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Winnipeg Fringe Festival: Get Your Fringe On!
Find out what’s hot and what’s not. You can check out all the reviews right here.
This year’s festival is jam-packed with wonderful shows and fabulous performances.
The CBC Review Crew will evaluate every show at the Fringe by Sunday, July 22. You can see reviews by title, rating or genre.
CBC Manitoba is your source for Fringe coverage, offering you more reviews and your chance to win tickets! Tune in to CBC Radio One 89.3 FM / 990 AM and CBC News Winnipeg at 5, 5:30 and 6 for more.
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'33, a kabarett
Duthie pours himself into '33, a kabarett, proving why he is a performer who will draw you back year after year. -Anna Lazowski
In the ruins of a theatre, a Master of Ceremonies improvises one last show. HHHHH "a stunning theatrical accomplishment" - VUE Magazine
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7 Ways to Die, a love story
Entertaining enough, but don’t expect big laughs or deep emotion. -Ruth Shead
A romantic comedy performed in full mask, 7 Ways to Die, a love story, explores the isolation and absurdity of modern life with dark humour.
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Abyss Burrow, The
Physical movement is a big part of this performance, seamlessly timed with sound art, music and lighting cues that pull you down into the abyss of subconscious and altered memory. -Sarah Michaelson
A woman awakes at the bottom of a deep hole – the only escape via a fantastically wide-eyed trip through space and time. An unforgettable journey.
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Adversary, The
The script is clever and finely wrought and delivered with innocence, yet with so much emotion you sense that he actually becomes each of the characters. -Andrea Ratuski
Award-winning comedian Andrew Bailey draws on a decade’s experience as an inner-city caretaker to explore how justice comes to those who don’t call the police.
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Aerial Allusions
There are moments that click, particularly Pilar's impressively acrobatic aerial silk work. But much of the remaining choreography that makes up the bulk of the show is simply too bland to be compelling. -Joff Schmidt
Dance, aerials, clown and theatre portray both feminine and masculine perspectives. There is philosophy, humor, chaos and control. Music ties it all together.
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African Folktales with Erik de Waal
For de Waal's target audience – this show is best suited for the under-eight-year-old crowd – this is solid Fringe fun. -Joff Schmidt
African Folktales is back! NEW STORIES come to vibrant life through storytelling, puppetry, physical comedy and lots of laughs. “It’s superb. Don’t miss it.” - CBC
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Afterlives
You won’t likely find more impressive physical performances than this at the Fringe. -Joff Schmidt
"Two demon children born invulnerable. A woman in mourning and her invisible guest. A capitalist baby falls from the mouth of a stork. Three wordless plays. "
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Against the Wall
This queer coming-of age story wears its heart on its sleeve... perhaps a bit too much. -Andrew Friesen
The journey of coming out and coming of age couldn't have been more different for Steve and Ash, yet they were somehow connected.
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Agony and the Ecstasy of Steve Jobs, The
Both Apple fans and haters out there will love this play. And even if you don't, it'll make you think twice next time you pull out your iPhone. -Andrew Friesen
A razor-sharp examination of our love affair with our devices, the human cost of creating them, and the lengths we go to expose the truth.
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Airship
They’re remarkably athletic acrobats, sometimes hanging near the theatre’s rafters from poles or ropes by what seems to be sheer will alone. -Joff Schmidt
"Femmes du Feu's latest aerial dance show, Airship, imagines a steampunk-inspired flying machine powered by human movement. HHHHH - CBC Manitoba (The Plank, 2010)"
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Almost an Evening
From a man trapped in purgatory, to a spy who “finds himself” in steams baths and parks, these works are easily funny and solidly performed. -Ruth Shead
A series of darkly hilarious shorts from the Academy Award-winning co-creator of Fargo and The Big Lebowski.
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Andrea von Wichert is OVEREXPOSED (a paperless campaign)
Andrea Von Wichert mostly succeeds in weaving a compelling story of a middle-aged woman sorting through her emotional baggage. -Andrew Friesen
Back from taking the UK by storm, Andrea von Wichert is ready to mount a saucy, moving, raw, slightly subversive and definitely ambitious campaign of paperless OVEREXPOSURE.
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Anger in Ernest and Ernestine, The
For those who have co-habitated, this is deeply satisfying therapy disguised as comedy. For those who haven't, it's a cautionary tale. For all of us, it's a five-star Fringe treat. -Kelly Stifora
Directed by Debbie Patterson The world's most adorkable couple fall in love and just keep on falling. It's funny because it's oh-so painfully true.
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Ant!
To make such a still, sombre piece work requires a storyteller with an almost hypnotic ability. Bevan is not quite that performer. -Joff Schmidt
Ant get lost at the mall and finds himself in a strange new world. Now he must find his way home... if he can.
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Antigone
This Reality has a great show in them, but Antigone isn't it. -Kelly Stifora
A timeless adaptation of one of Sophocles' greatest Greek tragedies.
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Artichoke Heart
Fringers looking for light-hearted fare should enjoy Artichoke Heart, though it doesn't provide the layers the title suggests. -Anna Lazowski
What happens the morning after someone eats your heart? An unexpected love story inspired by Pablo Neruda’s “Ode to the Artichoke.”
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Back to Berlin
Back to Berlin is that rarity - a play whose greatest flaw is genuinely leaving its audience wanting more. -Joff Schmidt
A funny and lyrical look at fathers and sons from Governor General's Award winner Vern Thiessen.
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BAD GIRLS: Dangerous Curves
Five well-written shorts, from a variety of playwrights, that explore what it means to be a bad girl. -Michelle Palansky
Good girls help you move, bad girls help you move the bodies. Short plays featuring edgy, dangerous women you never want to cross.
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BAD GIRLS: Sunny Side Up
Some of the audience seemed a little uncomfortable, but the rest of us were cheering and laughing out loud through this fast-paced and ridiculously fun hour. -Chandra Mayor
Good girls go to heaven, bad girls go everywhere. This naughty, bawdy, sexy collection of short plays is filled with twisted fun and wicked gals.
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Baggage.
An unoriginal concept, but the talented Toronto cast strike a chemistry that draws you in and makes you happy to sift through their baggage. -Kelly Stifora
Meet Noah, a budding writer about to get married when a surprise introduction to Ava leads him on a path he never expected.
