Only three plays to review for Day 5…a walk in the park this intrepid reviewer.
Last seen at the 2010 Fringe with her musical comedy show Emotional Condom, funny woman Ann Denny returns as Anna Danova in SeaHose Unplugged. Also joining her on stage is Bryan Babaracki (played by Ryan Veitmeyer), a new age-man dressed in purple satin. (Also deserving of mention is the uncredited actor who did a really funny turn as the band’s manager.) The pair ham it up as a singing duo making the crossover from corporate motivational singers to an “indie” band. The show is short and high-energy filled with campy, catchy songs improvised with suggestions from the audience. Good fringe fun!
You may have seen the play about speed-dating (In the Valley), but there is also a play called Post-its (Notes on a Marriage) which could be categorized as a play about speed-living. In this little gem, the entire relationship of a couple from first intoxicating love to old age is told in 15 minutes through a series of post-it notes they have exchanged. Vanessa-Walton Bone and Stuart Hiseler do a superb job of milking the nuances from each note and of connecting with each other despite never actually interacting. Sweet, truthful and funny, this ranks as a must-see.
I was unable to fit A Question of Sex into my fringe schedule until its last show, but I wish I’d seen it earlier just so that I could have recommended it to people. The four young actors (Ben Irvine, Jesse Robb, Claire St. Francois and Emma Laishram) have a field day with this Edwardian comedy of manners that revolves around a sum of money, a baby of the “wrong” sex and a very effective guilt trip. So much of the humour of play comes from the characters’ facial expressions, and these four actors are masters of having their mouths say one thing and their faces another. Too bad you missed it…
For shows times and locations visit www.atlanticfringe.ca
