Bygone Theatre’s 2018 Toronto Fringe Picks

It’s almost that time again! The Toronto Fringe is running this summer from July 4-15th and we can’t wait to see some of our favourite actors up onstage. Here’s our must-see list (in no particular order) for the 2018 Toronto Fringe. Note: blurbs come from the productions themselves.

Final Exam.

 

Written by Eric Petersen, directed by Gillian Armstrong
The students of Mr. Miller’s class are troubled by the thought of their upcoming exams … while others are more worried their minds will soon be hooked up into a new group-mind by aliens.

The students debate the pros and cons of gaining instantaneous knowledge by suddenly having the ability to access anyone’s mind. Does privacy really matter? How do we maintain our identity? Will we still have to take exams?

See friend of Bygone Elizabeth Rose Morriss (Rope, His Girl Friday, Vaudeville Revue and many Retro Radio Hours) in this quirky site-specific play the Matty Eckler Recreation Centre. Get your tickets here.

Anywhere

 

Written by Michael Ross Albert
directed by David Lafontaine

A young businesswoman returns to her AirBnB to find that her host has been waiting up for her. What started as a cordial relationship between strangers begins to steadily escalate into a tense and unnerving battle for control.

In this new thriller by Dora-nominated playwright Michael Ross Albert, two women face off against each other in a struggle for meaning, connection, and power.

See friend of Bygone Cass Van Wyck (Hildy in His Girl Friday) in this startling new thriller at the Factory Theatre. Tickets available here.

 2018: A Sex Odyssey

 

Written & directed by Theresa Ramirez

2018: A Sex Odyssey re-imagines life in space, Big Brother style, as we careen towards a post-climate change future – focussing on sex, relationships and the interpersonal dramas of six twenty-somethings living together on a spaceship. It begins three months into a two year journey to populate the planet Mars, due to the near total destruction of planet Earth as a direct result of human caused climate change and the wars that ensued. Still, no one really cares about climate change.

Check out friend of Bygone Alex Clay (McCue in His Girl Friday) in this re-imagined comedy/sci-fi playing at St.Vladimir’s Institute – tickets available here.

A Kev ‘n Cal Mystery

 

Written by Allan Turner and Christopher L. Hedrick
Directed by Nigel Downer

Kev ‘n Cal are two mystery solving brothers, boy adventurers on the trail of trouble across dimensions ending up on the wrong side of reality. Danger! Foul play! Puberty! Whatever the risks, Kev ‘n Cal can always count on each other. Or can they?

See friend of Bygone Allan Turner (who performed as his alter-ego, Mullet in our Vaudeville Revue) in what’s sure to be a comedy riot. Tickets available here.

The Queen’s Eulogy

 

Written by Rachel Ganz
Directed by Tanua Rintoul 

Set in a garbage world. Performed in a garbage dump. A play about women who refuse to be trash. We are literally building a theatre in a garbage dump. You gotta check it out! Book. your ticket, share this event. Come get TRASHY.

Written by friend of Bygone Rachel Ganz (the brilliant playwright behind Joe, a play that has been being workshopped this season) this production is sure to be brilliant and outrageous. Get your tickets here.

The Girl in the Photograph

 

Written by Joel Pettigrew
Directed by Victoria Urquhart

“The Girl in the Photograph” is a play based on a true story set in Mexico, telling the story of Paula, who gets caught up in a forbidden first love amidst a whirlwind of emotion and drama. The play leads us by the hand as we witness the development of a teen relationship with intricate consequences that have on everyone it touches. More than the sum of its parts as a drama, there are also several themes and thought-provoking subjects being explored: how can love develop even when circumstances would forbid it? What is that strength that carries us through moments of manipulation, how does it activate, and how did it come to be in us? In addition to the story being set in Mexico, this show is a proudly latino production with a Hispanic cast, boasting the well-established actors and artists of Toronto and Canada.

Friend of Bygone David Chinchilla (who performed in our first ever Retro Radio Hour) is performing in this new drama. Get your tickets here.

Want to see what else is on at this year’s Fringe?
Check out the program guide on their website.

Performer Spotlight – Mullet the Clown

While clown shows are a staple of Vaudeville, we haven’t seen anything quite like this before. Of course, what’s more Vaudevillian than that? Novelty acts found fame on the Vaudeville stage.

Bio: Jean-Paul Mullét was born in 1726, died in 1747, then washed up onshore 100 years later.

Now for over 16 years, Mullet has been a fixture of the Toronto comedy scene, making him one of this city’s oldest acts. In 2015, he was voted Toronto’s ‘Best Male Improviser’ in the NOW Magazine Readers’ Choice Poll.

Mullet appears regularly in the Toronto Festival of Clowns and Lunacy Cabaret, the longest running circus cabaret in Toronto. The tragicomedy Mullet’s Make-a-Play premiered in the 2011 Toronto Fringe Festival to rave reviews. In 2012, he headlined at The People’s Improv Theatre in NYC to a packed house. Mullet’s Dinosaur Adventure, a family friendly and educational show, sold out at the 2013 Toronto International Circus Festival. From 2011 to 2016, he hosted the hit Mullet’s Night Show, a live comedy variety show done in the style of a late night television talk show. You can see Mullet next in his new play, Mullet’s Ghost Story, every night June 29-July 10 at the 2016 Toronto Fringe.

Television credits include Zoink’d (YTV), the Canadian Comedy Award winning This Movie Sucks (CHCH), and Ed & Red’s Night Party (CityTV/G4), where he was a regular guest star.

For more about Mullet, visit www.meMullet.com.
Facebook: www.facebook.com/meMullet
Twitter: @meMullet

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