Posted in August 2011 …

Aug 31 2011
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Al, Fringe

B.U. Does VicFringe, Entry #7: Giant Invisible Robot

It’s weird to me, only seeing one show on any given evening. It feels like I took a day off. Oh well. Let’s talk about a super-hyped one-man show, shall we?

Giant Invisible Robot
There is no doubt that Jayson McDonald is a talented man. He’s a great performer who manages to jump from character to character without effort, and who wrote a pretty wicked show called Giant Invisible Robot. Have you seen the poster for that show around the city? It’s covered in 5-star reviews and various Fringe awards. So many people have told me to see this show, I can’t keep up. Hell, I’ve spoken to people who have seen it 3 or 4 times. All this positive talk about the show made this a rock within my ridiculous schedule – I can’t not see what appears to be the best show ever.
I love it when a show deserves the hype it’s getting. Giant Invisible Robot is funny and original, pitting a troubled young man and his invisible robot against the world, in a series of scenes featuring various fictional characters. It’s well worked out, and after years of performing it, McDonald has worked out any kinks that may have been present in there. As a one-man show, it really holds its own, though it’s not the best I’ve seen. I’d definitely recommend it to anyone who hasn’t seen Jayson perform though, the man’s wonderful on a stage.
-B.U.
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Aug 30 2011
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Al, Fringe

B.U. Does VicFringe, Entry #6: Whiskey Bars, Pink Shoelaces

I know, I know, I should have seen more than two plays yesterday. Sorry, loyal readers, I was busy having delicious food and getting psyched for Smut Slam!

Whiskey Bars: A Kabarett with the Songs of Kurt Weill
There’s hardly anything I like more than a good piece of cabaret-style entertainment. Lucky for me, Bremner Duthie appears to be everywhere I am this summer, so I get to enjoy some good ol’ fashioned musical theatre wherever I go. In Whiskey Bars, Duthie plays a run-down cabaret singer with a drinking problem who has decided to mount his own comeback. We find him in his dressing room before his big return performance, speaking to a reporter and singing some of his favourite songs. It’s funny at times, occasionally sad, but always entertaining. Bremner’s got a wonderful voice, and he makes great use of it in this trilingual piece of musical theatre, where he regales us with tunes in English, German and French. Recommended to anyone who’s into classic cabaret songs, and especially anyone who’s into the genius that was Kurt Weill.
Whiskey Bars is at Venue 4 (Wood Hall), which is the perfect venue for this type of show. Show times and tickets are available here!
The Pink Shoelaces
Ever watch Degrassi? Well if you haven’t and you’d like to see it as a play, go see the Pink Shoelaces! Garbagebear Productions brings us a piece of teen drama about acceptance, rejection and the difficulties that high school provides. Backed (and enhanced) by director Chris Ho’s solo guitar playing in the background, this play follows Anna as she arrives in a new school and tries to deal with two groups of friends who are not compatible with each other. It’s a bit light at first, but gets quite rough by the end, as the story comes to a tragic climax. I’m a big fan of performers who don’t mind giving back to the community with other projects, so I’m pleased that 2$ from every ticket sold goes directly to Youthspace.ca, a website dedicated to helping troubled youth.
The Pink Shoelaces is at Venue 8 (Langham Court Theatre), show times and tickets are available right here. Also, I recommend checking out Chris Ho’s musical work, the man’s talented.
-B.U.
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Aug 29 2011
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Al, Fringe, Genius

B.U. Does VicFringe, Entry #5: Little Orange Man, Peter ‘n Chris & the Mystery of the Hungry Heart Motel

Heads up: If you follow the advice that is listed in the two following reviews, your life will dramatically improve.

