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REVIEW: The Untitled Sam Mullins Project @ Ottawa Fringe 2015 (Valerie’s Review)

June 27, 2015 by Valerie Cardinal

REVIEW: The Untitled Sam Mullins Project @ Ottawa Fringe 2015 (Valerie’s Review)

Sam Mullins muses about heartbreak, deep embarrassment, panic and more truths of his life in his latest one-man show.

Should you see it?


 

Four RatedWhen I got home from seeing The Untitled Sam Mullins Project, all I wanted to do was write. I wanted to sit down at my computer, much like Sam Mullins did himself, and just let my creativity fly free. Who knows – maybe I’d strike gold somewhere.

That’s what Sam Mullins aims to do here, as he tells stories that are truthful, sometimes embarrassing and deeply personal. His honesty is refreshing, and it shows that he’s a natural storyteller. At times, I felt like I was listening to a friend share some stories over a beer.

This is a well-paced show, bookending the two most dramatic stories with ones that have more of a comedic spark. His truths are both universal and deeply personal; it’s easy to relate to them, in one way or another. Mullins also has a unique way of putting the audience at ease, and creating almost the atmosphere of an informal story circle. I wouldn’t have been surprised if another audience member had jumped on stage after and continued the show with their own story.

The Unititled Sam Mullins Project is thought-provoking storytelling that’s like seeing a series of personal essays performed live. It contains some philosophical musings that will make you consider your own truths, and what’s worth sharing about them.


For full show times and how to buy tickets, visit ottawafringe.com 

But that’s just my opinion, and I’d love to know what you think! Which of the truths was your favorite? Were you compelled by Sam Mullins’ storytelling? Join the discussion in the comments below.

REVIEW: WEIRD: The Witches of Macbeth @ Ottawa Fringe 2015 (Valerie’s Review)

June 27, 2015 by Valerie Cardinal

REVIEW: WEIRD: The Witches of Macbeth @ Ottawa Fringe 2015 (Valerie’s Review)

Aerial acrobatics meets classic Shakespeare in this story of the three witch sisters of Macbeth fame.

Should you see it?


 

Four RatedWEIRD accomplishes quite a feat; it’s impressive in both its athletic skill and narrative. This could have been just a Cirque Du Soleil-style circus show with barely any effort put into the story, but it’s so much more than that. Colour me impressed!

The narrative itself will be familiar to most Shakespeare fans; three sisters find themselves caught up in sibling rivalry and fate when they make the wrong choice. Essentially, it’s Macbeth from a different perspective. Macbeth is my favorite Shakespeare play, and I’ve seen many a disappointing spin-off or production. WEIRD makes up for these disappointments, in spades. The bits of dialogue that are taken from the original play are well integrated into a perfectly written script, creating a compelling and complex whole. All three performers really sink their teeth into both the meat of the text and the relationships it presents.

The aerial silks are used in a manner that really enhances the story, instead of being relegated to simply being a sideshow. The silks are a magical device, and the sisters use them to cast spells and to fight against the anger of Mother Earth and right the wrong they’ve created. Emily Hughes, Lindsay Bellaire and Lindsay Sippel Eitzen are all evidently experts, and every move they make looks effortless, graceful and deliberate.

WEIRD is a magical show that nails both its physical and theatrical elements. I’d highly recommend it to anyone looking for a unique addition to their Fringe schedule. Actually, I’d recommend it to anyone, full stop.


For full show times and how to buy tickets, visit ottawafringe.com 

But that’s just my opinion and I’d love to know what you think! Were you familiar with Macbeth before seeing WEIRD? What did you think of how the aerial silks were working into the narrative? Join the discussion in the comments below.

REVIEW: Magical Mystery Detour @ Ottawa Fringe 2015 (Valerie’s Review)

June 27, 2015 by Valerie Cardinal

REVIEW: Magical Mystery Detour @ Ottawa Fringe 2015 (Valerie’s Review)

Recently single Sandra finds herself on the road alone, taking a last-minute road trip in honor of her deceased mother.

Should you see it?


 

Four RatedGemma Wilcox is one of the most versatile performers I’ve ever seen. Over the course of her Magical Mystery Detour, she not only embodies multiple people, but also animals and inanimate objects. She flits effortlessly from one to the other, masterfully commanding your attention. Wilcox will charm her way into your heart.

At its core, Magical Mystery Detour is about a woman learning to be alone again after the end of a long-term relationship. However, she’s not really alone; her companions on the journey include her dog, a spirited Scottish car and a pesky fly. All of these, of course, played with gusto by Wilcox. I was fascinated by how quickly and perfectly she could make the switch between characters. It’s amazing how she carves an entire journey and multiple locations out of an empty stage and a single bench.

