From Press Release

There’s a new play in town— it’s called her.  And, as the ads tell us: “Everyone is talking about her.  Except her.”

Ilsa– the central character in Toronto playwright Deborah Shaw’s darkly-original drama– has a secret, and she’s not telling… that is, until the handsome young relative of her best friend turns up on her doorstep, claiming to know what Ilsa has never breathed to a living soul.  Even in the cozy world of Toronto in 1954, Ilsa cannot escape the monumental events of her troubled wartime past.

Shaw says she wrote the play in response to upheavals she experienced in her own life, brought on by decisions she had made and the consequences which eventually had to be faced.  Taking her experiences a giant step further, she gave the character a life-shattering decision to make, in circumstances most of us couldn’t even imagine.  Did Ilsa make the right decision?  To answer that, we’d have to put ourselves in her shoes and ask, would I have done any differently?  There lies the play’s power as, gradually, but most surely, we are compelled to decide for ourselves.

One decision Shaw does not regret is taking on her longtime acquaintance David Agro as dramaturg and director of her.  Drawing from their broad range of experience they have proven to be a dynamic team, between them tackling the script rewrites, production concept and most other creative, administrative and technical aspects of the show, which Shaw will also perform.

Details

• her. plays at the Helen Gardiner Phelan Playhouse. (79 St. George 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.
• This venue is wheelchair-accessible.
• 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, 3:30 pm
• Monday July 9th, 4:30 pm
• Wednesday July 11th, 9:15 pm
• Thursday July 12th, 4:00 pm
• Friday July 13th, 7:30 pm
• Sunday July 15th, 12:00 pm

Photo by Brad Vos

From Press Release

Two disembodied souls find themselves stuck in ‘purgatory’ – a strange and mystical place where they must come to terms with past sins in order to be reborn again into a new life on earth.

An enigmatic Guide helps these souls confront and understand their past, focusing on a sexual assault incident that deeply affected both of them. Ben, an arrogant publisher, is the accused perpetrator (Harvey Weinstein type) and Sylvie, his supposed victim, is a young troubled feminist writer.

What happens here will determine whether they get a shot at a fresh life or whether their souls end up downstairs… in the fiery abyss.

Playwrights Rebecca and Josh, hit upon an idea: a contemporary take on the ‘Me Too’ movement from a dual female/male perspective. Many incidents in the play have parallels to recent news and tabloid events. The setting, a kind of multi-faith purgatory, was inspired by notions of rebirth. Purgatory allows for tackling the bigger questions from a philosophical perspective. Though practical matters (i.e. the court system) are touched upon, we are concerned with the larger goal of ‘repairing the world’ as men and women going forward in generations to come.

DEAD Talks entertains and provokes discussion about this ‘Me Too’ world we are all living in.

Details

• DEAD Talks plays at the Tarragon Theatre Mainspace. (30 Bridgman 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 (707 Dundas St. W.), and — if any remain — from the venue’s box office starting one hour before curtain.
• Content Warnings: Mature language; Sexual content.
• This venue is barrier-free. Designated accessible seating is in the middle of the auditorium.
• Be aware that Fringe performances always start exactly on time, and that latecomers are never admitted.

Performances

• Wednesday July 4th, 6:45 pm
• Friday July 6th, 10:30 pm
• Sunday July 8th, 3:15 pm
• Tuesday July 10th, 6:30 pm
• Thursday July 12th, 4:00 pm
• Saturday July 14th, 7:00 pm
• Sunday July 15th, 12:00 pm

Photo: Norah Morris.

From Press Release

One performer. One hour. One story you will never forget. Fresh from sold out runs and critical raves from the Edinburgh Fringe, New York Frigid Festival, Atlantic Fringe, and Just For Laughs’ Zoofest, Paul Van Dyck’s extraordinary retelling of the fall of Adam and Eve is like nothing you have ever seen.

Winner “Best Production” 

New York Frigid Festival & Atlantic Fringe Festival

Rabbit in a Hat Productions proudly presents John Milton’s PARADISE LOST, July 6-15 at the Toronto Fringe Festival. This new adaptation of the greatest epic poem ever written contains spellbinding puppetry, dazzling computer animation, and a hell of a lot of rock n’ roll.

“Charismatic and flawless” Three Weeks (Edinburgh)

The story begins moments after the battle of heaven, as Satan finds himself and his followers cast into hell. Full of rage at his banishment, Satan travels to the Garden of Eden to exact his revenge upon God’s new favourites: Adam and Eve.

“Strikes with the force of devilish revelation.” Montreal Gazette

Having amazed Milton scholars with presentations at McGill and Western University, Paradise Lost has also enthralled audiences around the world who are experiencing the 17th century poem for the first time. While rooted in ancient mythologies, this story is widely accessible through the struggles of its characters, the disillusionment at the loss of innocence, and the redemption found in love and charity. Paradise Lost is a timeless metaphor for the human experience.

“I can say without qualification that this is the best theater that I have seen in a long time.” 

Cultural Capital (New York City)

Created, adapted, and performed by Toronto/Montreal actor/director/playwright Paul Van Dyck (2013 Shaw Festival, Neil Munro Intern Directors Project; Oroonoko – Winner: Best Director, Montreal English Theatre Awards; Revelation Award Winner – Montreal English Critic Theatre Awards), with CGI projections from Jeremy Eliosoff (principle animator on X-Men: Days of Future Past, 300, and Watchmen), puppets by Lynn Paquette (Founder/Artistic Director, Talisman Theatre; Stratford Festival) and lighting by Jody Burkholder (multi Montreal English Critic Theatre Award recipient).

