#Unbored at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival – Part Two

I love Edinburgh and I loved being at the Fringe!

14 shows in 6 days at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2014

The last half of the 14 shows we saw is as rich in diversity and experience as the first half. We saw immersive/story-theatre, Theatre-for-Young-Audiences, site-specific theatre, more drama and more dark comedy. It’s been an exciting, boundary-pushing, thought-provoking, laugh-inducing, informative and impressive theatre experience.

 While some shows were enjoyed more than others, the experience as a whole was enjoyed by all.

The Seussification of A Midsummer’s Night Dream (Comedy/Theatre-for-Young- Audiences) 

Red Bonnet Productions:
The Seussificationof a Midsummer's Night Dream

This was a special show for me since I directed The Seussification of Romeo and Juliet during my first year of teaching junior high and I wanted the experience of seeing its sister show’s Seuss-y take on the Bard’s wild comedy. The script is a joy for young performers and I salute the actors of Red Bonnet Productions for tackling it with great energy and gusto. Combining classic Dr. Seuss elements, like Narrator (Thing) 1 and Narrator (Thing) 2 and ridiculously inventive language with the basic plot of Midsummer, the audience goes on a wacky ride through the hijinks of the fairies, the mixed-up lovers and the foolish players. Although the tongue-twisting dialogue did trip up the young actors from time to time, they rebounded quickly and forged ahead with great commitment and determination. Plus, it was clear they were having a blast and let’s face it, so did we in the audience. Great fun!

Cirque Tsuki: Feast

Cirque Tsuki: Feast (Immersive/Story Theatre/Installation/Puppetry)

The innovative and talented company of ImmerCity is responsible for this beautiful, interactive piece of immersive/story theatre. They put on a trilogy at the Fringe, with each show a feat of storytelling, as well as a moment in the life of the Circus troupe itself. Although we didn’t see the first show, Birthday, we didn’t feel at all lost when we saw Feast on its own. It picked up on the 10^th anniversary of The Great Izanagi and Madame Mist, key players in the circus, and along with their living doll Tiffen, they retold the stories of 1001 Arabian Nights. Using music, shadow puppets, simple costume pieces, they effortlessly and magically wove story after story together, and created character after character, both vocally and physically. They even had some audience help - my husband got pulled up onstage to be the King in a few scenes and he was great! This show was a true celebration of the magic of storytelling and one of my favorites at the festival.

The Edinburgh Literary Pub Tour (Site-specific Theatre/Historical Drama) 

The Edinburgh Literary Pub Tour

This show was a special treat – a walking tour through some of the oldest and most celebrated pubs in Edinburgh, as well as the courtyards and streets of the old and new town. Lucky for us that the weather held out and we could stash our raincoats away for a crisp but otherwise beautiful night outdoors. The neat thing about this show is that it runs all throughout the year, not just duirng the Fringe and it starts every night at the Beehive Inn in Grassmarket, where the dueling hosts, Mr. Clart and Mr. McBrain (actors), banter and each share his ‘preferred’ version of history. They shared the origin stories for many famous Scottish writers and poets -Walter Scott, Robert Louis Stevenson and of course, the great Robert Burns. We learned the poets would congregate in the pubs to drink, debate and pontificate and it was at these gatherings – in what some would consider seedy and raucous establishments – that the poets were inspired to create some of the world’s most treasured literature. Not to be overly nostalgic for the distant past, our hosts also pointed out the bar that Ian Rankin frequents and the coffee shops where J.K. Rowling wrote parts of the Harry Potter series. We met people from all over the world on this tour – Italy, USA, Denmark, and Scotland (naturally) and I even made a list of the Scottish authors so I can brush up on classic lit. It was a great way to spend an evening, “drinking and thinking”, plus nothing beats the view of Edinburgh Castle lit up at night.

Cirque Tsuki: Parade

Cirque Tsuki: Parade (Immersive/Story Theatre/Installation/Puppetry)

We enjoyed Feast so much, we had to go back for the third and final chapter of the Cirque Tsuki story. Definitely the darkest of the three productions, it takes its inspiration from Japanese folklore, where “100 candles are lit and 100 ghost stories are told”. The belief is that blowing out the last candle summons the spirits of the stories back to the world of the living. The stories in this production dealt with the themes of betrayal, vengeance and faith. It was interesting to see where the characters were emotionally since we last saw them and to fill in the gaps as to what had happened to them since. It used many of the same elements as Feast but instead of the stories they told taking on lives of their own, the main plot was the saga of Izanagi and his conflicts with his wife and the living doll. Macabre and sinister motivations were revealed and it was an intriguing and satisfying conclusion to the Cirque Tsuki.

