelligence, a high calibre of acting and play craft.
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June 11th @ Off
Venue W (The Wiggle Room)
Les
Bunheads and Friends
Les
Bunheads butt it out in a hilarious headlock
The two dancers compete in a show but their male partners have been
poisoned. What ensues is a hilarious hit and punch match to gain points and
win. Another dance has the two gals in ballet tutus and these girls are great
dancers, and comedians. They both purposely have a go at trying to kill the
other – a statement for sure on ballet competitiveness. Later on, we see them
again, barely able to stand up as they are in the eighties, and they seem to
have reconciled as they stoop over and dance. This part of the show was so
clever. The striptease by Bibi Lolo Bang Bang was bubbly feisty fun, and the
bee bop sounds and taped vocal harmonies
heard when Carvonica (A.K.A. Jan Dutler) activated his microphone were really odd but fascinating. The MC, Marvellous Marvin was
energetically delivered with some comedic tinges. The shtick of the dancers was
great and they stole the show. Their names are Vanessa Kneale and Janie Pinard.
A cute clownish cabaret show that was entertaining and full of talented performers.
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June 12th @ Venue 9
(MAI)
The
Inventor of all Things
A
Brilliant delivery about a brilliant man
Scottish performance poet genius, Jem Rolls gives a one hour non-stop verbal lesson on the
genius, Leo Szilard, a Hungarian Jew of eccentricities was the first man to
conceive of fusion, and spent most of his entire life pursuing its making
before the Nazis could get hold of it. Jem paints a rapid-speed replay of all
the trials and disappointments he endured within the context of 1939 into Hiroshima. We hear about
all the physicists he meets to assist him in his quest. This show was a premier
for him, and despite some line stumbles and lighting problems, the presentation
was a one-man feat.
I suggest he uses props and cut out faces to highlight all the
characters he mentions. He talked so quickly with amazing clarity. I think this
would make a full and interesting play in need of actors to portray everyone
whose role was pivotal to the rise and fall of Leo Szilard – a name I won’t’
forget now. I admire Jem for choosing this subject over a night of his own
poetry.
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How cute is this show? It’s really really cute! It opens with 1950 black
and white TV ads and scenes projected on the back screen which evoke the
beginning of the space race. A Russian cosmonaut has been sent in space and the
USA
is sending Shy Shy Schullie in her ship called, Aquarius into space. She will
be singing a slew of songs that will be aired right down to earth as she enters
the galaxy.
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June 13th, Saturday
at Petite Café Campus, 2:30 show
Shy
Shy in Space
It
is Anything but Shy
“Spacey”
musical soars into highly entertaining
orbit
The 5-piece band was terrific as was Shy Shy’s adorably cabaret-style
voice. She sang song with the space themes, including “Rocket Man”, “Major
Tom”, “Fly Me to the Moon”, “Lonely”, and many more.
You enter the theatre and these 4 white-clad space people with their
lights on at their forehead start the mood, and it’s really effective.
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Shows seen June 17th
@ Venue 2 Petite Café Campus:
16:15
Famous Haydell Sisters Comeback Tour
Dishy
ditties sung in country style
The best thing about these two sister chicks – Mattie and Maybelle is
the clever lyric the duo have created in each song. Risky tongue in cheek
messages pour out sexy irony. One line in a song, for example, says: “Seven
seconds is too short a ride – pleasure denied.” Then there’s the abstinence
song that ends with anything but. The song of bullying has a refrain warning,
“I’m going to kiss your ass with my love.” The bickering and banter between the
two ‘sisters’ is funny, and when they reveal their grandfather taught them
everything, including French kissing, this is more or less the kind of comic
surprise that hits you like a boomerang backfiring.
The 90’s nostalgia theme was worked into their has-been hiatus period,
and then their come back performance is what we are treated to along with a lot
of background conversations between the sisters per-millennium.
I liked the show, but the cute soprano needed more voice training. Her
older sister has a great voice, but both have charismatic stage presence.
They’re really good songwriters, and I think this show is most
entertaining.
@ Venue 10 La Chapelle:
17:30
James & Jamesy in High Tea
Imaginative
craziness turns teatime into a flood
Audience
participates to save the tea-loving boys
The best thing about this whacky play is the characters created and the
movement by Alastair Knowles and Aaron Malkin, beautifully integrated into tea,
talk and trouble. Yes, it’s tea galore, but it becomes all kinds of things.
Think of tiptoeing through the teapot which is no ordinary teapot. How about
Jamesy seeing it as a dolphin a, a telephone and other things as he sets the
stage in a surreal world where Monty Python-type peculiarity compels the
audience to turn into sea creatures, farm animals, a captain, a queen, and even
God which I suddenly found myself playing when Jamsey suddenly approached me with
a white gown, and told me I was God. I was one of many who got to share in the
fun.
My beef with this eccentric creation went on too long, and the novelty of
it wore off when strangeness turned into ongoing winging it – or should I say
swimming in it: they were drowning at one point in the liquid plot.
Still, it was a fun Fringe experience that showcased some great acting.
Both actors hail from Vancouver
where they trained as clowns with David MacMurray Smith. Alastair (Jamesy) who
was as campy as they come in the role, told me he spent three years developing
the character. He was so fluid and funny to watch.
Aaron Malkin was a great foil to him, and equally talented. The show got
kind of silly but the kids loved it, and you know what, the adults too, because
there’s nothing like being able to be anything but yourself.
The website for these marvellous performers is: www.jamesandjamesy.com
19:00
Les Voyageurs Clandestins
Polished
silent movie-type comedy in the air and on the ground
Three aerialists offer a comic story – two of which are hiding in the luggage
full of clothes owned by a man waiting for a train. While he waits, he plays a
ditty on the saxophone. It is a highly clever, light-hearted show, but each of
the three show off just how great they are when soaring towards the air. Marie-Noël Béty is a fantastic aerialist and
her smile is as winning as she pulls off gravity-defying feats. Likewise Nathan
Chagoya is as fluid on a trapeze as he is on his feet. Samuel Boulianne is the
sax guy, a lovely singer and can climb up a rope with ease. They all met in
circus training school. Respectively, each has three, seven and two years of
circus training. Interesting that Marie-Noël is a trained dancer and holds a
PhD in education, but she gave it up to tie herself in ceiling to floor ribbon
to swing through the air and plummet as fast as a falling star, but she is definitely
a rising one. Photos by Alexandre Galliez
The website for these marvellous performers is: www.cirqueessence.com
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