Fringe Reviews # 4: Fringemore
Three more shows reviewed: Happy-ish, Magnificence, and Lear in Limbo.
Montreal Fringe Park 2019. Photo Rachel Levine
Lear in Limbo
This show has a touching premise; a young woman leaves a theatre programme against her father’s wishes and becomes a street puppeteer. Her two sisters inherit their father’s house and neglect him as he is dying.
The puppeteering was a bit weak and the long time dying of the father who spouted the play LEAR for a very long time, was irritating. It took away the pathos of anyone trying to address the dementia and demise of a parent. The two sisters were really good in multiple roles and the lead actor was fine. This was a very big theme to bite off and admirable in its effort. Lear in Limbo is at Le P’tit Impro (3713 St Laurent #202) and continues June 15 and 16. Tickets HERE.
MAGNIFICENCE
Magnificence performed by Keir Cutler and directed by Paul Van Dyke is a magnificent storytelling experience. The subject matter which has a great deal of charm and nostalgia is brilliantly delivered by Cutler, whose technique on stage is absolutely flawless. Cutler could read a phone book and fill one with emotions, so taking a book by his brilliant and deceased mother and adapting it for the tiny stage at the Freestanding Room is a sure thing. Paul Van Dyke as director guaranteed the success of the piece.
This is a work that should have a long life after the Fringe and go on entertaining and moving audiences for years. Magnificence is at the Freestanding Room (4324 St Laurent) and continues June 15. Tickets HERE.
Happy-ish: Russian Immigrant’s Guide to Smiling
This show written and performed by Vadim Gran is a delightful piece of culture shock mixed with a large shaker of charm. The dropped articles are almost unnoticeable as Gran tries and sometimes smilingly fails to explain the difficulties of survival in a place where metro maps are given away for FREE!!!
The timing was bit wobbly and the ending a little unclear, but altogether there was a wild and tricky ride taken by a terrific new Canadian who was willing to overcome horrible stage fright to tell this really wonderful and hilarious story. Happy-ish continues on June 15 at Le P’tit Impro (3713 St Laurent #202). Tickets HERE.
The Montreal Fringe Festival continues through June 16. For tickets and information click HERE.
