Toronto Fringe Festival 09

Thanks to all my guests who participated in TmTm's 5-MINUTE FRINGE show today. Big THANK YOU to LISE for keeping me sane.  Only having 5 minutes to sell their performances to the listening audience doesn't give Fringe participants a lot of time to go into the "where/when" details, so here they are:

Canary
by Liesl Lafferty
(www.liesllafferty.ca)
presented by Chaos Collective from Vancouver, BC

Canary is a comedy about Lily. Struck by a debilitating aversion to artificial light, our hero turns to medicine, but the results are fruitless. Inadvertently, Lily evokes the spirit of Marie Curie, who discovered radium and ironically, died from radiation poisoning. Lily strives to warn humanity about our toxic world and her journey culminates with the question, ‘Are you next?

Director: Liesl Lafferty
Cast: Tasha Lawrence, Kathryn Haggis and Heidi Waters
Audience: General Audience
60 min.

Venue 8: Tarragon Theatre Extra Space
Thu, July 2 10:00 PM
Sat, July 4 8:00 PM
Sun, July 5 Noon
Mon, July 6 6:30 PM
Thu, July 9 11:00 PM
Fri, July 10 2:15 PM
Sat, July 11 5:15 PM

Fucking Stephen Harper: How I Sexually Assaulted the 22nd Prime Minister of Canada and Where It Got Me
by Rob Salerno
(www.tenfootpole.ca)
presented by Ten Foot Pole Productions from Toronto, ON

We’ve all heard the story of how gay journalist Rob Salerno sexually assaulted Prime Minister Stephen Harper during last year’s election. Come hear Salerno’s side of the story at this performance and signing of his new tell-all memoir, which Maclean’s has called “An hilarious take on Canadian politics, the media, the gay community, and what Stephen Harper’s balls feel like.”

Cast: Rob Salerno
Audience: General Audience
Warning: May offend federal Conservatives
60 min

Venue 12: Glen Morris Theatre
Thu, July 2 8:00 PM
Fri, July 3 3:30 PM
Sun, July 5 1:30 PM
Tues, July 7 6:00 PM
Wed, July 8 10:00 PM
Thu, July 9 3:30 PM
Fri, July 10 7:00 PM

interrogation
by Benjamin Noble
(www.fairlylucidproductions.com)
presented by Fairly Lucid Productions from Australia/Canada

What happens when you cross fiction, fantasy and hidden memories? For The Man, this is his life and he’ll do anything to finish his story, even when he can’t remember a thing. Touching on isolation, storytelling and things we try to forget, “interrogation” brings the Canadian premiere of this award winning Australian work.

Director: Bryn Jennings
Cast: Alex Dallas, Pamela Johnson, Ben Noble, Karie Richards & Vanessa Smythe
Audience: Mature Audience
Warning: Sexual References, Language, Adult Content
80 min.

Venue 8: Tarragon Theatre Extra Space
Fri, July 3 7:00 PM
Sun, July 5 3:30 PM
Mon, July 6 10:30 PM
Tue, July 7 8:30 PM
Wed, July 8 12:15 PM
Fri, July 10 4:00 PM
Sat, July 11 10:30 PM

Morro and Jasp do Puberty
Written and Performed by Heather Marie Annis and Amy Lee
(www.morroandjasp.com)
presented by Up Your Nose And In Your Toes Productions from Toronto, ON

Morro and Jasp have finally reached puberty. This hilarious show explores the trials and tribulations that we all went through, or are about to go through, in becoming a grown-up. Sixty minutes of laughter, longing, tears and tampons! Not recommended for kids.

“The crowned queens of clown” EYE WEEKLY
“Hilariously and heartbreakingly awkward” **** CBC
“Outstanding Ensemble” NOW Magazine

Audience: General Audience
Warning: Language, Content
60 min.

Tarragon Theatre Extra Space
Wed, July 1 7:00 PM
Sun, July 5 5:45 PM
Mon, July 6 4:45 PM
Wed, July 8 9:30 PM
Thu, July 9 Noon
Fri, July 10 8:00 PM
Sat, July 11 1:45 PM

Our Asylum
by Lea Russell
(www.myspace.com/herandmymusic)
presented by Her & My from Toronto, ON

Our Asylum is the journey into madness of Jane, a former child star who fell in love with her father and murdered her sister, and The Doctor, the ambitious forefather of the American ice-pick lobotomy. There is no time, there is no space, for the story takes place within the characters memories and delusions and the walls of The Asylum.

Choreographer: Danya Buonastella
Cast: Lea Russell, Danya Buonastella
Audience: Mature Audience
Warning: Content, Nudity
60 min.