Little Orange Man
The Victoria Fringe has been very, very good to me (and to you!) so far this year, right? Well, with the arrival of this highly imaginative, adorable, and emotionally engaging piece of theatre, we’ve just hit a whole new level of excellence. It’s premature to declare this to be the best show of this year’s Fringe, seeing as it’s only the 12th show I’ve seen out of 72, but I fear that it might be the case. Ingrid Hansen brings to life a little girl named Kitt, whose imagination knows no bounds, and whose love of storytelling leads her into many different worlds. Using a few thousand props (ranging from a piece of celery to a coat hanger), Kitt tells us of many re-imagined fairy tales and takes us inside her dreams, which are more real than you’d believe. Bringing the audience in to help, Kitt takes us all on a journey through childhood like no other. This whole show is way beyond anything I’ve ever had the pleasure to witness or experience in a Fringe piece. It made me laugh uncontrollably, it made me cry. It’s at once unsettling and charming. I’m writing about it a whole day after I’ve seen it, and I still feel exactly the same way as I did upon leaving the theater: Overwhelmed by the magnitude of this amazing performance.
I cannot emphasize this enough: If there is one show that is truly a must-see in this Fringe, it’s Little Orange Man. You will never see a show like this one, though you’ll be dying to.
Little Orange Man is in Venue 5 (St Andrew’s), and you must go see it. Tickets & showtimes are here.
P.S.: Zack Adams gets my eternal gratitude for talking me into seeing this show. That guy’s got a good eye for great shows.
Peter ‘n Chris & The Mystery of the Hungry Heart Motel
I was so emotionally overwhelmed after seeing Little Orange Man that I was a bit worried about jumping into a comedy. Luckily, Peter ‘n Chris are funny enough that they managed to pull me into their zany little world fairly quickly, and keep me laughing for the better part of an hour. I loved the duo’s previous show, Peter ‘n Chris Save The World, so I had some pretty high expectations when I walked through the doors of CCPA yesterday. I assure you, all of my expectations were met. Hungry Heart is a hilarious adventure filled with murder, pennies, bromances and bad decisions. Peter ‘n Chris’ style is unique and captivating, and this new show is just more proof of their ability to perform. I can’t wait to see these guys on the silver screen. Though their strength may lie in live performance, I’m still convinced that this show would make a good film (as would Save The World). Venue 12 may be far from downtown, but it’s worth the trip to catch these hilarious fellas doing what they do best.
The Canadian College of Performance Arts is in Oak Bay, click here for showtimes and tickets!
-B.U.
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Aug 29 2011
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Al, Fringe, Genius

B.U. Does VicFringe, Entry #4: ShLong Form Improv, Birdmann, Suckerpunch

I love weekends. Not just because everybody gets to take two days off work….but because there are tons of shows on, and I get to cram in 5 in a day!

ShLong Form Improv
I don’t normally review shows I’ve already seen and reviewed. I don’t know how they did it, but the ShLongers (ShLong People? ShLongs?) somehow charmed me into seeing their show again, so here we are! When I saw them perform in Montreal, the show was mostly long-form improv, with a bit of short form thrown in there as well. Nowadays, the format has changed a bit, with short form taking up a lot more of the show…and I love it! Those ShLongers were on their game yesterday, performing in multiple theoretical universes (like the one where Hitler & Churchill united to ride a roller coaster, a gondola, and defeat zombie hoards) and makin’ me laugh. I had enjoyed their show back in Montreal, but I really loved it this time around. See their show, while you still can, before the 6 of them disappear into various directions!
ShLong Form Improv are performing at Venue 2 (Event Centre), all the show times and ticket info’s right here!
The Birdmann
The feedback I’ve received about this show has been all over the map. Some people love it, some people aren’t crazy about it, but I can guarantee that everybody will be remembering this one. The Birdmann takes us on a journey through his eccentric little brain, and brings us a whole show filled with nothing. He’s at his best when he’s telling one-liners and being punny as hell, but he’s entertaining when he’s balancing objects on his face, throwing tongs at a target, impersonating a pirate, etc., etc. I promise you, there is no other show like Birdmann in this Fringe, so if you’re into vaudevillian performances, flock to this one. Go see a grown man let loose onstage, put your judgement aside, and have some fun. He got a standing ovation at the end of his show yesterday, you know that’s got to mean something!
The Birdmann is at Venue 5 (St Andrew’s), all show times and ticket info is available here. Go be entertained, good people of Victoria!
The Suckerpunch
Brent Hirose, you are a brilliant gentleman. The Suckerpunch is an hour-long journey into the concepts of love and regret, and the potential injustice of small-scale time-travel. The show is fast-paced, extremely creative, and features Hirose making fiery leaps from character to character, telling the story of a few gentlemen making life-altering decisions on a daily basis. Infused with spoken-word poetry (one of the characters is a poet. And an excellent one at that!), this show is an absolute marvel of modern writing. Hirose manages to create clear locations and ghost characters without the use of any props. The man’s got a great control of the stage at all times, and the added use of a great score to enhance certain scenes really pulls the whole show together. The writing in this play is approximately 756 times better than the writing in this review, and better in general than a lot of the Fringe shows I have had the pleasure to witness. As far as one man shows go, this one’s ranked pretty high in my esteem. It had a sold out run at Winnipeg Fringe, and it deserves to have a great run here as well.
See The Suckerpunch at Venue 5 (St. Andrew’s), all the show times and ticket info’s right here!
-B.U.
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Aug 28 2011
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Al, Fringe

