FanExpo Canada 2013: Toronto Steampunk Society Intro

August 22-25 Metro Convention Centre

If you go to FanExpo you will find everyone there very likeable and willing to talk to you whether you are a patron or, like me, have a media badge. After attending the Steampunk 101 panel with Jody Rodier and John Morgan (aka Graydon Carnaghan) I decided to stop by the Toronto Steampunk Society booth to have a look and get some information that I could share with you. Have a listen to my quick chat with Todd Clark...

For more information on the Toronto Steampunk Society visit: https://www.facebook.com/groups/torontosteampunksociety

More TSS Steampunk pictures at: https://www.facebook.com/tmtmradio

Summerworks Today!

I hope you've been following my SummerWorks tweets (@tmtmshow) and facebook posts (www.facebook.com/tmtmradio) as I haven't had the time or energy to also write reviews. I have been rating the plays, however, just to give you an indication of their merit. If you've missed my social media coverage, then please LIKE my page and follow me on twitter

5 STAR PLAYS

ENTITLEMENT
Final Performance: 
Sunday, August 18th, 4:00pm, Theatre Passe Muraille
16 Ryerson Avenue (north of Queen, east of Bathurst)

Flawless casting, directing and writing keeps this funny satire right on track with its examination of the millenials and their feelings of entitlement. Bring an extra $15 cash so you can buy a copy and have it signed by playwright, Sugith Varughese

MURDERERS AT CHRISTMASTIME
Hopefully you've already seen the last performance of this play today, otherwise pray that it gets picked up as the company's production of the award-winning TERMINUS (Summerworks 12) was by Mirvish. It's a brilliant, blue-black dark comedy that doesn't flinch from three  frightening, frenetic and fixated depictions of love/lust at Christmastime. Belly laughs, empathetic sadness and chills make this a performance lingers long after the "merry" ending.


4 STAR PLAYS

X
You still have time to see Sunny Drake in this solo performance that uses humour to expose issues that may be the underlying causes and obstacles to addiction (alcholism, in this case). Sunny and his team use puppetry and animation to maximum effect, maintaining interest in a show that deals with such a heavy topic.

Final Performance:
TONIGHT!, 7:00 pm Scotiabank Studio Theatre, 6 Noble Street

THE ART OF BUILDING A BUNKER
You'll have to hurry if you want to see this one, and trust me you do! Hillarious look at political correctness in today's team building, self-examinating world.

Final Performance:
TODAY! 4:30 pm, Scotiabank Studio Theatre, 6 Noble Street

SUMMERWORKS 2013
Today and Tomorrow (final shows)
www.summerworks.cahttp://summerworks.ca/2013/
$15 (bring cash) for at the door purchases

Enough Rope Not Worthy Of Summerworks

I consider myself a fair reviewer, so I received a lot of questions about my scathing comment about Enough Rope on the TMTM Facebook page/@tmtmshow twitter profile. This performance lists itself as an exploration of "artistic isolation" with the setting being a "musty tent.” Before my friend and I entered the Studio space at the Lower Ossington Theatre, someone should have warned us that the tent we were to be housed in for the duration was a stinky (no metaphor, after all) burlap cocoon with loose straw on the floor and limited seating. There were no allergy alerts posted, nor were we informed that some audience members would have to sit on crocus bags scattered on the floor. So, with first impressions not being good, I went to my happy place so that I wouldn't prejudge the performance based on my stuffy nose and the tight, crowded seating. I soothed myself with the sight of the slightly mad-looking ballerina with the smeared make-up and the ill-fitting tutu (I love a psycho ballerina!). Unfortunately, what unfolded in the four segments presented, was a mish-mash of absurd rather than absurdist commentary on life as an artist. Because the theme was underdeveloped, the piece lacked the necessary bite and humour needed to draw the audience into the nightmarish world the four actors were trying to create. It’s a shame that the strong talents of the actors, and their passionate commitment to their roles are undermined by their own collaborative effort on the script as well as the direction. Perhaps they were too close to their material to see that, although, they communicating amongst each other, they were never connecting with any of us. I couldn't help but think that they were hoisted by their own petard. The ending arrived with a baffling silence that signified nothing, and evoked nothing. nbsp;

SUMMERWORKS
August 8-18
www.summerworks.ca

Fringe Worthy!

