ArtsVox

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What’s your name and what is the name of your sketch troupe?

My name is Ned Petrie. I’m a member of Ned & Dave (I’m the Ned half). I also host The Panel Show, a comedy game show featured at TOSketchfest.

If you had to pitch your act to a Hollywood producer as though it were a movie, your logline would be:

All the anarchistic joy of Fried Green Tomatoes combined with the rich pathos of Legally Blonde 2: Red, White, & Blonde.

Think Abbott & Costello Meet Frankenstein meets KISS Meets The Phantom Of The Park meets Meet The Fockers meets Meat Loaf: Live At The Palladium.

What other troupes or workshops are you looking forward to seeing / attending this festival?

There are a lot of great troupes in this festival, but I’m most excited to see Last Call Cleveland again. Their work is the Platonic Ideal of what sketch comedy should be – a perfect mix of joy, absurdity, anger, and effort. We’re lucky enough to be sharing the stage with Last Call Cleveland on both their headlining shows and with LCC’s Mike Polk Jr on The Panel Show.

The most common misconception about sketch comedy is:

Since great sketches can feel so spontaneous, many in the audience don’t realize how complex they are. If the pace, rhythm, specificity, or nuance in the staging and performance is off even the slightest amount, it changes the entire tenor. But obviously, if the audience is too aware of the nuts and bolts then it can kill a sketch just as easily. A perfect sketch will feel like nothing is happening even though everything is happening.

I’m a big football fan, and I think there are a lot of parallels between the two in terms of execution. An average fan will look at a great football play and look only at where the ball is, but the players know that the whole play actually hinged on the Left Tackle planting his right foot at the correct angle or the Tight End faking out the Linebacker before the snap. Likewise, a well executed sketch is all about keeping the audiences focus on the ‘ball’ without giving away the hidden engineering behind it. The ball was is ‘the funny’ in this strained analogy, in case that wasn’t clear.

You are commissioned to write a sketch about Rob Ford and Justin Bieber trapped on a lifeboat adrift in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. What happens?

The scene takes place at the Coast Guard Rescue Centre, where they argue the merits of doing their duty and saving them versus just letting them drift.

Oh, and one of the Coast Guard guys has a funny voice or something.

 

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What are your names and what is the name of your sketch troupe?

Eric Miinch, Evan Arppe and Josh Murray. Our sketch troupe is Fratwurst.

If you had to pitch your act to a Hollywood producer as though it were a movie, your logline would be:

Everyone’s second favourite sketch troupe is about to make it big, but not big enough that they make any money. We’re like 3 Willy Lomans, but without the suicide.

What other troupes or workshops are you looking forward to seeing / attending this festival?

We’re definitely going to see the Kids in the Hall read Brain Candy, Irrelevant Show and The Slings and Arrows Panel. Charles, Cupid Players, Ladystache, Ned and Dave, She Said What, The Reception, Tony Ho. Too many to list.

The most common misconception about sketch comedy is:

That it is stand up comedy.

That it’s just adults playing make believe.

That it is a profitable venture.

You are commissioned to write a sketch about Rob Ford and Justin Bieber trapped on a lifeboat adrift in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. What happens?

Doug saves them before Rob eats Justin. Then Doug and Rob both eat Justin. They blame the lifeboat.

 

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What’s your name and what is the name of your sketch troupe?

Eric Turk: Vice-President in charge of dick jokes for Jape

If you had to pitch your act to a Hollywood producer as though it were a movie, your logline would be:

Three Scots-Irishmen and a Jew send up pop culture, the routines of daily life, and obscure early 20th century literature in this marriage of high reference and low brow.

What other troupes or workshops are you looking forward to seeing / attending this festival?

I love Falcon Powder so I’ll be sure to catch their show! Other favourites include Fratwurst, Ladystache, Rulers of the Universe, Templeton Philharmonic, Vest of Friends, the Reception, and this year’s wild card troupe: Bitches Leave. I’m also a big fan of the works of H.P. Lovecraft so if he’s doing a set, I’ll be there.

The most common misconception about sketch comedy is:

There are three.

1. That they are called “skits”. (They are “sketches” or “scenes”)
2. That your great idea for a sketch is actually a great idea for a sketch. (It’s not, dad)
3. It was the cause of the Punic Wars. (It was in fact both the cause of and solution to the Cuban Missile Crisis)

You are commissioned to write a sketch about Rob Ford and Justin Bieber trapped on a lifeboat adrift in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. What happens?

Bieber eats Ford.

