Funny Answers to Your Sex Questions

Collins Entertainment—Planetarium

An ambitious title for sure, this piece seemed to tickle the fancy of the vanilla audience. I however, as someone under the rainbow umbrella was not keen on this “British Sex Expert”. An oxymoron the performer acknowledges.

Muddled with Mensa references and computer glitches galore, these were only to reveal a graphic with only slight comedic payoff. From a sex positivity standpoint, this series of “questions from the audience” was exclusively straight and the sexualization of bisexuality was a wet blanket for this reviewer.

If you are truly seeking answers to your intimate inquiries, I highly recommend Smut Slam that happens periodically in Winnipeg all throughout the year. At least there the funniest stories/questions the prize is from Love Nest and not a personalized mug.

If you find Passion Parties to be taboo, this might be the show for you.

Stephanie Adamov

Mornings at Miss Mabel’s

sherri elle theatre—Creative Manitoba

Back and forth between the nursery school she teaches at today and the nursery school in her past that animates her desire to teach and provide for kids in the present. Some of the delivery could do with more polish, and being placed within the position of kids acting out in her class, being addressed and told off for their imagined misdeeds was a bit uncomfortable. Ultimately, if the idea of seeing more into the world of nursery school education interests you, this is a great example of what sorts of things go on and the pedagogy/language that are employed.

Josh Fidelak

A Side of Rice

Chromedome Productions—The Asper Centre for Theatre & Film (U of W)

I wish I could convey how absolutely adorable Nik Rice is. He’s warm, clever, a poet and a superb actor. He’s has 49 years of experience! I m so glad I made time to take this diamond in. He does exactly what he promises in the program. We all laughed heartily: and I had to catch a tear at times as he shares the high and sometimes very low points in his long life. He actually took the time to memorize all the names of the audience and bid us goodbye by name!

Lisa Campbell

You’re Driving Me Crazy

Glass Confetti Productions—Tom Hendry Warehouse

As an only child, I was absolutely certain that I would not relate to this, and I was right. Regardless, it was a solid way to spend an evening. A pair of sisters on their way to a wedding, (who classically couldn’t be more different) reveal piecemeal to us their family, lives, and the identity of the bride and why they hate her so much. The performers showcase a multitude of skills, from singing to fight choreography, but struggled to fill the space. Often I had to strain to hear them, and a brief humming interlude towards the end was completely lost of me. A cute piece about connections, the bonds of sisterhood, and opening up.

Arden Pruden

Colin Mochrie Live at the Winnipeg Fringe

SMR Performance Society—PTE – Cherry Karpyshin Mainstage

If the show is already sold out, does the review even make a difference? Truly a delight to be in the presence of this comedic monolith, Mochrie performs beside Kevin Gillese as well as an invited local improvisor. While some folks in the crowd were expecting a solo show, it was clear that many were first time Fringers coming to see this Canadian legend. By playing a series of long and short form improve games, these comics had the completely full theatre roaring with laughter. My cheeks were sore as the trio with piano accompaniment navigated through each game.

You might not be able to see the show, but keep your eyes peeled around and about the festival and snag a selfie with this shining star at the Winnipeg Fringe.

Stephanie Adamov

AWOL

RibbitRePublic Theatre—The King’s Head Pub

The best comedy comes from putting ordinary people in extraordinary situations. AWOL takes two members of a care home and throws them into a metal festival, which goes surprisingly well. Despite an expansive cast with only two actors, the distinction between characters was perfectly clear and I was never confused. Nearly every bit hit, and even the ones that didn’t quite were still fun, due to the performers ability to work off each other so well. Equal parts funny and heartfelt, I was smiling the. whole time, which had very little to do with the long islands I was drinking.

Arden Pruden

Moms Moms Moms

DD Brassiere—PTE – Colin Jackson Studio

A person so overlooked, they had to name it thrice. These two moms (and a guest mom also appears) take to the stage with comedy, heart and a lil bit of good ol’ Manitoba nudity. No strangers to the stage, DD Brassiere and Your Mom Kathy offer maternal revelations and insights into motherhood. However, they also divulge some harsh realities as they guide the audience through their experiences as guardians. They share how both Moms found burlesque as an outlet and share some fun acts with the energetic crowd.

While some parts of the show could have been stitched together a bit tighter, these Moms do what Moms do best and persevere through some truly gripping and gut wrenching stories of maternal memories.

If this sounds up your alley, go visit your local Mom’s at PTE…who knows, you might even get a cookie!

Stephanie Adamov

The Mirror Sphere: The Sworn Protector

Kirkatures—John Hirsch Mainstage

I had to double-check that this was a local production and not an import from Wisconsin, such was the amount of cheese on display. But that’s okay; they know it and at times even lean into it. On the surface a somewhat cliched fantasy epic done as a sung-through musical – the program name-checks Tolkien and Nintendo’s Zelda series as major influences – there’s more than a few hints that the winking nods to the audience aren’t just comic relief and that the whole thing is going somewhere rather post-modern. True to its genre, it’s the first of a planned series, so we don’t get to find out for sure just yet. Some of the vocal performances could have been more assured, and it’s always a bit tricky to hear unamplified singing in this venue when there’s any kind of accompaniment, but the songs came through well enough that I heard other audience members singing them on the way out.

Jeff Heikkinen

The Get Laid* Show

The Other V Name Productions—Duke of Kent Legion

Unclassifiable? I’d agree. This is more of an experience than a show, but Veronica Ternopolski promises that if you don’t leave with a date, you’ll at least leave with some form of a connection with your fellow audience members. Everyone will leave with a high five. That’s a guarantee.

Unload some baggage as you impromptu meet and greet those sitting at your table at the Duke of Kent Legion. Maybe you’ll have a full house of witnesses as you go on a blind date? Who knows. Though the use of a binder was distracting, it did keep the show organized as the audience got to “choose their own adventure” as our cabaret-esque style host divulged some intimate and personal experiences of some good and bad eggs in her past and present.

If there are tickets still available, this show is a fun risk.

Stephanie Adamov

Later That Night

TBA Productions—John Hirsch Mainstage

What I felt was going to be a story of an outsider looking in, and maybe being accepted, became a mean-spirited elaborate prank with some of the most insufferable characters I could imagine. Plagued with tonal inconsistencies, and at times robotic writing, Later That Night left me wondering who this show was for. Was it meant to showcase that these actors are bad people? Was it meant to indicate that fame is more important than anything else? Was it meant to make you feel bad for Matt? If the last one is the case, it succeeded. The script could have used another pass, the performances could be tightened, and the message ultimately needed focus.

Arden Pruden