The 25 Annual Toronto Fringe Theatre Festival wraps up this weekend. Why not treat yourself to a good theatre experience. Here are my recommendations of Fringe worthy plays, that are definitely worth your time and $10.

Cold Comfort
Fort Isabel
God is a Scottish Drag Queen
O(h)
Stealing Sam
Strolling Player
The Truth About Comets
Weaksauce

For venues and show times visit: http://fringetoronto.com/fringe-festival/shows/years/current/

Which of these 9 Fringe Shows Would You Pick?

9 shows all pitch their reasons why you should see their shows. Have a read and listen. Just a heads up that the shows are listed in alphabetical order and not as you hear them in the video. Cheers!

COLD COMFORT

Cold Comfort tells the story of Kevin Toner, a bricklayer living in a self-imposed exile in England, who returns to Belfast after a 15-yeaabsence.

Genre(s): Drama, Show length: 60min.
Warnings: Mature Language
This performance is not accessible for non-English speakers
http://www.flyonthewalltheatre.ca

VENUE: St. Vlad's Theatre, 620 Spadina

SHOW TIMES: July 04 08:15 PM, July 06 11:30 PM, July 07 09:15 PM, July 09 01:00 PM, July 10 06:00 PM, July 11 01:45 PM, July 13 03:30 PM


 FORT ISABEL
Two children find a dead body in rural Ontario. Their town flies into a queer panic, but the children stay silent. Eight years later, one of the friends disappears without warning.


Genre(s): Play, Show length: 60min
This performance is not accessible for non-English speakers.
http://fortisabel.tumblr.com

VENUE: Theatre Passe Muraille Backspace, 16 Ryerson Ave.

SHOW TIMES: July 03 10:00 PM, July 05 04:45 PM,
July 06 05:00 PM, July 08 11:00 PM, July 09 08:30 PM, July 10 03:00 PM, July 12 07:00 PM,
July 13 04:30 PM

HOW TO BECOME A SPINSTER
Diana and Wanda bring you this dynamic seminar featuring 10 easy steps that let you break free of the social pressure that keeps you busy looking for love, instead of living your life.


Genre(s): Comedy, Show length: 60min.
Warnings: Audience Participation
This performance is not accessible for non-English speakers
http://www.become-a-spinster.com

VENUE: Factory Mainspace, 125 Bathurst

SHOW TIMES: July 05 01:15 PM, July 06 07:30 PM, July 08 08:30 PM, July 10 09:15 PM
July 11 02:15 PM, July 12 05:45 PM, July 13 05:45 PM

NOBODY'S IDOL
An edgy musical parody bursts onto the Toronto scene where Nobodies become Somebodies, or do they?

Genre(s): Comedy, Musical, Show length: 90min.
Age range: All Audiences
Warnings: Strobe Light, Gunshots, Sexual Content, Mature Language, Audience Participation
This performance is accessible for non-English speakers
http://nobodysidol.wordpress.com

VENUE: Randolph Theatre, 736 Bathurst Street

SHOW TIMES: July 04 08:45 PM, July 06 05:15 PM, July 08 12:45 PM, July 09 06:45 PM, July 10 03:30 PM, July 12 05:15 PM, July 13 11:00 PM

ST. FRANCIS TALKS TO THE BIRDS
A comedic look at death and dying directed by Adam Bailey, director of last year’s Fringe Hit, The Enchanted Crackhouse.

Genre(s): Comedy, Show length: 55min.

This performance is not accessible for non-English speakers
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Royal-Porcupine-Productions/158319290984938

VENUE: Helen Gardiner Phelan Playhouse, 79A St. George Street


SHOW TIMES:  July 04 07:00 PM, July 06 12:00 PM, July 07 10:45 PM, July 08 02:45 PM
July 10 07:30 PM, July 12 03:30 PM, July 14 07:30 PM

STROLLING PLAYER
At his father’s theatre on the island of Guernsey, a boy watches a play, entranced…and remembers his future.

Genre(s): Drama, Physical Theatre, Show length: 90min.

