Montreal Fringe Festival Reviews Take Four (A)

Tweet

Tranna Wintour: Trantasy

Tranna Wintour is Montreal’s transgender shining star. Perfect example: the comedienne opens by telling us she has a yen for straight jocks and divas. Then, she keeps her Oscar-worthy composure even though the adoring audience only includes three straight men. In her show, she shares her legacy of internet bans as well as the best person from whom to take life lessons (hint: a living diva, but definitely not Madonna). One thing is certain. She goes for things she wants regardless of what others think, whether singing Streisand or chasing down a celebrity. The whole show, I find myself thinking who is her stylist? Her dress is to die for! RL

Trantasy is at the Wiggle Room (3874 St Laurent) on June 14 @ 7:00, June 16 @ 9:00, June 18 @ 8:00, June 19 @ 9:00, June 20 @ 10:00, June 21 @ 7:00

Baron Vaudeville on the Rocks

Vaudeville and Tokyo have a lovechild and its name is Baron. This all-talented song-and-dance man from Japan has enough arts under his suspenders to seduce emperors and Fringe audiences alike. He has an elegant demeanor no matter what art he showcases, comedy, tap, uke, song, mime, mouth trombone, self made percussion instruments, usually two at a time. Each segment of his act is touched by creative magic that captivates everyone. His voice is spectacular and his smile welcoming. Check him out and fall in love with Baron for yourself. RL

Baron is at the Wiggle Room (3874 St Laurent) June 14 @ 5:00, June 16 at 11:00, June 18 at 6:00, June 19 @ 11:00, June 20 @ 8:00, June 21 @ 5:00

Unpossible!

I think it must be hard to be a magician performing for other magicians. The pressure was on for Travis Bernhardt since four magicians were in the audience at his opening show. As a non-magician, I enjoyed self-effacing Bernhardt. Although he made the usual things appear and disappear (fruit, coins, newspapers, shoes, cards), he upped the ante on every trick. He didn’t just relocate one picked card in a deck, but twelve. His scattered energy made his arsenal of tricks seem even more impressive. It’s also great fun to see the floor fill with red balls, cards, and other show debris. RL

Unpossible! is at the Black Theatre Workshop Studio (3680 Jeanne Mance) on June 17 @ 11:00, June 18 @ 9:45, June 19 @ 11:15, June 20 @ 8:15, Juen 21 @ 2:00

Shirley Gnome: Real Mature

We already reviewed her HERE, but she’s so good, I can’t resist sharing my own take. This cowgirl is a solo songstress who seems to be enjoying her time at the rodeo, especially the one that has a lot of penis at it. Her opening song about mystery glitter appearing where the sun don’t shine and everywhere else makes her healthily sexual prerogatives clear. An hour flew by as she sang songs about masturbation, threesomes, sex after 73, and others. She has more synonyms for vagina than a Roman love poet and still manages to make things rhyme. Of all her songs, the mutual audience-performer love flowed most freely for “Just Friends” about a beneficial friendship where Gnome and her friend won’t “let a penis get between us.” She’s an honest, unpretentious performer with a great voice. RL

Shirley Gnome is at Petit Campus (57 Prince Arthur E) on June 14 @ 9:15, June 19 @ 5:15, June 20 @ 11:15, June 21 @ 8:00

Dating and Taxes

Hugh and Martha are once-married 70-somethings who meet weekly for wine, conversation and tax help. Meticulous Hugh decides to try out internet dating in order to meet a hot bod who is barely legal. He gets advice from free-spirited Martha how to avoid scamsters and not scare the good ones away. The wine flows freely. Unfortunately, due to a real-life accident involving a barn, the actors are still on script for this one, and the show is in a rough state.RL

Dating and Taxes is at the Black Theatre Workshop Studio (3680 Jeanne Mance) on June 14 @ 3:30, June 15 @ 9:00, June 16 @ 6:00, June 19 @ 7:45, June 20 @ 1:30, June 21 @ 6:15.

Snack Music
High energy Snafu from BC has a cult following at the Montreal Fringe. Every show I see by this group, I think, “I don’t think it can get better than this,” and each year, they prove me wrong. Snack Music is a fabulous puppetry-storytelling-improv-dance-music mash up. Ingrid, Elliott, and Andrew act out three life stories of their own and then invite audience members to share theirs. While Elliott provides the music, Ingrid and Andrew provide the puppetry to recreate these tales. Fruit, cameras, paper bags come to life as people and animals. Their imaginative canvas seems to stretch ever larger as they make the world a better place one connection at a time. p.s. free food! RL

Snack Music is at the MAI (3680 Jeanne-Mance) on Jun 14 @ 2:15, Jun 18 @ 6:00, June 19 @ 8:00, June 20 @ 11:45, and June 21 @ 1:30.

To check out more Montreal Fringe Festival times and shows, click HERE.

For more Fringe Festival reviews here are our reviews Round 1, Round 2, Round 3, and Round 4 part b.