1997 TORONTO FRINGE 1997 TORONTO FRINGE
1997 Fringe of Toronto Theatre Festival
July 3 - 13
83 Performing Companies
11 Venues
PLAY LISTINGS
Tethersend Productions
Toronto, ON
presented
A Mouthful Of Rain
by D. McLauchlan & A. Sullivan
directed by A. Sullivan
Komuso is a silent Pochinko-style clown. His actions, like pictures, are worth a thousand words.
He's going to take you on a wild journey when he finds himself obsolete. Will clown logic be
able to save him?
50 Minutes
The Helen Gardiner Phelan Playhouse
****************************
Fallen Angels Productions
Mississauga, ON
presented
All I Remember Is Leaving
by Michael Kessler
directed by Zaib Shaikh
This play is about two guys who stumble upon a door. This play is about a lawyer and his client,
a man who killed his mother and father. This play is about Chris and Alex, two who are trapped
on the wrong side of the door.
Featuring Joe Tirone, Michael Kessler, Zaib Shaikh, Lori Dixon
50 Minutes
The Robert Gill Theatre
****************************
Ian MacDonald
Sydney, Australia
presented
All Our Rock and Roll Heroes Died When We Were On Cadet Camp
by Ian MacDonald
A failed cadet band trumpeter takes off from the Outback to live and love around the world. The
brilliantly gifted comedic storyteller returns after 1996's Bush Boy, Big City.
"A whopping great show...I've rarely felt so plugged in and connected to a performer."
60 Minutes
The Poor Alex Theatre
****************************
Queen Mab Productions
Toronto, ON
presented
Altarpieces
by Melissa Bell
directed by Dean Gabourie
Life doesn't always live up to the brochure. As a result, one woman's spring of hope has slowed
to a trickle. When her fear of death collides with her fear of life, she must choose between the
two. Altarpieces looks at faith, loss, game shows and human kindness.
Featuring Christine Oddy, Claire Crawford
50 Minutes
The Poor Alex Theatre
****************************
Theatre In Exile
Calgary, AB
presented
Baglady
by Frank McGuinness
directed by Gerri Hemphill & Gail Hanrahan
Images of dogs and red windows and red lemonade and the queen of spades and the evils of sex
and her father and her mother and drowning in the Irish waters and the links of chains around
her body, around her neck.
"I saw. God forgive me, I saw."
Featuring Mary Hennigan
52 Minutes
The Glen Morris Studio
****************************
Black Crow Theatre
Toronto, ON
presented
Beginning At The End
written and directed by Helen Nestor
Kate thinks that all walls have secret passages, that endings are beginnings in disguise, that arms
are featherless wings. A simple story of a woman unraveling and her friends trying to keep her
together.
50 Minutes
The Glen Morris Studio
****************************
Drink The Ink Productions
Toronto, ON
presented
Best Play In The Fringe Festival Ever, The
by Chris Leavins
The title says it all! For anyone who's ever been in a FRINGE show or seen a FRINGE show.
This is a behind the scenes look at what it takes to make a great play. A must-see for actors,
writers, directors and EVERYBODY! Very funny.
Featuring Chris Leavins, Tennyson Loeh, Mary-Francis Moore, Stephanie Morley, The Johnson
Sisters
55 Minutes
The Poor Alex Theatre
****************************
Fingers
Montreal, QC
presented
Big Trail or They Die With Their Boots On
written, directed and performed by Louis Beaudion & Manon Fontaine
Big Trail or They Die with Their Boots On is Fingers' all new creation of live animation. An
absurd road western following an eastern wannabe hero created by a collage of the greatest
cowboys' voices through different times in the history of western cinema. With action, surprises
and death...
45 Minutes
The Glen Morris Studio
****************************
What The Hell Productions
Toronto, ON
presented
Black Belt
written and performed by John Baktis & Roxanne Standefer
Two real martial artists take a Zen, comic, action-packed journey up the mountain of learning.
Can one truly master an Art? Can a martial discipline be an Art of Peace? After years of
dedicated hard work, what does it mean "to finally arrive at the beginning of THE WAY"?
55 Minutes
The Helen Gardiner Phelan Playhouse
****************************
Son Of Union Theatre
Toronto, ON
presented
Bone Crack
written and directed by Ian Ferguson
HE claims to be a reporter researching a cover story for NOW magazine about the sex trade.
SHE says she was the cellmate and lesbian lover of Canada's most successful serial killer. A
brutal new drama from Alberta's award-winning playwright and international Fringe veteran.
