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music, book  lyrics by Christopher Wilson,

directed by Donna Marie Baratta

Beyond Boundaries, Toronto Fringe Festival,

George Ignatieff Theatre, Toronto

July 7-17, 2011

Best of Fringe Uptown, Toronto Centre for the Arts, Toronto

July 21-23

This fully staged chamber musical, imaginatively directed and choreographed by Donna Marie Baratta, seems primed for a professional run. The once carefree Michael (Ryan Kelly) must learn to come to terms with living with HIV, cleverly personified as Henry (Dale Miller), a jealous tough guy who haunts Michael and his relationships. The story, told primarily through song with little dialogue, feels authentic. Christopher Wilson’s music ranges from a comic bathhouse tango to the tearful song Michael’s mother sings to her comatose son. The piece might be stronger if the characters avoided psychobabble in analyzing their relationships, but this is a quibble given the committed, passionate performances from the entire six-person cast.

©Christopher Hoile

Note: A version of this review appeared in NOW Magazine, July 14, 2011.

Photo: Ryan Kelly and Dale Miller. ©2011 Pierre Gautreau.

For tickets, visit www.fringetoronto.com.