Fringe News
Fringe News
Against the odds, a Leslieville couple, one a lawyer and the other a retired teacher, have both written plays that will appear in the Toronto Fringe Festival this year. Fringe plays are chosen by lottery. After 2009, when the couple collaborated on “Hipcheck: The Musical” (winner of Best of the Fringe and Patron’s Pick), they had applied every year but were never lucky enough to be selected. This year, Shelley Hobbs applied in the 60 minute category and her partner Joan Jamieson threw her hat into Fringe Kids. They promised each other that if by some twist of fate both their numbers were selected, one would withdraw. When the announcement came, neither women wanted her partner’s play to go unseen, so they each took a deep breath and got ready to start production on both shows.
“A Good Death” is a drama about the conflict between Adrienne’s best friend and hockey team-mate and her estranged mother which cuts to the heart of the meaning of family, the ones who raise you and the ones you choose for yourself. Ms Hobbs combined experiences from her day job with the Public Guardian and Trustee’s office with her passion for playing in the Women’s Hockey Club of Toronto to write the show. “A Good Death” was workshopped by the Clean Sheets Festival in Vancouver, and won Newfoundland’s She Said Yes Theatre’s Dramaturge by Mail prize. It will have its Toronto premier at the Fringe Festival, directed by Elizabeth Saunders and starring Tracey Ferencz and Laura Schutt.
“Downtown Jay” is Ms Jamieson’s family musical about leaving your home and learning to build a new one. The title character, Jay, is driven out of Back of Beyond by the Mockingbirds. He tags along with some migrating geese and soon finds himself smack in the middle of one of our Toronto parks. A pair of tech savvy squirrels, a police horse, some raccoon chefs, and a Newfie house finch realtor all help him learn what every refugee needs to know – how to stay safe, make friends, find food and shelter and get a job. Director Ryan Kelly has assembled a talented crew of actors, Amy Swift, Dale Miller, Kristi Woods-Nogal and Tanner Homonko. Mr Kelly has also created a delightful set composed of giant pop-up books to keep audience members of all ages entranced.
A Good Death Downtown Jay
Tarragon Extraspace George Ignatieff Theatre
30 Bridgman Ave. 15 Devonshire Place
Thursday June 30 - 10:30 pm Thursday June 30 - 1:00 pm
Saturday July 2 - 7:15 pm Saturday July 2 - 2:15 pm
Monday July 4 - 4:45 pm Monday July 4- 4:15 pm
Tuesday July 5 - 8:00 pm Thursday July 7 – 11:30 am
Wednesday July 6 - 3:45 pm Friday July 8 – 1:15 pm
Friday July 8 - 5:45 pm Saturday July 9 – 4:30 pm
Sunday July 10 - 2:00 pm Sunday July 10 – 11:30 am
Tickets: www.fringetoronto.com or 416-966-1062
2016-05-24
Fringe: A Good Death / Downtown Jay