Featuring Sarah Martyn, Martin Randez
50 Minutes
The Robert Gill Theatre
****************************
Glass Hammer Productions
Toronto, ON
presented
Canterbury Tales, The
by Geoffrey Chaucer
directed by Margaret Gobie
Join the pilgrimage and wander back in time (and around the Annex) - to hear a tale or two,
watch Chaucer's legendary characters come to life, and enjoy the general merriment of a
medieval excursion. From the company who brought you Romeo and Rosaline and House of the
Rising Sun.
Featuring Michael Proudfoot, Jason Sweeney, John Healy, Heidi Weeks
60 Minutes
BYOV C: Pick up at The Fringe Club
****************************
Fizzy Dreamtime Theatre
Toronto, ON
presented
Check Out Time
by Paul Quarrington
Chas has written a lovely novel. Lomax, a young film director living in Los Angeles, is helping
him turn it into a screenplay. Mary, the chambermaid, is confusing.
50 Minutes
The Annex Theatre
****************************
Inzane Productions
Toronto, ON
presented
Clothesline, The (or waiting for Miss Sighah)
by Cyndi McLean & Wendi Smallwood
directed by Wendi Smallwood
A laundered comedy about barking dogs, immaculate conception, foot fetishes, original sin and
ill-gotten motherhood. Five women, five baskets of laundry and one clothesline...a heavy load
to be "peggin" when you're on the delicate cycle.
55 Minutes
The Poor Alex Theatre
****************************
Anna Hepburn Productions
Aberfeldy, Scotland
presented
Consider The Lillies
by Lain Crichton Smith, adapted by Anna Hepburn
directed by Gilbert Price
A play no Scottish-Canadian should miss. This award-winning tale recreates a period of
Scottish history which has left its mark all around the world to this day. It is poignantly told in
microcosm through the life of just one woman whose world is blown apart in the name of
"improvement".
60 Minutes
The Robert Gill Theatre
****************************
Dramaworks
Scarborough, ON
presented
Covey Farm Road
written and directed by Alice Walter
There's a reason women like Rae constantly apologize, are forever putting on tea, and take years
to leave their marriages. They have nowhere to go. When Rae's father is finally in a nursing
home, she takes over the abandoned family farm. It should have been simple...
55 Minutes
The Annex Theatre
****************************
Nightswimming
Toronto, ON
presented
Death Of General Wolfe, The
written and directed by Brian Quirt
Imagine a painting of your lover's death. Imagine it becoming the most popular image of its
day. Imagine what you'd want to do to it. The Death of General Wolfe peels back the layers of
that painting to reveal one woman's anger, one woman's sorrow, one country becoming two. By
the director of last year's Fringe hit Kicked.
Featuring Tracey Ferencz, Alison Lawrence, Niki Landau, Jane Miller
60 Minutes
The Helen Gardiner Phelan Playhouse
****************************
Thorablot Productions
Toronto, ON
presented
Doris Lives! "Que Sera, Sera"
by Claudette Williams
Doris Kappelhoff, queen of the big-band one night stand is transformed into DORIS DAY the
perpetual virgin next door. But at what price? Features an ensemble cast with jazz
vocalist/actor Morgann Ewan as Doris supported by a vibrant jazz combo. Come hear the hits!
Come burst the bubble!
55 Minutes
BYOV B: Pauper's Piano Bar
****************************
Buds On Broadway
Toronto, ON
presented
Dr. Feelgood
written and performed by Danielle Brett & Alisa Wiegers
Last night I dreamt I was having the perfect "white" wedding. That was before God descended
and whisked my Michael to Tibet, dropping his little sister Alex in his place to teach me how to
give good fellatio. Why haven't I woken up yet?! Gotta talk to Dr. Feelgood...
60 Minutes
The Annex Theatre
****************************
Instant Karma Productions
Toronto, ON
presented
Dumplings And Death
by Theresa Pavlinek
directed by Ralph Chapman
Flipping through the family photo album is like an art gallery tour. First day of kindergarten is
Michelangelo's Expulsion from the Garden of Eden and da Vinci's The Last Supper is Sunday
dinner with the family.
"Pavlinek has great stage presence. Her characters all have a solid core of bile in them." -
Andrew Clark, Toronto Star
Featuring Theresa Pavlinek
****************************
University at Buffalo - IACE
Buffalo, NY
presented
E-Motions
by Leandro Soto
E-Motions is an interdisciplinary, multicultural shamanic ritual for a postmodern world. A
theatre-dance performance combining ritualistic styles of dance and cultural traditions provides
an array of fanciful imagery. With the belief that the spirits of the dead can dance, the stage
reveals truth through improvisations and traditional Maya-Chol masks.
60 Minutes
The Robert Gill Theatre
****************************
True Fiction Productions
Toronto, ON
presented
Edgewise
by Wendy Laura Ganz
directed by Steve Tait
Lucille is unschooled but a smart cookie still. Hubby Desmond is a Learned Man who doesn't
hear a thing she says. During a dinner with two of Desmond's theoryhead friends, Lucille tries
to get a word in edgewise. Virginia Woolf, meet Kafka.