Warnings: Mature Language
This performance is not accessible for non-English speakers
http://dickywillis.wix.com/strollingplayer

VENUE: Tarragon Extra, 30 Bridgman Avenue

SHOW TIMES: July 03 06:30 PM, July 05 03:30 PM,
July 07 08:15 PM, July 08 04:30 PM, July 10 12:00 PM, July 12 05:15 PM, July 13 10:30 PM

THE HOMEMAKER
Janet Cardinal is a Saskatchewan homemaker who wants to share her life story through a clown inspired cabaret!

Show length: 60min.

This performance is not accessible for non-English speakers

VENUE: Annex Theatre, 736 Bathurst Street
SHOW TIMES: July 04 08:45 PM, July 07 08:00 PM,
July 11 12:00PM


 

THE TALIBAN DON'T LIKE MY KNICKERS
Just like Taliban soldiers, journalists feel it is their God-given duty to search out the “one truth”. This production was made by dyslexics.

Genre(s): Play, Show length: 50min.

Warnings: Audience Participation
This performance is not accessible for non-English speakers

http://www.dysthelexi.com

VENUE: Tarragon Extra Space, 30 Bridgman Avenue


SHOW TIMES: July 03 10:30 PM, July 06 08:45 PM, July 09 07:00 PM, July 10 02:15 PM July 11 12:00 PM, July 13 03:30 PM, July 14 12:00pm

YARN
A true story of standing stones, superstition… and sheep.


Genre(s): Comedy, Drama , Show length: 60min.
Warnings: Mature Language
This performance is not accessible for non-English speakers

http://www.AlexEddington.com

VENUE (Site Specific): Majlis Multidisciplinary Arts, 163 Walnut Avenue

SHOW TIMES: July 04 07:30 PM, July 05 07:30 PM,
July 06 07:30 PM, July 07 07:30 PM, July 08 07:30 PM, July 09 07:30 PM, July 10 07:30 PM
July 11 07:30 PM, July 12 07:30 PM, July 13 07:30 PM, July 14 07:30 PM

Toronto Fringe Theatre Festival

July 3 - 14, 2013

Show Info/Tickets

416-966-1062 
http://fringetoronto.com/fringe-festival/

5 Minute Fringe + One More (Sour Grapes has a WHAT on the poster?)

Due to a technical glitch with our phone lines, Allan Turner couldn't participate in the live recording of my 5 Minute Fringe showcase. So here is Allan's  pitch to get you to go see Sour Grapes. By the way, when I asked these questions, I hadn't scrutinized the poster. I saw a cute dancing coyote, but somehow I missed the (ahem!) appendage. Now I can't stop seeing it! Thanks, Allan (in more ways than one).

donna g: "Life's a vineyard and fuck you." That's a bold tagline? 


Writer, Actor, Allan Turner



Allan Turner: The play’s called "Sour Grapes", an expression that comes from the Aesop Fable where a fox desperately tries to get at some grapes, but can’t, so goes away muttering, “Probably sour grapes anyway.” When we want something we can’t have, we lie to ourselves that we didn’t want it anyway. This play is about a suicide survivor grappling with a second chance at life. As far as he’s concerned, not only are the grapes sour, but so is the whole vineyard--because life is a disappointment, he’s convinced himself he doesn’t want to be alive anyway.

donna g: Your cast includes a Coyote, a clown, a doctor and a spider? Without the tagline, this reads like a lineup for a FRINGE KIDS show, but there is a mature language warning. Hmmm...Why should adults pay $10 to see these characters?

Allan Turner: Two words: AIR CONDITIONING. This is definitely not a play for children. There’s a giant cock on the poster. It’s a comedy, but a dark one that deals with suicide, nihilism, chaos theory… There are a lot of big ideas and heavy themes. All of this is communicated through the mask of myth. Nowadays, a myth is often assumed to be the same thing as a lie, as in, “That’s NOT TRUE, that’s a MYTH.” Yes, myths aren’t meant to be taken literally, but they are metaphors used to convey truths. In fact, using metaphors makes it easier to talk about truths that would otherwise be difficult to address. It is like performing in mask. It might sound contradictory, but a mask doesn’t hide you, it frees you to show yourself.

donna g: You mention the "mask of myth".  Will the characters be wearing masks in this play, as they sometimes do in Trikster plays?

