CALGARY FRINGE FESTIVAL
At the 13th edition of the annual fest, anything continues to go
1 Lucky 13
Though it triggers triskaidekaphobia for some, the number 13 can also be an excellent thematic device. Festival director Michele Gallant gives credit to the Calgary Herald’s own Louis B. Hobson for this year’s theme. “We were chatting about the Fringe and he asked me what year this was, and I said it was the 13th year and he said, ‘Oh, Fringe the 13th.’ So we’re kind of playing off of Friday the 13th.” The lounge area at Festival Hall will be called Jason’s Lounge “and a lot of the staff will be camp counsellors,” says Gallant.
2 Anything Always Goes
For the most part, however, the theme goes out the door when it comes to the Fringe’s lineup. That’s because, as always, there are virtually no rules to the pieces put on display. “For me, Fringe means uncensored theatre,” Gallant says. “The only rules I have for the artists are give full disclosure of what your show is about so that the patron can make an informed decision about whether or not it’s appropriate for them to go see. And don’t break the law.”
3 Winning Numbers
Aside from an anything-goes attitude onstage, there are a handful of rules and regulations that apply to all organizations among the Canadian Association of Fringe Festivals—all performances must be selected via lottery (or on a first-come, first-served basis), the shows must be affordable and easily accessible and, perhaps most respectably, all box-office money must go directly to the artists themselves.
4 Quality in Quantity
Of course, when anything goes, doesn’t that mean there’s a chance you’ll catch a stinker? “I always look at it this way—beauty is in the eye of the beholder,” Gallant says. “The thing I’ve always found through speaking to patrons is that they always appreciate the passion that the artists bring to the stage.” Better yet, the fest’s economy allows for variety; with tickets between $10 and $15 and runtimes that average around 60 minutes, there’s no reason not to dip your toes in multiple performances.
5 Potluck of Ideas
Gallant refuses to pick a favourite for this year’s festival. “I’m excited about all of them,” she says, going on to describe a play about German identity, a musical about a young girl coming of age and a puppet show about dementia. “It’s a potluck supper,” she concludes. “Magically, when people hold a potluck supper, there just happens to be something for everybody.”