With something like 57 shows on at the Ottawa Fringe Fest this year, some of us not-so-knowledgeable theatre goers might need a bit of help in knowing what to attend. This past weekend I turned to fringe-insiders (and staff members) Patrick Gautier and Catriona Leger to get some of their picks on can’t-miss Fringe favourites. Here’s the *very* official list (in no particular order):

Is Orleans revitalizing its cultural and arts scenes? It would seem like  it with the opening of the Shenkman Arts Centre and the development of the Orléans Town Centre. According to the City of Ottawa website, “The Shenkman Arts Centre will deliver a unique cultural hub to East-End residents in their own community, while the completion of the Orléans Town Centre will add a wealth of new residential and commercial facilities nearby.” As a hub for artists and cultural activities, it will: Service non-profit and community arts groups in the... | Continue reading article

As per usual, we were quite ADD on Audio Visual this week: The long-list of Polaris Prize nominees comes out next week. We said we’d talk about it, but ran out of time… Maybe next week? We talked to Fezzzzzz from Green Go, a Guelph-based electro-rock band that will play Zaph’s Friday, June 12 The Malcolm Gladwell = Captain Obvious Rant Events we plugged: The Mayfair Theatre is screening horror-classic Nosferatu with live music @ 9p.m. The much-anticipated garage rock festival GAGA weekend! Westfest Nikki Payne @ Yuk’s Thurs-Sat Music:... | Continue reading article

The villains enter from a door to the left. You know they’re the villains from their malicious grins and colorful zoot suits: no self respecting good guy would wear canary yellow. They circle the room, weaving in and out of the audience for a couple of minutes before settling back on  stage. With a little help from a strobe light, the scene then transforms into an old fashioned newsreel. Eddie May, famed detective and noted do-gooder, is hanging up his fedora in order to spend more time with a lovely... | Continue reading article

Dans le monde francophone, on prend l’improvisation au sérieux, tellement qu’il y a une Ligue nationale d’improvisation qui est née en 1977 à Montréal.  Elle dure toujours depuis ce temps et s’est propagée dans divers pays d’Europe comme la France, la Belgique et la Suisse. Si la Ligue est prise au sérieux, l’impro en tant que telle, n’est certainement pas du sérieux. Plus souvent qu’autrement, on pouffe de rire à voir les deux équipes composées  de comédiens, humoristes et autres gens de théâtre nous divertir sous un thème particulier. Une... | Continue reading article