Magical Mystery Detour is very funny, and also quite moving. It’s a one-woman show that demonstrates that sometimes the important thing is not where you’re going, but how you get there. It’s a detour that I was happy to take with Gemma Wilcox.


For full show times and how to buy tickets, visit ottawafringe.com 

But that’s just my opinion and I’d love to know what you think! What was your favorite character? Were you charmed by Gemma Wilcox? Join the discussion in the comments below. 

REVIEW: Ghost of the Tree @ Ottawa Fringe 2015 (Allan’s Review)

June 27, 2015 by Allan Mackey

REVIEW: Ghost of the Tree @ Ottawa Fringe 2015 (Allan’s Review)

“Combining pathos, humour, irony and lyricism, Ghost of the Tree is an ingeniously conceived, poignant, engaging and thoroughly entertaining meditation on time, motherhood and the choices that shape our lives – and the lives of those that succeed us.”

Should you see it?


 

Four RatedGhost of the Tree is a series of six individual scenes connected by genetics and themes of motherhood. The first scene starts off with a young woman in roughly the present day. Having been living on the street, she’s returned to inherit her family home following the death of her mother. Each subsequent scene jumps back in time one generation so as to be about the mother of the character in the scene before.

The play is at times touching and heartbreaking. It beautifully travels back in time with each scene, keeping all the action framed around the house and the tree itself — dead in the most recent scene, newly planted in the earliest scene.

Effectively a one-woman show, Hannah Smith brings some of the hands down best acting I’ve seen this year (not just at Fringe). Smith blew me away, playing the six soon-to-be mothers, each as distinct and having different energies to them as could be. She brings each of them to life so completely and with such intensity that you need to remind yourself that they are all being played by the same actress and there isn’t a moment where I didn’t believe she was every one of them. The audience was transfixed on Smith from beginning to end.

Ghost of the TreeSmith is joined on stage by Sasha French and Darrell Bryan. French mainly acts as the ever-present ethereal mother. She has few lines but does a great job making her presence felt when needed and fading into the background when not. Bryan primarily provides live musical accompaniment to the show, which is another delightful touch.

Of other note is the simple yet effective design of the production, keeping Smith dressed in simple black and using one red costume item to represent each different woman.

This is some truly great theatre and the kind of play I’d love to see out on a main stage.


 

For full show times and how to buy tickets, visit ottawafringe.com 

But that’s just my opinion and I’d love to know what you think. What did you think of Ghost of the Tree? Which of the scenes struck you the most? Join the discussion in the comments below. 

REVIEW: The Secret Life of Emily/Frances @ Ottawa Fringe 2015

June 27, 2015 by Allan Mackey

REVIEW: The Secret Life of Emily/Frances @ Ottawa Fringe 2015

“A lighthearted look at the Canadian adventures of a literary lady, this two-hander takes us to the conquered colony of Quebec, 1764, in the company of Frances Brooke, & her spirited maid Manon.”

Should you see it?


 

The Secret Life of Emily/Frances is a beautiful piece of theatre. I think it’s the most theatre piece of theatre I’ve seen at Ottawa Fringe this year. If that makes sense.

Four RatedMrs. Frances Brooks is a British playwright in around the 18th Century. Her husband is a pastor who has moved to Canada. The play opens as Frances is set to – reluctantly- embark on the three-month journey across the big pond to newly conquered Quebec. Along for the ride, also reluctantly, is Frances’ maid Manon.

Told in three parts (Britain, the voyage, Quebec), Laurie Fyffe’s script for The Secret Life of Emily/Frances is simply beautiful. The voices it gives Frances and Manon, their dialogue and their banter, feel incredibly real. As does the story of the piece itself, which starts off being about Frances and gradually passing the torch to Manon.

Laurie Fyffe also takes on the role of Frances Brooks and does a great job bringing life to the impassioned and almost obsessively focussed “scribbler.” Manon is played by Michelle LeBlanc who does an exceptional job in the role. One particular scene, where Manon is recounting the story of a battle between the English and the French is absolutely riveting.

What makes this play even more special is its setting in the Bytowne Museum. Being surrounded on all sides by such history helps the play feel very authentic, as does the alley seating and the staging by director Bronwyn Steinberg that allows some fun (and non-invasive) interaction with the audience.

The Secret Life of Emily/Frances is a seriously engaging look at a slice of colonial Canadian life and not only worth the trip to the Bytowne Museum (which happens to be located in one of the most beautiful parts of Ottawa) but that I also hope to see more of somewhere in the future.