45 Minutes
The Glen Morris Studio
****************************
Lost Dog Theatre
Toronto, ON
presented
End
by Craig Macnaughton
directed by Chris Clattenburg
Where were you at the end of the world?
Featuring Chris Clattenburg, Heather Lash
50 Minutes
The Annex Theatre
****************************
Shakti
Tokyo, Japan
presented
Eros Of Love & Destruction II
by Shakti
directed by Vasanta Mala
Sequel to last year's production. Exploration of the inner energy and sexuality of a woman -
from virgen to vixen, innocence to power, exotica to unrelenting erotica. "She writhes in
oblivious voluptuousness across the battlefield of pornography and art displaying a prowess in
pure eroticised movement." - What's On, London
60 Minutes
The Helen Gardiner Phelan Playhouse
****************************
B.O.L.T. Productions
Toronto, ON
presented
Facades Sake
written and performed by Bret Tinson
directed by Bret Tinson, Jennifer Tinson
A merciless night. An unrelenting wind. Rain lashes. Thunder booms. Lightening scorches the
skies. Suddenly, all ceases...CORNUTO IS BORN!!! Years of painstaking construction begins.
Facades set firmly in place. Until...a chink appears. They start to crumble. Will anyone get out
alive?!
45 Minutes
The Annex Theatre
****************************
Thespians Shmespians
Toronto, ON
presented
Fast Talking
by Chrisopher Sweeney
directed by Ned Vukovic
"Black comedy" often means something isn't funny at all. In contrast, this is a straight-up
comedy full of the laughs which occur when Peter tries to finagle Giselle, his best friend's
widow, into bed. The situation is complicated by Giselle's new-found interest in philosophy.
60 Minutes
The George Ignatieff Theatre
****************************
About Face
Chicago, IL
presented
For What?"* (*or my American journey)
by David Parris
directed by Scott Sandoe
To understand his Russian-emigre lover's roots, Parris ventures solo into Russia to meet his
lover's wife and mother. But the roadblocks are many, including voices past and present, and
"Bonk", the former lover of his lover's former lover, who attempts to seduce him while acting as
his interpreter.
****************************
Theatre KR
Toronto, ON
presented
Fraidy Cat, Boners and Me
written and performed by Randall Vickerson
directed by The Company
Can you be adventurous and a fraidy cat at the same time? This man's hilarious and moving
journey takes you from small town Alberta to London, England. Some dancing. Some classics.
50 Minutes
The Helen Gardiner Phelan Playhouse
****************************
Hungry Ants
Toronto, ON
presented
Glass Castles
by Lindsay Price
directed by Laura Thorne
The ocean whispers Moments Past as Hannah drowns in Forgotten ... Experience the pains and
passions of existence as seven Hannahs reunite to Remember... Previously produced by
Nightwood and Alumnae; a poignant drama for those who love the sound of the spoken word -
from the creator of Galileo: The Starry Messenger.
Featuring Andrea Badnar, Mary Chisholm, Angela Guarisco, Bev Holliday, Raisin McGinley
60 Minutes
The Robert Gill Theatre
****************************
Canadia dell'Arte Theatre Troupe
Toronto, ON
presented
Golf War, The
by The Company
From the company that brought you the critically acclaimed productions The Saucy Maiden andThe Venetian Elopement. Sex money, power, golf and fresh air, what more do you want?
"...Zesty fun...outrageous jokes and business. The company is in top form...works smoothly and
often hilarious..." - Jon Kaplan, NOW Magazine
60 Minutes
BYOV A: Central Technical School
****************************
Threesome Productions
Montreal, QC
presented
Great Canadian Orgy (Of Live And Death)
directed by Ed Gass-Donnelly
"A fifteen year-old girl stands at the edge of a towering cliff and speaks to an angelic shadow
with no name" (from Must, by Robin Wilcock).
The Great Canadian Orgy is a fast-paced collection of short plays by new and upcoming
Canadian artists.
Featuring Marcia Muldoon, Francois Chiesurin
60 Minutes
The Annex Theatre
****************************
Sunshine Theatre Co. / Red Daddy Theatre
Toronto, ON
presented
Growl Sweetly
by Evan Brooker
directed by Brenda McFarlane
The Talk of Rhubarb '97. Lois aspires to suck the tongue out of her roommate's mouth. When
he proves to be unobtainable, she plans his funeral and encourages a suitor who is camouflaged
underneath her bushes.
Directed by Brenda McFarlane ("one of the brightest directors around" - Globe) and written by
Evan Brooker ("a distinctive voice" - NOW)
55 Minutes
The Poor Alex Theatre
****************************
Kee Company
Tokyo, Japan
presented
HaHa
by The Company
HAHA - Japanese: mother; English: the sound of laughter.