Breathe Out Theatre: An Extraordinary Light

An Extraordinary Light (Drama) 

This one-woman show tells the little-known story of the involvement of scientist Rosalind Franklin on the discovery of the structure of DNA. Through a passionate and informative monologue, Rosalind herself shared the details of her deep love for science and her devotion to her work, virtues which were both her greatest strengths and her greatest flaws. Her anecdotes of her many years working in the “Boys Club” of her scientific field told, rather than showed, her contribution to understanding the structure of DNA and at times it did feel a bit lecture-like. The performance of Katherine Godfrey as Rosalind, however, was exceptionally strong and gave the audience an informative and tragic look at a brilliant and underappreciated mind.

Quest Theaterworks: Gidion's Knot

Gidion’s Knot (Drama)

Darkly funny, disconcerting and tragic, Quest Theaterworks’ production of Gidion’s Knot is a masterful work of drama and social commentary. Taking place during “the parent/teacher conference beyond your worst imagination”, a mother and a fifth-grade teacher square-off regarding a student’s suspension. The multi-layered script approaches the conflict from a place of right vs. right – as more and more information emerges around the circumstances of the suspension and the relationships of the student in question, the more the audience was forced to consider both sides to the conflict between free-speech and what is considered appropriate social behavior. In this age of growing violence in schools, is it justified to sacrifice the right to free expression of one to protect the many? Both women are defined by their beliefs and make decisions based on what they feel is right but face judgement from the other for doing so. The imagery in this script is at times extremely disturbing and yet very poignant and as a teacher myself, it forced me to consider what I might have done had I been in that situation. There are no easy answers and no one person alone can take all the responsibility and that’s what made this show so riveting and so terrifying.

Darkle Theatre Company: Darkle

Darkle (Dark Comedy) 

Darkle Theatre Company presented the odd-ball dark comedy about a group of adult-children slackers who take revenge on their overbearing, busybody landlord by kidnapping his dog. There was a distinct streak of laissez-faire/don’t-give-a-shit from the slacker trio which got turned on its head once the plot got out of their control. There were some moments of squirm-in-your-seat-awkward physical comedy and the twist that came later on definitely caught me off guard, but I felt like there was so much superfluous banter between the characters that it hit the audience over the head; we get it – they’re selfish and their lives are meaningless! It took 45 minutes of a 65 minute show to get to the main action (the dog-napping), so either the pace needed some picking-up or the script some firm editing. It just didn't quite do it for me, but I’m not sorry I saw it because it was different and unexpected and I can appreciate that.

So there you have it - my recap of my Edinburgh Fringe adventure!  14 shows in six days, new favorite places to visit, and incredible memories to treasure and share.

If you happen to be in Edinburgh between now and August 25, get yourself down to The Fringe! It’s so worth the time just to be near the action with all the energy, excitement and the air of possibility all around. Or if you’re around Edmonton between Aug. 14 – 24, make sure you check out Fringed and Confused: the 33rd Edmonton International Fringe Festival. There is so much to witness, discover and discuss.

Wander around the grounds, grab a leaflet from an actor, or ask around for a good show to see.

And get #unbored.

#Unbored at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival

To say that Summer 2014 has been a busy time is one of the biggest understatements I have ever uttered.

Between prepping our house to sell, going through the paperwork to close the sale, getting the house packed and moving in temporarily with family, we traveled to Vancouver to get our French Visas, I went to Las Vegas to celebrate my cousin’s wedding and now, we’re in Scotland on vacation. Next week, we move to France.

I counted and between July 6 and August 16, I will take 10 different flights. Yes, it’s a bit of a busy time.

But it’s also been an incredibly fun and unforgettable time. We spent the first week of our holiday in the town of Oban, on the northwest coast of Scotland, where we hiked the islands and explored the town’s local culture. We’ve spent the last seven days in Edinburgh, the beautiful capital of this rugged and friendly country, and we’ve been immersed in the Edinburgh Fringe Festival!

Definitely #unbored! This is High Street during the Fringe.

It’s the largest arts festival in the world and for three weeks in August, Edinburgh plays host to hundreds of theatre productions, dance, visual art, music, street performances and comedy from around the world. No wonder the official hashtag of the 2014 festival is unbored. I’ve wanted to go since I was a drama student in university and this summer, we made it happen!