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Ballad of Herbie Cox, The
A sweetly charming piece of physical theatre. -Joff Schmidt
Nothing can prepare you for the future. Victoria Chiu and Roland Cox bring a true story of heart, hardship, death and new life. A mixture of dance, music and storytelling.
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Bare
The songs in this musical are aggressively bland. Here's hoping this talented company will have better material to showcase their abilities next time. -Joff Schmidt
A group of Catholic boarding school students face issues of sexuality, personal identity and struggle to come to terms with who they are.
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Barker's Battle
Collins delivers a convincing portrayal of a man who, despite his tremendous successes, is constantly trying to prove himself. -Ruth Shead
Barker's Battle tells the true-to-life story of William Barker from Dauphin, Manitoba – fighter pilot, most decorated Canadian military man and civil aviation pioneer.
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Big In Germany
All of this is based on massive leaps of logic and credulity, but that's not really the problem with Big In Germany. The problem is that the jokes here largely fall flat. -Joff Schmidt
Alex and Bruce: rock stars in Germany, unknowns in Toronto. But they're gonna be Canada's next rock icons if this show doesn't bankrupt them first!
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Big Stupid Improv Show, The
One sketch featured a screaming bronze age potato that attracts the undead. That is all kinds of stupid in an awesome kind of way. -Michelle Palansky
This is an improv show with performers from all over the world in town for the Fringe Festival.
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BIRDMANN in Events of Momentous Timing, The
The Birdmann may be going for some strange meta-comedy, comedy so unfunny that it loops back around on itself and becomes funny again. He gets halfway there. -Joff Schmidt
"A fascinating indie film noir live action one-man murder mystery with exhilarating flashbacks in a genre-defying journey. 4 STARS “Show like no other” - CBC 2011"
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Body Language
If you want to spend an easy hour, confident in the performers, go see this show. -Chandra Mayor
CONGRATULATIONS!!! You found it! The show everyone's been talking about! The show you wanted to see! … Now go see it.
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Bookworm
Fringers beware – something wicked charming this way comes. -Michelle Palansky
A story of a father reading to his son, growing up in a library, Spider-Man, Ray Bradbury and meeting the Minotaur for the first time just outside Wawa.
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Breaking Rank!
Petrick's subjective tale about breaking rank after being called up to serve in Vietnam is a satirical treat. -Al Rae
"“Petrick delivers…he has you laughing through the fear.” - Uptown Magazine “It’s a dazzling display with a self-deprecating honesty.” – Kings River Life"
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Broken Wings
The professional production values and terrific acting keep the show moving. -Al Rae
Broken Wings is a darkly comedic love story about sex, identity and the blurred lines between good and evil.
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Burnt at the Steak
Carolann Valentino is set on making sure that we'll have a good time with her. And indeed, most will with this high-energy crowd pleaser. -Joff Schmidt
KNOCKOUT musical-comedy entertainment -- one-woman portraying 18 hilarious characters through song, dance, comedy and unexpected audience improv about her experiences managing a NYC steakhouse!
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Cabaret
The real star of the show is the exquisite choreography and stage picture. -Jim Taylor
As Nazis are rising to power, follow the seedy nightlife at the Kit Kat Klub and the life of the young star Sally Bowles.
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Catch As Catch Can
Take my word for it, the less said the better. -Al Rae
Happy and Lucky come face to face on a tropical beach, playing games with their identities and present - real or imagined - reality.
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Choose Your Adventure: An Improvised Tale
it’s fun for us to watch them sweat. That’s part of the excitement. You can see them thinking. Hard. -Andrea Ratuski
Explore a cavern or blast off in a rocket? Slay the dragon or do your taxes? In Parking Lots' entirely improvised 'Choose Your Adventure' show, the direction the story goes is up to you.
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Complete History of the Moustache, The
Reimer is genuinely personable and energetic, which makes up for some of the lack of polish in this show. You just can’t help but like him -Chandra Mayor
From the beginning of time, there have been a great many faces that have donned the most distinguishing facial feature of mankind: THE MOUSTACHE.
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Courier, The
It’s a tour-de-force performance in a taut script. The Courier is a Fringe gem that shouldn’t be missed. -Joff Schmidt
A courier in World War II must decide to open a letter which may lead to his death.
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Cupid and Psyche
A 75-minute comedic romp from Mount Olympus down to the underworld, this show is saturated in strong acting, self-aware puns and modern writing that revitalizes an ancient story. -Sarah Michaelson
Psyche is a mortal girl who wins both the love of Cupid and the hatred of his mother, Venus – a dangerous combination.
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Curious Case of the Killer Crossword, The
This cute detective story (yes, I called it cute) reeks of earnestness but is entertaining nonetheless. -Ruth Shead
Two fast-talking detectives match wits with a murderer who loves puzzles.
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Danny and the Deep Blue Sea
What stands out most are the performances. -Kaj Hasselriis
In a rundown bar in the Bronx, a man and a woman meet at the end of their rope.
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Darling Family, The
In spite of some bold actorly work from Megan Andres and Justin Otto, this production wasn't quite connecting with the material. -Christopher Read
It's the summer of 1988. As they face the dilemma of an unplanned pregnancy, a couple's decision to search beyond their trivial self-definition to face every thought, every option becomes a path to healing, courage and growth.
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DAVES OF THEIR LIVES
A mock soap that aims for camp but winds up lame. -Kaj Hasselriis
A mentally exhausted former businessman, in a loveless marriage and manipulated by his family, believes he might find happiness when he meets a young woman.
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Death Test, The
I muddled through The Death Test feeling completely lost. -Kaj Hasselriis
Newlyweds Virtus and Decessus claim their love is so strong that not even Death can part them. Insulted, Death takes them up on the challenge.
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Distance Between Trees, The
It's just more prairie gothic, and its enthusiasm for its own joylessness is exhausting, especially in a non-air conditioned room. -Al Rae
The Distance Between Trees is a never-before-seen work left incomplete by celebrated playwright Harry Rintoul, completed posthumously by emerging artist Chantele Fry.