HAHA plays as many shades as the mother-daughter relationship it explores. Created by an
international collective, a fusion of folk stories-with-a-twist, original dance, comedy, music,
tragedy and song. Performed in English and Japanese, but extends beyond linguistic boundaries.
60 Minutes
The Robert Gill Theatre
****************************
Brave New Weasels
Toronto, ON
presented
Hard Core Weasel
by The Company
Fringe Festival favourites, the Brave New Weasels unleash their fifth and funniest sketch
comedy revue.
"Winnipeg's loss is Toronto's gain..." - The Jenny Revue
"Ridiculous and hilarious...crowd pleasing sketch comedy." - The Winnipeg Sun
"Quick, smartly paced, deftly timed and, above all else, very funny." - Winnipeg Free Press
Featuring Ken Cuperus, Sandy Jobin-Beavans, Matt Kippen, Ron Moore
60 Minutes
The George Ignatieff Theatre
****************************
Underrated Productions
Toronto, ON
presented
Hip-Hop (Who Stole The Soul?)
by Joseph Pierre
A provocative look at music's cultural value. Financially stable yet spiritually deprived, our
"bourgeois" Negro tries to reaffirm his bond with black culture through rap music. Driven
intensely by Hip-Hop music, we are thrust into his role-playing fantasy.
Elvis...Dolls...Misconceptions...Disenchantment.
Featuring Joseph Pierre, Josh Glover, Clair Oswald, Curt Ettienne, Ayesatta Conteh
50 Minutes
The Glen Morris Studio
****************************
Vodka In The Cupboard Productions
Toronto, ON
presented
Holding
by Christina Starr
directed by Philip Akin
For anyone who has ever waited or kept someone waiting for love. Holding looks at the
intensity of loneliness, the giddiness of desire and the confusion of betrayal. An intimate
depiction of one woman's confrontation with a love triangle.
Featuring Kelly Bolt
60 Minutes
The Annex Theatre
****************************
Atlas Mason
New York, NY
presented
Homunculus Project, The
by Alex Posen & Ensemble
The Homunculus Project is a sixty-minute visual theatre trilogy based on a score of non-
traditional masks. This work explores the nature of solitude in three female icons. A decaying
Madame delves into erotic absences; an earth-bound idiot finds unequivocal beauty in marginal
existence; techno-clones explode out of their isolated reality.
60 Minutes
The Robert Gill Theatre
****************************
Ben Kerr, DCS, The King of Cayenne
Toronto, ON
presented
I Play Without My G-String at Yonge and Bloor
by Ben Kerr
Ben will be singing his controversial songs, telling stories of how the songs came to be written,
and inviting the audience to sing along. A truly entertaining show, appealing to people of all
ages.
60 Minutes
The Annex Theatre
****************************
Shenanigan Productions
Toronto, ON
presented
I Stand Before You Naked
by Joyce Carol Oates
directed by Tova Smith
In this provocative collage play, Joyce Carol Oates exposes the souls of six women...a school
girl in an ecstasy of hunger, a mental patient who prays for nuclear holocaust, a murdered
stripper who speaks from beyond the grave...with their remarkable stories they stand before you
naked.
60 Minutes
The Helen Gardiner Phelan Playhouse
****************************
ETC Inc.
Toronto, ON
presented
I Took Your Name
written and performed by Michael Nathansan
directed by Per Brask
Fame. We all want it. And you've got it: a famous name. Problem is, nobody believes you're
him. I Took Your Name, a compelling one man show about identity, fame and the search for a
slow dance.
55 Minutes
The Annex Theatre
****************************
Mondo Ludo
Toronto, ON
presented
Il Letto (The Bed)
written and performed by Andy Moro & Gabriella Caruso
In their bed, where stars come and go, two clowns fumble and frolic under a shadowy spell of
nocturnal delirium. Shadow puppetry, clown, spectacle, some nudity.
60 Minutes
The Glen Morris Studio
****************************
Shamingu-Noriko Theatre Company
Toronto, ON
presented
Insects & The 1000 Paper Cranes
written and performed by Noriko Yamamoto
Insects is a funny mime skit about the evolution, of humankind. The 1000 Paper Cranes is a
"Silent Storytelling" performance (a non-verbal form of storytelling that incorporates mime,
movement, gesticulation, dance and music) and is about the atomic bomb on Hiroshima and the
heroine that it produced.
60 Minutes
The Poor Alex Theatre
****************************
Winking Owl Productions
Vancouver, BC
presented
Interbastation
by Colleen Subasic
directed by Rachel Ditor
Physical, gothic comedy. Elizabeth might be on death's doorstep but nobody wants to hear about
it. Not her green-skinned mother, her giggling one-night stand or her blood obsessed best friend.
