By Sally Warburton
It’s July in Toronto and you know what that means… It’s the Toronto Fringe Festival! July 5th to 16th, the 35th Toronto Fringe Festival happens in various theatre venues in downtown Toronto. During the 12 days there are over 1200 artists in performances including comedy, musicals, drama, improvisation, theatre for children and storytelling. Something for everyone. Shows are usually an hour in length allowing many Fringe goers to see several plays in a day.
One of the plays at Theatre Passe Muraille was Ms Titaverse – about a beauty pageant – a comedy spoof on young Filipina women. Played by 5 Filipina Canadian actresses. Having fun with the stereotypes associated with their culture, the 5 dynamic actresses portrayed these through skits with dance and songs – Eldest Sister Song (asking the audience who could relate.. Many could!) Take out food, It’s my Body, It’s my Rules, Friends with a Cottage, Swimsuit competition, Wanna be a Nurse, Community Centre Festivals. The singing was fun, the group dynamics awesome, fun costumes, skits brilliant and audience participation with singing was great. A feel-good play.
The second play seen was White Collars held at the Factory Theatre on Bathurst St. A spoof on the start-up tech conferences and business, the 3 actor play included music associated with tech conferences! Lots of audience participation starting with asking an audience member questions about himself for the focus of the first improv skit. Skits about networking at a 3 day conference with the audience members as conference attendees, seminars, keynote speakers, a job interview with questions form the audience. The 3 actors were brilliant. The audience participation was great and the theme very relevant to today’s tech start-up culture. A lot of fun.
Make sure to catch some plays at the 2024 Toronto Fringe Festival!
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