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D'n'D Improv IV
Brace yourselves. Hilarity is coming. -Jim Taylor
An epic adventure of laughs, love and LARP battles. In this fantasy-inspired improv show, each episode picks up where the last one ends. This adventure is sure to be a critical hit!
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Donkey Derby
The writing seems to come from a true place but confession is not theatre. -Al Rae
A young Irish girl's family enters her into Letterkenny's annual Donkey Derby. Mary must either face her fears or find a graceful way out of the competition.
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Dr. Sprocket's Incredible Storytelling Machine
An energetic performance and some fun audience participation are a recipe for a playful celebration of imagination and story. -Joff Schmidt
"Brilliant inventor requires test subjects for thrilling, storytelling machine experiment. No experience required. All liability waived. Apply in person."
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ELLAmentary: A One-person Musical About Filling Out and Fitting In
This one-woman musical has toe-tapping, '90s-inspired new songs and an infectiously cheerful performance. -Kaj Hasselriis
Go on an adventure with Ella Salmon, a vibrant elementary school student growing up in the 90s. This spunky youngster with a ginormous heart will have you laughing and reliving some of your own awkward pre-teen moments!
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Fat Guy Show, The
Bange’s own natural charm shines through some of the familiar tricks and gags, and he had the audience laughing with sheer delight at his physical comedy and ad-libbed audience engagement. -Chandra Mayor
The Fat Guy wants to be the greatest magician in the world. Will the fat guy lose everything? Or will Neil Diamond save his soul?
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First Canadian President Of The United States, The
A great premise and a strong performance recommend this show. But in the end, its message is neither fresh enough to be fully compelling, or likely to reach an audience that needs to hear it. -Joff Schmidt
Kimberley White-White runs right to the very top, higher than any Canadian has gone before. Fast-paced satire written by Fringe favourite Jem Rolls.
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Fishbowl
It’s a smart, stylish performance that can easily work on the level of good character-based comedy, but it’s also much more than that. -Joff Schmidt
Shockingly funny and equally moving, Fishbowl slyly reveals the connections between four wildly different – and outrageously hilarious – characters, all played by Mark Shyzer.
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Flashback
It's too bad we have to wait until next year's Fringe for a new show from Drive Dance. -Anna Lazowski
With beauty, wit and athleticism, Drive Dance takes the audience on a fast-paced ride into the dynamic world of modern dance.
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Fools for Love
A wonderful show with a good heart. -Jim Taylor
An action/comedy/romance in red-nose. One adrenaline-pumped night, two best friends discover they have been overlooking what’s right under their noses.
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FRAZ: Lonely At Last
Lonely at Last is a light, mostly entertaining one-man comedy act that is good for a few laughs. -Andrew Friesen
In his first ever one-man show, Fraz Wiest gets his lonely on. And it's hilarious.
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Fresher, the Musical
If you like college humour (not the website, but actual humour from your college days), you will likely enjoy this. -Ruth Shead
Fresher, a new pop/rock musical, follows five freshmen students as they embark on their first year of university. Winner BEST NEW MUSICAL 2010 - MTM:UK Awards ""Hilarious"" - Guardian ""A real Fringe hit!"" - Scotsman"
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Fringe Family Fun Show
His patter is effortless, his magic is well-honed, and he's funny. -Christopher Read
45 minutes of fabulous family fun. These friendly folks facilitate fantastic, unforgettable fun and are forecasted to be a family favourite.
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Fubuki Daiko: Godzilla vs. Led Zeppelin
This new all-original production is a stunning, exhilarating spectacle from its opening dramatic moments to its breathtaking conclusion. -Andrea Ratuski
Fubuki Daiko reinvents Japanese drumming in this non-stop, no holds barred percussive spectacle. Godzilla, meet Led Zeppelin.
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Gametes and Gonads
Jeff Leard takes you on an exciting, uplifting and seminal voyage from the sperm mustering room of the left testicle all the way to the final confrontation in utero. -John Sadoway
Star Wars meets your genitals in this action-packed one-man portrayal of the sci-fi universe that is the reproductive system.
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Getaway , The
The whole affair starts to take on an air of comedic desperation that, increasingly as the show progressed, just made me want to get away. -Kelly Stifora
While headed off on vacation, Stephen convinces his wife to leave their child on the plane when it lands. Will they regain control of their lives?
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Good, The Bad, and The Stupid, The
Pi prove the point that sometimes the best reason to put on a show is just to have fun with a highly entertaining variety hour of breezy physical gags, pleasingly wink-filled sketches, and a few wow-inducing juggling routines. -Kelly Stifora
Incredible acrobatics, high-speed horse races and duels to the [overly dramatic] death await you in this fast-paced circus and comedy explosion.
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Greatest Guitarist in the World, The
Godbout's picking, strumming, hammering, stroking and whispering on his axe is astounding. His story is promising and unfinished. -John Sadoway
STEP RIGHT UP to three bouts of the hottest pickers on earth - Hendrix, Clapton and Page, neck and neck with Chet, Django and Lenny Breau!
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Guernica
The poor acting and irritating script make for a sum that’s worse than its parts. -Al Rae
Watch the painted figures come to life, see their small Spanish town destroyed by bombs, and witness the moment of inspiration for Picasso’s masterpiece "Guernica."
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Hitler's Li'l Abomination
All performances for this show have been CANCELLED. -
Her father is a Jewish Holocaust survivor. Her mother was in the Hitler Youth. What the devil is she?! A TRUE legacy of ethnic conflict.
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Holy Land Experience, The
Dockery’s talent for weaving mile-a-minute tangents into comedy and his off-kilter slacker charm ensure that his monologue is consistently entertaining. -Joff Schmidt
From a religious theme park in Orlando to Christmas in Bethlehem comes one man’s ineptly comic and exhilarating pursuit of something – anything – to believe in.
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Horrible Friends: Addition by Subtraction, The
Slow down guys – let your characters spread their freak-wings a bit. Take an awkward pause now and then. -Christopher Read
Shawn and Luke will take even the basest suggestion and find previously unheard of lows from which to derive comedic gold.