 

For full show times and how to buy tickets, visit ottawafringe.com 

But that’s just my opinion and I’d love to know what you think. What did you think of The Secret Life of Emily/Frances? Did it leave you wanting to learn more about out history? Join the discussion in the comments below.

REVIEW: Hootenanny @ Ottawa Fringe 2015 (Allan’s Review)

June 27, 2015 by Allan Mackey

REVIEW: Hootenanny @ Ottawa Fringe 2015 (Allan’s Review)

“Join famed Australian children’s entertainers HOOTENANNY! on the final stop of their world tour! Hoot’s misdemeanour reckless driving charge has been pardoned and the team is finally back in Canada, bringing you their greatest hits and trademark questionable banter!”

Should you see it?


 

If children’s entertainment were packaged exactly the same way as it is, but targeted to adults, it would be Hootenanny.
Hootenanny @ Ottawa Fringe 2015Hootenanny is created and performed by Kate Smith & Will Somers, who put on Aussie accents, for the roles of Annie and Hoot, who together form the popular children’s entertainers Hootenanny. Here on the Ottawa leg of their World Tour, there show is mixed with healthy dose of Noises Off. The duo’s imploding relationship hits a flashpoint, peppering their routine with massive doses of passive aggressive quips and behaviour, ultimately exploding and losing the passive part.

The show I saw was very very funny. The passive aggressive behaviour, coupled with smart timing and staging, lead to some really great moments. The “kids” music, too, is a pretty special thing. Little Possum Oliver is I think alone worth the price of the ticket.

But I can’t, in good character, comment on more than that. Significant parts of Hootenanny are meant to be told via video. On the day I attended the show, tech problems left Hootenanny “unplugged” and unable to play any of the videos. Kate Smith and Will Somers were troopers, pressed on, and did a really great job of re-enacting or describing the video or otherwise improvising to fill in the gaps.

Yet, it was still an incomplete version of the Hootenanny, and not the one you’re likely to see, so even though I recommend checking it out, it isn’t fair for me to rate the show or comment on it further.


 

For full show times and how to buy tickets, visit ottawafringe.com 

But that’s just my opinion and I’d like to know what you think? What was your favourite song in Hootenanny? Did you see both unplugged and plugged? Join the discussion in the comments below.

REVIEW: Magical Mystery Detour @ Ottawa Fringe 2015 (Allan’s Review)

June 27, 2015 by Allan Mackey

REVIEW: Magical Mystery Detour @ Ottawa Fringe 2015 (Allan’s Review)

“16-TIME BEST-OF-FEST AWARD-WINNER Gemma Wilcox, returns with a sparkling new show, exploring unexpected twists and turns of life, love and being on the road… 23+ Characters: Human, Animal, Mythical and Steel!”

Should you see it?


Four RatedGemma Wilcox is a long time Fringe veteran and multiple award winner so it’s no surprise to say that she’s a fantastic performer. In Magical Mystery Detour, she wonderfully portrays 23 characters, not all them human. Some of my favourites include a dirty-minded tree, her Scottish automobile, a time and space travelling fly, and an incarnation of the Queen. She makes her transitions between characters seamless and unpretentious. She expects that you’ll get it, and Magical Mystery Detour flows smoothly because of her confidence and polish. She really is a marvelous performer and switches things up so regularly that you don’t have any time to get tired of watching her.

The Magical Mystery Detour comes to the play’s main character, at a point in her life where she’s stuck. Her mother has recently passed away, her boyfriend Charlie has left her, and she can’t think of anything that works as a new jingle for marmite. Her life’s a disaster. Then she receives a letter reminding her of plans her mother had made for them for witness the transit of Venus across the Sun at Land’s End. Plans that she is expected to follow through on.

CroppedHeadTongueMMD-686x640Resisting at every step, she makes the trip. Along the way she runs into many small and some major detours, occasionally finding a little magic to help her along. Will she find her way and get unstuck?

Go see the play and find out. There’s a reason Gemma Wilcox is a Fringe favourite wherever she goes and that she won best of fest @ Arts Court Theatre (giving you one more chance to see her). That reason is that she’s simply fantastic.


 

For full show times and how to buy tickets, visit ottawafringe.com 

But that’s just my opinion and I would love to know what you think? Which characters were your favourite? Have you seen Gemma Wilcox other shows in this trilogy? Join the discussion in the comments below.

REVIEW: Sh!t I’m In Love With You Again @ Ottawa Fringe 2015 (Allan’s Review)

June 27, 2015 by Allan Mackey

REVIEW: Sh!t I’m In Love With You Again @ Ottawa Fringe 2015 (Allan’s Review)

“Rachelle Elie brings you a brand new musical comedy about sex, love and everything in between. Live accompaniment by musician Luke Jackson.”

