Fringe 2017 – Hicksbiz.com – Mad Fantastic Maid of God: Joan of Arc: Review by GRAHAM HICKS 3.5 of 5 stars
Mad Fantastic Maid of God: Joan of Arc
Venue 36, “L’unitheatre at La Cite Francophone,
8627 91 St. (Rue Marie Anne Gaboury)
Thurs. Aug. 17 – 8 p.m.
Fri. Aug. 18 – 5 p.m.
Sat. Aug. 19 – 7 p.m.
Mon. Aug. 21 – 7:15 p.m.
Tues. Aug 22 – 6:15 p.m.
Wed. Aug. 23 – 3:45 p.m.
Fri. Aug. 25 – 2 p.m.
Sun. Aug. 27 – 4.45 p.m.
3.5 of 5 stars
THEATrePUBLIC/Polema Productions
Duration 55 minutes
Not a bad show from prolific Edmonton playwright/director Ken Brown, who often writes new plays premiered at the Fringe and had consequently developed a strong and loyal following.
But Mad Fantastic is not a Ken Brown classic, not like Life After Hockey or the Spiral Dive Trilogy, not by any means.
The idea is a strong one – a narrative/meditation of the life of historical/Christian legend Joan of Arc, who as a teena ...
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Fringe 2017 – Hicksbiz.com – A Quiet Place - Review by GRAHAM HICKS
A Quiet Place
Blarney Productions
Venue 8, Old Strathcona Performing Arts Centre
8426 Gateway Blvd.
Thurs. Aug. 17 – 9:45 p.m.
Fri. Aug. 18 – 11 p.m.
Sun. Aug. 20 – 4.45 p.m.
Mon. Aug. 21 – 12:15 noon
Wed. Aug. 23 – 9:30 p.m.
Sun. Aug. 27 – 8 p.m.
How many stars out of a possible five? I have no idea
Blarney Productions
Duration 60 min.
I’m not saying A Quiet Place is bad theatre.
Not in the least. It’s probably very, very good theatre.
But I’m part of that Fringe audience that just doesn’t understand/comprehend/grok that style of abstract theatre known as “Theatre of the Absurd”.
A Quiet Place is meant not to make contextual sense … I think.
The show makes no attempt to explain why two men are in an inescapable room, why one starts being bound in a chair and being beat up by the other, why the r ...
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Fringe 2017 – Hicksbiz.com – To Be Moved – Review by GRAHAM HICKS 4.5 of 5 stars
To Be Moved
Blarney Productions
Venue 28, the Playhouse, 10033 80 Avenue
Thurs. Aug. 17 – 9:15 p.m.
Fri. Aug. 18 – 2 p.m.
Sat. Aug. 19 – 4:15 p.m.
Sun. Aug. 20 – 7 p.m.
Wed. Aug. 23 – 4:15 p.m.
Thurs. Aug. 24 – 9:15 p.m.
Fri. Aug. 25 – 2 p.m.
Sat. Aug. 26 – 9:15 p.m.
4.5 of 5 stars
Duration 60 min.
What a lovely, non-verbal, embracing-all-senses show To Be Moved is.
This is collaborative, accessible art at its finest – Meagan Koshka’s interwoven visual design, Matt Skopyk’s most appropriate electronic music … which actually carries a melody, thank you very much, the movements and emotions of actors Zoe Glassman and Kristian Stec, all bought together by artistic and conceptual director Braydon Dowler-Coltman.
It’s quite gorgeous. A young sweet couple are so much in love, tha ...
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Fringe 2017 – Hicksbiz.com – The CANADA SHOW: The Complete History of Canada in One Hour– Review by GRAHAM HICKS 2.5 of 5 stars
Monster Theatre
Venue 2, Backstage Theatre, 10330 84 Avenue
Fri. Aug. 18 – 7:45 p.m.
Sun. Aug. 20 – noon
Mon. Aug. 21 – 3:30 p.m.