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Huff
This flawlessly-acted and beautifully-staged one-man show is the most stunningly powerful piece of theatre that I’ve seen in a long time, on or off a Fringe stage. -Chandra Mayor
Huff examines the solvent abuse plaguing our First Nations youth. Modern pace mixed with First Nations myth meets biting stand-up routine, Huff conjures a theatrical storm.
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Human Rites
Wayne James isn’t an actor, nor is he a storyteller. He’s an organic farmer with deep thoughts on human rights and what it means to be free. -Sarah Michaelson
The phrase "we the people" is one of the great proclamations of our time - a phrase little understood and seldom discussed. Are we in fact free?
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I Hate Bill Pats
Bill Pats is a likeable performer who gives us a candid and funny account of his own descent into failure, fraud and attempted suicide. -Christopher Read
A dark comedy based on a true story, about a life of poor choices and a failed suicide attempt. Written and performed by Bill Pats.
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IL DUO: World Tour
These guys are seriously talented singers with a fantastic comedic touch. -Andrea Ratuski
The most beautiful singing heard at the Fringe with a zany straight man/funny guy comedy routine. HHHH - Winnipeg Free Press!
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Illuminati 3: The End of the World
Joseph Aragon's latest musical is an intergalactic mess. -Kaj Hasselriis
Illuminati 3: The End of the World
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ImproVision: VooDoo Burlesque
ImproVision is a gleeful, sado-masochistic romp in short-form improv. -Michelle Palansky
You couldn’t be more naked on stage than when stripped of scripts and performing the dark magic known as short-form improv. HHHHH - CBC, Free Press
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In Adagio
This one will knock your socks off with its exquisite singing and precise performances. -Christopher Read
Set in 1960s Paris, a bomb threat is made on the legendary Palais Garnier trapping its performers: an opera diva and an amateur Fado singer within its walls.
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In/side the Box
Cormack is a compelling physical performer, able to move with both grace and fierce abandon. But each of her segments simply carries on long after she’s made her points about conformity and the boxes we build ourselves into. -Joff Schmidt
"A multimedia performance about what we want and how we want to get it. "
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Insomniac's Tenant, The
Skillfully built suspense leads to the theatrical equivalent of a cul de sac. -Michelle Palansky
A reclusive apartment superintendent finds his life altered after letting an abrasive yet charismatic tenant into his life.
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Irregardless
Stacey Hallal is a warm, funny performer who invites the audience to share her quirky, joyful world. -Michelle Palansky
Irregardless is sharp, irreverent and shows a great comic range, but what sets it apart are the moments of fragile sincerity embedded in the jokes.
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Jackie Show, The
This is a very physical play and Minns is up to the task. She is clearly versatile and energetic. -Andrea Ratuski
Hilarious and poignant! The Jackie Show creates the worlds of five characters who find themselves in transformative moments in their lives.
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jem rolls: TEN STARTS AND AN END
Ten Starts and an End shows Fringe legend Jem Rolls not just at his fiery best, but also at his funniest. -Joff Schmidt
"Jem Rolls returns with a high-energy charge into the joys of language. ""Dynamic, hilarious. A high performance master."" 5 STARS - Winnipeg Free Press"
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Jesus Christ's Favourite Comedian
As long as you check your expectations of politcial correctness at the venue's door, you'll likely enjoy this funny, slightly offensive show. -Andrew Friesen
The most talked about, controversial, award-winning one-man show in Belarusian history finally arrives in North America!
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Jumpman Bros. Enter 8 bit Underland
Jumpman Bros. is a gamer's wet dream. -Kaj Hasselriis
Join the Jumpman Brothers in a musical multimedia improv adventure. A mix of green screen animated magic and live action creates the spectacle of 8 bit Underland.
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Kuravolution: Chickens of the world unite
This feels like an idea you'd have late one night at a party that would be best forgotten the next morning. -Anna Lazowski
2030 - There is a shortage of grain. Chickens (Kura) working as cheep labour in human factories stage a web-based Kuravolution. Guess what they’re going to eat!
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KUWAITI MOONSHINE
One hopes the execution will relax in subsequent performances because the story is touching, original and compelling. -Andrea Ratuski
A drama/comedy about teaching in Kuwait. Does happiness influence intuition? A consequential collision of illegal moonshine, the Gulf War, lost love, regret, and hope.
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Lady Skits
Break out your vaginas, because this one’s for the girls. -Michelle Palansky
Come see this patchwork of hilarity sewn together by the stories of four women and their vaginas.
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Last Man on Earth, The
Smart, crisp physical movement and music become all the dialogue we need in this sweet, delightful show. -Joff Schmidt
The Devil must corrupt. Can innocence and love prevail? Another play in the style of a silent film by award-winning Keystone Theatre.
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Last Time, The
The acting is strong and as a meditation on casual, careless violence, the topic is timely and sharpened with humour. -Al Rae
Texas and a business degree never looked so good. Join Billy Bob and his friends and family in the pursuit of happiness and meaning.
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Lavinia: A Modern Fairy Tale of Gigantic Proportions
Performer Tara Travis grabs the attention of her audience immediately. -Anna Lazowski
Join Lavinia, the 8-year-old Giant, on a hilarious adventure. Break through the ceiling into a world where sandwiches talk, crab-dragons fly and everyone belongs.
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Leave the Radio On
Loose but engaging and absolutely bubbling with joy. -Jim Taylor
Podcast nerds, CBC obsessives and hopelessly addicted NPR fans: this is for you. Barbara Adler and Proud Animal bring you comedy-assisted learning with a musical flair.
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Le Frenchword Presents "Fancy Mud"
These three Seattle-based performers put on a show of sheer, exhilarating, absurdist joy. -Chandra Mayor
Follow the pastel threesome into a rabbit hole of all things dumb and uncover the origins of the universe.
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Lies!
Travis Bernhardt interweaves with easy humour and good sleight-of-hand work with a clever meta-magic discussion about freely-acknowledged cheating. -John Sadoway
A new magic show from Travis Bernhardt ("the real deal... literally amazing" - Al Rae, CBC). Fake abilities, false demonstrations, theatrical deceptions old and new!
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Like Lightning
You don't want be around when Like Lightning strikes -Kaj Hasselriis
An absurd but real glimpse into the mind of a neurotic and genius rock star. And a twist on why we need music to live.
