July 22, 2026

We’ve hit Hump Day in the second week of Fringe, there are tons of great shows out there to see, and many that are now selling out, so be sure to check the Fringe’s Sold Out List so you are not disappointed. We have reviews for over 100 shows now, so you can click on the show titles in the lists of Reviews and SSPs (Shameless Self Promotion) below to see the review or SSP. As always, if you have seen a show that we haven’t reviewed yet, or want to provide another perspective about one we have reviewed you can send us a review at jennyrevue@gmail.com

The Fabulous Jenny Awards!—Just a reminder that our end of Fringe wrap party and awards show will be in its new location, The Royal Albert Arms at 48 Albert Street (Venue 15). It is an accessible licensed venue and we will have a selection of pub grub available for purchase. It all happens on the last night of Fringe, Sunday July 26th. Doors will open at 9:30 pm with things getting underway at 10 pm(ish).

Venues 7 and 8—Due to construction in the parking lot the tables to buy and pick up tickets for Venues 7 and 8 (School of Contemporary Dance and Rachel Brown Theatre) have been in the lobby of the McKim Building (formerly the Crocus building), using the entrance on Bannatyne.

I originally thought the table relocation was due to the wild random downpours and winds we have had lately. For some more on dealing with the weather at the Fringe I hand over the rest of the editorial to Ray Yuen.

We just came out of one heat wave, and we’re about to enter another one. While sitting near The Cube, enjoying a glass of wine, and writing my reviews, I hear numerous people walk by and comment about how hot it is. Among the remarks:

– “Holy shit it’s hot. Look at all the people out here. How can people stand it? Let’s pick up the pace and get back inside.”
– “I’m f*cking melting! This isn’t even safe!”
– “I hate this; it’s so f*cking hot.”
– “I’m so hot! How can anyone live like this?”
and my favourite:
– “I hate to say it but I wish summer was over already.”

Really?! You live in a city that literally has only two months of summer a year, and you’re wishing it away?

A few things, first: it’s 33c right now, so it’s hot, but not unheard-of hot for this city. Second, the humidity only hovers at 54%, so not that high. Third, we live in Winnipeg, and this is not a climate that’s representative of the global population. Eighty percent of the Earth’s people live in the Tropics, which means that mid-30s is the norm for the entire year. Plus, many of these places sit on coasts, meaning their humidity levels always approach 100%.

We are humans; we adapted to living in tropical conditions. If we naturally adapted to living here in winter, we would not need parkas and naturally have polar bear-like fur.

I know—we’re not used to it, and that’s the entire crux of it. We’re not used to it, and it’s a strain on our bodies. That’s why we need to take precautions, like sunscreen, hydration and shade.

The whole point of this discussion? We’re about to enter another heat wave, and there are a number of venues without climate control. We all know those old, rickety venues on third floors. In past, one of them must have been 45C. I had a hand-fan and every time I switched hands, the new, downwind people cheered, while the upwind people pleaded for a return.

There are things you can do to make yourself more comfortable. The hand-fan is the easiest thing you can bring. I always have one in my Fringe Bag. A good water bottle goes a long way. I use a Yeti, and if I fill it with ice before heading out, it will last a few hours. Also, get a big bottle. On hot days, 250 ml lasts about 10 minutes. My large bottle holds 1.5 litres (admittedly, I bought it so it could hold two bottles of wine!). Fill that with ice and I’m good all day, even replenishing with warmish water from the machine at The Cube.

Other things? A towel soaked in cold water before you enter the venue really helps. This won’t be favourable with many people, but you can try eating spicy food before your show.

Seriously! Think about all the spicy cuisines: Thai, Indian, Mexican, Sichuan, Ethiopian, Jamaican, Brazilian, Burmese, Sri Lankan, Indonesian (and I could go on)—what climate do all of these food sources originate? Spicy foods make you perspire, and that’s your body’s natural cooling mechanism.

Whether it’s outside or in a steamy venue, take care during heat. We don’t need to be afraid of the elements. You always hear locals saying, “embrace the cold,” in winter; similarly, you can embrace the heat in summer. Summer is short—enjoy it.

Be careful, have fun, and Happy Fringe!

Ray Yuen
Review Coordinator