Tues. Aug. 22 – 5:45 p.m.
Wed. Aug. 23 – 2 p.m.
Fri. Aug. 25 – 5:15 p.m.
2.5 of 5 stars
Several Fringe years ago, I saw a really good show that had much the same title and theme – i.e. the history of Canada told in one hour.
It was terrific. This one pales in comparison.
Lots of enthusiasm, not much meat. And no deep understanding of Canadian history from which to draw genuine satire and comedy. In fact this one is quite trite and shallow. Making fun of the War Measures Act?
I didn’t laugh at any of the jokes.
But the Backstage Theatre was filled – and about half the audience seemed to greatly enjoy the show, while the other h ...
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Fringe 2017 – Hicksbiz.com – The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man in the Moon Marigolds – Review by GRAHAM HICKS 4 of 5 stars
The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man in the Moon Marigolds
Plain JaneTheatre
Venue 3, Walterdale Theatre, 10322 83 Ave.
Fri. Aug. 18 – 8:45 p.m.
Sat. Aug. 19 – 2:30 p.m.
Mon. Aug. 21 – 7:15 p.m.
Wed. Aug. 23 – 12 noon
Sat. Aug. 26 – 4:30 p.m.
Duration: 90 minutes
4 of 5 stars
Every Fringe needs its classic American dysfunctional family psycho-drama play – of which there are many. Because the roles are wonderfully meaty for the actors and the plays have stood up for decade upon decade. Plus there’s a need on the audience’s part to balance out the silliness and zaniness of most Fringe Festival shows with some sobriety, serious acting and serious reflection.
The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-in-the-Moon Marigolds is a classic, detailing the breakdown of an American family throug ...
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Fringe 2017 – Hicksbiz.com – The 11 O’Clock Number! The Improvised Musical – Review by GRAHAM HICKS 4.5 of 5 stars
The 11 O'Clock Number! The Improvised Musical
Grindstone Theatre
Venue 16, Holy Trinity Anglican Church, Sanctuary Stage
10037 84 Ave.
Thurs. Aug. 17 – 10:15 p.m
Fri. Aug. 18 – 6:30 p.m.
Sat. Aug. 19 – 9:45 p.m.
Mon. Aug. 21 – 5:15 p.m.
Tues. Aug. 22 – 9:45 p.m.
Wed. Aug. 23 – 5 p.m.
Thurs. Aug. 24 – 6 p.m.
Sat. Aug. 26 – 9:45 p.m.
Sun. Aug. 27 – 3:30 p.m.
Duration: 60 minutes
4.5 of 5 stars
Move over, Rapid Fire, Die-Nasty, Gordon’s Big Bald Head, Atomic Improv …. There’s a new kid in town!
Actually not so new: Grindstone Theatre has been around for some five years, but with this Fringe is emerging from the underground into much wider recognition.
Here’s the rub.
Not only is this Edmonton ensemble really good at stage improvisation &hel ...
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Fringe 2017 – Hicksbiz.com – The Apple Tree – Review by GRAHAM HICKS 3 of 5 stars
The Apple Tree
Plain Jane Theatre
Venue 12, Varscona Theatre
10329 83 Ave.
Thurs. Aug. 17 – 9 p.m
Fri. Aug. 18 – 5 p.m.
Sat. Aug. 19 – 7 p.m.
Mon. Aug. 21 – 3 p.m.
Tues. Aug. 22 – 1 p.m.
Wed. Aug. 23 – 5 p.m.
Thurs. Aug. 24 – 1 p.m.
Fri. Aug. 25 – 9 p.m.
Sat. Aug. 26 – 9 p.m.
Sun. Aug. 27 – 3:30 p.m.
Duration: 65 minutes
3 of 5 stars
The Apple Tree is a light, sweet two-hander, a not-so-well-known musical from the same team that wrote Fiddler on the Roof.