I’m proud to report that my husband and I went to 14 shows in six days. I made sure there was a mix of styles and content – some dance, some family, some drama, some comedy, some R-rated – because what better place to get out of your comfort-zone than at the Fringe!

I scribbled down my key thoughts on the backs of my tickets after each show and added to them when we discussed them later, usually over a pint of Edinburgh’s finest stout or ale. I’ve always believed a successful theatrical experience is one that provokes further thought and discussion among audience members long after the applause dies down. Based on that and the thoughts I’m about to share on the first seven of our 14 shows, I declare our Fringe experience a complete and total success!

Volcano Theatre: 147 Questions About Love

147 Questions About Love (Dance/Spoken Word)

This was our first show at the festival. Put on by Volcano Theatre out of Wales, it was a short piece of spoken-word and dance based on the questions that are asked whenever starting a new relationship. We sat on cushions directly on the stage and there were no stage lights or sound cues to indicate the show had started, just the audience’s shared, somewhat-awkward silence while watching the two performers adjust their props and stare each other down. He asked, she danced. Each person’s actions, whether it was words or movements, seemed to be a truthful and authentic response to the situation. There was even some audience interaction. The main question explored was should people pre-emptively apologize for their mistakes at the start of any relationship? Worth considering.

This Theatre Company: Cafe Ruse

Café Ruse (Comedy/Musical) 

This Theatre Company’s production was a caffeinated mix of musical, physical and dark comedy. The energy level was just ridiculous from start to finish, as was the absolute commitment and comedic timing from the cast of four, who played 50 characters between them. The premise is simple enough: a group of loyal, slightly deranged customers stage an elaborate heist to save their beloved coffee shop, but the stakes get more and more outrageous as more characters, their voices and physicalities join the mix. It was a great romp in a sweltering venue and thanks to an especially unpredictable bit of physical comedy involving a bottle and a ‘statue’s’ sculpted rear, I will never feel the same way about a bottle opener.

Nottingham New Theatre: 18b

18b (Drama)

This original script from Nottingham New Theatre is an excellent piece of historical drama. Based on true events, 18b is the story of the detention and interrogation of three women in Britain on suspicion of espionage and enemy leanings. The three women delivered strong, enigmatic performances and their interrogators certainly held their own. I wasn't ever quite sure what to believe or who to root for because the characters are very well crafted and everything they said was slightly ambiguous. There were some issues with the pacing of some transitions but overall, this was a solid, compelling production with a script that, in my opinion, has the potential to be produced outside of the festival.

21 Things You Should Know About Toronto’s Crack-Smoking Mayor (Comedy)

DeCo: 21 Things You Should Know...

You know Rob Ford has reached a significant level of notoriety if he’s inspiring Fringe shows at international festivals, so when I saw this show’s title, I knew we had to see it. This Canadian production from DeCo of the Toronto Fringe Festival takes the viewer on a recap through the farcical public mishaps of Toronto’s mayor. Playing the facts through an indignant sense of humor, it’s a ridiculous yet sobering (no pun intended) look at politics and public persona. While we laughed at the absurdity of the situations, the actor playing a political consultant called us on it, making us aware of how easily we could be led to make light of a politician’s dangerous and illegal behavior when “isn’t a mayor supposed to be role model, a leader”? Good point, strong show.  

Theatre with Teeth: Dirty Decadence

Dirty Decadence (Dance)

Theatre with Teeth put on this Modern Ballet about a group of friends who travel to the countryside and find their relationships unraveling as lines are crossed and betrayals are revealed. It’s danced to remixes of well-known classical pieces and has a promising premise for drama and some ambitious choreography, however, the dancing fell short in some basic and very important technical principles. Turn-out was lacking in the female dancers, especially in their extensions. When the ladies danced in their pointe shoes, I felt them to be tense, their movements to be shaky and ungrounded, and I felt worried for them as they didn’t seem to be fully confident in their technique. The dancing improved when the pointe shoes came off in the later portion of the show, which makes me ask, were they really necessary in the first place? Pointe needs the technique to back it up, so I think this show would have been better without it. The male dancers were strong and well-characterized and there were some dramatic moments but overall, I felt more polish and attention to the technique would go a long way to improving this show.   

BarelyMethodical: Bromance

Bromance (Circus/Physical Theatre)

The guys of BarelyMethodical, an “experimental acrobatic circus company” were outstanding in this show that had them out-standing on each other’s heads and shoulders, tossed in the air and caught by their hands or waists. The precision and control they had with their movements showcased their amazing feats of strength and balance. The three performers drew collective gasps from the sold-out crowd as they balanced and flipped high in the air. The ‘Boy-Band’ moment of a dance to Tone Loc’s Wild Thing brought a moment of levity where we could exhale and laugh before holding our collective breath once again. This piece was a stunning showcase of strength and ensemble and worth every gasp of awe.

