What's best at Best of Toronto Fringe?
By Jonathan LoganSpecial to the Star
Wed., July 16, 2014timer4 min. read
If you just missed the Toronto Fringe Festival, don't worry. Eight of its most popular shows have been picked by an impartial jury to represent Best of Fringe, running from July 16 to 30 at the Toronto Centre for the Arts (5040 Yonge St.). Here's our take on what's available this year.
Punch Up (highly recommended)
The most pathetic man in the world kidnaps the funniest man in the world to help him make the saddest girl in the world laugh. It sounds like a joke and it is an excellent one, written by Kat Sandler. Colin Munch and Tim Walker kill throughout, especially with Sandler's take on the old "Who's on First" routine. Caitlin Driscoll is alternately heartbreaking and hilarious as a woman with a past so tragic, you can't help but laugh. It's the best of the Best of Fringe. (July 16, 9 p.m.; July 20, 3 p.m.; July 25, 9 p.m.)
Three Men in a Boat (highly recommended)
This is the most charming show to come out of the Fringe this year. Three English gentlemen of leisure decide to go on a boating trip down the Thames. Predictably, as none possess anything resembling useful skills, they run aground into disaster. The accents are impeccable, as are the performances. The actors fire off two hours' worth of dialogue in one, with every word crystal clear. That deserves three cheers all on its own. (July 16, 7 p.m.; July 18, 7 p.m., July 20, 1 p.m.)
Lost and Found (highly recommended)
Half theatre, half standup comedy, Marilla Wex's one-woman show is a very personal piece of theatre. Sharing painful yet comical details of her past, she opens up about her sexual experiences, acting roles, former lovers and deep depression. Wex, known for her standup chops, is also a great actor, convincingly portraying herself at various ages and maturity levels. Lost and Found is a fearless piece of work delivered by a fearless actor. (July 19, 9 p.m.; July 26, 9 p.m.; July 29, 9 p.m.)
The Emergency Monologues (highly recommended)
Paramedic Morgan Jones Phillips has taken his most memorable EMS calls and created a show that is both gripping and hilarious. By spinning a huge story wheel beside him, Phillips randomly picks which anecdote comes next. A master storyteller, his tales of mistakenly pronounced dead old ladies and various secrets of the EMS trade will have you in stitches (pun intended) throughout. No two shows are the same so if you enjoy, go again. (July 18, 9 p.m.; July 25, 7 p.m.; July 30, 9 p.m.)
No Chance in Hell (recommended)
An epic battle between heaven and hell is the backdrop for a love story between a seductive demon and a young man stuck in purgatory. The book's length undermines its cleverness, the lyrics are somewhat banal, the music catchy but predictable. It is the cast that makes this show. Isaac Bell and Jody-Anne Whitfield have instant chemistry as the unlikely couple caught between two afterlifes. And Joel Gomez and Jacob MacInnes radiate angelic charm as the bureaucrat gatekeepers of heaven. (July 17, 7 p.m.; July 22, 9 p.m.; July 29, 7 p.m.)
52 Pick-Up (recommended)
By throwing all their cards into the air, the team behind 52 Pick-Up has created a fascinating, if uneven, show. Two actors, from a rotating cast, perform a play in nonchronological order by randomly picking cards off the floor. If it sounds interesting, it is, because the gimmick and the actors are both clever. But after the novelty wears off you realize that the script itself isn't as striking. It's a bland tale of love lost with no real twists or innovation. The production tries hard and delivers a definite amount of entertainment but, in the end, it's all work and no play. (July 19, 7 p.m.; July 23, 9 p.m.; July 27, 1 p.m.)
The Assassination of Robert Ford: Dirty Little Coward (not recommended)
First things first, it's not thatRob Ford. It's a true story about the assassin of Robert Ford, the man who killed Jesse James. There are some excellent performances, especially Geoff Mays as Ed O'Kelley, the assassin. Confined to a small cell, he fills the theatre with both rage and passion. The script however, though occasionally witty, never comes into focus and the smattering of songs throughout stops the show dead. The entire evening feels like an excuse to make a few sly jokes about our current mayor. (July 17, 9 p.m.; July 22, 7 p.m.; July 27, 3 p.m.)
Cirqular (not recommended)
A newly hatched bird exploring a mechanical, clockwork world finds herself in the middle of an age-old battle for time itself. Cirqular impresses with its skilful puppetry and intriguing design esthetic but falls far short when it comes to storytelling. Character relationships, and often characters themselves, are unclear and ill-defined. If the storytelling was on par with the puppetry, this could be something special. But sadly, that is not this show. (July 23, 7 p.m., July 26, 9 p.m., July 30, 7 p.m.)
Go to tocentre.com/bestoffringe2014 for tickets and information.