B.U. Does VicFringe, Entry #3: The Seminar, Rosie Bitts, God is a Scottish Drag Queen

Ever have one of those days where you plan on seeing a few specific shows, and end up spending your day seeing a whole different batch of shows? Welcome to my Saturday.

The Seminar
Going into this one, I wasn’t quite sure what to expect. I’d seen self-help satires before, but I had never seen anything quite like this. The Seminar is a whole new take on this concept, using video and over-the-top sound effects and a bit of song to compliment an already well-arranged script. The three hosts do a good job of sharing the spotlight, each providing a different yet similar personality. There was a bit more crowd participation than I expected (for instance, I didn’t expect to find myself on stage 5 minutes into the show, shakin’ my bootay for a free lip injection), but the end result was marvelous. It’s a good show, and the Seminar theme song will probably get stuck in your head as it is stuck in mine.
The Seminar is at Venue 9 (University Canada West), check out show times and grab your tickets here!
P.S.: David Dempsey, I knew plastic surgery had something to do with your good looks. I knew it!
The Fabulous Miss Rosie Bitts
After spending an hour being told I’m ugly, it was Rosie Bitts’ turn to take the stage to talk about people being beautiful. Quite the contrast, making the jump from crazy plastic surgery to a tale of censorship and burlesque. Rosie’s show is inspired by a true recent event in which she was forced not to perform due to the supposed lewd nature of her performance. It’s part burlesque, part storytelling, part song, and it’s all good. Jazzy tunes mixed in with wonderful dance numbers make this one an easy pick as the highlight of my Saturday and the potential highlight of your week. Go see it, and fall in love with Miss Rosie Bitts!
Rosie’s at Venue 9 as well, click here for showtimes and tickets!
God is a Scottish Drag Queen
Talk about hype! Mike Delamont brings God to the stage for 70+ minutes of loosey-goosey (his term, not mine!) comedy at a venue I’d love to spend more time in. Cafe Fort is the smallest venue at this year’s Fringe, which is unfortunate considering the amount of people who are lining up to see this show. Expect a sold-out run for this one, and a well-merited one at that! Delamont has a tremendous stage presence, and mixes in a bit of crowd participation with his already lengthy list of topics to discuss, varying his show every single night. Though his technician appears to be utterly confused at all times, the show maintains great flow, and that hour and a quarter just flies by. If you like Mike Delamont, you’re also in for a treat because he’s got another run of shows in late September (or early October?), and he’ll be performing steadily over the next few months.
For now, grab your advance tickets for this show, or show up well over an hour before showtime to see this piece, it’s on every night until the end of Fringe!
Happy fringin’!
-B.U.
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Aug 28 2011
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Al, Fringe

B.U. Does VicFringe, Entry #2: The Ukrainian Dentist’s Daughter, Hip.Bang!

Did anybody else have way too much fun at Fringe Club during kids night for adults? I can’t even recall the last time I made a button. Anyways, let’s talk about some shows, shall we?

