Tag Archives: Victoria Fringe Festival

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] Band Geeks or Band Gleeks? A Review

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Copeland Lecture Theatre
St. Michael’s University School
3400 Richmond Rd.

SHOWTIMES:
Sept 5 | 2:00 pm
Sept 5 | 7:00 pm

DURATION:
90 minutes

E: The St. Michaels University School (SMUS) Summer Musical Theatre program never ceases to amaze me. They put on quality productions (school level of course) for the Victoria Fringe Festival and in the five years I’ve been going to see them, I find something that I’ve never seen (until now) unless I head to New York for Broadway or London for West End. This program has been around for at least ten years, if not more, and this year is unique as it introduces a show that I haven’t heard about before.

Band Geeks is an off-Broadway production written by Tommy Newman and Gordon Greenberg. Newman did Broadway productions such as The Single Girls Guide and Tinyard Hill while Greenberg is more noted for producing Disney’s Believe and appearing in a production of Grease.

J: This musical is even unknown to me. This story is about a group of high school students, the Beavers marching band, who are still invisible to their peers even when they are the most visible on the football field. Lead by nerdy tuba player Elliott (Duke Currah), his bubble world of playing a new composition to the public while admiring baton twirler Nicole (Alana Hawes) from afar is popped by bad boy and fallen football star Jake (Ryan Totz). He unwittingly puts a kink into Elliott’s plans. Meanwhile, Elliott’s buddy, Laura (Jordan Kerr) has her own flame she’s burning for Elliott. When it comes to love, Laura is the ultimate band geek, invisible even to Elliott.

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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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