You unilaterally decide to include your own self-composed question for a survey about sketch comedy without being asked to do so by the website editor. What is that question?

See above.

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With Toronto, and Canada at large, being such fertile breeding grounds for talent and success stories in the realm of sketch comedy, it’s almost surprising that the city has only been celebrating the belly-busting art form in the guise of a festival for less than a decade. This year marks only the 9th anniversary of the Toronto Sketch Comedy Festival, but in those short nine years the festival has grown by leaps and bounds. This year promises to be the most notable yet with a plethora of performances from some of North America’s best troupes and some serious industry programming. Some of the highlights include:

• A live staged reading of the 1996 cult film Brain Candy by its creators, The Kids in the Hall, including the debut screening of the film’s original ending!
• Impersonator extraordinaire and former This Hour Has 22 Minutes Star, Gavin Crawford’s one man show Sh**ting Rainbows.
  
• The Toronto debut of CBC Radio’s hit sketch comedy show The Irrelevant Show.
• Performances from sketch heavy-weights Last Call Cleveland, Peter ‘n Chris, The National Theatre of the World, FUCT, and many more!
• A free panel focusing on the lasting impact that popular TV series Slings and Arrows has had on the comedy and theatre community with show creators Bob Martin, Mark McKinney, Susan Coyne and moderated by frequent guest star Don McKellar.
• A sketch writing workshop with Kid in the Hall Kevin MacDonald.

The Toronto Sketch Comedy Festival runs from March 6th to 16th at various venues. Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased here! Also, stay tuned for some mini-preview questionnaires from participating artists!

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The Theatre Centre (which, on Mar. 19, will make their big move into their new home at the picturesque Carnegie Library building) has some special guests dropping by next month. The much lauded theatro-musical ensemble L’Orchestre d’Hommes-Orchestres returns to Toronto to present their quirky homage to composer Kurt Weill, enigmatically titled Cabaret Brise-Jour. With LODHO specializing in a blend of Brechtian stagecraft and inventive musicality, their take on Weill classics promises to be a match made in performing arts heaven.

If that weren’t enough, LODHO will be receiving the prestigious Glenn Gould Protégé Prize during their stay in Toronto. The prize will be presented by renowned director Robert Lepage to LODHO at a special matinee performance on March 29th.

Cabaret Brise-Jour runs from March 25th to 29th. Tickets and details here. For a audio-visual sampling of Cabaret Brise-Jour, check out this nifty trailer:

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Puppeteer and sketch artist Kaitlin Morrow is back after her stint in Sex T-Rex‘s hilarious Fringe entry, Callaghan! And the Wings of the Butterfly, with a repeat performance of her “Comedy Bar Pilot Week” winning show, Bendy Sign Coffee. Joining her are her cast-mates from Sex T-Rex, which should make this two-nighter of over-caffeinated puppetry a highlight of the long weekend. Here are all the details, shamelessly pulled from the facebook event page:

After taking top prize in last year’s Pilot Week competition, “Bendy Sign Coffee” is back and this time in its natural habitat – a coffee shop.

Join Sex T-Rex and a quirky cast of puppets as we tell the story of Joan, a young puppet trying to make a living in a neighbourhood coffee shop in downtown Toronto who must literally battle her deepest fear to save little Jenny’s birthday party.

Featuring:
A hilarious OPENING ACT by puppet MC:
FREDDIE RIVAS!
and some sweet-sweet post-show TUNES on F’Coffee’s licensed patio by:
THE HONEYRUNNERS!

BEER!!
sponsored by: Muskoka Brewery

AUGUST 29&30
F’Coffee – 641 Queen St East
Doors@ 8pm
Advance TIX (available @ F’Coffee) – $10
$15 @ the door.

For more info:
sextrexcomedy.com I kaitlinmorrowpuppets@gmail.com

Photo credit: Dan Lim, 2013. Concept Art: Dana Harrison

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Due to time constraints, these productions aren’t getting the word-count they deserve, but are all strong entries in this year’s festival, which sadly winds down this weekend. Catch a few more shows while you can!

How to Disappear Completely

Israeli lighting designer Itai Erdal’s utterly moving piece is best defined as a theatrical conversation, and the unfettered directness of the communication between performer and audience is only one of the many reasons that one may find oneself tearful by the curtain call. Erdal’s piece revolves around the story of his strong-willed mother, her losing battle with cancer, and his attempt to document via video the events and conversations leading up to her death. Fortunately Erdal is a natural and confident storyteller and he affords the heavy material the right amount of levity to make for a surprisingly entertaining – if ultimately bittersweet – 60 minutes. Erdal’s integration and dissection of his craft, in the form of lights and lighting cues he controls and discusses from the stage, doesn’t run completely parallel to the personal narrative, but this second facet to the show is fascinating enough (at least from a layman’s perspective) that it still adds considerably more to the experience than it distracts.