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LITTLE LADY
In her wordless performance, she's by turns grotesque and graceful, creepy and sweet, but always a delight to watch. -Joff Schmidt
"Festival Favorite Award - Frigid Festival, New York ""Lafond is a gigantically talented movement artist."" - Backstage NY"
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Little Orange Man
Little Orange Man provides an outstanding entry to the manic-eccentric-girl-pulls-things-out-of-a-trunk-and-tells-stories canon. -Kelly Stifora
Prepare yourself for Kitt, the Kinder Whisperer, as she fires up homemade technology to extract and reenact the audience's dreams. Multiple Pick of the Fringe winner. “Haunting and hilarious.” - Culture Vulture
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LOON
LOON is a live cartoon for lovers, and for dreamers; that is, for everyone. I’d give it more than five stars—I’d give it the moon. -Kelly Stifora
A man. The moon. A most peculiar love story.
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Lost and Left Behind
Hirose will leave you with some insightful impressions and an urge to call your grandmother and say thanks. -Sarah Michaelson
Brent Hirose moves to Vancouver, from where his grandparents were relocated during World War II and attempts to confront that history with his own life as an artist.
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Lulu: A Monster Tragedy
A cast of capable actors and a production with style to spare save this satire from a difficult venue. -Kelly Stifora
A hilarious, shocking and disturbing satire of our insatiable appetite for sex, money and death. From the company who brought Grand-Guignol to the Winnipeg Fringe.
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Lungs
Lungs effectively captures the thrill ride of deciding to start a family. -Kelly Stifora
Giving birth to a baby. The hope of our species. The expression of a couple's love. And 10,000 tonnes of C02.
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Maiden Voyage 4: Come Hell or High Water
Captain Timothy Buttons and his loyal crew welcome you aboard the SS Hermes, but prepare for rough waters. -Ruth Shead
The team that brought you Best of Fest winner Customer Relations and Rogue Cop (5 STARS - CBC, 4 STARS - Winnipeg Free Press) is back with an absurd showdown between a captain, his faithful crew and the forces of evil. With zombies.
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Mamasita Can't Do It All
Mamasita can't do it all, and neither can Nelken redeem this unrealized play, despite her evident skill as a performer. -Chandra Mayor
"Mamasita can’t do it all."
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Man Who Wasn't There, The
A superb piece of acting from Moir, who voices the drama’s hero, private detective Harry Doyle, with a spot-on Jimmy Stewart quality. -Joff Schmidt
A film noir-style murder mystery, written and performed as a 1940s radio play (live music, sound effects and commercials.) Written by and starring Marc A. Moir (Padre X).
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Mary & Martha
In the end, the show is a bit too much like life in the Maedchenheim - stifled and dull. -Joff Schmidt
Mary & Martha explores relationships and conflict in a residence for young Mennonite women in Winnipeg. Even though set in Winnipeg, the story could be set anywhere in the world at any time.
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Matt & Ben
Victoria Popp (as Ben) and Kristen Einarson (as Matt) turn in side-splitting performances. -Kelly Stifora
Friendship isn't always about Good Will.
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Medicine
Oh, what a trip Dawe takes us on. With his trademark rapid-fire delivery and weird-yet-logical tangents his act is a masterful form of smart storytelling seasoned with laugh-out-loud moments of comedy. -Joff Schmidt
TJ Dawe returns with a story about a retreat led by Dr. Gabor Mate involving the ingestion of the Peruvian shamanic plant medicine ayahuasca.
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Minding Dad
I’d be curious to see where it goes from here, but for now, it feels - like a memory you can’t quite grasp - fragmentary. -Joff Schmidt
A son tries to make his father’s life as rich as he can, while watching him gradually fade into the mist of Alzheimer’s.
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More Power to Your Knitting, Nell!
Gall's voice is the star of this show, soaring through familiar and new tunes for an audience that was smiling from start to finish -Anna Lazowski
Sadie dreamed of being a radio star. But when the war starts she lands a gig as 'Knitting Nell' instead. Bring your knitting and stitch along…
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Morning Coffee
Morning Coffee manages to be both entertaining and funny amidst the dissolution of an intimate relationship. -Anna Lazowski
Live-in couple David and Katie turn an overnight squabble into something that isn’t good until the last drop. A bold, dark-roasted comedy.
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Mr. Flatland Comedy
This sketch comedy show features bizarre humour that sometimes ends with inexplicable punch lines, deliberately atrocious wigs and four guys giving it their all. -Sarah Michaelson
Sketch comedy in the most sketchiest of ways. A fast, fun and foolish comedic kaleidoscope!
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Murder at the Fringe
I began to hope that the next critic called onstage to be murdered would be me, just for a change of pace in this boring, hokey and poorly-executed performance. -Chandra Mayor
There's been a murder at the Fringe. Is it all part of the script? Or something more sinister?
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My Heart is a Glass Piñata
Weslowski is a capable performance poet whose free-spirited word play is often simultaneously goofy and dazzling. -Christopher Read
RC Weslowski hosts an honest, awkward, silly, surreal, road trip through his mind, exploring the car bomb hearts inside each of us.
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MY THREE MOMS
Bryan tells her story with serene confidence, and demonstrates a strong sense of imagined space, but what starts as sweetly sentimental eventually becomes repetitive. -
One birthed her, one nursed her, one raised her. Now she's burying all three. A daughter is called back to the red clay of Georgia to bury her moms and shape her own identity. Lord Almighty! Who are these crazy people at the funerals?!
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N.C.S.I.S.N.Y.P.D.(aka The Procedural)
The plot is a little silly but it doesn't matter much. It's more about the one-liners here. -Christopher Read
The fringe show with the most letters in its title pays goofy tribute to TV’s procedural crime dramas.
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Ne Me Quitte Pas Piaf and Brel: The Impossible Concert
If you’re a fan of French chanson, as I am, this is a chance to experience it live, performed by musicians who truly love the material. -Andrea Ratuski
Edith Piaf and Jacques Brel: two French musical icons. This 'impossible' concert relives the inspiration of their lives and music.
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Next
45 minutes of actor's audition angst would be tiresome to most actors, let alone the general public. -John Sadoway
The new play from Governor General Award finalist Michael Nathanson is a comic and heartfelt look at one actress having the worst day of auditions.
