Wake

Wake is a play written by Rachel Blair that played at the FRINGE festival this year. It's gotten amazing reviews, won awards and has subsequently been chosen to extend it run.
If you read my pseudo-reviews, you'll know I'm usually pretty indifferent about stuff. Actually, looking back at my TIFF reviews, I was very positive, so I guess that's what happens. I'll either love something or be completely indifferent (which often means that I didn't like it, but don't want to be rude). Okay, maybe that's not true either. I suppose I see the positive aspects of each of the pieces of which I'm indifferent towards so can understand why they were be good, but I just wasn't blown out of my seat.
Anyway, back on track and true to form, after watching this play, well, I LOVED it.

As written on the play's website and on the FRINGE website:
Wake is a touching and beautifully written drama which delves into the lives of three brothers who reunite for their father's funeral after a terrible crime tore them apart. Who is responsible for the event that changed their lives forever? How far do the bonds of family extend? Playwright Rachel Blair explores complexities of family and forgiveness.

Everything about the play was fantastic. The writing, the directing, the acting, the costuming and set design. Everything was seamless. I think I noticed a couple stumbles in lines, but it did not take away from the production. I really enjoyed the way that the story unfolded and how easily vignettes from different times and moments in the character's lives came together. The acting was superb, even the most subtle change in voice, posture and facial expression to highlight a time frame were not lost on the audience. Sets were changed flawlessly, like it was a well choreographed dance. So simple, yet so effective.
Congratulations to the whole team for this outstanding performance.
Too bad for those who didn't see it, because tonight was the last performance.


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An anecdote to prove that I'm actually really shy. So after the play, I stood up, ready to walk out of the theatre. I turn around and Rachel Blair's sitting behind me. I know it's her because she went to my high school around the same time I did. I have no idea if she's remember who I am, but again, my shyness overcomes me and instead of congratulating her as I really want to, I just smile (I think I managed that, but I can't be sure) and walk out. I can tell you though that I do have an amazing speech in my head of what I would say to her if I had actually started a conversation. It's strange. I do so many things which contradict my shyness, but other times, I just can't get over it.

Adam Growe's The Mom and Pop Shop

Another night out during the FRINGE took me to see Adam Growe's The Mom and Pop Shop.
This one-man comedy show takes place assuming that the members of the audience are attending their first pre-natal class. A frazzled Adam enters the room, letting us know that his wife (the real teacher) is running late. A father of three, he tries to stall...
It was exactly what I imagined it to be, nothing more, nothing less.
I didn't laugh out loud, but there were a lot of people around me who did, so I'm sure it was legitimately funny. I got the humour, it just wasn't funny enough to get me to, well, laugh out loud.
There was one joke that I found mildly entertaining but no one else seemed to get it (I assume, because no one laughed out loud). Adam was discussing that our parent generation (and prior, I suppose) had pregnant mothers not being too concerned about smoking and drinking (insert laughter here). He proceeds to warn us not to give our babies drugs (ha ha ha) and cough syrup (silence). I told someone I work with about this moment and as I was trying to explain to him why I thought this was supposed to be funny, he kept interrupting me and saying something about cough syrup having alcohol in it or something. I, personally, think it has something to do with the recent health report.
The show did have a nice arc to it. The ending was such that I didn't feel like I was just at a stand-up comedy act.
Would I recommend? Yikes, hard to say. I'm happy I went, but I'm wondering if there are better shows out there. I guess I enjoyed it though, so in that sense, I'd recommend it. I wasn't bored and that's a pretty big deal coming from me.

Nursery School Musical

Went to see Nursery School Musical tonight, part of the Fringe Festival.
It was a last minute decision even though I'd been wanting to go to the Fringe Festival since it started. I must admit that I was a little intimidated by all the different shows that were playing during the festival and no knowing how to sort through them and pick what to see. Luckily (?!?) I've been so busy this past little while and am going to continue to be throughout the weekend I could narrow down my options rather quickly. With the smaller list of shows to go through, I ended up with Nursery School Musical. For a couple obvious reasons. School. Musical. Done deal. I read a couple good reviews too, so that helped. I needed a light hearted show to go to anyway.
What did I think of the show. Uh oh, I find it difficult to give bad reviews. I mean - it was okay, but...meh. It was okay. I was hoping to laugh out loud, but I didn't really. I guess I don't laugh out loud very often though, so it's not that surprising, but I had high hopes. The fact that one of the numbers was called: "I sh*t my pants" made me think that I would be dying of laughter. Unfortunately not. It was a little high school show-esque. Punch lines were predictable especially when they were rhyming words in a song. While the issues that were being examined were true and had so much potential...the follow-through wasn't satisfying. If they had taken those issues to the extent of where Avenue Q went, I think it would have produced much better results. It just wasn't enough. A little amateur in my mind. Sorry. One highlight of the show - the two boys in their strollers. A little reminiscent of the Tim Hortons sketches from Air Farce. That was the closest I got to laughing out loud, so kudos for that.
As for the Fringe, I like the fact that 50% of the tickets are available to be purchased on-site just before the show - gets rid of the frustration felt at the Toronto International Film Festival (although I guess it's just not feasible at this level). I was at a venue which held 100 people. It was really sweet. I don't know if all of the venues are similar in size, but it really created a different type of vibe. A nice, homegrown festival kind of feel. Everyone working the event was wonderful, especially those who were asking for donations for the festival itself.