Pip's Picks of the Fringe - DAY 4

So, last night did not go according to plan. I managed to pick the most popular shows. They all sold out! I missed Ginger Ninjas because of this but still managed to catch Wanderlust and Die Roten Punkte (but it was close).  Then, my intention was to hit the Fringe Club for the Atomic Vaudeville Cabaret, but when I was given the opportunity to see Poison the Well at 11:30pm (tough timeslot for any fringe artist), I decided to do that and I'm glad I did.


Show #1 - Wanderlust

This show has been a sell-out show across the country and last night was no different.  I nearly didn't get in! Martin Dockery is a natural story-teller, which was obvious at Dave Morris' showdown when Martin tied for first place with Jayson McDonald.  And the fact that this tale is entirely true makes it that much more appealing.  Martin tells us about when he traveled to West Africa for 5 months in search of an epiphany.  The adventures he has along the way are certainly not ordinary and even those that may not have been fun at the time, are funny in the re-telling. I enjoyed this show.

Remaining Showtimes:  Fri Sep 3, 9:30,  Sat Sep 4, 7:30 & Sun Sep, 3:15   Wood Hall


Show #2 - Die Roten Punkte

The line up for tickets to this show was almost round the block.  I count myself lucky I was able to get in as there were a lot of disappointed fans lamenting to the lineup of ticketholders.  I missed this show last year and can now understand why it gets a lot of buzz.  It's a rock show / comedy show / family drama all rolled into one.  I found myself tapping my feet to the music, laughing out loud at the quibbles between siblings Astrid and Otto, and the 50+ year old guy beside me, who said it was his first time to a Die Roten Punkte show, just couldn't contain himself. He said he'd never seen anything like it, and loved it!  My friends and I had a good time at this show.


Remaining Showtimes:  Sat Sep 4, 6:00,   & Sun Sep 5, 8:30   Downtown Activity Centre


Show #3 - Poison the Well

As this show was not on my original list, I knew nothing about it when I took my seat in the audience with 10 other people.  Late shows at the Fringe are a hard sell, especially intense dramas like this one.  While it was late, and I'd been to two shows already, and had hoped to make it to the AV Cabaret, I am glad I saw this show.  It's an intense political drama about two childhood friends who meet on opposite sides of the war.  Strong performances and lengthy pregnant pauses kept me engaged. While speaking with Elison Zasko, one of the performers, following the show, she was concerned that it may not be suitable for fringe audiences. She may be right.  I would recommend this show for anyone who enjoys the dramatic plays presented at the Belfry and for any "Fringer" who likes drama and is willing to take a chance.

Remaining Showtimes:  Tonite at 6:00 and Sat, Sep 4 at 8:00  - Downtown Activity Centre



So speaking of chances, I think that this is one of the best parts of the Fringe Festival experience: taking a chance on a show that you may not otherwise plan or even get to see.  It's so easy to go to the most popular shows, but if you can't get in, and you can't get to another show in time, then you've missed out on another Fringe show experience, even if it's a show you don't particularly enjoy.  I mean the lineups are fun, but it's shows we really want to see isn't it?

This afternoon I took a chance on Breakfast in Vegas, which was presented daily this week at Cabin 12 restaurant.  Today was the final show.  I'm glad I caught it.  I was able to sit back with a coffee and some lunch and listen to a story about how life is all about taking risks.  Part storytelling and book reading, there were also musical interludes which included songs from an era that clearly resonated with the elderly woman in the audience as she sat alone at a table near the stage, tapping her orthopedic shoes on the floor.  What I took from the show is that life is a game of chance where, even with Lady Luck on our side, we can sometimes get dealt a bad hand.  I, unfortunately, got dealt a bad hand when I was one of 4 audience members who volunteered to play a single hand of poker as part of the show. Ah well. Better luck next time! 


Tonite it's Psycho Bitch at 7:45 and then Antoine Feval at 9:15

Tomorrow, it's Public Confessions of a Public Servant at 2:45, Lucky 9 at 5:45, Gun Powder at 7, Money Fast at 9, and Dave Morris is an Asshole at 11:15. 

Well, that's the plan...

