I’ve technically put the theatre review side of this site on hiatus while I take maternity leave but the prospect of completely missing out on Toronto Fringe made me too sad so I made myself a one-day sample platter of shows taking place in and around the new festival hub at Soulpepper’s distillery district venue. Obviously please keep in mind when reading these reviews that this is an insanely small roster of shows that doesn’t come close to representing everything the festival has to offer. We wish we could have seen more (and what we were able to see was mostly selected for time and place convenience) but at least it’s something.
Tamar Broadbent: Plus One (A, though your mileage may vary)
A bright and fun musical solo show, this touring production from the UK will probably feel to most audiences like well-executed but fairly standard Fringe fare. But I for some reason thought it was a good show selection for someone taking her first full day away from a ten-week-old premature baby so my reaction was, um, probably not so standard. Broadbent is a total delight with a natural stage presence that easily connects her with her audience, even if they don’t share her very specific fears about hormones making her curly hair fall out. Her frank humour is insightful and thoughtful and her pacing is dead on. While I’m sure that most people aren’t going to weep openly through her entire song about breastfeeding, I hope audiences of all kinds (I’d particularly encourage men to seek it out) find this piece and appreciate its humanity along with its charm.
Iris (says goodbye) (A-)
A buzzy, smartly designed new musical with a truly stellar ensemble, Iris is poised to be a big commercial hit that would benefit from a longer run. The episodic structure of the storytelling allows for a fun gimmick wherein 8 scenes are randomly selected for each performance out of a possible 20. Though the concept does feel a bit forced into a frame that doesn’t quite coalesce, the storytelling within each individual number is incredibly strong and it’s hard to imagine any audience member leaving without the urge to see the show again in hopes of discovering new scenes.
Have Fun Kids (B+)
Laura Anne Harris’s conversational solo show about the loss of a beloved friend is technically simple and emotionally complex. Playing herself, Harris is a warm and engaging guide through taxing territory even if at times her script feels a bit practiced. Using descriptive nicknames to fill out the world of her fellow left behind loved ones, Harris paints a poignant portrait of showing up and sending the message in a time and place that rarely encourages us to make time to do so.
Catch and the Dancing Liver (C)
A cute concept about learning to try new things, this shaggy puppet show lacks the pace and precision necessary to make a kids show really dynamic. A couple fun musical numbers could use more purposeful choreography and live vocals would go a long way to keeping the action feeling immediate and energetic. The “those foods are gross” premise feels a bit dated (the performers definitely weren’t expecting every kid in the audience to proclaim they love broccoli) but a surprise ending that doesn’t easily solve the central problem feels fresh and honest. There are some great ideas here but they’re missing a bit of follow-through.