The Winnipeg Fringe Theatre Festival continues to showcase a diverse array of performances, offering audiences a rich tapestry of drama, comedy, and musical theatre. This year’s festival features a compelling lineup of shows, each bringing unique stories and perspectives to the stage. From intense psychological dramas to lighthearted musical spins on classic tales, the festival provides a platform for both established and emerging artists to connect with theatregoers.

Review Highlights from the Festival

Black Fish: A Challenging Psychological Drama

Raheno Art Company’s Black Fish presents a gripping psychological drama centered on a young woman’s arduous border crossing. The play, set at Theatre Cercle Molliere, features a tense encounter between a border officer and a woman attempting to enter an unnamed Western country. As the officer relentlessly questions and belittles the woman, the exchanges become increasingly surreal and personal. The officer’s attempts to deny her entry escalate, leading to a power dynamic that shifts throughout the performance. This production demands active engagement from the audience, proving to be an intense and sometimes exhausting experience. However, the actors deliver a profoundly moving moment directly to the audience at the conclusion, making the challenging journey worthwhile.

East of Berlin: Examining a Troubled Past

Glitter & Sawdust’s production of Hannah Moscovitch’s East of Berlin delves into the complex legacy of Nazism through the story of a retired physician in Paraguay. The play, performed at the Tom Hendry Warehouse, explores the life of Rudi, who grew up under the shadow of his father’s involvement with Adolf Hitler. Rudi’s seemingly ordered existence begins to unravel when a childhood friend reveals a hidden aspect of their shared history. The narrative follows Rudi’s quest for redemption, encountering Sarah, a Jewish woman visiting Europe, who serves as a counterpoint to his internal struggles. The play is described as searing and discomfiting, offering a potent examination of the banality of evil and the destructive nature of superiority complexes. Strong performances anchor this heavy, yet important, examination of historical trauma.

The Green Grab: A Topical Musical Satire

All About Theatre presents The Green Grab, a musical adaptation that cleverly reimagines L. Frank Baum’s The Wizard of Oz in a contemporary political landscape. Set in a besieged Greenland, this 50-minute musical uses the familiar framework of the classic story to satirize current political and social issues. The production features a large, intergenerational cast delivering a blend of dance, puppetry, and impressions, with one performer’s portrayal of a prominent political figure drawing particular attention. While the show’s ambition is evident, the overall impact is noted as not quite reaching the heights of its individual components. Nevertheless, the cast’s evident passion and commitment shine through, making it a spirited and relevant commentary.

The Not-So-Secret Life of Rowena Riddle: A Children’s Play

Sherri Elle Theatre Projects’ The Not-So-Secret Life of Rowena Riddle, aimed at younger audiences at the MTYP Mainstage, features a superhero whose power lies in her riddles. Rowena Riddle attempts to thwart bank robbers and save people using her unique abilities. However, the vastness of the mainstage proved challenging for the character’s projection, with younger audience members reportedly becoming restless. The character’s costume and her search for riddle supplies provided some amusement. The show’s energy and engagement significantly increased when Rowena Riddle involved the children in telling riddles and invited them on stage. While the 45-minute performance might thrive in a more intimate setting, such as birthday parties, its effectiveness diminishes at a distance. Front-row seating is recommended for optimal enjoyment.

On Tidy Endings: Navigating Grief and the AIDS Epidemic

Pilgrims’ Pieces offers On Tidy Endings, a poignant drama by Harvey Fierstein, at The Rachel Browne Theatre. Written during the height of the AIDS epidemic, the 45-minute play depicts a meeting between Marion, the ex-wife, and Arthur, the current husband, of a man recently deceased from the disease. As they sort through his belongings, their interactions reveal the profound grief, fear, and societal despair of the era. The production skillfully balances Fierstein’s sharp wit with moments of genuine tragedy. The local troupe navigates the play’s volatile central confrontation with admirable restraint, conveying the quiet beauty of the narrative. Strong performances from Kim Kay as Marion and Scott Pilgrim as Arthur are central to the production’s success.

Saving the Station: A Personal Account of Radio’s Demise

Saving the Station, presented by the School of Contemporary Dancers, is a solo performance by Jim Priebe recounting the rise and fall of WhiStle FM, a community radio station he helped establish. Performed at Venue 7, the hour-long piece reflects on Priebe’s childhood love for radio and the subsequent challenges faced by the station. Priebe passionately details the community’s initial support and the station’s miraculous growth in 2005. However, the narrative shifts to the operational difficulties and a “boardroom mutiny” that led to its decline, attributing the downfall to a lack of willingness to handle the necessary “grunt work.” The performance is characterized as an airing of grievances rather than a deep introspection into potential alternative paths. Greater self-reflection could enhance the work’s impact and authenticity.

The Taming of the Shrew: A Modern University Take

Indifferently Reformed’s production of Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew, staged at the Dalnavert Museum, reimagines the classic play within a contemporary university setting. The troupe injects humor and a “Battle of the Ages” dynamic, where older audience members experience the performance differently from their younger counterparts. While the actors speak in Elizabethan English, their attire is modern. The production features a dynamic cast, with each of the eight members having notable moments. The central challenge of reconciling Kate’s strong personality with her final monologue on obedience is addressed through Krista Austin’s portrayal, suggesting a nuanced interpretation of Kate’s compliance. The audience’s enjoyment may be influenced by their age demographic.

Tenderly: The Life and Times of Nat King Cole: A Musical Homage

Following his acclaimed tribute to Bob Marley, Montreal-based artist Duane Forrest returns with Tenderly: The Life and Times of Nat King Cole at MTYP – Mainstage. This musical homage features Forrest as a charismatic storyteller, captivating audiences with his smooth vocals and guitar skills. He performs beloved Nat King Cole classics, weaving them into a compelling narrative that also explores his personal experiences with racial profiling, juxtaposed with Cole’s own encounters in 1950s America. The 75-minute show includes deeply felt renditions of songs like “Strange Fruit” and “Unforgettable.” While minor elements like a vintage radio prop are noted as superfluous, the production is lauded as an arresting celebration of dignity, grace, and resilience.

Where We Fly From Hospital Beds: Family and Facing Illness

Cy-Fi Studios’ Where We Fly From Hospital Beds, presented at the Tom Hendry Warehouse, explores how two young sisters, Agnes and Margot, cope with illness through the lens of their shared love for Star Trek. The play sensitively addresses Agnes’s cancer diagnosis and the bleak prognosis, set against the backdrop of their mother’s death from the same disease and their father’s struggles. Local playwright Cyan Gargol’s 45-minute piece is praised for its imaginative style and fluid execution, offering more depth than many longer plays on similar themes. The ingenious integration of their favorite show into their process of coming to terms with cancer is a highlight, particularly when sock puppets representing dangerous aliens transform into representations of cancer cells. Despite a variable cast, the key moments are delivered with clarity and fervor, marking Gargol as a playwright to watch.

Conclusion: A Festival of Diverse Voices

The Winnipeg Fringe Theatre Festival continues to be a vibrant hub for theatrical innovation and storytelling. The reviewed productions showcase a remarkable range of talent and thematic exploration, from deeply personal struggles with illness and historical trauma to sharp political satire and heartfelt musical tributes. Audiences are encouraged to engage with these varied performances, which collectively offer a compelling snapshot of contemporary theatre.