Seven can’t-miss Fringe shows
A Shakespearean Ghostbusters, a dance with classic monsters and other book-early productions
It’s early July and there’s a flurry of posters and postcards hitting the streets: it must be time for the Toronto Fringe Festival.
This year, that means 160 shows, approximately 1,200 artists and 12 days of events across the city, from staple venues to site-specific locations to the all-new Fringe Club at Scadding Court. We know: that’s intimidating. So for this week’s Wednesday Matinée column, we’ve picked seven shows that shouldn’t be missed this festival, running Wednesday through July 16. The Seat Next to the King Steven Elliot Jackson’s drama won the 2017 Fringe New Play Contest, earning it a spot in this year’s festival with some fine company — previous winners have included work by Kat Sandler and the theatrical juggernaut Kim’s Convenience by Ins Choi (receiving its New York City premiere this month).
Jackson’s play, directed by Tanisha Taitt, takes place in a public washroom in 1964 Washington, D.C., between two men: one white and one black, both looking for some intimacy at a time that was fraught with political, racial, sexual and gender tension. (Huh, sound familiar?)
From Minmar Gaslight Productions, Theatre Passe Muraille Mainspace, 16 Ryerson Ave. Shakespeare’s Ghostbusters We know, we know. We’ve all heard too much about Ghostbusters remakes/updates/spinoffs lately. But this one is sure to be less controversial than the recent Hollywood blockbuster, with a creative team comprising some serious comedic heavyweights. Kerry Griffin, Marcel St. Pierre and Ralph MacLeod are the founders of beloved improv company Bad Dog Theatre, and Rob Hawke and Gord Oxley are behind the sketch comedy team Fast n Dirty. Last year’s chainsaw slasher take on Romeo and Juliet was a fan favourite, so we imagine a Bardinspired tale with ’80s nostalgia is perfectly poised to be the show to book early.
From the Coincidence Men, Tarragon Theatre Mainspace, 30 Bridgman Ave. Ten Creative Ways to Dispose of Your Cremains Rose Napoli is a name to watch out for in indie theatre, whether she’s on the cast list or behind the scenes as the playwright. In Ten Creative Ways to Dispose of Your Cremains, fortunately, she’s both. Napoli penned this “millennial love letter” — a two-hander with one of indie theatre’s best leading men, Jakob Ehman, which was shortlisted for this year’s Fringe New Play Contest — following her last hit, Oregano. Directing is Carly Chamberlain, who gave a 2016 SummerWorks highlight, Plucked, a strong base in humour, quirk and intelligence. This is one of the Fringe’s most intriguing artistic trios.
From Rhea/Neoteny Theatre, Theatre Passe Muraille Backspace, 16 Ryerson Ave. Maddie’s Karaoke Birthday With the buzz is still surrounding Come From Away, hopefully Torontonians will show up to support Fringe musicals like never before (usually the starting point for so many shows that go on to bigger and bigger stages). This one, about a group waiting for their friend to arrive at her own birthday party, has a lot of potential. It was created by Barbara Johnston and Suzy Wilde (of previous Fringe hits Summerland and The Fence), along with director Byron Laviolette (best known for directing Morro and Jasp productions), and features performances by some stunning voices like Erica Peck and Jeigh Madjus.
From Charcoal Sketch Productions, Monarch Tavern, 12 Clinton St. Nasty This five-letter word has so many connotations in 2017. And this multidisciplinary piece appeals to all kinds of them. Nasty portrays various “wicked women” from across history and myth (think anyone from Lilith to a former presidential candidate) as they tell their own stories, featuring a stacked cast of 13 women, trans and gender-fluid artists such as Heath V. Salazar ( This Is the August in last year’s SummerWorks Festival), Kit Boulter, Denise Norman, Shai Tannyan, Uche Ama and Joelle Crichton. Grab your pink toques and march toward this show.
From Maelstrom Art Collective, Annex Theatre, 736 Bathurst St. Universal Horrors Victoria, B.C., is probably the most relaxing, idyllic island city in Canada, but dance company Broken Rhythms is revealing the horror beneath. In Universal Horrors, this innovative group of performers brings to life classic horror monsters from the 1930s, ’40s and ’50s — all the favourites including Dracula, Frankenstein, Wolfman and more — with music and projections to bring these cherished villains to life. This one’s for anyone who thinks the mood gets a little too cheerful in Toronto summers.
From Broken Rhythms Victoria Society, Randolph Theatre, 736 Bathurst St. The Clergy Project Having a trio of religious leaders in the same room can be taken as the setup for an out-of-date joke or the start of a major feud. But since this is the Fringe, SOULO Theatre’s The Clergy Project, directed by Tracey Erin Smith, brings together Father Daniel Brereton, Rabbi Elyse Goldstein and Reverend Shawn Newton to discuss faith, humanity and life in a judgment-free zone.
More conversations like this, please.
From SOULO Theatre, Narayever Synagogue, 187 Brunswick Ave. See fringetoronto.com for dates and times for all these and other Fringe shows. Carly Maga is a Toronto Star theatre critic. She alternates the Wednesday Matinée column with critic Karen Fricker.