Fringe

Here, we have the full list of winners, which were announced on the closing night of Ottawa Fringe.

With the Ottawa Fringe Festival’s 25-year bash on June 25 (at Arts Court), local writer McNally takes a look back at his own involvement with Fringe over the years.

Ryan Pepper: Velvet Wells is an entertainer in the truest sense of the term. Over the course of (Re)Tired Magical Black Man, Velvet plays dJerald the Djinn, whose wish-granting abilities set the action for the show; four puppets; a couple of inanimate talking objects; and they sing as well.”

Bruce Burwell: “Ted Hall was definitely a pleasure to keep up with. Jem told us this little-known spy story of the war and asked the biggest possible question there is: What is right and what is wrong?”

Colin Noden: “We are drawn in, to Ed and a world which is interesting and quirky … he appears to be taking a chance on art.”

Julia Bueneman: “Combining skilled magic, 1930s grit, time travel, standup and audience participation, Dirk Darrow: Future Past Magic is a compelling and energized play that had me giggling, stunned and picking my jaw up off the floor.”

Gauthier and Caplan: “Whether you are well versed in Noël Coward’s work, or just recognize his name, this cabaret-style show will pull you into his life, his vast catalogue, and his impact on the world of theatre and pop culture.”

Brian Carroll: “Did your teenagers complain bitterly after the derecho ripped through Ottawa leaving 170,000 households without power? Take them to see Eleanor’s Story: An American Girl in Hitler’s Germany.”

Colin Noden: “Arthur Bampot and the Case of the Kept Man is a full assault on reason. Or… an enthusiastic defense of it. On stage with Detective Arthur Bampot, chaos reigns in a way which seems quite logical to him and his cast.”

Bruce Burwell: “The thing that keeps us engaged throughout is John Michael’s sincerity. You don’t run around a stage in your underwear holding a picture of your dead mother unless you really miss her. So we do believe that he needs her back.”

Barbara Popel: “I was expecting a less-than-polished coming of age monologue …. Instead, I got a polished, funny, touching story from a talented charming performer. Within a few minutes, she had the audience (yours truly included) in the palm of her hand.”

Brian Carroll: “These two delightful plays for the price of one are a real Fringe bargain … The opening night audience laughed heartily at Anton Chekhov’s The Proposal and they did the same for the premiere of Laurie Fyffe’s sequel, The Ring.”

Jennifer Cavanagh: “Despite the heaviness of the theme, the tempo and anecdotes keep the production light and moving. This is a best-of-fest contender and not to be missed.”

Gauthier and Caplan: “Macho competition, absurd immaturity, touching emotion, all displayed through incredible movements. This show stays with you—you’ll find yourself turning over moments in your mind hours or even days later. This is definitely another Fringe favourite for me.”

A British-style kitchen sink drama. Colin Noden: “Do you like British-style mystery movies? Do you like soap operas that teeter on the verge of melodrama and have you shouting, “Just do it already!” at the screen? Do you love both? Then congratulations, you are going to love this play.”