Should you see it?


Four RatedSh!t I’m in Love With You Again takes you through the ins and out of love, sex, and relationships.

Every relationship has it’s ups and downs. From those first moments of love and its two hour massages, into pregnancy, and first born, and second born, and extended work trips into developing countries, and lack of communication, and not showing emotions, and wanting them dead….

Rachelle Elie will take you through it all, starting way back with her sexual awakening and parents who couldn’t be much different to each other. The story she tells is quite something. It’s well-rounded and complete and touching and funny and has a great character arc. Is it a true story? Is it fiction? I’m not sure, but that doesn’t matter. Because it feels real. Rachelle Elie has incredible energy and creates a very real feeling performance through which you’ll never feel she’s only playing a character.

 

Sh!t I'm In Love With You Again @ Ottawa Fringe 2015Elie also has perhaps the most glamorous set at Ottawa Fringe and some of the best costumes, as evidenced in the photo.

She’s joined on stage by long time collaborator and fellow co-creator, Luke Jackson. Jackson provides guitar accompaniment for the show’s musical scenes. Did I forget to mention that? Sh!t I’m In Love With You Again has some great original tunes to go along with the laughs and heart.

Last weekend of Ottawa Fringe is upon us, Sh!t I’m In Love With You Again would be a good fit for your schedule.


For full show times and how to buy tickets, visit ottawafringe.com 

But that’s just my opinion and I’d love to know what you think. Could you relate to Sh!t I’m In Love With You Again? Did it make you laugh? Join the discussion in the comments below.

REVIEW: Debris @ Ottawa Fringe 2015

June 26, 2015 by Valerie Cardinal

REVIEW: Debris @ Ottawa Fringe 2015

A basketball, a fish, and a motorcycle finds themselves on a long journey across the ocean after the tsunami hits Japan.

Should you see it?


A three-rated show is a good one. A three covers everything from "all right" to "really really good".Debris has a lot of heart and ambition, and it’s obvious that Daniel Wishes and Seri Yanai put a lot of love into this show. However, it could do with a lot less telling and a lot more showing. Yanai’s shadow puppets are truly beautiful works of art and the focus should be placed on them, instead of an overly wordy script.

What makes Debris unique is that it’s essentially a live short film done with shadow puppets. It’s a really interesting idea, and one with potential – if the performers would just let the images speak for themselves once in a while. As it is, the script is repetitive, heavy on the cheese and sometimes I was unsure if it was being serious or bordering on parody. It feels like Wishes and Yanai were going for the tone of a children’s book, but it just slows down the narrative.

Debris is visually striking, but its cluttered stage shows the exact problem I had with it; it’s an original, whimsical story that is being weighed down by a lot of stuff that distracts from the sweetness at its core.


For full show times and how to buy tickets, visit ottawafringe.com 

But that’s just my opinion and I’d love to know what you think! What did you think of the shadow puppets? Did I miss something here? Am I being too hard on the script? Join the discussion in the comments below. 

REVIEW: The Adventures of Red Rascal @ Ottawa Fringe 2015

June 26, 2015 by Valerie Cardinal

REVIEW: The Adventures of Red Rascal @ Ottawa Fringe 2015

An adventurer in a red hood returns to the town of St. Anthony to get revenge and save the town from an evil leader.

Should you see it?


A three-rated show is a good one. A three covers everything from "all right" to "really really good".While the Red Rascal was recounting his sad tale of vengeance, I found myself wondering where I had heard it all before. I quickly realized that his back story was incredibly similar to a mash-up of two characters from my favorite cult classic film, The Princess Bride; Inigo and Westley. Except our Red Rascal is a lot less cool, and can never seem to get in a good comeback.

The sword fighting is cool, though. Even though the plot is fairly threadbare, The Adventures of Red Rascal is a cute show punctuated by clanging swords and cartoonish humor. Danielle Savoie fully committed to her role as the princess Sophie, but I wish she’d had a little bit more to do as her sword-wielding alter ego. I wasn’t really buying Red Rascal as a Robin Hood-style rogue, mostly because Jake William Smith made him seem kind of like a harmless doofus. In fact, the two henchman stole the show, bringing on the comedy every time they were on stage.

The Adventures of Red Rascal is family friendly fun, and the outdoor venue gives it some extra life.


For full show times and how to buy tickets, visit ottawafringe.com 

But that’s just my opinion and I’d love to know what you think! Did you enjoy Red Rascal’s antics? Join the discussion in the comments below. 

 

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