The Ukrainian Dentist’s Daughter



From the mind of Yana Kesala comes a tale of immigration, adjustment, anticipation and love. Yana tells the story of her mother’s wedding and the various events that lead her to stand at the altar. The show jumps between two time lines but maintains and even flow throughout, powered by Kesala’s charisma and grand onstage presence. The show runs 45 minutes, which is a bit less than most shows in this year’s Fringe, but seems to fly by in seconds. It’s heartfelt, heartbreaking, heartwarming…. it does things to your heart, dammit! Recommended for any and all Ukrainians, and anyone else who’s in the mood for a love story!
TUDD is at Venue 7 (Fairfield Hall). For a list of show dates and to grab your tickets, click here!
Hip.Bang! Improv
Devin Mackenzie (winner of monoBROW Solo Slam at Fringe Club this past Friday) and Tom Hill combine their improvisational powers to bring you a 50-minute show filled with ridiculous characters in unbelievable situations. They start off the show by asking the audience from one word, which they then use as a theme to perform a long-form improvised story. On opening night (actually, opening afternoon), the duo told a story about the end of all sea creatures, a Medieval Times jouster duelling his 400-pound soon-to-be father-in-law, and some stoners in an apartment who stare at strangers in the street. Of course, if you go see HB, you will see none of these things. It’s a different show every time, that’s what improv means!
Hip.Bang! are at Venue 2 (The Victoria Events Centre aka Fringe Club), and they’ve got 5 shows left on their run. Click here for show dates and tickets!
-B.U.
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Aug 26 2011
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Al, Comedy, Fringe, Genius

B.U. Does VicFringe, Entry #1: The Troubles, EXTRAterrestrial, Charles

Day One of the Victoria Fringe is in the history books, and we’re off to a good start! I spent last night at Venue 7, read on to see how that went down.

The Troubles

Are you familiar with the brutal recent history of Northern Ireland? Well, whether you are or you aren’t, The Troubles throws you right into it. Stephanie Henderson brings to life a few unfortunate characters who are caught within a war that they wish didn’t exist at all, and don’t necessarily understand. We get to see a glimpse of the horror from both sides of this bloody civil conflict in this one-woman performance. There’s a fair amount of crowd interaction involved as well, which caught me a bit by surprise, and may have actually taken a bit away from the show. The crowd’s slow response made these parts of the show feel a bit drawn out, which in turn affected the flow of the play. Nonetheless, it’s an excellent performance for Henderson, and an interesting look at a conflict that isn’t discussed too often around these parts.

EXTRAterrestrial

The jump from civil unrest to alien abduction is an odd move to make, but that’s what Venue 7 had in store last night. EXTRAterrestrial allows you to witness a bit of alien interaction, as Bernard (the alien) tries to get Nate (the abductee) to open up about his personal life, for the sake of his study of human activity. Bernard uses Nate’s phone to bring up Nate’s friends and family and question their relationships and interactions, throwing jokes around throughout. “Do you text your mother with those thumbs?” was probably my favourite line from this mildly overwritten two-man show. The show’s synopsis ends with the line “You’ll be literally politely smiling in the aisles!”, which I think sells the show a bit short. I chuckled throughout, and liked the show. It made me want an elvephant. That’s all!

Charles Presents: A Trip Through the Multiverse

Having met Charlie and Chuck on Preview night, I already knew they were pretty funny guys. I didn’t, however, have any idea that they could reach this level of hilarity. A Trip Through the Multiverse is one of the most original, clever and witty displays of sketch comedy that I have ever had the pleasure to see. Their sketches are all over the map but somehow maintain an incredible flow, through their seemingly effortless transitions. Hell, they went from talking about Jenga to mocking Beowulf and it wasn’t even startling. The whole show is brilliantly written and completely unique. In fact, it’s un-fucking-believably funny. I’m always afraid of over-selling a show when I like it this much, but fuck it. I need muscle-replacement surgery to fix the damage caused to my face from laughing too much. If I gave star ratings, this show would get 5. Go see it, and go see it now! The show has a limited run (it only goes until Tuesday) but it’s well worth the trek to Fairfield Hall!

You may click here to see the complete schedules of all three of these shows. Now go see them and share your thoughts, both here and on the Craig, but most importantly…with your bean-votes after the shows!

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