They're having fun with their own angst.
"Subasic's associative style brims with intelligence, wit and passion." - Georgia Straight
Featuring Colleen Subasic
50 Minutes
The Glen Morris Studio
****************************
Armchair Theatre Company
Toronto, ON
presented
Jackpot
by The Company
Does "Scratch and Win!" make you itchy?
Do you scream BINGO when your number is called at the unemployment office? Come to
Casino where all your dreams come true. Get your tickets to win JACKPOT because the rest of
The Fringe is a crap shoot. From the creators of Mine.
Featuring James Barrett, Paul Herwig, Martin Moreau, Kevin Sepaul
50 Minutes
The Glen Morris Studio
****************************
Rhino Productions
Toronto, ON
presented
Juan For The Road
by written and directed by Ingrid Keenan
At a rehearsal for Don Juan, the main character comes to life a bit too vividly...Follow the
world's greatest lover on a romantic rampage through the Annex, with a little help from Mozart,
Molière, and Tirso de Molina. Some coarse language and plenty of innuendo.
50 Minutes
BYOV D: Pick up at The Fringe Club
****************************
T.A.G.L.A.R.C
Toronto, ON
presented
Leading Laddies - A Drag Review
by the collective
directed by Kevin Sheard
Drag performers sing and act out several popular songs and classic scenes made famous by
Leading Ladies of the Theatre. This all LIVE camp review features elaborate costumes and
salutes many years of Broadway theatre history. Some innovative impersonations and
impressions are also featured.
Featuring Bitch Diva, Sophie De Lee
50 Minutes
The George Ignatieff Theatre
****************************
Backwash Productions
Toronto, ON
presented
Leo Playbrook's First And Last
by Colin D. Simpson
directed by Morgan Phillips
Leo has overstayed his welcome on his friend's couch. When his buddy leaves, Leo has a month
to make rent. He's desperate. So desperate in fact, he's willing to take a job. When hired by
family friend "Shady" Jack Weinberg he finds there's worse things than being broke.
Featuring Colin D. Simpson, Brock Simpson
55 Minutes
The Annex Theatre
****************************
Moon In June Productions
Toronto, ON
presented
Maiden, Mother, Crone
by Dorothy Lichtblau
The greatest act of courage is to live fully and with an open heart. The finest gift is to share
what you learn about living joyfully. A sensitive young girl, a wise older woman connect and
transform. Two magical stories about the feminine face of love.
Featuring Dorothy Lichtblau, Pat Snider
50 Minutes
The Robert Gill Theatre
****************************
Best Shot Produtions
Toronto, ON
presented
Michael's Eulogoy
by Guy Pritchard
directed by The Company
At the beginning of Michael's Eulogy, Michael, the main character in the play, is dead. No one
has honoured him with a eulogy, so Michael comes back from the dead to deliver it himself.
Because of its language and theme, Michael's Eulogy is suited for a mature audience.
Featuring Guy Pritchard, Michael Kilpatrick, Ron Robinson, Laurel McCauley, Elizabeth Noton
50 Minutes
The George Ignatieff Theatre
****************************
LD Productions
Toronto, ON
presented
Mind The Gap
written and performed by Christian James Lloyd
directed by Pragna Desai
A young man, Ian, the day after his twenty-ninth birthday, tries to recall the events of the night
before. In doing so, a kaleidoscope of memories assaults him as he tries to come to terms with
his own mortality. A journey taken with warmth, humour, and poignancy.
55 Minutes
The Glen Morris Studio
****************************
Mump & Smoot
Toronto, ON
presented
Mump & Smoot In "Tense"
by John Turner & Michael Kennard
MUMP & SMOOT return to The Fringe with a preview of their new show TENSE. In TENSEthey embark on a horrifying vision quest through the Ummonian wilderness to commune with their god UMMO.
Delight in despair, danger, delusion, darkness, terror, enlightenment, ritual, and folly!
Featuring John Turner, Michael Kennard, Richard Kunst
60 Minutes
The Robert Gill Theatre
****************************
Theatre Viscera
Toronto, ON
presented
Muscle Memory
written and directed by John Delacourt, Ian Carpenter & Rebecca Picherack
From the Carnal to the Carnivalesque, presented for your pleasure: the Body. An autopsy of
love, fear, loathing and desire written in the body. Praise for Theatre Viscera: "NNNN. A work
of searing intensity and little compromise." - Jon Kaplan, NOW
50 Minutes
The Poor Alex Theatre
****************************
Koala Productions
Pasadena, CA
presented
My Place
written and directed by Christopher Coey
Laura and John had never met, as far as they knew. Watch what they never saw, as they
discover each other for the first time...and you see what they had missed time and time again.