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No Tweed Too Tight
Ryan Gladstone's Grant Canyon simultaneously channels Captain Kirk and Elvis as he swaggers, swoons and power drinks his way from Des Moines to Tallahassee to outer space. -John Sadoway
Grant Canyon is a perpetually inebriated insurance investigator. In his few coherent moments, he leaves a wake of dead bodies, satisfied ladies and empty bottles.
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Of Mice and Morro and Jasp
What really makes Morro and Jasp shows click is the utter commitment Annis and Lee bring to their lovably innocent characters -Joff Schmidt
"Morro and Jasp take on John Steinbeck’s timeless tale. Let there be rabbits… “Two of the most original clowns on the Canadian scene” - Toronto Star"
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Optimists, The
The glass is definitely half empty. -Ruth Shead
The Optimists explores dysfunctional relationships in this emotionally charged dramatic comedy set in Sin City. What happens in Vegas is revealed at the Fringe!
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Orphans
Lyle Kessler's Orphans is a rich bouillabaisse. I was transported during most of this 90-minute gem. -John Sadoway
When two fully grown orphan brothers, Treat and Phillip, kidnap a Chicago gangster, they gain an intimidating employer, mentor and surrogate father.
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Outside Joke's Summertime Party Jam!
This troupe of energetic comedy players keep things cool and breezy by adding improvised Broadway-style songs to long form improv. -Kelly Stifora
Outside Joke's Summertime Party Jam is 60 minutes of improvised stories, songs and summertime fun!
P-S
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Peter 'n Chris and the Mystery of the Hungry Heart Motel
Regardless of how stoned you were watching Scooby-Doo, the "spooky mystery" genre has never been as much fun as it becomes in the hands of Peter 'n Chris. -Joff Schmidt
TORONTO SKETCHFEST AUDIENCE CHOICE WINNERS, Peter 'n Chris perform a mysterious comedy. What's the mystery? The motel manager is the murderer.
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Pilgrimage: Why I'm not an Indian
Elaine Magree weaves her own early trauma and that of her ancestors into one large tale of victimization, injustice and forgiveness. -Sarah Michaelson
What part Indian are you? Elaine, lesbian turkey-baster Mom, untangles the story of her mixed heritage. And what's with the ex-nun and the box of ashes?
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Plague Doctor's Daughter, The
"Ciao, losers," Enza, a 14th-century drama queen, says as she storms out of the house. It's not exactly history come to life. -Joff Schmidt
A young woman masquerades as her father and assumes his plague doctor position following his sudden death.
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Poor Fools present Tutti Fooli: A Commedia dell'Arte, The
Not rocket surgery, but a heck of a lot of fun. -Jim Taylor
Love, lust and slapstick. Masks and mayhem. Short pieces of farce from the classic Commedia dell'Arte playbook - with a contemporary twist.
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power | play (choose your own adventure)
Moore’s thoughtful performance is a combination of theatre and motivational sex therapist. -Sarah Michaelson
Sometimes you look at someone and they look at you, and there’s a spark. What happens next? The audience decides, in this lyrical, motivational, intensely intimate show.
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Preparation Hex
Brader's delivery of this autobiographical story is snappy and his range of character voices is diverse. -Sarah Michaelson
Love is not the only ring of fire. A hemorrhoid tale, love story and comic odyssey to get the girl and live to love her.
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Pretending Things are a Cock
Maybe don’t take your grandmother to this one, but if you want a fast hour of laughing, go see this show -Chandra Mayor
A unique stand-up experience, ‘Pretending Things are a Cock’ is part photographic exhibition, part pot-holed journey into the idiosyncratic world of Jon Bennett.
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Progressive Polygamists: the Sweetest Reformers, The
A must-see. -Ruth Shead
From the producers of Fringe hits This is Cancer, Jake's Gift, One-Man Star Wars/Lord of the Rings comes another Fringe classic.
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Puzzled
There’s a rich mine of ideas here, and the cast does an excellent job of showcasing each one in an original and interesting light. -Jim Taylor
Teen (ten) - noun 1. Archaic. suffering; misery; affliction. Puzzled dismantles the dated definition of teenagers and pieces together a picture that is vivid, hopeful, honest and fresh. Created by 12 of Winnipeg's brightest emerging artists.
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Qualm, The
The most disappointing part of The Qualm is that it’s obvious that Josh Penner and Paul Madziak really know how to act. -Ruth Shead
Burning Meatloaf returns once more to the Winnipeg Fringe, sixth time's a charm! Local, black market theatre punks pen another original, The Qualm.
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Redheaded Stepchild
Johnnie Walker’s characters are highly entertaining, hilarious creations, while his message is poignant. -Sarah Michaelson
A tale of dress-up boxes and doomed genetics. Nicholas is a redheaded stepchild. Literally. And tomorrow at lunch, the biggest boy in grade six is going to beat him up.
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Revolver 101
Rob Brown plays Sam like a brow-beating biker Buddha, and the performance put a bullet in my suspension of disbelief for this topical but dispensable play. -Kelly Stifora
With twists, turns and words, Revolver 101 examines the fallout of violence. Randall brings a gun to class. Let’s see if he makes the news.
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RiderGirl
Colleen Sutton is the brightest new recruit on Canada's Fringe circuit. -Kaj Hasselriis
She jokes, she drinks and knows ball…better than you. This prairie girl is gonna rush your end zone and have you kicking it through the uprights.
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Rubbish
If you're a grown-up willing to tap into your inner kid, Rubbish can make for a lot of fun. -Joff Schmidt
Rubbish is a physical theatre piece using two actors to create over 30 characters including a centipede, talking bed springs, mobster flies and scavenging seagulls.
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Saints of British Rock, The
They may not “save the world wiff rock n’ roll.” But you’ll probably enjoy their attempt to. -Joff Schmidt
From the producers of This is Cancer, Jake's Gift, One-Man Star Wars/Lord of the Rings comes a rock mockumentary to rule them all.
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Screw You Revue Presents Lady Winifred, The
This is raunchy material with a satirical bite and a warm, inclusive heart. -Al Rae
The Screw You Revue Presents Lady Winifred is a bold, comedic variety in the tradition of Don Rickles, Lisa Lampanelli and Dame Edna.