Venue 8: Tarragon Theatre Extra Space
Thu, July 2 8:15 PM
Sat, July 4 9:45 PM
Sun, July 5 1:45 PM
Tue, July 7 10:45 PM
Wed, July 8 6:00 PM
Thu, July 9 3:30 PM
Fri, July 10 6:15 PM

Sara Hennessey Town
by Sara Hennessey
(www.sarahennessey.com)
presented by Sara Hennessey from Toronto, ON

Do you enjoy laughing? How about having the best time? Welcome to Sara Hennessey Town. Population: Amazing. In this original and silly solo variety hour, Sara Hennessey (Much Music’s Video on Trial, Laugh Sabbath) will charm you with stand up comedy, sketch, video, and power point, offering viewers an eclectic taste of her surreal humour and bizarre character sketches.

Director: Steph Tracey
Audience: Mature Aucience
Warning: Language
55 min.

Venue 4: Theatre Passe Muraille Backspace
Fri, July 3 6:30 PM
Sat, July 4 3:15 PM
Sun, July 5 6:15 PM
Mon, July 6 11:00 PM
Tue, July 7 1:30 PM
Wed, July 8 10:00 PM
Fri, July 10 7:00 PM
Sun, July 12 2:15 PM

The Art of Listening
by Carla Faour
(www.southernmirrors.com)
presented by Southern Mirrors from Toronto, ON

Listening is more than hearing. We listen with our hands, our eyes, our breath, even with our ears…. Many say that the speech differentiates us from other animals. Not at all! Knowing how to listen is what gives us humanity. Listening is giving in…. It’s an act of generosity. A Listener…. Five Characters… Confessions… Guilt…. Jealousy…. Love…. Denial…

Audience: General Audience
60 min.

Venue 2: Robert Gill Theatre
Wed, July 1 8:45 PM
Sun, July 5 6:30 PM
Mon, July 6 1:00 PM
Tues, July 7 3:30 PM
Wed, July 8 11:00 PM
Fri, July 10 Noon
Sat, July 11 8:45 PM

The Fever
by Wallace Shawn
(www.fever.davidphoto.ca)
presented by Gitel Productions from Toronto, ON

Fringe personality Risa Morris takes the stage in this moving and thought-provoking production. Wallace’s character leads the audience on a journey of self-discovery as she questions the very basis of her own life and the society she inhabits. She asks compelling questions that invite even more compelling answers. Proceeds to go to Doctors Without Borders.

Director: Margot Massie
Cast: Risa Morris
Audience: Mature Audience
90 min.

Venue 11: Helen Gardiner Phelan Playhouse
Wed, July 1 6:30 PM
Fri, July 3 10:30 PM
Sun, July 5 1:15 PM
Mon, July 6 8:15 PM
Tue, July 7 1:00 PM
Fri, July 10 5:15 PM
Sun, July 12 7:00 PM

twentysomethings (not able to make the show today, stay tuned...)
Choreography By: Kate Nankervis
(www.ax-sdance.com)
presented by AX-S Dance from Toronto, ON

Determined to capitalize on the fun frivolous times of their twenties, four woman are faced with the responsibility of defining themselves, and their futures. While the realities of the ‘real world’ collide, these ‘twentysomethings’ attempt to overcome the Quarterlife Crisis for themselves and each other. These indie dance artists will propel you through your twenties or remind you of them.

Cast: Amanda Acorn, Vanessa Kimmons, Erin Merrifield, Krista Posyniak
Audience: General Audience
45 min.

Venue 5: Factory Theatre Mainspace
Fri, July 3 7:00 PM
Sat, July 4 Noon
Mon, July 6 6:45 PM
Wed, July 8 11:00 PM
Thu, July 9 9:15 PM
Sat, July 11 2:15 PM
Sun, July 12 1:45 PM

Zdenka Now!
by Precious Chong
(www.preciouschong.com)
presented by Porcelain Penelope Productions from Toronto, ON

There’s a reason the Yugoslavian flag has only one star in it. That star is Zdenka! Come see Zdenka Now! Meet her new friends of this great city of Toronto!

“If we handed out Oscars at the end of the Fringe, Toronto’s Precious Chong would be a front-runner for Best Actress.” ****CBC Winnipeg “A fun, fearless show.” Uptown Magazine

Director: Adam Lazarus
Cast: Precious Chong
Audience: General Audience
60 min.

Venue 9: Royal St. George’s Auditorium
Fri, July 3 7:00 PM
Sat, July 4 Noon
Sun, July 5 10:45 PM
Mon, July 6 2:45 PM
Tue, July 7 10:30 PM
Fri, July 10 3:30 PM
Sun, July 12 7:30 PM

FRINGE KIDS!: The Fringe has shows just for younger theatre lovers. These show take place at the Palmerston Library Theatre-560 Palmerston Ave.Click Here for Fringe Kids listings.

The festival runs from July 1 - 12th.  Click Here to access the Toronto Fringe Festival website.

Listings/photo courtesy of:  http://www.fringetoronto.com