One Side of an Ampersand (Flying Radio Theatre) 2013 Toronto Fringe Review

One Side of an Ampersand Toronto Fringe 2013

One Side of an Ampersand is the first production by Flying Radio Theatre, a company formed by Ryerson Theatre students and graduates.  It’s written and co-directed (with Jasmin Goode) by Julie McCann. The cast is Zoe Brownstone as Alice, Hilary McCormack as Helen,  Rebecca Perry as Daisy, and Chris Whidden as Helen’s former lover whose name I have completely forgotten. Sorry. (editor’s note: His name is Will)

The play actually has the making of a farce but it isn’t played that way.

It’s the story of Helen and Alice who are in a no strings relationship and what happens when Helen offers Alice a key to her apartment and Helen’s ex-lover from university shows up a few minutes later. He has left his wife and has come to try and rekindle their romance.

In the press release from Flying Radio Theatre they say “By focusing on non-tradtional relationships we aspire to start
conversations about the roles of love, sex, and gender in today’s world.” It’s a lofty goal.

My cynical contribution to the conversation would be that relationships are relationships and it really doesn’t seem to matter the genders of the people involved in them. Helen and Alice could as easily be Helen and Alex.

I enjoyed the show but it didn’t particularly make me want to start a conversation.  The play had the things that are important to me, it was entertaining, there was a plot, there was some character development, and the cast was talented.

The members of the Flying Radio Company bear keeping tabs on, they are a talented group.

Details:

  • One Side of an Ampersand is playing at the Randolph Theatre (736 Bathurst)
  • Showtimes are:
  • July 06 11:00 PM
  • July 08 04:45 PM
  • July 10 09:15 PM
  • July 11 01:45 PM
  • July 12 07:30 PM
  • July 14 03:30 PM
  • All individual Fringe tickets are $10 ($5 for FringeKids) at the door (cash only) and go on sale one hour before showtime. 50% of tickets are available in advance and are $11 ($9 + $2 service charge), these can be purchased online at www.fringetoronto.com, by phone at 416-966-1062 ext. 1, or in person during the festival at the Festival Box Office in the parking lot behind Honest Ed’s (581 Bloor St W).
  • Value packs  are available if you plan to see at least 5 shows

Please note that there is absolutely no latecomer seating during the Toronto Fringe Festival.

Photo of Zoe Brownstone, Rebecca Perry, and Hilary McCormack

 

Note: A change was made after publishing to correct name to character attributions.