Canuck Quixote

2013 Regina International Fringe Theatre Festival

A mini-review of Colin Godbout's Canuck Quixote by Fringe social media liaison Sabrina Cataldo.

If you like Spanish guitar music, Canuck Quixote is a show you will enjoy. Colin Godbout is a highly skilled guitarist who pays tribute to iconic Canadian singer/songwriters by reprising their music with a Spanish flair. His arrangement of Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah” is beautiful (he just added this song to the show on Friday) and the rendition of Neil Young’s “Rockin’ in the Free World” is a nice surprise.

The music is lovely but the other elements of the show are confusing. The script presumes an audience understanding of obscure musical and literary references that are inaccessible to the layperson. I was there with two friends – among us, we have eight university degrees and certificates – and we could not follow what was going on.

If you like this kind of music, the show is worth seeing. Just don’t feel dumb if you don’t “get it.” Sit back and enjoy the tunes.

Dusty Shoes

2013 Regina International Fringe Festival
A mini-review of Trilby Jeeves Productions' Dusty Shoes by Fringe social media liaison Sabrina Cataldo.

Dusty Shoes is a hidden gem of this year’s fringe. The colourful and outlandish Madame Rouge interacts with the audience and draws us in from the very beginning with her humour and larger-than-life presence. We soon learn that this buffoon character is the “inner voice from a past life” of Trilby Jeeves, a woman who must come to terms with a disability that changes the trajectory of her life. The different stages of Jeeves’ physical and emotional journey are tied together with a shoe motif – from sneakers to high heels to motorcycle boots – culminating in an unexpected reveal. The show ends with a feeling of joy and freedom that stays with you as you leave the theatre.

The first few shows drew small crowds due to their place on the schedule, so buzz has not grown around this show at the level it deserves. Do yourself a favour and treat yourself to a funny and sweet show this weekend. And bring a few friends with you. You won’t regret it.

Jeeves is a master (or mistress, if you prefer) of social media. Check out her blogs at www.dustyshoes.ca and www.trilbyjeeves.com and find her on Twitter @tjbuffoonery.

Confessions of a Fairy's Daughter

2013 Regina International Fringe Festival
A mini-review of dancingstorysinger's Confessions of a Fairy's Daughter by Fringe social media liaison Sabrina Cataldo.

Confessions of a Fairy’s Daughter is a beautifully written and acted show that follows Alison Wearing’s evolution from an innocent child who doesn’t realize her father is gay, to a teen who holds this information as a dirty secret, to woman who accepts, understands, and embraces her dad for who he is and, in doing so, finds and frees herself.

The costuming illustrates the peeling off of layers and the evolution of both father and daughter, and the fun soundtrack – ranging from show tunes to opera to disco – adds to both the drama and humour of the story. The show has garnered such a positive response from audiences that Wearing has turned it into a book from four perspectives: hers, her father’s, her mother’s, and how they all view the situation now.

There are many good reasons why this show is drawing larger audiences and standing ovations. Add it to your list!

Couldn't resist buying a copy of Alison Wearing's book and I can't wait to read it.

One Flew over the Cubicle

2013 Regina International Fringe Theatre Festival
A mini-review of Awe! Theatre's One Flew over the Cubicle by Fringe social media liaison Sabrina Cataldo.

One Flew over the Cubicle takes two seemingly unrelated topics – soul-sucking telemarketing jobs and a father suffering from Alzheimer’s Disease – and knits them together in a show that will make you both laugh and cry. Janice Israeloff portrays Libby Gutman, who is desperately searching for a job that will allow her to make “an honest living,” after working the night shift taking credit card numbers for an adult chat line and selling exploding photocopy toner cartridges to unsuspecting businesses, among other jobs based in cubicleland. Israeloff really hits her stride at the end of the show, with an emotional and touching ending.

Never Own Anything You Have to Paint or Feed

2013 Regina International Fringe Theatre Festival
A mini-review of Howard Petrick's Never Own Anything You Have to Paint or Feed by Fringe social media liaison Sabrina Cataldo.

Remember the days when you could rent a room in a dive hotel for $2 a week, 50 cents bought you two burgers and a Coke, and riding the rails was a viable mode of transportation to your next job interview? Neither do I. But Howard Petrick does. In Never Own Anything You Have to Paint or Feed, he spins nostalgic, engaging tails of people on the fringes of society. By the end of the show, you’ll know the difference between a hobo and a bum, how a worker can be blacklisted by a watermark, and the words to a union anthem.

Promise and Promiscuity

2013 Regina International Fringe Theatre Festival
A mini-review of Penny Ashton's Promise and Promiscuity by Fringe social media liaison Sabrina Cataldo.

Promise and Promiscuity is a whirlwind of wit, double entendres, and wonderfully anachronistic pop culture references. The show is smart, funny, high energy, and insanely entertaining. New Zealand’s Penny Ashton is an acting tour-de-force and a total pro. The characters she portrays are distinct, diverse and memorable. Her standing ovations are well-earned. You don’t need to be an Austenophile to appreciate the show (though Jane’s fans will be extra tickled). Sit near the front, and you may even get an on-stage dance lesson. This is a MUST SEE for this year’s Fringe.

Also, there are fridge magnets!! Buy some on your way out.