Author Archives: Ed Sum

09.08.15
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[Victoria Fringe Festival ’15] From Rumpelstiltskin to Sperm Wars, Jeff Leard is Amazing! A Review

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Master storyteller Jeff Leard is telling the world he’s not limiting himself to one kind of act. As part of Story Theatre Company, he puts on very kid-friendly products for people of all ages to enjoy (I went to see him perform Rumpelstiltskin and Other Tales the day before) and as a member of Random Samples Collective, he can certainly put on a very hilarious take of a George Lucas classic retitled Sperm Wars. To wonder how the trench scene gets interpreted meant I had to see this show when no other program got in the way. Making the choices in what to see first can often be difficult. Sadly, the only time open was on the last day of the Victoria Fringe Festival. The good news is that this show is continuing at other conventions coming up like the Vancouver Fringe.

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09.07.15
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[Victoria Fringe Festival ’15] There’s Plenty of High ‘Spirits’ to Kiss Around Pass Around, A Review

11235244One part Banana Splits, two parts Japanese Folklore and three parts variety show make for a very quirky show called Kiss Around Pass Around. Yanomi Shoshinz (better known as Miss Hiccup back in Victoria Fringe Festival 2010 and 2012) created this act which blends a lot of traditions into a kaleidoscope of fun. But just what is a Kesaran Pasaran? Not many Fringe show attendees will want to research this name prior to or after seeing this production.

According to one online source, it’s the name of a spirit of good fortune. It’s essentially a white ball of fluff that’s evolved from a plant. When the material flies around like the white parts of a dandelion after a strong gust of wind, the joy it brings is often a delight to anyone running through a field of them. That’s what this show is like.

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09.05.15
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[Victoria Fringe Festival ’15] Rumpelstiltskin and Other Tales, A Review

4web3webrumpelstiltskin-copy-3VENUE:
Metro Studio Theatre
1411 Quadra St.
Victoria, BC

SHOWTIMES:
Sept 5 | 12:15 pm
Sept 6 | 11:30 am

DURATION:
45 minutes

No fan of the tales collected by The Brothers Grimm and adapted to stage will want to miss the Victoria Fringe Festival‘s two presentations of their works. Rumpelstiltskin and Other Works is aptly named and perhaps bit misleading. Not all the two remaining acts in this three-part show are going to be based on these folklorist’s works. In the other show that’s still playing, The Untold Tales of Brothers Grimm, which is technically more sophisticated, this version is adapted for youths to listen to.

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09.04.15
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[Victoria Fringe Festival ’15] Tracking the Birdmann’s Flight to Vancouver Fringe, A Review

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LOCATION:
Performance Works
1218 Cartwright St.
Vancouver, BC

SHOWTIMES:
Sep 11 | 10:40 pm
Sep 12 | 4:30 pm
Sep 13 | 12:10 pm
Sep 14 | 6:55 pm
Sep 17 | 8:30 pm
Sep 19 | 7:25 pm

DURATION: 50 minutes

The nose knows that even on the last day of this act’s performance at the Victoria Fringe Festival, The Birdmann in Momentous Timing must not be missed. If he has flown the coup in one city, at least his show can be found in the next stop. In this festival circuit’s case, that’s Vancouver Fringe Festival, in British Columbia! This product is certainly offbeat, blending a variety of stage shows — balancing acts, transgender dance, magic tricks and standup — into one seamless unit. A few bits felt unneeded (like the lacklustre transmorgifying box of tricks) and others more compelling, like being able to juggle plastic bags. There’s a deftness with a knife that I won’t go into detail about and that’s a highlight of this show. Elsewhere, if there’s a metaphor behind an ironing board and a clothes iron, no one is telling about what it is.

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09.02.15
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Beware Looking for the Best Meal You Ever Had … You’ll Want to Seek it Out at Brasserie L’école

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Brasserie L’école
1715 Government St.
Victoria, BC
Phone: (250) 475-6260

After going to see The Best Meal You Ever Ate at Victoria Fringe Festival, I could not resist or even hesitate: the desire to have French food set me on a course towards the Brasserie L’école, a small diner located next to Chinatown. As with most French restaurants, reserving in advance is recommended (especially over at the Matisse and Chez Michel) and this establishment is the only place where you can wait in line for a seat. It didn’t take long to get one and I was fine with being at the bar.

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09.02.15
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[Victoria Fringe Festival ’15] What’s the Best Meal You Ever Ate? A Review

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LOCATION:
Congregation Emanu-El
1461 Blanshard Street
Victoria, BC

SHOWTIMES:
Sept 1 | 7:00 pm
Sept 2 | 7:00 pm
Sept 3 | 7:00 pm
Sept 6 | 2:00 pm

DURATION:
50 minutes

I should never go to a Victoria Fringe Festival show about high cuisine on a half-filled stomach. I thought the hamburger I had before The Best Meal You Ever Ate would be enough but I was wrong. Set in the backdrop of World War II, the story does a fine job in highlighting the plight of the Jews in Warsaw and in serving some great philosophical moments while delightful food was being served.

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