It’s a gentle, humourous, show, using Adam and Eve to illustrate the vicissitudes, contradictions and need for life-long male-female partnerships, going back to the original couple on Earth.
Most pleasing is the polished singing of Madelaine Knight (Eve) and Graham Mothersill (Adam), both of whom have played leading roles in multiple musical pro ...
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Fringe 2017 – Hicksbiz.com – The Inventor of All Things – Review by GRAHAM HICKS 4 of 5 stars
The Inventor of All Things
Big Word Performance
Venue 13, Old Strathcona Public Library
8331 104 St.
Fri. Aug. 18 – 2 p.m.
Sat. Aug. 19 – 6 p.m.
Sun. Aug. 20 – 7 p.m.
Mon. Aug. 21 – 3 p.m.
Tues. Aug. 22 – 8 p.m.
Wed. Aug. 23 – 7:45 p.m.
Fri. Aug. 25 – 10:15 p.m.
Sat. Aug. 26 – 5 p.m.
Sun. Aug. 27 – 3:30 p.m.
Duration: 75 minutes
4 of 5 stars
English performance poet/storyteller extraordinaire/standup comedian Jem Rolls is a Fringe institution, and, having become an acquired taste, is a performer that his legions of fans would never think of missing.
At this year’s Fringe, Rolls is reprising his show from 2015, The Inventor of All Things.
It’s a little disappointing to see a show Rolls has already performed, but his mad-cap meditation on the invention of the atomic bomb by brilliant peace-lovin ...
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Fringe 2017 – Hicksbiz.com – Puck Bunnies – Review by GRAHAM HICKS 4. 5 of 5 stars
Puck Bunnies
Guys in Disguise
Venue 12, Varscona Theatre
10329 83 Avenue
Fri. Aug. 18 – 3 p.m.
Sat. Aug. 19 – 5 p.m.
Sun. Aug. 20 – 5 p.m.
Mon. Aug. 21 – 9 p.m.
Wed. Aug. 23 – 7 p.m.
Thurs. Aug. 24 – 7 p.m.
Fri. Aug. 25 – 5 p.m.
Sat. Aug. 26 – 5 p.m.
Sun. Aug. 27 – 3 p.m.
Duration: 60 minutes
4.5 of 5 stars
Within the best of comedy is always slight tragedy.
Puck Bunnies is one of the best conceptions and hilarious executions of human superficiality that the Guys in Disguise comedy troupe has ever done.
And yet it’s based on pathos – the stunning banality of young women in small towns where the end-all and be-all is to snare and hopefully marry a local hockey player.
But what fertile ground for high and hilarious comedy – especially the triumvirate of hockey player girlfriends Tina, Tammy and Tanya as p ...
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Fringe 2017 – Hicksbiz.com –The Exquisite Hour: Review by GRAHAM HICKS 5 of 5 stars
The Exquisite Hour
Teatro La Quindicina
Venue 12, Varscona Theatre
10329 83 Avenue
Fri. Aug. 18 – 7 p.m.
Sat. Aug. 19 – 3 p.m.
Sun. Aug. 20 – 3 p.m.
Tues. Aug. 22 – 7 p.m.
Wed. Aug. 23 – 3 p.m.
Fri. Aug. 25 – 7 p.m.
Sat. Aug. 26 – 3 p.m.
Duration: 60 minutes
5 of 5 stars
Edmonton-based playwright and director Stewart Lemoine is a most prolific playwright. Within his own precise perimeters, the man has a genius for writing some three to four plays a year.
The Exquisite Hour, I would suggest, will be one of his most enduring works.
The plot is simplicity itself – the kindling of a love story, a soul-mate discovery, between two very unlikely candidates for romantic love. Not that this is anything unusual, especially within the Lemoine canon.
It’s the pacing, the rhythm, the dance, the seriousness, the mad-cap humour, the contrast betwee ...
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