Allan Turner: None of the characters wear actual physical masks, but we are inhabiting the masks of these characters Coyote, Clown, Spider, and so on. These are very old characters, archetypes that reappear in many cultures the world over. Clowns have existed in every culture there ever was and even in non-human animals. Wild gorillas have been observed clowning. Coyote and Spider, or Iktomi the Spider-Man, are First Nations Tricksters. There’s another Spider Trickster, Anansi, in West African lore. Aesop’s Fables were jokes, and at parties, the aristocracy competed to see who could remember more and be the wittier. I picture a bunch of Greek Oscar Wildes standing around telling each other about the Fox and the Grapes. So you see, animal names does not have to imply kid stuff. Even if I were to say Bugs Bunny, there again, not for kids. Not originally. Bugs was created by a team of brilliant professional artists who were just trying to make each other laugh. Bugs connected with a worldwide audience of adult moviegoers because he was an ingenious spin on the familiar Trickster archetype. When I say Trickster, don’t think evil. If anything, he’s amoral. He is mischievous, sure, but also a highly regarded hero. And also a fool. Bender on Futurama is a great current example.

donna g: Sour Grapes includes audience participation. Oh, oh! Should the inhibited sit near the back of the theatre?

Allan Turner: Don’t worry, no one will be pulled onstage and I’m not going to hypnotize anyone into thinking they’re a sexy chicken. But even though I’m not wearing a nose, I am a clown, and this is no-fourth-wall theatre. That means there’s no imaginary boundary between you in the audience and us on stage. It’s a tightly scripted show so we’re not out improvising among you, but we know you’re there. We know we’re performing for you, even if you are sitting in the back. Actually I know I just said I’m a clown, but more accurately, this time out, I’m a bouffon. I don’t want to start using too much jargon but I can sum it quickly by saying a clown loves you, a bouffon does not. But if it makes you feel any better, I promise I’ll be more afraid of you than you will be of me. Also there’s a girl clown and she’s cute.

donna g: One final question, how are you feeling about this production that you've written and will be acting in?

Allan Turner: I’ve written a play that combines all these passions of mine with the very serious subject matter of my experience as a suicide survivor. And it’s a madcap comedy. I’ve described it as Waiting For Godot with The Marx Brothers. Another way is Nietzsche Goes Looney Tunes. Having Bruce Hunter as director has been a phenomenal experience. He’s a legendary comedic performer and director and after working so closely with him these past few weeks, I can say his esteemed reputation is well deserved. And I’m very lucky to have such an outstanding cast. Chloe Payne, Dave McKay, and Darryl Pring have given it their all. We’re going to make you laugh, and laugh a lot, and then we’re going to leave you thinking.

Toronto Fringe Festival
July 3 - 14, 2013
http://fringetoronto.com/fringe-festival/
416-966-1062



Sour Grapes poster

SOUR GRAPES

Show length: 60min.

Warnings: Mature Language, Audience Participation
This performance is not accessible for non-English speakers
Genre(s): Comedy, Drama

http://www.allanturner.net

VENUE
Theatre Passe Muraille Mainspace

SHOW TIMES
July 05 11:00 PM

July 07 04:00 PM

July 08 08:45 PM

July 09 04:30 PM

July 11 07:00 PM

July 12 06:15 PM

July 13 12:00 PM

June 21 is Global Screening Day in Support of ALS

I AM BREATHING in Toronto, Calgary, and Vancouver as part of a Global Screening Day to raise funds and awareness of ALS/MND. Diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease (also known as ALS or Lou Gehrig's Disease) at the young age of 33, new father Neil Platt documents his last months in order to leave behind a record for his infant son. You will be moved by Neil's life and motivated to help find a cure for this terrible disease. A portion of the ticket sales from the Toronto screening (6:45pm at the Bloor Hot Docs Cinema) will be donated to ALS Canada. There will be a director Q&A via Skype after the screening.

 

OTHER CITIES

Calgary: Globe Cinema at 5:00pm

Vancouver: Vancity Theatre at 6:30pm

 

FIND OUT MORE

About the film and the global screenings: http://www.iambreathingfilm.com/

About ALS: http://www.als.ca/