Enough Rope

This non-narrative performance-based piece manages to both parody and pay homage to its chosen genre with great aplomb – an apt combination for such a notoriously love-it or hate-it format. A physically confined tent-like setting breeds intimacy and circus-esque aesthetic choices hint at the tone of the show which is both tongue-in-cheek and earnest in equal measure. Rather than try to confront the audience, the quartet of dedicated performers engage with them, the spontaneous back-and-forth impressively quick. Charming and inventive stuff.

The Art of Building a Bunker or Paddling the Canoe of my Self down the River of Inclusivity and into the Ass of the World

This incredibly politically-uncorrect comedy about a mid-level government employee forced to attend sensitivity training comes courtesy of Toronto clown community notable, Adam Lazarus, and director Guillermo Verdecchia. Bunker keeps one in stiches for the first half, but eventually the meat of the piece emerges which Lazarus, as the sole actor, supports with a fiery yet calculated performance. One may never agree with the protagonist or his views, but his journey does give one unexpected insight into the concepts of human fear and vulnerability.

To Myself at 28

Queer theatre legend/pioneer/still-kicking-ass-and-taking-names-er Sky Gilbert takes to the stage with protégé Spencer Charles Smith in a piece that – in the hands of a lesser artist – could have come off as self-indulgent. Fortunately, Gilbert’s self-effacing, fourth-wall breaking, and reflective style, makes this sometimes contentious conversation with a younger version of himself (as embodied by Smith) an honest and refreshing work. Smith deserves special credit for mirroring Gilbert so effectively while still adding his own cheeky touch.

Late Company

Playwright Jordan Tannahill impresses again with a nuanced and mainstage-worthy piece about the consequences of bullying and the extent to which those consequences reach far beyond the victim. Given the premise it would be easy to slip into preachy territory, but Tannahill artfully avoids it, instead giving some breathing room to every side of the argument – even those than come off as archaic. Director Peter Pasyk and the top-notch cast work together to present a taught yet natural performance; the always captivating Rosemary Dunsmore delivers a particularly strong turn as a mother in mourning.

 

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Salome’s Clothes

This tender and nuanced work about, Queen, a caring and level-headed single mom raising her two whip-smart daughters is unfettered by overwrought drama or unnecessarily complicated staging, and as such is able to deliver tremendous emotional impact. Donna-Michelle St. Bernard’s subtle yet powerful script leaves one wanting to shout in protest from one’s seat as the remarkable mother wilfully blinds herself in the name of stability and comfort. Even more impactful is the play’s conclusion, expertly staged by director Clare Preuss, in which the condensed passage time is used to great effect to punctuate the consequences of Queen’s singular misstep.

The cast of three, helmed by Karen Robinson as Queen, deserve much kudos. Their ability to communicate profound emotional truths through remarkably natural performances – and without having to resort to wailing matches or vitriolic breakdowns – is akin to a breath of fresh air.

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More treats from the Summerworks theatre lineup!

 

Holy Mothers

This translated import from Austrian playwright Werner Schwab is most definitely not for those with sensitive constitutions, but it is nevertheless a strangely charming piece of theatre blanketed with delightfully dark humour. At the centre of it are three aging cleaning women (Vickie Papavs, Astrid Van Wieren, and Lorna Wilson) who spend their downtime regaling each other with unpleasant and exaggerated tales about shit, vomit, and their troubled children, as well as simple and hopeful fantasies about better lives filled with romance and goulash. Didactic philosophical statements about the nature of life interspersed in the script feel clunky, but do break up the scatological content and give the characters some depth. Schwab’s greatest choice is to have his piece literally parody itself, giving one the sense that it’s all part of a grand and well-crafted joke.

Director Elizabeth Saunders and set/costume designer Anna Treusch’s aesthetic choices enhance the piece greatly; the kitsch-adorned set and the characters’ personalized costumes communicate just as much as the dialogue. All three performers are commendable, but Vickie Papavs deserves special mention for her quirky and sympathetic portrayal of Mariedl, the pious and off-kilter member of the trio.

