La Femme Kabarett (Christina Digiuseppe) 2018 Toronto Fringe Review

Picture of Mackenzie Carlson, Sydney Levitt, Dominique Tersigni, Zsakira Del Col, Emily Nodwell, Marisa Ricci, Brianna Salmon, Eleanor van Veen in La Femme Kabarett

I was feeling pretty tired by the time I went in to see La Femme Kabarett at the Randolph Theatre by Christina Digiuseppe at the Toronto Fringe Festival,  but I’m very glad that I did see the show.

La Femme Kabarett was classy and elegant from start to finish – from the big, glossy programs to the way the dancers snapped their fingers at precisely the right moments.

The show reminded me of an old-fashioned black-and-white film, only with a troupe of fabulous women showing off their dancing skills instead of a typical male-dominated storyline.

Christina Digiuseppe’s expert choreography was brought to life by all the dancers, whose every movement was synchronized to each other.

I enjoyed all the dances, but a few in particular stood out to me. The two dances with the red hats were enjoyable because they reminded me of old-fashioned dance scenes.

There were also dances where the dancers manipulated objects in addition to dancing. The way the performers used fans to accentuate and frame their movements was truly spectacular. This was followed shortly by a scene where the dancers artfully used parasols.

All of the dancers did a fantastic job working together, but I also understand why Diguiseppe chose to have some dancers do solos and be more visible than others. The way Mackenzie Carlson did her solo in that off-white nightgown was incredible. Her performance was swift, agile, and very appropriate.

The dance with the flower petals to a French song about flowers also stood out. The way those flower petals were thrown was masterful, and it only got better from there.

This show was a work of art that celebrated femininity in all of its forms. I enjoyed the various costumes, and thought the choices of music fit well with all the different dances throughout the show. I can understand why Christina Digiuseppe is considered an amazing choreographer.

La Femme Kabarett began and somewhat ended at a bar, which is appropriate given its name. What I most enjoyed about the last few dance numbers was how clearly happy and proud all of the dancers were to be performing together. Their enthusiasm was infectious.

Overall, La Femme Kabarett was fantastic! I recommend it to anyone interested in seeing a show at this year’s Toronto Fringe Festival – even if they’re not usually that interested in dance.

Details

  • La Femme Kabarett plays at the Randolph Theatre. (736 Bathurst St.)
  • Tickets are $13, including a $2 service charge. The festival also offers a range of money-saving passes and discounts for serious Fringers.
  • Tickets can be purchased online, by telephone (416-966-1062), from the Festival Box Office at Scadding Court (707 Dundas St. W.), and — if any remain — from the venue’s box office starting one hour before curtain.
  • Content Warnings: Sexual content; Audience participation; Fog or haze effects.
  • This venue is wheelchair-accessible through a secondary route. We recommend checking in with the venue box office at least 15 minutes before showtime.
  • Be aware that Fringe performances always start exactly on time, and that latecomers are never admitted.

Performances

  • Thursday July 5th, 10:30 pm
  • Saturday July 7th, 4:00 pm
  • Monday July 9th, 10:00 pm
  • Tuesday July 10th, 4:45 pm
  • Thursday July 12th, 1:45 pm
  • Friday July 13th, 7:00 pm
  • Sunday July 15th, 12:00 pm

Photo of Mackenzie Carlson, Sydney Levitt, Dominique Tersigni, Zsakira Del Col, Emily Nodwell, Marisa Ricci, Brianna Salmon, & Eleanor van Veen by Leah Thomas Productions.