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Seducer's Diary, The
The Seducer's Diary is a smart take on romance that's easy to fall for. -Joff Schmidt
All is not fair in love and war in this sharp, sexy three-hander by Winnipeg's Michael Nathanson (One of Ours, Talk). The lesson not easily learned: when in the heat of seduction, take care you're not the one being seduced.
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Shades of Grey
Shades of Grey has an outcome that is so obvious from the beginning it is painful to watch. -Ruth Shead
Frankie must decide whether to give her baby to its father (her ex-boyfriend, now with another partner) or her brother and his wife.
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She Has a Name
The message of She Has a Name will definitely stick with you, but you might want to make sure your next show is a comedy. -Anna Lazowski
Haunted by anguished voices, a lawyer poses as a john to build a legal case against a brothel trafficking girls into Bangkok. Can Jason win the trust of a young prostitute known only as Number 18 and convince her to risk her life to testify for the sake of justice?
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Shelby Bond - The Poor Man's Guide To Being Rich
Expect plenty of laughter bouncing off Venue 20's brick walls. -Kaj Hasselriis
Fringe favorite Shelby Bond brings you a comedy show about Texans, travels addicts and exes.
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Sherlock Holmes: The Case of the Hansom Cab Killer
“Silly” is the watchword here - constantly winking at the audience, Dave Dawson’s production plays for broad laughs - and scores a lot of them. -Joff Schmidt
Join Holmes and Watson as they race through the cobbled streets of London to catch a killer! Will they succeed? Will the Empire Topple? Will Mrs. Hudson have to clean up the mess?
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Sin Eater
While Ober's approach is unhurried, there are moments where she creates striking images onstage. -Joff Schmidt
From creator/performer of Pipa comes a new dance theater solo. Glory pursues a Sin Eater through a haunted forest to save her father's soul.
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Social Dialysis
For something so familiar to many of us - the plight of a loved one in the hospital - Social Dialysis is surprisingly unrelateable. -Andrew Friesen
Dan lost the use of his kidneys and now, he needs to rebuild his life.
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Sound & Fury's "Dirty Fairy Tales"
Waggish, frenetic and brimming with raunch. -Jim Taylor
A naughty vaudeville parody of classic fairy tales, three sets of three different ones rotate each night of the Fringe! Innuendo & double-entendre included free!
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States of Shock: A Vaudeville Nightmare
Harry Nelken is the standout, but everyone works hard with the difficult material. -Al Rae
An anniversary party dissolves into a grisly and hilarious battlefield as old wounds of war, sex and family betrayal are ripped open.
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Strange Dreamz
Part stand-up, part storytelling and part cover-song concert, Strange Dreamz adds up to a fairly light but mostly enjoyable hour of Fringe theatre. -Andrew Friesen
A hilarious hybrid of stand-up and music about a gay man’s search for love, sex and the meaning of life.
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Stretchmarks
Wickedly funny. -Andrea Ratuski
"A theatrical revue about motherhood and sex. (Yes, MOMS have SEX!) The only way to get laid is to JUST. GET. LAID!"
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Surf Chimps
Some Fringe plays are best seen after a few beers. This one seems to have been written after a few. -Christopher Read
The story of a chimp that surfs, the child who loves him and the man who wants to keep them apart. Too bad it was never finished.
T-Z
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Tales My Mother Never Told Me
Her six stories are littered with sexual content and vary in strength and entertainment value. -Ruth Shead
Join acclaimed storyteller and one-woman showster Leigh-Anne Kehler for a wild ride with the some of the sultry bad girls of folklore.
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Tazzy's Angels
The fact the show's high concept has lost some altitude doesn't mean the comedy doesn't still soar. -Al Rae
That’s what SHE said! Big Daddy Tazz showcases Winnipeg's top female comedians in this heavenly stand-up comedy show. They might be angels but saints they ain't.
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Teacher in the House
Susan Jeremy races through all-new impressions. -Kaj Hasselriis
True tales of teaching homebound kids in NYC. A teacher's urban survival! Funny, poignant and inspiring. "Jeremy is a gifted storyteller" - The Scotsman "A comic genius" - Montreal Gazette
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Teaching Hamlet
It's intelligent, witty and well-acted; educational without being preachy. -Al Rae
Teaching Hamlet is a fast-paced, hilarious, two-actor comedy featuring a Shakespeare performer and an Oxfordian intellect facing off in a battle of wits.
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Tempest, The
What was impressive was the dedication and talent of the cast, their ability to memorize a lot of dialogue and the high quality of the sets and costumes -Anna Lazowski
It's a mystical tale of magic and mirth. Youth troupe The Knavish Hedgehogs presents Shakespeare's final masterpiece: The Tempest.
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TEMPLE OF KHAOS: A Modern Myth
This is improv, and the Winnipeg cast will differ from the Toronto cast, so your results may vary considerably from mine. But I can’t say I’d recommend the chaotic mess I saw. -Joff Schmidt
Imagine Monty Python Meets Game of Thrones at the Moulin Rouge. Cabaret, Greek myth, circus and comedy collide in this epic ageless tale.
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This Town
Our Town by way of David Lynch, this two-person/multiple character comedy is a satisfyingly twisted take on small town life -Joff Schmidt
A fast-paced comic mystery about the death of a local pie-baker. From the creator of The Hysteric, Best of Fest, Winnipeg Fringe 2011
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Threads: The True Story of an Indiana Farm Girl in Vietnam
This story of an Indiana farm girl getting her first taste of undiluted experiences practically leaps off the stage with life. -Andrew Friesen
An extraordinary true story about an Indiana farm girl in Saigon during the war.
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Three-letter Words
There’s a gentle and enjoyable flow to Suss’s presentation, but it’s not without a deeper, darker undercurrent. -Jim Taylor
Ear candy with a twist: at times nasty and irreverent, at times filled with humour and heart, but always packing a poetic punch
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Til Death Do We Part: The Six Wives of Henry VIII, A One-woman Show
It’s a bit like being in the middle of “Twelve Days of Christmas" and trying to remember if you’re at the eight maids a-milking or nine ladies dancing. -Andrea Ratuski
"The betrayed wife. The scheming wife. The peacemaker. The ugly German. The slutty one. The one in love with someone else. 6 Queens. 6 Love stories. 6 Deaths. One actress!"