 

Delicacy

Yet another splendid offering from one of Toronto’s most reliable independent companies, Theatre Brouhaha, helmed by playwright and human spitfire, Kat Sandler. Delicacy is set in an upscale condo owned by Mark (Andy Trithardt), a pompous writer and Tonya (Tennille Read), his uptight interior designer wife as they entertain Colby (Kelly McCormack) and Len (Kaleb Alexander), a free-wheeling fauxhemian suburbanite couple they met at a swingers club. While the plan is for an experimental evening of spouse swapping, the socially-obligatory socializing that precedes it goes awry and produces more tension and cathartic soul-baring than arousal.

Sandler manages to comment on the urban lifestyle and its superficialities, contemporary racial perceptions, class relations, sexual politics, and the fallibility of love and marriage – all while still giving priority to her story, characters, and sharp and witty dialogue. The performances do the script justice with strong turns from the entire cast; each actor embracing their character’s archetype while still giving them palpable depth and humanity.

 

The Ballad of Weedy Peetstraw

This toe-tapping musical, billed as a “bluegrass opera” is a quaint piece of storytelling from playwright Peter Anderson, supported by a talented and energetic cast and an outstanding soundtrack. Perfect summer fare.

Using the familiar trope of the southern farm boy who makes a deal with a devil at the crossroads in exchange for musical prowess (or in this case, a supernatural banjo), The Ballad of Weedy Peetstraw is a treat to sit through. While the cast are clearly having a ball on stage, and director Jennifer Brewin manages to evoke mood, location, and folksy charm with impressively few resources, it is John Millard’s music that is the true star of the show. Staying true to both the style of bluegrass and the expositional conventions of musical theatre, Millard’s score for banjo, bass, fiddle, and guitar is tuneful, moving, and far more interesting than the cookie-cutter ballads that have come to define the Broadway musical (I’m looking at you ‘Wicked’). His use of choral harmony is a particularly haunting treat.

 

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One day in and we already have a gem of a show to tell you about!

Tender Napalm

Philip Ridley’s not-at-all-straightforward piece (the contrast in the title is appropriate) may be about two young people stranded on a tropical island, it may be about two people falling in love at a bittersweet party, it may be about both. There are few structural barriers to the reality presented, making for a delightfully fluid and vibrant experience. Ridley’s script is rich with overlapping themes; love, lust, violence, and loss all permeate the story without it ever feeling contradictory or overwhelming.

Director Cynthia Ashperger keeps her cast in constant physical and emotional motion, making the transitions between scenes (and the term is used loosely) impressively seamless. She, along with her talented cast (Kyle Purcell and Amelia Sargisson) capture the spirit of children playing make-believe while offsetting it with some very adolescent and adult moments.

Purcell and Sargisson both impress, each walking a fine line between aggression and remorse, reality and imagination. Sound designer David Mesiha also deserves a nod for his work.

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We’ve invited some of this years participating companies to submit mini-questionnaires to both pitch their shows, and offer up some creative insights. Here is our first response from the fine folks behind Enough Rope.

Bob O’Car Varrrrrooooom! or  Car Wars 2: A Crack in the Pavement

Photo Credit: Michael De Sadeleer

 

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Your Name: Daniele Bartolini

Your Role: Director, Creator

Tell me about your Summerworks show:

This show is designed for one audience member at a time where they are lead through the alleyways of Toronto and interact with different characters. Every audience member has a completely unique experience.

Now do it as a haiku:

I found myself lost
All around me were strangers
Through them I found home

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Your Name: Anthony MacMahon

Your Role: Writer/Producer

Tell me about your Summerworks show:

Wild Dogs on the Moscow Trains is a new play set against the backdrop of the Moscow riots. Three young Russians grapple with political freedoms and flesh eating drugs in a world where animals are becoming human and humans behave like animals.

Now do it as a Haiku:

Three Russian roommates
Bleeding, stripping, and needles
Existential pain

What else are you looking forward to at Summerworks?

The Art of Building a Bunker, Tender Napalm, Final Savage Land

I think the biggest challenge or issue facing independent theatre artists today is…

The eternal struggle of cooperating with your peers in the industry and competing for the same small audience.

You have been commissioned to write a musical about Rob Ford, but cannot use his name in the title for fear of litigious retribution. What do you title your show?

The Lord Bob Beer Store Cabaret, where our glorious leader wears cute summer dresses and sings about socialist issues.