Pip

Pip's Picks of the Fringe - DAY 3

So, my Day 3 on the 'Fringe' was last night.  I saw two shows.  I had intended to see three, but it just didn't work out that way.

Show #1 - Kitty in the City

I liked this show.  Solo performer Jeffrey Frieders 'gets physical' and jumps and spins from a flighty gay man and cat lover who owns a day spa for cats, to a stern Russian dog owner, to an uptight 'racoon' of a neighbour as he tells the story of Ronney Bridestar, a man in search of success.  As someone who has dabbled in filmmaking, and who was obsessed with television as a kid, sometimes when I watch a fringe show like this one, where there are really no props and only one actor, I can see the bigger picture and imagine what it would look like if created for the screen.  I saw that with this one, especially in the montage when Ronney suddenly finds himself running around giving mani's, pedi's & facials to multiple cats on the same day. Hilarious.

And how could I forget to mention the moment when Ronney addressed Adrian Chamberlain and said, "I think you will have a wonderful literary journey", without even knowing he was the critic for the Times Colonist. That is actually a line in the play. Seriously, it is.

Remaining Showtimes - Sat Sep 4, 4pm & Sun Sep 5, 5:30pm - St Andrew's School


Show #2 - Gonads and Gametes

Now, I'll be honest, it was my friend who was more interested in this show than I was.  While I agreed at the previews that it was a clever concept - an army of sperm led by Captain Spunk trying to fight their way into a uterus in order to fertilize a sacrificial egg named Emily - it wasn't one of my top picks.  It certainly is now. Jeff Leard is an animated, physical actor.  This show is high energy, fast-paced, and had the audience laughing out loud from start to finish. I see an animated film in the future.

Remaining Showtimes:  Tonite at 8pm & Sat at 9:30pm  - Wood Hall


And the show I missed last night was Peter & Chris Save the World.  I saw Peter in the lineup for Gonads & Gametes (the show) and, as it turns out, they had had a full house earlier that night.  I do hope to catch this before it's over as I missed their show last year and hear nothing but good thing about this comedy duo.

Remaining showtimes:  Fri Sep 3 at 8pm & Sun Sep 5 at 6:15pm


Tonight, the plan is Wanderlust at 6, Ginger Ninjas at 7:45, and Die Roten Punkte at 9:30.


Pip

Fringe Picks - Shows I Recommend or Plan to Attend

Before I list the shows I would like to see during the remainder of the Festival, I can tell you that, from my experience, the following shows won't disappoint:

Show #1 Fear of a Brown Planet

I saw this show last year during the fundraiser for Intrepid Theatre and the year before that. It's great.  Nile is funny and certainly keeps you engaged and entertained throughout his show. If you like intelligent stand up comedy, you'll like this show. 

Showtimes Thu Sep 6 through Sun Sep 5 either 7pm or 8:30pm at Little Fernwood Hall.


Show #2 Gunpowder



While I haven't seen this one yet, in the past, Jayson McDonald's solo shows have always guaranteed to entertain. He's a super-talented writer and performer whose work appeals to most everyone.
 
For fans of Jayson's, it will be interesting to see his new show, also at the Fringe this year, in which he plays opposite female co-star Meghan Brown.  Check it out... it's called Celebrity Cult.

Showtimes    - every night through Sunday at 7pm at St. Ann's Academy



Some other shows I would like to attend... (though this is way too ambitious with only 5 days left)
Dave Morris is an Asshole
Wanderlust
Die Roten Punkte
Public Confessions of a Public Servant
Lucky 9
Antoine Feval
Psycho Bitch
Oneymoon
Ginger Ninjas
Breakfast in Vegas
Lady Dee
Gunpowder
Celebrity Cult



For showtimes etc go to...  http://victoriafringe.wordpress.com/shows/

See you on the Fringe.

Pip

Pip's Picks of the Fringe - DAY 2

Day 2 of my Fringe experience was yesterday, technically Day 6 of the Fringe.  I only wish I had been able to take in shows on the opening weekend rather than work to pay my rent because there are just so many I want to see! And writing a review based on my experience at each show, while fun for me, won't do much in terms of helping to promote the artists if I write it when their run is nearing its end. 