50 Minutes
The Helen Gardiner Phelan Playhouse
****************************
Poculi Ludique Societas
Toronto, ON
presented
Noah's Ark
by anonymous, adapted by David Parry
directed by Linda Phillips
Farce, fighting, spectacle, music: Toronto's world-renowned medieval players have it all. In this
version of the tale, Noah builds his ark and gathers his animals, but his stormy marriage
threatens to prevent his escape from the greater storm. Performed outside in real medieval style,
on an authentic pageant-wagon.
40 Minutes
BYOV E: Knox College
****************************
West End Republic
Vancouver, BC
presented
Of Fun And Learning (The Legend Of Don Juan Holiday)
by Sean Damian Bruno
directed by Amber Northcut
Victor wants his kids show back. Laurel wants his trust. Johnny wants it all (but he'll settle for
a lot). A watchdog media committee brings to light the story of an ex-children's show host who
faked his damnation. A satirical look at the world of media, extreme manipulations and the
devil.
Featuring Dominique Bruno, Amber Northcut, Sean Damina Bruno
55 Minutes
The Glen Morris Studio
****************************
Dazbart Productions
Toronto, ON
presented
One For All
by Marye Barton
directed by Laine Williams & Susan Bourne
In clown style, this is a funny, thought-provoking play about Life, D(d)eath and B(b)eing. Two
characters find themselves caught in limbo. They can't move on...or back. Or can they? Are
they alone? A delightfully complex view of humans hereafter - to help the here now!
Featuring Linda Carter, Kerry Tobin, Maggie Shaw, Laine Williams
55 Minutes
The Helen Gardiner Phelan Playhouse
****************************
Theatre Ambrosia
Toronto, ON
presented
Peace Line, The
by Melinda Little
directed by Vikki Anderson
A photographer is preparing a phot exhibit of her grandmother. Her grandmother is trying to
understand why she ever left Ireland in 1925. A camera sometimes reveals more than you want
to know.
Featuring Ann Page, Melinda Little
45 Minutes
The Helen Gardiner Phelan Playhouse
****************************
I Spy Theatre Company
Montreal, QC
presented
Play
written and directed by Annabel Soutar
Play is not a play. It is not working. Maybe it is time we all faced up to this. Two men write,
rehearse and perform their own play in order to understand why theatrical communication is
dying and how it can be reborn.
Featuring Nick Cavaiola, Alex Ivanovici
60 Minutes
The Annex Theatre
****************************
The Billy And Joe Company
Toronto, ON
presented
Remembering Galileo
by Nick Johne
directed by Bruce Hunter
The time: dusk. The place: a small town by the highway somewhere. Join our hero, Norbert
Klein, as he explains it all to you. A comedy about death, the universe and hurtin' songs.
Featuring Nick Johne, Bob Derkach
50 Minutes
The George Ignatieff Theatre
****************************
Black Dog Theatre
Toronto, ON
presented
Retribution
written and directed by Adrian Truss
It's hard enough to defeat a 500 year-old warlock who's running for mayor without having to
deal with a sidekick who's just discovered philosophy. From the author of Dragonhead, a hit of
The 1995 Toronto Fringe.
Featuring Adrian Truss, Bruce Hunter, David Huband
55 Minutes
The George Ignatieff Theatre
****************************
Big Honey Productions
Toronto, ON
presented
Rounds
by Chris Kitowski
directed by The Company
"Drinking in a bar is a lot like having a relationship...the difference is you can leave a bar at
any time...well, I guess you can leave a relationship, too...and then go to a bar."
Everything is an addiction in this darkly comic view of life.
Featuring Bert Steinmanis
50 Minutes
The Poor Alex Theatre
****************************
Why Buy the Cow?
Toronto, ON
presented
Sanguine Tears
by Lorraine Swanson
directed by Jason Fuller
There are three things you should never do: never wear red to a funeral; never marry your sister's
boyfriend; and, if you find a skeleton in the closet, for God's sake shut the door! A bittersweet
comedy from the creators of Lunatic Rising and A Soul for a Soul.
Featuring Lynn Zeelenberg, Marie Claire Thompson, Lorraine Swanson and three cute guys
The Robert Gill Theatre
****************************
Cattle Productions
Toronto, ON
presented
Shooter
by Denis McGrath
directed by Colin Viebrock
Four paparazzi, one purpose - get the shot, at any cost. It's not a pretty picture. Thrown together
on a stakeout, alliances and good humour get caught in the cross-hairs of a private agenda. A
darkly comic work from the writer, director and stars of the 1996 Summerworks hit, Press'd.
