What to see at this year’s Vancouver Fringe Festival pt. 1
It’s Fringe time, and that means trying to decide what to see among over 100 shows.
Here are a few possible highlights, culled from the emails we’ve received from performers, producers and publicists, with special consideration given those who supplied decent (and indecent) images. The Fringe runs Sept. 8-18. For a list of important Fringe-related dates, go here.
‘Til Death: The Six Wives of Henry the VIII – A Pick of the Fringe (a kind of best-of wrap-up) in 2012, Til Death is back. A fast-paced, one-woman show, it features Tara Travis as the six wives of King Henry VIII, including the Betrayed Wife, the Scheming Wife, the Peacemaker, the Ugly German, the Tarty One, and the One in Love with Someone Else.
Millennials grappling with adult responsibilities in How to Adult at this year’s Fringe Festival.
Fat Sex – British comic, singer/song writer, and poet Steve Larkin satirizes “media culture and other social ills” in this one-man show. The title comes from a crowd-pleasing poem/song by Larkin. Fat Sex received a five-star review in The Victoria Times Colonist when the show played recently at the Victoria Fringe.
Millennials grappling with adult responsibilities in How to Adult at this year’s Fringe Festival.
aux.la.more – Local company Shakespeare Unchained presents this solo dance piece featuring Kara Nolte. According to press materials, aux.la.more references Walt Whitman and the Backstreet Boys, and thematically covers how “dislocation, unrest, addiction and loss can be overcome by simply being together.” Nolte, who has toured the show in B.C., Calgary, and Edmonton, combines her background in dance with Shakespeare Unchained co-founder Julia Siedlanowska’s experience in theatre in this collaboration.
Millennials grappling with adult responsibilities in How to Adult at this year’s Fringe Festival.
Best Picture – A comedic romp through all 88 Best Picture Oscar winners, this acclaimed show covers everything from Wings to On the Waterfront to Silence of the Lambs. While every winner gets lampooned, anything goes. As writer Kurt Fitzpatrick says of his creation, “You have Laurence Olivier and Woody Allen fighting over Annie Hall.” The show stars Fitzpatrick, Jon Paterson and Tara Travis (Til Death, The Shakespeare Show).
Millennials grappling with adult responsibilities in How to Adult at this year’s Fringe Festival.
How to Adult – A musical featuring four 20somethings who “try to get their s*** together through song and dance.” Three roommates create a list of rules to follow to become the perfect adults but things don’t go as planned. Songs include “Adult the F*** Up” and “Recently Single (And In Love With Everyone).” Director Eleanor Felton and composer Peter Abando previously collaborated on Love Musically and BroadWHAT?!
For a full listing of shows, times, dates, etc, visit vancouverfringe.com.