So, while I likely won't let that stop me from sharing my experience each day, today,  in addition to writing about the two shows I saw yesterday, I plan to share a list of shows I intend to see this week. (Thank goodness intention is looked upon as a good thing in the Buddhist tradition because I will sadly not get to them all).

 So...

Show #1 - The Excursionists

The comedic duo in this show about two British time-travelers trying to save King Henry from decapitation are spot on. I kept thinking of tv shows like Blackadder or Monty Python or Absolutely Fabulous while I was watching this.  If you like any of these shows, you'll like this. The show is witty, fast-paced and fun.  Loved the set design and use of props - some pretty neat stuff. And boy, do those guys get a workout! This is a laugh out loud show (that's kinda kid-friendly).

Remaining showtimes:  Sat Sep 4, 4:00pm   &    Sun Sep 5, 6:30 - Downtown Activity Centre


Show #2 - atticdwellers

Wow.  This show gave me shivers.  It's not often that my body responds so strongly to live performance. Only when it's good.  And this is good.  It's the story of three children stuck in an attic and trying to remember, using 'memory climbing', how they got there.  They play, they fight, they recall encounters with their parents, each memory building on the next, some repeating themselves as they each try to help each other understand what lead to being stuck. It's an intelligent and intense drama - written, directed and performed by a talented group of UVIC students - that left me saying "wow".

Remaining showtimes:   Thu Sep 4, 11:15pm   &   Sat Sep, 9:00   Metro Studio


So those were the two shows I caught last night.  Then it was off to the Fringe on Film event where two films I worked on were quite well-received. I was Props Master and 1st AD on a hilarious little film called Pirate Santa (http://brokenmirrorfilms.com/PirateSanta/) and I was one of two filmmakers who created a short doc about Fringe Funny Man, Wes Borg.  It was really great to watch that doc with an audience of people who know or know of Wes, and who laughed in all the right places.  Thanks everyone.

I will send a new post later today with shows I also recommend and those I intend to see this week.

Tonight it's Peter & Chris, Kitty in the City, and Gonads & Gametes.

Pip

Pip's Picks of the Fringe - DAY 1

Well, the Fringe Theatre Festival is underway here again in Victoria, BC. When I kept telling everyone at work last night about my picks this year, a friend of mine suggested I blog about it. So... introducing... Pip's Picks.

I've been a bit sidetracked this year with other commitments so my first day out at the Festival was on Sunday. I saw 4 shows. All very different. One clown from Japan. One slam poet from the UK. Two City Bus workers from Seattle. And a German woman in Yugoslavia, post WWII. Like I said, all very different.

Here's a bit about what I saw...

SHOW #1 - SHOSHINZ presents: A Day in the Life of Miss Hiccup

I thoroughly enjoyed spending my first fringe hour with Miss Hiccup. This show is just plain fun. We share her ups and her downs over the course of an "average" day which are presented to us through mime, props, and a very cool sound design. There were even a couple of kids in the audience for this show, one who actually tried to beat Miss Hiccup at mimed ping pong! This did not please Miss Hiccup, but all was well in the end when the audience became part of the show.
I liked this show a lot and think it's just too bad there aren't more matinee or early evening showtimes so more families can take their kids. It's cute, it's quirky, it's perhaps not for everybody, but I'd definitely include it in my picks this year.


SHOW #2 - The Genghis Khan Guide to Etiquette

I missed Rob Gee in his show called Fruitcake last year, a show inspired by his time spent as a nurse in a psychiatric hospital. This year, Rob says it himself when he introduces the show: "this show has very little to do with Genghis Khan, and even less to do with etiquette". Nevertheless, it's a very entertaining show. Rob is a slam poet so this means no props, no costumes, no instruments. Just the performer and a mic. Rob doesn't need a mic though. His booming british accent and large stage presence are all that's required. Part stand up comedy, part story-telling, part performance poetry. My favourite part is the stories he tells in between each poem, and how he even sometimes begins a poem and then says, oh, wait, i'm going to tell you this story first about how I was heckled once by a 10 yr old boy eating ice cream.... It was 4 seats short of a sellout last Sunday... need I say more.