Dragon Literature: So What If I Dance?

So What if I Dance? (Exotic Dance/Drama)

Dragon Literature is the brain behind the exotic dancer tell-all So What if I Dance?. The character Jade is a club dancer who is paying for her education to be a statistician. She uses her affinity for numbers, as well as her humor and extreme flexibility to shed some light on the real stats of club dancers, aka strippers. The very intimate setting of a meeting room in the Apex International Hotel left no room to hide as she locked eyes with the audience and told us what it’s really like to stretch, gyrate and straddle onstage for a living. She made no apologies and the title suggests a metaphorical middle finger to all those who would balk at her choice of work. A bold and provocative show.

Part Two of my Edinburgh Fringe adventure is coming soon, so keep watching A DANCER ABROAD.  In the meantime, the Edmonton International Fringe Festival is coming Aug. 14 - 24! This is one of Edmonton's most prized festivals, so check out what's playing and get your tickets! 

     

Belly Dance at Move Studios

For a very long time, I had a secret dance wish:

I wanted to take a belly dance class.

I have long admired belly dancers at Mediterranean restaurants and at Heritage Fest for the intricate and hypnotic way they move their hips and torsos to the spirited music.  They dance with such confidence, strength and grace - they make it look so effortless! And they always seem to be having a great time. Who wouldn’t want to try that?

So I tested the waters by requesting a belly dance class to be part of my stagette last June. My bridesmaids came through in a big way when they found an instructor to lead us in an hour-long, crash-course of belly dancing at the southside location of Move Studios, a dance studio that specializes in belly dance, tango, Bollywood and fitness.

Mandate: Move Your Mind, Move Your Body, Move Your Soul.

I am a firm believer that time speeds up in a dance class, especially when the style is completely new and exciting to the participants. That hour flew by as we did our best to learn the basics of belly dance and it was ridiculously fun to dance with my best ladies, as I knew it would be. I was hooked after that, so I watched the Move Studios website closely for a beginner class that fit into my schedule and I was so excited to finally register for an 8 week session on Thursdays. I was excited for the opportunity to learn more but also slightly nervous since this time, I would on my own, not surrounded by people I knew and already felt comfortable being uncomfortable with.

But I needn’t have worried since our instructor was the incredibly welcoming, positive and knowledgeable Marie Habib, and the ladies in the class were so supportive and game to try everything. Marie’s approach, with encouragement and positive energy, was to give us as many variations of traveling steps, turns, arm movements and footwork as possible, all while breaking down the finer technical aspects of belly dance, which in my opinion, can be summed up in three key concepts: isolations, weight transfer and accents.

The amazing Marie Habib, belly dance instructor

Belly dance requires intense isolation of different parts of the abdominal muscles, such as the oblique muscles. I was surprised to learn that the obliques were responsible for lifting the hips and that simply alternating bending my knees could create that classic belly dancer shimmy. Slight weight transfers between the feet, even different parts of the feet, create smooth transitions between the movements of the abs and hips, like my personal favorite, the figure-8. This was an important understanding for me because I am much more accustomed to bigger weight transfers, such as shifting/balancing from two feet to one foot, not the smaller, more subtle transfers, like heel to ball of the foot. It seems like a small thing but to me, it made a big difference in how I understood the movement.

Marie also taught us to listen closely for the different accents in the music, which then would signal a new ab/hip isolation or weight transfer. In the process, we danced to many different instrumental songs for belly dancers. It was a challenge for my ears and brain as much as for my body and it felt great to work out my dancer-brain.

Also – belly dancing in an amazing ab work-out! After the 8 weeks was up, I definitely felt my core to be stronger and I saw more definition to my abs. It’s hard work and I have a new appreciation for the strength of this style of dance.

Learning to dance means taking risks, trying new styles and being open to new experiences - this is exactly what taking part in Beginner Belly Dance at Move Studios did for me. I had a blast being in a new, supportive setting with great people and learning from a fantastic teacher. I’m thankful I got to explore this beautiful and challenging new style and I look forward to trying it again someday.

Move Studios Beginner Belly Dance class, Spring 2014.

Thank you, Move Studios, for a great experience! My secret dance wish is fulfilled. I have taken a belly dance class and I loved it. 

Now, go fulfill your own secret dance wish, whatever it is!