Featuring Mark Ellis, Paul Babiak
45 Minutes
The Helen Gardiner Phelan Playhouse
****************************
Skylark Productions
Toronto, ON
presented
Simply Fred
by M.J. Kang
directed by Soraya Peerbaye
On his 29th birthday, Fred invites all of his friends to celbrate and witness the dawn of his new
life. A comedy about re-inventing one's past and present, and inventing one's future.
Featuring Paul Lee, Borys Medicky
50 Minutes
The George Ignatieff Theatre
****************************
Mari Osanai
Tokyo, Japan
presented
Sky Dream, The
by Mari Osanai
It is coming like water,
It is going like wind to -------.
33 Minutes
The Glen Morris Studio
****************************
Balls Production
Toronto, ON
presented
Smoke
by Michael MacLean
directed by Vinetta Strombergs
It's about smoke and fire and walking in the dark. Reg is devoted to not standing out. But now
he's been fired - downsized, had breakfast with his father...and he's just performed the most
irrational act of his life. It's about coming out of a lifelong state of shock.
55 Minutes
The George Ignatieff Theatre
****************************
Rubbed Raw
Winnipeg, MB
presented
Sorority Slumber Party Massacre: The Musical
written and directed by Angus Kohm
An insane killer is stalking innocent sorority girls...Sound familiar? It is. But this time it's even
more horrifying. This time they sing and dance too. Kohm's work has been called:
"Hilarious!" - Winnipeg Sun
"Good nasty fun." - Toronto Globe & Mail
"Four Stars." - Winnipeg Free Press.
Featuring Stefanie Wiens, Cassandra Williams
60 Minutes
The George Ignatieff Theatre
****************************
Larksfield
Toronto, ON
presented
Soup Head & Whitebread
by Bob Bainborough
directed by Sandra Balcovske
It's the old gang: a car salesman, a surgeon, a free spirit and a suicide victim. Twenty-five years
after high school, Little Lenny's back on the radio and "shit happens" doesn't begin to cover it.
A comedy about life's simple pleasures and the cheque at the end of the buffet.
55 Minutes
The Robert Gill Theatre
****************************
Up In The Attic Productions
Toronto, ON/Edmonton, AB
presented
Stage Directions
by Israel Horowitz
directed by Lynn Weintraub
Lights up. A living room. Three grieving siblings enter, cross paths, do not connect. On this
fateful afternoon they will each speak their activities, their emotions, and their own versions of
the truth. No other words or sounds are permitted. These are the rules. The Stage Directions.
60 Minutes
The Robert Gill Theatre
****************************
Ivor Dembina
London, England
presented
Stand Up Jewish Comedy (U.K.)
by Ivor Dembina
Forget chicken soup! Jewish comedy for the 1990's.
"The best Jewish comedian in London - possibly the best comedian full stop." - London Evening
Standard.
An irresistible mixture of truth and lies featuring Hebrew football chants, dope-smoking Rabbis
and Jewish prostitutes. They say Jews are funny - Ivor Dembina proves it.
60 Minutes
The Glen Morris Studio
****************************
Cygnet Theatre Company
Toronto, ON
presented
Star
by Samantha Swan
directed by Christopher Comrie
Using her obsession with Marlene Dietrich as a touchstone, a young Jewish woman survives
Nazi Germany by exploiting her "Aryan" looks and exposing Jews to the Gestapo. An
exploration of how fantasy and narcissism can escalate behaviour.
60 Minutes
The Poor Alex Theatre
****************************
Sorted
London, England
presented
Thieves
by Ethan Reitz
directed by The Company
A fast-paced two hander set behind the scenes of a diamond heist in London. A Canuck and a
Brit, masters of thievery and the philosophy of crime, get what they deserve: each other.
Featuring Ethan Reitz, Jacqueline Hynes
60 Minutes
The Poor Alex Theatre
****************************
Iron Doe
Toronto, ON
presented
Trace
by Celia Ferrier & Yanna McIntosh
A daughter traces the imprint of her "mystery" father on her life; her memories, her dreams, her
failures, her flights of fancy and invention. Whether he's there or not, she'll invent him.
Featuring Yanna McIntosh
50 Minutes
The Helen Gardiner Phelan Playhouse
****************************
English Suitcase Theatre Company
London, England
presented
Tragical History Of Dr. Faustus, The
by Christopher Marlowe
directed by Kevin Williamson
"Hell hath no limits nor is circumscribed in one self place, But where we are is hell, and where
hell is there must we ever be." Faustus signs the Devil's contract, ensuring earthly fame and
glory in return for eternal damnation. Marlowe's classic tragedy.