• Details
  • Paradise Lost plays at the Theatre Passe Muraille Mainspace. (16 Ryerson 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 (707 Dundas St. W.), and — if any remain — from the venue’s box office starting one hour before curtain.
  • Content Warning: Sexual content.
  • This venue is wheelchair-accessible. Accessible seating is in the very front row.
  • Be aware that Fringe performances always start exactly on time, and that latecomers are never admitted.

  Performances

  • Friday July 6th, 8:00 pm
  • Saturday July 7th, 4:00 pm
  • Monday July 9th, 3:15 pm
  • Wednesday July 11th, 5:45 pm
  • Thursday July 12th, 12:00 pm
  • Saturday July 14th, 11:00 pm
  • Sunday July 15th, 3:15 pm

Photo by  Andrea Hausmann.

From Press Release

After going through puberty, discovering sexuality, learning how to cook, taking on literary classics, trying their hand at entrepreneurship, and exploring the meaning of life, Morro and Jasp now approach a new giant life milestone with hot ideas and cold feet.

Join Morro and Jasp as they say yes to the dress, try to handle the stress, and attempt to throw a big fat clown wedding without throwing up. But does saying “I Do” to someone new mean saying “I Don’t” to each other? Can they even survive this new chapter of life without the person who has always been by their side? After this, can they still be Morro and Jasp? The Dora and Canadian Comedy Award winning duo take on one of life’s biggest juggernauts.

The team behind MORRO AND JASP – Heather Marie Annis (Morro), Amy Lee (Jasp), and Byron Laviolette (Director, Dramaturg) – have created 10 full-length shows over 13 years, including sell-out hits Morro and Jasp do Puberty, Of Mice and Morro and Jasp, Morro and Jasp: Go Bake Yourself (the play that inspired the Award-winning cookbook Eat Your Heart Out with Morro and Jasp), Morro and Jasp: 9-5, and Morro and Jasp in Stupefaction. MORRO AND JASP also performed at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2015 to rave reviews and sold out houses. This is Morro and Jasp’s tenth show at the Toronto Fringe Festival.

Details

• Morro and Jasp: Save the Date plays at the Tarragon Theatre Mainspace. (30 Bridgman 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 (707 Dundas St. W.), and — if any remain — from the venue’s box office starting one hour before curtain.
• Content Warnings: Mature language; Audience participation.
• This venue is barrier-free. Designated accessible seating is in the middle of the auditorium.
• Be aware that Fringe performances always start exactly on time, and that latecomers are never admitted.

Performances

• Friday July 6th, 8:45 pm
• Saturday July 7th, 9:15 pm
• Sunday July 8th, 8:30 pm
• Tuesday July 10th, 3:00 pm
• Wednesday July 11th, 5:45 pm
• Thursday July 12th, 11:00 pm
• Sunday July 15th, 1:45 pm

Photo by Alex Nirta.

From Press Release

Toronto, ON – June 5, 2018: Fresh off her win of the 2018 Cayle Chernin Award for Theatre Production, Lark & Whimsy Theatre Collective announced today that Briana Brown’s newest play Robert will receive its world premiere at this summer’s Toronto Fringe Festival, July 4th-15th, 2018 at St. George the Martyr, 197 John Street, Toronto, ON. Tickets go on sale to the general public on June 7th, 2018 at www.fringetoronto.com.

Kat and James are waiting for their father to die. Not exactly estranged, but certainly not close, the two struggle to make conversation until James reveals a secret he’s kept from Kat since childhood – a secret that turns their family roles upside down, and forces them both to confront what exactly “family” means. Robert is a witty and graceful new comedy that delivers laughs and heart while taking on difficult questions of identity, grief and loss. With a set of bagpipes.

From the Toronto Fringe artists who produced Bad Baby Presents: Rules Control The Fun (Torontoist Top 5 Pick of the Fringe, Mooney on Theatre Rave Review & Staff Pick, NOW Magazine Outstanding Performance: Janelle Hanna), Mockingbird (Next Stage Festival – Dora Nominated Outstanding Ensemble) and Almost, Again (Best of Fringe), Robert is written by Briana Brown, co-directed by Briana Brown & Rob Kempson, and features Janelle Hanna & Chris Baker. The production team consists of Kathleen Harrison (Stage Manager), Jacob Kay (Assistant Director) and Erin Vandenberg (Producer/Dramaturge).

Robert was originally conceived overnight in a castle as part of Driftwood Theatre’s Trafalgar 24 event where it received Driftwood’s Beyond the Castle Award. It was further developed through a playwriting residency with Driftwood supported by the Ontario Arts Council, and was shortlisted for the Stage West Pechet Family Comedy Award by the Playwright’s Guild of Canada.

Details

• Robert. plays at St. George the Martyr. (197 John 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 Warning: Mature language.
• The Fringe Festival considers this venue to be wheelchair-accessible.
• Be aware that Fringe performances always start exactly on time, and that latecomers are never admitted.

Performances

• Wednesday July 4th, 8:00 pm
• Thursday July 5th, 8:00 pm
• Friday July 6th, 8:00 pm
• Saturday July 7th, 5:00 pm
• Saturday July 7th, 8:00 pm
• Tuesday July 10th, 8:00 pm
• Wednesday July 11th, 8:00 pm
• Thursday July 12th, 8:00 pm
• Friday July 13th, 8:00 pm
• Saturday July 14th, 5:00 pm
• Saturday July 14th, 8:00 pm

Photo provided by company.