You know it’s summer in the city, once the Toronto Fringe Festival takes over! This year’s festival begins this Wednesday, July 1 and runs until July 12. The line-up is packed with 148shows in 29 venues, featuring 1,200 artists in every imaginable genre.
If you have yet to narrow down your Fringe list, I have selected five shows I think will be fun for all.
The Merry Wives of Windsor
Shakespeare BASH’d
Victory Café
From this ‘Best of Fringe’ winning Shakespeare Company comes the story of two witty women set out to teach a lesson of love and jealousy.
Who doesn’t love a good Shakespeare comedy? And with Shakespeare BASH’d, things cannot go wrong! Looking forward to their version of this play.
Uncle Tommy’s Campfire Ghost Stories (for Grown-Ups)
Site Specific: FIKA Cafe
All the nostalgic thrills of sittin round the campfire with BFFs, telling scary stories & eating burnt things on sticks. Except told by some sketchy dude in a backyard.
This show came to my attention via Twitter, when I put a call out for shows to catch at the fest. It sounds like it will be a whole of laughs, and maybe some awkward situations. Audience participation? Bring it!
Duotang Chesterfield’s Mystery Theatre Live
Randolph Theatre
A rotation of four hilarious and hair-raising evenings performed for you and the listeners at home. Two twenty-minute stories each night.
This show also came to my attention via Twitter. The idea of four different stories each night sounds ambitious, and curious.
Jackie English and Pastel Supernova
Becoming Burlesque
Al Green Theatre
A cabaret dance show about the evolution of a a shy, conflicted urban girl as she befriends a company of Burlesque performers and unleashes her inner Burlesque-self.
One should always make time for some late-night fun. I’ll be joining some friends for this show, thus I know it will be a good time.
Caws & Effect
Mind of a Snail
Factory Theatre Mainspace
Large scale shadow theatre from a bird’s eye view. Funny, beautiful and unique, with handmade layered projections, puppetry, masks, & an original musical score.
I always enjoy a good puppet show for children or grown-ups. I discovered Mind of a Snail at the Fringe last year, and thoroughly enjoyed their performance. I am certainly looking forward to their show this year.
Aside from these shows, you can catch more of site specific productions in unexpected locations such as a boxing gym, a yoga studio, a synagogue, and even a vintage clothing store in Kensington Market! As well, the Fringe Club will be abuzz every afternoon and evening with buskers, Shed Shows, a visual arts market, hip local food vendors, a licenced pop-up patio and 2 late night Saturdays where Fringers can celebrate until 4am.
Other Fringe Festival details worth noting are:
Performances run daily between 10:00am and midnight
Ticket Prices: $12 in advance, $10 at the door
(FringeKids! performances for children 12 and under: $5 in advance and at the door)
Purchase tickets the following ways:
1. Over the phone at 416-966-1062
2. Online at fringetoronto.com
3. At the Festival Box Office located in the Fringe Club (581 Bloor St. West)
4. At the show’s venue, one hour before performance (cash only)
All shows start on time. Latecomers will not be admitted. No exceptions.
For a full list of all shows and performance schedule, please visit fringetoronto.com. And don’t forget to tip the Fringe while you’re there!
