All acting actually is an acquirement of articulate actions. Beautiful bespoke beats which break boundaries but benevolently bestowed communal clowning. The cute, commanding, considerate cast created a colossal day.

I was trying to be as fun and clever as Red Knows: A Play on Words playing at Toronto Fringe Festival but really you should just go see it instead.

Clowning is a particular kind of performance, and it is one that I love. It is simplistically hard, because you have to convey a lot with very little. And the cast did it wonderfully, from every deep, bone weary sigh, to every unexpected clack of a high platform heel.

I recommend getting a program, and looking at it before the show. When the play was done I finally got a look at the program and it added so much to my understanding of the show. I didn’t need it to enjoy it, but it bumped my enjoyment up even higher.

My favourite bits included the opening segment “The letter A”, where the whole action is based around a single letter. All of the “Silence” segments got a laugh out of me every time. “Graphic Novel” was a fun, dynamic bit, and “Words, Words, Words” had a lovely bit of stream of consciousness word association.

It was a nice, family friendly show. Though it may be a bit too long for people with smaller children it is still a great time.

Details

• Red Knows: A Play on Words plays at the Al Green Theatre. (750 Spadina Ave.)
• 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 (275 Bathurst St.), and — if any remain — from the venue’s box office starting one hour before curtain.
• This venue is barrier-free. Note that only certain building entrances are wheelchair-accessible. Accessible seating is in front of the front row.
• Be aware that Fringe performances always start exactly on time, and that latecomers are never admitted.
• The Toronto Fringe Festival is scent-free: please do not wear perfumes, colognes, or other strongly-scented products.

Performances

• Friday July 5th, 6:30 pm
• Saturday July 6th, 4:00 pm
• Monday July 8th, 1:00 pm
• Tuesday July 9th, 4:30 pm
• Thursday July 11th, 7:30 pm
• Saturday July 13th, 12:00 pm
• Sunday July 14th, 3:30 pm

Photo of Andreas Prinz and R. Boardman by Matt Rawlins