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Ton Frère/Your Brother
Sadly, this tragic coming out story isn't a new one - we've heard too many like it. Less sadly, Ton Frère/Your Brother doesn't have any new insight to offer. -Kelly Stifora
"Seth's life changes enormously when he realizes he has feelings for his girlfriend's brother. La vie de Félix change énormément quand il tombe amoureux de le frère de sa blonde. Performances in French/en Francais: July 19, 3:30 pm; July 26, 5:30 pm & July 27, 3:45 pm"
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Tonight Only
I've seen CRUMBS more than a few times in my almost 20 years of Winnipeg theatre going, and they've never failed to bring the funny -Kelly Stifora
CRUMBS makes up a show from audience suggestion.
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Top Dog
There's fast motion, slow motion, mostly reversible hats, banging kitchen utensils, a giant box and lots of laughing. -Anna Lazowski
With the snap of a shiny kitchen utensil and the flick of a colourful hat, four characters learn what it means to be a friend.
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Touring Test , The
The Touring Test is a theatrical tour-de-force that forces the characters and the audience to question our most cherished assumptions about what makes us human. -Chandra Mayor
One of the actors in this play may or may not be a robot. A behind-the-scenes comedy about love, art and artificial intelligence.
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Tracey Fragments, The
The Tracey Fragments is a little like picking a scab – frightfully painful but irresistibly compelling. -John Sadoway
Fifteen-year-old Tracey Berkowitz is naked under a shower curtain at the back of the bus, looking for her little brother who she turned into a dog.
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Trashbot Apocalypse: A Love Story
The only flaw with this show is that there is almost TOO much going on. -Ruth Shead
Dancers collide with animators to create and destroy a world fraught with overconsumption and the fury of the Trashbot.
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TRUE STORY
I don’t know what, if anything, is true in TRUE STORY, but you’ll have a great time trying to figure it out. -Anna Lazowski
Side show. Strip show. Talk show. Cell phones, death, revenge and the senior prom. A profound comedy about the things we carry.
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Tucker Mother Lode, The
The Tucker Mother Lode is an already-depressing play further dragged down by glacial pacing and lackluster direction. -Kelly Stifora
The tormentor, the collector and the prophet each struggle for possession of their own mother lode beneath the droning hum of the Lacetas.
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Two Corpses Go Dancing
In a Fringe filled with solo shows, it is a delight to see a full cast performing ably, singing beautifully and accompanied by live music. -Michelle Palansky
A humorously strange musical folk tale of 'corpses who carouse among the living.'
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Ukrainian Dentist's Daughter, The
A delightful hour. -John Sadoway
New Year’s Eve, 1967. A young woman waits for her groom outside a New York Ukrainian Cathedral. 150 guests wait inside the freezing church. The groom is already two hours late.
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unADULTeRATED LOVE
If a one woman clown show succeeds because of stellar audience participation, does that mean it’s a great show? -Michelle Palansky
A sexy, funny, yet touching clown show with improvised audience participation exploring the realms of relationships, love, sexuality and self-discovery.
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Underbelly
McDonald brings Beat writer William S. Burroughs back to life, skillfully using Burroughs' own aesthetic to craft an ever-shifting onstage hallucination. -Christopher Read
Willy is a junkie, mapping the Underbelly for future malcontents. A fevered hallucination inspired by the work of William S. Burroughs and The Beats.
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Unenlightened
Looking for enlightenment? Look elsewhere. -Kaj Hasselriis
Blue flies across the U.S. to spend a week with a Native American shaman, hoping it will change her life. It does, just not in the way she’d planned.
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Vernus Says SURPRISE
You would have to be hewn from stone not to fall a little in love with Vernus. -Michelle Palansky
In our busy, noisy world, sometimes the quietest characters share the most. Vernus is an 89-year-old man who never gets the chance to speak.
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Wanted, If Not Wed
Gillespie’s performance is nothing less than remarkable. She's an extremely versatile and convincing actor. -Andrea Ratuski
This funny and poignant solo show interweaves dialogue from interviews with real people, to take a compelling look at life from the perspective of single women. 5 STARS- VUE Weekly
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Water Is Wide, The
Rutherford is an accomplished storyteller who will keep you smiling and connected for the duration. -Chandra Mayor
Roxanne, the imaginary stenographer in Randy's head, helps him make sense of the gibberish he hears. Roxanne is insanely jealous of Randy’s girlfriend.
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Wings of Darkness
A gorgeous and powerful production with a mesmerizing pulse. -Ruth Shead
What do you do if you are caught in the middle of a territorial dispute over sky and Earth between two nations who believe they are solely entitled to own it all? Bat gives in to his pain and threatens to turn Eagle and Human's greed into an all-out war between the Legged and the Winged nations of the Earth. Who will stop the bloodshed now? Part fantasy, part cultural legend, Wings of Darkness is a very human tale of greed, prejuidce and war for profit.
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Witch, The
This is polished, stylized and dramatic story-telling by a professional and experienced performer who never falters in his pacing and delivery. -Chandra Mayor
Don’t go outside after dark… the witch will get you. De Waal returns with a dark tale of a strange child found in the woods.
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World of The Brothers Grimm, The
The performances were uneven and there just wasn't much spark in this production. -Anna Lazowski
"King Thrushbeard", "The Fisherman and His Wife" and "The Elves and The Shoemaker" come to life through the magic of live theatre and storytelling!
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ZACK ADAMS: A Complete History Of Zack Adams
The "I just want to entertain!" story isn't new, or hugely surprising. But Adams sells his story by being an immensely likable and genuine performer. -Joff Schmidt
A comedic coming-of-age story about an Australian actor’s quest for superstardom and his slow rise to mediocrity.
Recommended without reservation. Definitely a must see!
A superior show. Most people will enjoy it.
An average-to-good Fringe show. You'll probably enjoy it if the subject matter appeals to you.
Not recommended. Go only if you feel adventurous.
Don't go. Unless you have a family member in the show. Even then, think twice.Latest Manitoba News Headlines
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