Fringe festivals have grabbed a hold of my heart ever since I performed in, and attended the 2013 Edinburgh Fringe Festival with my high school. The idea of being able to affordably see as many theatre performances as possible in a short time is a thrilling idea, not to mention the camaraderie between artists and audiences.
During a fringe festival, cities turn their focus onto the arts for a beautiful moment in time. There is nothing I would love more than to have participation throughout the year as intense as it is during these festival weeks, but I’ll take what I can with open arms!
This year with the Edmonton Fringe Festival was a most condensed and intense period of theatre I have ever been a part of, and I adored every minute of it. I had the honour of helping with the visual marketing of five productions through posters, design, and photography. Over the course of the festival, I photographed 11 shows. I equally loved each one of these shows for substantially different reasons. From theatre for young audiences to theatre that is very much NOT for young audiences, August 15-25 (give and take a few days) was one of the most thrilling times of my life.
I cannot thank everyone enough for the overwhelming amount of love and encouragement, trusting me with capturing your work, and most of all; presenting these brilliant pieces that will forever last in hearts.
*A special shout-out to the team of the beautiful Boy Trouble who had used my photographs of their production from NextFest to promote their show!
Baba Yaga- Alberta Musical Theatre
“When Vasilisa is sent to gather a light from the fearsome witch (and property owner) Baba Yaga, she finds herself face to face with all her fears: the dark, tasks that come in threes, and a magical Witch's house where everything is alive - and has opinions.”
This production not only captivated the children sitting on blue mats in front of the stage, but also all of the adults in the audience. It was a lovely depiction of a folk tale with stunning vocals and large expressions.
Imaginary Friend
“Child neglect, coming out, premeditated murder, sounds like a comedy to me! From the creators of "Cult Cycle: A New Musical" comes a brand new original musical about a neglected daughter who turns to her imaginary friend for comfort, only to find something more sinister lurking.”
With music by Daniel Belland and book by Stephen Allred and Seth Gilfillan, this new work was an hour packed full of various storylines that seamlessly intertwined and kept you on the edge of your seat while simultaneously falling out of your seat with laughter.
Last Five Years
“Following Cathy Hiatt and Jamie Wellerstein, The Last Five Years is an intensely personal look at the relationship of a writer and a struggling actress. This Off-Broadway musical chronicles both sides of their story from love-at-first-sight to divorce, while telling it both forwards and in reverse.”
The Last Five Years is one of my absolute favorite musicals, and I was ecstatic when I heard it was going to be in this year’s festival. Bella King was the perfect Cathy in all areas, and Gab Gagnon presented Jamie with a balance of strength and gentleness.
Marvelous Wonderettes ‘58
“Wonderettes ‘58 takes you to the 1958 Springfield High School prom where we meet the Wonderettes, four girls with hopes and dreams as big as their crinoline skirts! As we learn about their lives and loves, we are treated to the girls performing such classic ‘50s songs as "Mr. Sandman", “Lollipop,” “Dream Lover,” “Stupid Cupid,” “Lipstick On Your Collar,”and other classic hits! You’ve never had this much fun at a prom and you will never forget Wonderettes ‘58—a must-take musical trip down memory lane!”
This fully-female produced and presented show was a start-to-finish whirlwind of joy. Filled with songs that had you dancing along in your seats, the fun choreography and pure vocals brought the 50s straight to life.
MEAT the Musical
“From the streets of Whyte Ave, The Brisket Club brings an original musical about the life, love and friendship of a group of servers at MEAT. This family friendly, heartfelt comedy is for anyone who has ever worked, eaten or seen a restaurant. Come hungry, leave full...of laughs.”
This new work by MEAT employees Shaney Borden and Sarah Adam presented a hilariously darling reflection on the restaurant industry through perfectly timed humor and sweet vocals. With a wonderful cast dynamic and sweet voices, this group brought all Edmonton-specific references and other relatable moments with their whole hearts.
Rebecca and the Bad Wizard
“Rebecca and the Bad Wizard tells the story of how Rebecca saves Nice Town from the bad wizard. This children’s opera uses famous tunes from some of the great operas, including Carmen, Faust, La Traviata, Tales of Hoffman and more!”
These four operatically trained individuals marvellously entertained audiences of all ages. The fully engaged children felt comfortable to participate when actors welcomed it, and the adults enjoyed the high level of talent, all allowing for 45 minutes of straight joy.
The Drowning Girls
"Bessie, Alice, and Margaret have two things in common: they are married to George Joseph Smith, and they are dead. Surfacing from the bathtubs they were drowned in, the three breathless brides gather evidence against their womanizing, murderous husband by reliving the shocking events leading up to their deaths. Reflecting on the misconceptions of love, married life, and the not-so-happily ever after, The Drowning Girls is both a breathtaking fantasia and a social critique, full of rich images, a myriad of characters, and lyrical language."
The three actresses were elegant and enthralling while guiding themselves around the difficult technicality of having a stage covered in water. All aspects from performance to lighting guided this show to become the beautiful piece of pure artistry that it was.
The Killing Jar
“No backtracking now, I ain't no talent scout. I'm the queen, judge and jury and the public doubt. All hail Queen B when SATCo. brings the T about the consequences of a society driven by fame worship through this electro musical. This Hive has air con loyal subjects.”
Chris Scott’s new work was a auditory and visual masterpiece. The beautifully composed score presented through impeccable vocals was complemented by the intricate choreography, makeup/costumes, and visual effects.
The Parade
“Perhaps for the only time in his life Tennessee Williams unguardedly fell in love. For less than six weeks in the summer of 1940, Williams and a 22-year-old Canadian draft dodger shared a two-story shack on Captain Jack’s Wharf in Provincetown. One day, his lover's girlfriend entered the picture. The French Canadian dancer told Williams that their affair was over. Distraught and in a state of shock, William began to write The Parade, or Approaching the End of a Summer, a one-act that captured his broken heart– what he would call in his 1975 memoirs as 'that pivotal summer when I took sort of a crash course in growing up.”
The talent of the actors was electrifying and the amount of connection they had amongst one another was so evident. With such an eloquently written play, it needs to be performed properly, and they absolutely did the show with proper justice.
Things to Ruin
A theatrical rock concert about human beings who are messy, emotional, drugged up, knocked down, inspired, and electric and who don’t have nearly enough time to cause the kind of commotion they so desperately need to cause. Things to Ruin rocks with an occasionally profane and always heartfelt explosion of music and high drama.
This show took you into a world that made you feel like you were at a bar, singing with friends. The exemplary vocals, high energy, and full dedication to each number is what made this unique production stand out.
Triassic Parq
“When Velociraptor of Innocence starts asking questions that Velociraptor of Faith can't answer, she embarks on a chaotic journey of self-discovery. Hold on to your butts, and witness the events of THAT movie through the eyes of the dinosaurs.”
Without a doubt, this was the most hilarious musical I have ever seen. Not only is the script itself filled with continuously perfect comedic moments, but the cast presented it through brilliant timing and 100% dedication to all areas of the show.