"Terrifying, stylish, effortless" - Winnipeg Free Press
55 Minutes
The Annex Theatre
****************************
Off The Page
Toronto, ON
presented
Unveiling
by Vaclav Havel
directed by Jennifer Doyle
Vanek the writer visits his dear (?) friends Michael and Vera. Amidst a display of decorative
and culinary arts they tutor him on life improvement - everything from career to techniques for a
better sex life. A hilarious and ironic mix of food and advice from the Czech Republic's first
president.
Featuring Terrence Bryant, David Kinsman, Wendy Mayer, Jacoba Knaapen
42 Minutes
The Glen Morris Studio
****************************
Crow's Theatre in association with All Feline Review
Toronto, ON
presented
Vacant Chapel, The
by Victoria Ward
directed by Jim Millan
A punk fairytale. "If the world is a made-up place, whose imagination would you want to live
in? The Pope's or Johnny Rotten's?" What about Sam's own? Up to her eyeballs with punk and
Catholic ghosts. Nose to nose with Malcolm McLaren. Based on true and made-up incidents.
60 Minutes
The George Ignatieff Theatre
****************************
La Maison Lamarre Inc.
Toronto, ON
presented
Vile Governess, The
by Stewart Lemoine
directed by Sue Miner, Jacques Lamarre
Denise Norman, Liza Balkan, Laura Landauer, Francisca Zentilli, Mark Brownell and David
Straus perform in the Dora award-winning play about the vengeful governess who destroys the
perfect Viennese family. A very black comedy and a vicious parody of Ibsen, produced by the
same people who staged Psychodramas last year.
55 Minutes
The George Ignatieff Theatre
****************************
Earthbound Theatre
Toronto, ON
presented
Voltaire's Workshop
by Andrew Merzetti
directed by Barry St. Denis
Darkly humourous and unpredictable, the play explores an extraordinary relationship between a
Canadian playwright and "his"imprisoned Russian dissident.
Featuring Scott Moore, Adam Bramble
50 Minutes
The Poor Alex Theatre
****************************
HAL PRODUCTIONS
Toronto, Canada
presented
Waiting For Harry
Written by Michael Hiller
Directed by Peter Pownall
We wait for buses. We wait in line. We wait for signs from God. On Hallowe'en 1997 Wyatt
Hitchcock is waiting for Harry Houdini to come back from the dead in Mount Pleasant
Cemetery. And if the magic is there, he'll get what he's been waiting for.
Featuring Jonathan Ellul, Esther Jaciuk, Roger Michael Garner
60 Minutes
The George Ignatieff Theatre
****************************
Not So Norma Productions
Toronto, ON
presented
Watch...Norma's Back
written and performed by Anne Marie Scheffler
directed by Debbie Tidy
The sequel to the North American comedic hit Situation: NORMA. Norma was left at the altar,
but now the vivacious Polish Princess and 4-time Potato Queen is a swinging single. But is
someone trying to kill her? Not nice!
"A major talent...we're talking star quality here!" - Edmonton Journal
****************************
Big Boy Theatre
Toronto, ON
presented
Word Of Mouth
written and performed by Bryan Misener
...And the truth shall set you free. Well sometimes I wish I'd been held against my will, and lived
in ignorance. Word of Mouth is a funny and poignant look back at growing up in Manitoba with
a family that invented dysfunctional.* No interpretive dance.
50 Minutes
The Helen Gardiner Phelan Playhouse
****************************
Hucka Meem!
Toronto, ON
presented
Year That Sex Came Out, The
by Stanley Katz
directed by Bruce Beaton
Every year The Fringe has a show with the word 'sex' in the title. Well here it is ... Come and
get it ya horny pig. This is a brisk biting burlesque of blasphemous behaviour. A Joe
Orton/Anais Nin potpourri. Ripe content with a bitter pit. Yum-Yum.
Featuring Ellen-Ray Hennessy, Stanley Katz
60 Minutes
The Annex Theatre
****************************
The Hugh Bris Co.
Toronto, ON
presented
Yodellers
written and performed by Michael Healey & Kate Lynch
directed by Diane Flacks
What do you do when your appetites lead you beyond your notion of yourself? What do you do
when you can have only most of the person you want? What do you do when you've got a
sidehill lie, a trailing wind and one ninety to the pin? A comedy from the company that brought
you last year's Fringe hit Kicked.
54 Minutes
The Robert Gill Theatre
****************************
Triple Valence
West Lafayette, IN
presented
Zoo Story, The
by Edward Albee
directed by Kristine Holtvedt
A lovely summer day. Central Park. Peter is sitting on a park bench reading quietly. Jerry
enters. He has been to the zoo. "Careers are funny things. They begin mysteriously and, just as
mysteriously, they can end." - Edward Albee, July 4, 1960
(the same might be said of life...)
Featuring Richard Stockton Rand, Richard Sullivan Lee
The Helen Gardiner Phelan Playhouse
****************************