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Liza Live! Full disclosure: Jennifer Walls, the performer playing Liza Minnelli in this production also appears in another production affiliated with the editor of this website. Normally, we would try to avoid situations where a review may be tainted by personal interests, but we feel strongly enough about the charm and energy of this show – an opinion that was evidently shared by the audience (let’s call them an independent litmus test) – that we’ll make an exception. Walls does a wonderful impersonation, nailing the voice and mannerisms of the colourful and oft-caricatured songstress and daughter of Judy Garland. Even more remarkable, she manages to utterly humanize Minnelli (and her many vices) and still pack in a few toe tapping numbers in just over 50 minutes. There is definite room for this production to grow – brief lines like “I was told I would never walk again” beg to be expanded on.

You Won’t Be Here (Tomorrow) On paper, this drama about two disparate adult sisters who re-hash their personal history and uncover fresh secrets is very well-trodden theatrical territory, but that isn’t to say that this creative team don’t pull it off artfully and with great impact. James Fanizza’s realistic characters organically navigate the dense swath of melodrama he lays out for them, and director Carrie Adelstein’s choice to present the piece in a raw and authentically rundown loft space only heightens the grit factor. Cast members Karen Ivany and Julie Lemieux impress, delivering performances well above the Fringe standard.

I Hired a Contract Killer This adaptation of the 1990 film by Finnish auteur and cinephile favourite Aki Kaurismäki recreates the story of a working class man who, after being fired from his non-descript government job, decides to off himself with the assistance of a professional – a plan he regrets when he unexpectedly falls in love after the contract is signed. Director Bruce Pitkin does an admirable job of evoking a cinematic mood somewhere between ‘Film Noir’ and Terry Gilliam’s ‘Brazil’ and uses the large and youthful ensemble to great effect as both narrators reciting screen direction, and as human set pieces – like a cab complete with windshield wipers. One of the few flaws: a charming but peculiar final note at stylistic odds with the rest of the piece.

Weaksauce In this earnest and achingly relatable one-man show, Sam Mullins (who some may remember from last year’s Tinfoil Dinosaur) tells the story of his first time falling in love – at the romantic hub that is hockey camp no less. Mullins is a natural performer and between his underdog-like quality and his friendly presence, he quickly has the audience completely along for the ride. Interspersed in his casual language are some great turns of phrase that leave one laughing much longer than expected. Weaksauce was a late addition to the Fringe and is not found in the print program, which is all the more reason to support this worthy show.

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Here are some more treats courtesy of Toronto Fringe Festival participants:

We are the Bomb Playwright Kat Sandler and her company, Theatre Brouhaha – who took the festival by storm last year with Help Yourself – are back with another outstanding entry. This site specific piece, set in the Paddock Bar at Queen and Bathurst, takes place in the hours before a modern-day prohibition is set to take effect in Canada. A small ensemble of revolutionary vigilantes and a handful of assorted strangers band together to fight the new law, but ill-conceived plans and heightened emotions quickly push the motley group into Lord-of-the-Flies-esque territory. Sandler can be given much of the credit for the piece, but it is apparent than the entire, and utterly wonderful, ensemble of Brouhaha regulars (and a couple of fresh faces), have put their personal stamp on the often hilarious and occasionally intense material. There isn’t a weak link among the bunch, but Benjamin Blais and Elliot Loran steal the show with their perfect yin-yang chemistry as the bl0whard and often clueless rebel leader and his nebbish and practical assistant.

Peter n’ Chris Explore their Bodies Peter n’ Chris can join Morro and Jasp on the wall of “Perennial Fringe Comedy Superstars”; this sketch-based dynamic duo wow once again with an imaginative take on the Hunger Games – set inside Chris’ body. It’s slightly darker and edgier fare than some of their previous work, but no less hysterical. Their synchronicity is spot on, their frequent fourth wall-breaking never feels tired, and their ability to evoke settings and objects with virtually no production elements is testament to their talent as true theatre artists. If you have never seen them before, just do it.

Polly Polly Toronto indie theatre darling Jessica Moss uses her trademark bluster and bravado to great effect in this tender piece about Polly, an aimless 20-something cinema denizen who wakes up one morning to find that her entire life is now narrated by a presence in her head. The narration prompts her to pursue her “true self” – the woman she thought she would be, or should be. It’s a simple narrative – and in the hands of a lesser artist the premise might even seem cliche – but Moss is a powerhouse performer able to charm and move the audience effortlessly. Highlights of the work include sketch-like asides, including one of Polly attempting to find her “true self” through Yoga – a hilarious scene that says out loud what I’m sure many people have always been thinking on the inside.