Show #3 - The History of The Lost and Found

Sadly, this show run ended last night at Langham Court Theatre. That's the luck of the draw when a show gets a venue that's only available for use during the first five days of the Festival. It's so hard to promote a show and get a buzz going with so little time. I did my best to get the word out on this one and on Sunday, one man I had mentioned it to approached me after the show, shook my hand and said, "Thanks for telling me about this. I really enjoyed it." I hope Keira and Evan get a chance to bring this fun story back to Victoria, perhaps to present it to our local transit workers as it's about two City Bus workers who make up stories with lost and found items and then have to decide whether to rat each other out when they discover one of them is going to get fired. Strong performers, fun story, sadly lost in the fringe shuffle... I'm just glad I found out about it in time to see it.


Show #4 - Das Kabarett

I had been hearing great things about this play, so when the opportunity arose to tag along with some friends, I went. While standing in line we were handed a detailed description of the play. After reading it, I was asked what it was about. I replied, "I think it's about the life of a woman in war-torn Germany who is desperately trying to save her family." Perhaps it was because I had only intended to see three shows and was a little pooped by 9pm, or that I was distracted by the goldfish on stage and wondered if it had traveled to Victoria from afar and might perhaps need a home here, or because I really wanted to ensure that I made it to Dave Morris' showdown at the Fringe Club on Sunday nite, but I got a bit lost from time to time and wondered what was going on. However, even though I got a bit lost, and found myself yearning for moments of silence in order to absorb what had just happened during this densely dramatic dialogue-driven play, I still found myself in tears at the end. Nicely thought out set design (right down to the vanity lights), strong performance, but a bit too scattered for me.


So, that was Sunday. It's rainy and overcast today. Perfect time to take in my next few shows. Tonight it's The Excursionists at 6, then atticdwellers at 7:45, then to Fringe on Film at the Fringe Club at 10 where a short documentary I made about one of the Fringe's well-known comedians will be screening. Hope to see you there!

Pip

My Letter To The Finance Committee re: Arts Funding

To: The Finance Committee

Thank you for taking the time to read this email and watch the attached video.

Attached is a short promotional video I made for the Victoria Fringe Festival. On the first day of this year's festival, cuts to Gaming funding were announced and Intrepid Theatre lost $35,000 from its budget. More funding has now been cut which means that Intrepid Theatre will have to cancel some of its programming. Programs like these allow emerging artists to perform and develop their craft which then enable them to reach professional levels and tour the country and beyond as representatives of this province. They employ numerous staff from box office to backstage. They generate revenue for local restaurants and hotels. They bring this sleepy city alive.

I could not have made this video without the resources provided to me by CineVic, The Society for Independent Filmmakers. I made my first films with the help of MediaNet, an organization that has already had to let one staff member go and that will have to close its doors in the coming years if funding is not reinstated. I am an emerging filmmaker who has been given awards for short films through both the Art Gallery and The Community Arts Council. With this support I was encouraged to continue. Because of the current cuts to gaming and arts funding, these grassroots organizations will close and emerging artists will be forced to leave the province to develop their careers elsewhere. Five years ago I moved here to Victoria from Toronto to pursue filmmaking and to immerse myself in the arts because what I kept hearing was that "Victoria is an artists' haven". Why would we destroy this?

As you can see in the video, the Fringe Festival attracts artists from all over the world bringing something very special to this city. The arts cannot thrive in a province with no funding. Please, to keep events like the Fringe Festival from disappearing, and filmmakers and artists like me from leaving the province to start and pursue our careers elsewhere, reinstate funding to the arts, in its entirety, immediately.

Yours truly,


Pippa Hirst


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cy09eVZJopQ

Breathing Out

This is something I wrote a number of years ago which seems to fit in with this time of change...


It’s that struggle between sitting back and enjoying the ride, and standing up and finding a new vehicle.

It’s about moving with the times, and getting stuck in a moment.

It’s when the ride starts to become less enjoyable, and when life suddenly gets more interesting.

It’s when the things that you’ve been doing become a challenge, and those that lie ahead come to you with more ease.

It’s when you start to move in a new direction, but never lose touch with what you’re leaving behind.

Content to never return, but determined never to forget.

Taking it all in but always remembering to breathe out.






©2002, Pippa Hirst