Fall in Vancouver means two things: really confusing weather and the Fringe. Toronto gets a film festival, New York get fashion week and we get a week of rambunctious theatre. The Fringe was in full swing this weekend. Granville Island and other peripheral venues witnessed swarms of theatre hopefuls. Equipped with a cup of hot chocolate we hit up some shows to dive right into the edgy theatrical madness.
Peter N’ Chris Present: Here Lies Chris
Peter and Chris are Fringe darlings. I can’t think of an act more beloved than them at the festival. The duo take improv to the next level. This time they explore the theme of alternate universes. Ooooooooh! Peter scours tens of alternate universes to find the best version of Chris. Peter and Chris’ comedy is consistently clever and relevant. Their genius is on point. Their painfully-perfect physical comedy is sheer joy to behold. They use minimal props- banana peels being the most instrumental! The show’s one-liners slayed the audience, especially an older lady in the crowd who had the most lovely infectious laugh. Peter and Chirs do everything from getting into the Vancouver vs. Toronto feud, to Lord of The Rings gags and just the most random scenarios that your and my minds could never come up with. Although this show is not my favourite out of all the Peter ‘N Chris shows I have seen, I already know it will be the best show at the Fringe just based on its quality. “Peter ‘N Chris” are laugh out crazy loud kind of hilarious and they are just so damn adorable it is insane. If there is a show you cannot miss this fall it has to be “Peter ‘N Chris”. Without the shadow of a doubt.
Uncouth
Windy Wynazz’s one-woman show is part burlesque, part clown and part cabaret. If you are looking for the Fringe’s genre bending, subversive quality in action, this would be the show for you. The show starts and ends in two completely opposite places, visually and in terms of plot. There is not much of a plot but more of a thorough exploration of the character Wynazz plays. There is a lot of audience participation and Wynazz’s personality makes the unscripted moments appear natural. There is music, dancing, slapstick and a lot of, for the lack of a better word, weird stuff. Weird in a good way! The show is cute and quirky and you pretty much never know what to expect. “Uncouth” is light and quirky. Wynazz’s personality makes it crackle. Just remember to go in with an open mind!
Saturn Returns
There could not be a better show for me to watch at this point in my life, when I am going through my very own Saturn Return. Nine female performers talk about the crucial time in their lives when shit hit the fan. This is said to happen between the ages of 28-32 when Saturn returns to where it was at your birth. These women are hyper- talented. They are strong, beautiful and articulate. If you saw them on the street you would never think they have emerged out of experiences that had the potential to obliterate them. The show is heartfelt and genuine. The monologues are poetic and diverse. I fell in love with these women as they gave me hope for my own battles. Saturn Return is like a strong, warm hug. A triumph for female voices in theatre. Highly recommended!
For information on play schedules and tickets check out the festival website.
-Prachi Kamble