More five-star reviews at the Saskatoon Fringe? Yes please!
The 2024 Saskatoon Fringe Festival is well on its way, and a plethora of powerful performances have permeated the whole place. Check out the next batch of Fringe review below, and stay tuned to see a review of EVERY Fringe theatre show here on PodSask!
AWOL
What we loved: Two talented artists from the UK plus a story about two senior citizens who escape a care home to attend a metal festival – a recipe for a really good time!
This show is an absolute blast and fires on all cylinders with great comedy, genuine heart and some really delightful performances by the lovable duo. Rob Gee and Jon Paterson deliver a high-energy romp chock full of absurd hijinx, multi-role madness and some really charming moments that celebrate the nebulous enterprise of growing old.
The humour ranges from uncannily relatable to slapstick silly, and from wickedly witty to delightfully juvenile. It’s clear the pair are experienced in delivering a professional show – both on and off script – and showcase a wide range of vocal and physical skill to a very engaged audience.
What we didn’t love: For this reviewer .. it’s difficult to say. Any nitpicks one could make about the performance would ultimately go against the spirit of the show itself.
This is not a declaration of perfection by any means; however, any faults this show may have do get a reprieve for providing their audience with an enjoyable experience.
The verdict: A Fringe highlight to say the least. This show is a pleasant escape and a fun experience at the theatre. If you’re looking for pure entertainment and engaging storytelling, turn off your brain and check this one out!
Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
– Andrew Linsley
***
Hinterland
What we loved: Saskatoon’s Rogue Souls Productions return to the Fringe with a new, original, verbatim theatre show drawing on a number of real-life accounts, following last year’s entry “Bugs in Amber.”
Hinterland uses historical examples of humans’ interactions with the natural world in distinct vignettes on a sparse stage. The performers each committed to their roles, which to their credit, they did when much of the dialogue was really monologue, given the verbatim theatre format.
Relying on hand drawn “puppets,” the ensemble cast effectively portray the sheer wonder and beauty of the ocean of Beebe and Barton exploring in their metal underwater sphere, and the tragic outcomes of humans’ pursuits, like the ruthless pursuit of a now-extinct bird, the great auk.
It loops back to the Aristotelian optimism from its first vignette in its final one, and kudos for including a nod to well-known local wildlife rescue, Living Sky Wildlife Rehabilitation.
What we didn’t love: The use of puppets, while creative and mostly well-timed in their use, the use of glow-in-the-dark materials didn’t quite work in the show’s favour. Some puppets were hard to see and were lost in the dark — or a times not dark enough Cosmo Seniors Centre. It’s unfortunate, because it’s clear that care was put into their creation, most notably the fish the undersea explorers witness from inside their submersible.
Verdict: It’s clear the young theatre company has poured a lot of care and time researching and preparing for the show, and is heartfelt. It’s worth giving it a watch, but be prepared to want to learn all you can about extinct animal species.
Rating: ★ ★ ★ ✩ ✩
– Thia James
***
Survival of the Spookiest
What we loved: Pulling pop culture’s most notorious monsters (and a pillow) out of their own stories and smashing them together in a kitschy game show format, Survival of the Spookiest’s anachronistic mashup leaves plenty of room for hilarity and the performers provide it. Coming prepared to deliver fresh reimaginings of familiar characters, clever humor, and plenty of whimsy.
It’s not clear how much of the show is written and rehearsed and how much is improvised, but the seamless transitions between the two and the focussed nature of the game show’s competitive segments gave the performers plenty of room to show off their chops and their versions of these classic characters in a framework that kept the individual segment’s gimmicks from ever overstaying their welcome.
What we didn’t love: The show took a little while to get up to speed as it worked its way through some of the conventions of the TV format. While it excelled at replicating that format, a more concise introduction of the contestants would have allowed the show to quickly get to the moments where it really shined.
Verdict: On the back of its novel format, fun performances and quick pace, “Survival of the Spookiest” is light, funny and absolutely dripping with charm.
Wonder City Collective and Peach Pit Productions have come together with an excellent addition to this year’s Fringe lineup.
Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
– Zachary Knuttila
***
The Stalker of Bradford Woods
What we loved: “The Stalker of Bradford Woods” has the beginnings of a very engaging dramatic narrative. The premise of this show is intriguing and the writers did a solid job of introducing the characters and setting up the situation. Most of the exposition felt organic and it didn’t feel like anything was being spoon-fed to the audience.
The performers used the space in the Cosmo Senior Centre well and the various settings were cleanly established with the minimal set. The various props and sound cues were used effectively and purposefully, showcasing a sense of ethos.
The cast was committed to their characters and appeared very genuine in their performances. For the most part it was clear what role each character plays in the story and the cast puts forth a good effort to embody these roles.
What we didn’t love: Several elements of this show could be enhanced for it to be a fully engaging experience. The performances, while genuine, were a little uneven in terms of energy and some calibration of that energy would’ve been beneficial.
There was also quite a bit of dead space during scene transitions that stifled the story’s momentum and, as a result, some crucial moments of both drama and comedy wound up feeling very tepid.
The verdict: Ultimately, this show is a good start, though it was not as strong as it could’ve been. But that is not to say it doesn’t have potential. The Little Company that Could demonstrates talent and competence in their storytelling abilities and it would be interesting to see what a further developed version of this work could yield.
Rating: ★ ★ ✩ ✩ ✩
– Andrew Linsley
***
The Saskatoon Fringe Festival runs through August 10. Information for all shows, tickets, and the full festival program can be found at https://25thstreettheatre.org/fringe-shows/.
