The Victoria Fringe Theatre Festival is back in full form! A few acts from afar that didn’t make the lottery last year are here this year, and as for others, now that some acts of nature are behind us, fans of this type of entertainment can enjoy it in full force!

From the Press Release:

Dance, comedy, drama, spoken word, kids programming, or late-night cabarets, try a bit of everything this summer at the Fringe! This event will feature local, national and international artists again this summer as the Fringe returns for 12 days of indie theatre at 5 traditional venues and 4 unconventional venues across the city. We are excited to be back with live events and shows, including the Fringe Eve Preview and FringeKids Fest and a nightly Fringe Club bringing post-show vibes, libations, and pop-up programming throughout the festival. We can’t wait for you to try out all Fringe has to offer and join us for our 38th year of Fringe fun.

Last year, we introduced a bunch of new and exciting elements to the Victoria Fringe, and we’re excited to continue them forward into this year’s festival. Unconventional Venue shows are once again featured at the 2024 Victoria Fringe: four off-site, site-specific venues provided by the artists, highlighting non-traditional theatre experiences involving walking/moving shows, outdoor shows, and even a familiar neighbourhood coffee shop.

What we offer are a look at ten shows that I feel are must-sees and the links go to Intrepid Theatre’s website so tickets can be gought in advance. Presented in no particular order are:

52 Stories
Location: Baumann Centre – Fringe Venue 3

52 Stories is a storytelling show that takes place inside the memory palace of Pick-of-the-Fringe award winning improviser Dave Morris. One part memorization trick, one part storytelling show. Come and enjoy some heartwarming and heartbreaking stories of family, friends, love, loss, and of course, memory.

What are the things you remember? What are the things you never want to forget?

davemorris.tv

Jon Bennett: AMERICAN’T
Location: Metro Studio (Fringe Venue 1)

After nomadically touring the world for the last 10 years, Renowned Australian comedic storyteller, Jon Bennett (Fire in the Meth Lab) finally has a home: The US of A. Or does he?

COVID forced him back to his childhood home in the outback of Australia with his conservative, religious family for the next year and a half. After jumping through every hoop imaginable, Jon was finally able to leave Australia and come to the USA. Only to be arrested at the airport upon landing. This is THAT story.

Ms. Lady’s Wonderful Fun-Partment
Location: Intrepid Studio (Fringe Venue 5)

A year ago, children’s entertainer, Ms. Lady had a mental breakdown after losing her job at a local TV station. Luckily, Ms. Lady stole the set and her puppets to take back to her apartment, including her puppet sick-kick, Monster. To try and cheer up Ms. Lady, Monster convinces Ms. Lady to host a live talk show in front of an audience in the comfort of her own living room. But is Ms. Lady ready to work in front of an audience, or will her dependence on vodka to soothe her soul be the end of her career?

Ms. Lady’s Wonderful Fun-Partment takes the nostalgia of Pee-wee’s Playhouse and the Muppets and makes it more surreal with a mixture of adult humour and googly-eyed puppets.

http://www.reganshrumm.com

Pony and Bologna
Location: Intrepid Studio (Fringe Venue 5)

Welcome to Dolor! In Pony and Bologna, Pony tries to open a door, and Bologna wants to knock someone out. This silly, absurd play questions the desire to respond “appropriately” to loss. What is grief, what is grieving, and why is it that I am so, so sad- or not?

Featuring Pony and Bologna’s best friends; The Grim Reaper, this guy named Bilbert, a literal rock, and more! Pony and Bologna storm the stage like a torrential downpour in a library, because that’s the energy that grief brings to the room. And try as they might to buck off and fight back against the oppressive reality of losing something- anything- they may just need to lose a bit of themselves as well.

On the Grind
Location: Metro Studio (Fringe Venue 1)

On the Grind begins with sixteenth-century nun, Benedetta Carlini, famous for her promiscuous encounters with women, Jesus, and demonic possession. After rumours of naughty behaviour with another sister, Benedetta is stripped of her religious rank and threatened with a barbeque session at the stake. Things take a turn for the bizarre when she ends up isolated in a chamber.

With her hopes dwindling faster than you can say “divine intervention”, another vivid vision becomes a reality as she rots alone in an underground cell below the Abbey. What she thought was the light of God turns out to be a downright terrifying threat. Benedetta finds herself transported into a foreign world, where she meets five lost souls burdened by queer stereotypes of the modern day.

In the “Grindr-verse”, the five souls are adapted caricatures, taking inspiration from sixteenth-century Italian theatre, Commedia Dell’Arte. Unlike the traditional Commedia characters, which are based on social status, each character in this story is based on physical appearance. It’s like a funhouse mirror reflecting the warped perceptions of queer identities. While Benedetta is exposed to the lived experiences of these characters, the weight of society’s expectations never seems to vanish, regardless of the passage of time. As she faithfully follows her urge to assist those tormented by their inner turmoil, will she be the Mary Poppins of troubled souls or doomed to suffer alongside them for eternity?

https://lord-theatre.jimdosite.com

The Illusionary Magic of Sitruc James
Location: Baumann Centre – Fringe Venue 3

Prepare to be astounded and mesmerised by “The Illusionary Magic of Sitruc James,” a captivating 60-minute magic and illusion show featuring Canada’s own master magician. Sitruc James combines mind-bending illusions, breathtaking sleight of hand, and a touch of comedy to create an unforgettable experience for audiences of all ages. From impossible escapes to mysterious disappearances, Sitruc’s enchanting performance will leave you questioning reality and believing in the impossible. Don’t miss this extraordinary evening of wonder and amazement, where the line between illusion and reality blurs like never before.

http://www.Sitrucjames.ca

Are You Lovin’ It?
Location: Baumann Centre – Fringe Venue 3

Free Kittens
Location: SKAM Satellite Studio (Fringe Venue 4)

An impassioned and hilarious argument for reproductive freedom from the firstborn child of a catholic teenage mother. Free Kittens explores the internal conflict of being passionately pro-abortion and also having nearly been one. Join stand-up comedian Megan Milton as she describes her family’s sibling-by-sibling, litter-by-litter descent into being a quintessential trashy family. Directed by Danielle Florence, written and performed by Megan Milton.

Welcome to Croglin
Location: Metro Studio (Fringe Venue 1)

Introducing a brand-new play by multiple Victoria Fringe award-winner, David Elendune, in which the ghost of Katherine Hepburn (Christina Patterson) helps a struggling artist (Jared Gowen) write his wrongs. “Some days I’m Katherine Hepburn…some days I’m Kate…some days I’m Katherine Hepburn pretending to be Kate…some days I’m Kate pretending to be Katherine Hepburn. For do not be mistaken, ours is very much an egocentric profession – perfect for stupid people who like to pretend they are not stupid. But alas, never quite knowing whether they are actually any good, or just plain lucky.”

Castle of Glass
Location: Metro Studio (Fringe Venue 1)

A failed marriage. A quarter-life crisis. An Actor trying to keep it together. Castle of Glass is a theatrical musical production from the Victoria-based band, The Wasteland Preachers. “Self-aware. Moving. And Explosive.” This ‘folk-rock fairytale’ is filled with new, original music that weaves a larger story into something completely unique.