MONTREAL — Sea captains and Shakespeare, road trips and drag races, hypnotists, Hedwig and hoarders — oh my! It's actually just another day at the Fringe.
The 21st edition of the Montreal Fringe Festival, on now through June 19, features original and eclectic stage works of full-length theatre, sketch comedy and imaginative dance. In all, some 100 independent theater companies and more than 500 performers converge on Montreal's Plateau district for a magical mixed bag of theater genres complete with a very lighthearted spirit and genuine camaraderie shared by all. Here's a feel for what's happening at this year's Fringe Fest.
While the fest officially opened Monday, the official Fringe Park opening night is June 9. Here, Fringe Central will be complete with a beer tent, box office and free events at Fringe Park (Parc des Ameriques), located at the corner of St. Laurent Boulevard and Rachel Street. The Unsettlers and special guests Brie Neilson & Her Other Men perform opening night. The site also hosts the popular annual "Drag Races" June 18. Hosted by the incomparable Mado Lamotte, Montreal's most famous drag queen, the free competition pits dramatic drag queens versus a bevy of Fringe beauties who'll compete for the Queen of the Fringe crown. According to the press release, "no one will walk away with their dignity intact."
For typical Fringe fare, Montrealer Dan Bingham has a little coming-of-age suburban angst to deal with. His 2 Tickets to Bingtown production of "Adopt This!" comes complete with confessions of being raised by hoarders, abuse by his mom's boyfriend and a rowdy Scottish family reunion/sing-a-long. It's presented June 11, 12, 15, 16, 17 and 19 at the Association Portuguaise du Canada, 4170 St. Urbain St.
Debuting at last year's Toronto Fringe Fest by way of Edmonton, Alberta's Brave Face Theatre, "Tired Wave Stop! or the Adventures of the Sea Captain and the Monkey Boy" is Steve Boleantu's modern-day version of an old man and the sea, a mermaid, a landlubber and a little sailboat. It's performed June 11, 12, 13, 16, 18 and 19 at the Association Portuguaise du Canada, 4170 St. Urbain St.
Brave New Productions presents "Being Ernest," a new gender-bending twist on Oscar Wilde's classic now set in the present instead of the past, in Louisiana instead of England and, for this version, set in an intimate gallery space in Old Montreal, which comes complete with a coffee shop (the website is really pushing the coffee shop). It's held June 13, 15, 16 and 17 at Avenue Art/Studio 10 King at 10 King St. in Old Montreal.
Love indeed conquers all — or does it? Cupid goes awry when a feminist author meets a male chauvinist journalist in the DonaldRees.com production of "Here's To Love!" It's performed June 11, 12, 13, 15, 17 and 18 at MainLine Theatre, 3997 St. Laurent Blvd.
"Mind Control: Hypnosis Show" is indeed just that, mind control and more presented by a hypnotist, mentalist and magician named Spidey. The illusions take place June 10, 11, 13, 16, 17 and 18 at Cabaret du Mile End, 5240 Ave du Parc.
A road trip — if you dare. "Chipmunks Ate My Bike" is the true account of a very long bike trip between a father and his teen daughter — all 1,800 or so miles of it — from Yellowknife to Vancouver. It's performed June 10, 13, 13, 15, 17 and 18 at MainLine Theatre, 3997 St. Laurent Blvd.
No stranger to the Montreal stage and the Fringe Fest, Keir Cutler presents "Teaching Hamlet," where Keir and an intellect friend face off over Shakespeare and Hamlet. It's held June 11, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18 and 19 at Fire Station No. 14, 4247 St. Dominique St.
Finally, vi.Va?VOOM! presents the acclaimed cult musical classic "Hedwig and the Angry Inch," a glam rock transgendered tale of fame, love and the fall of the Berlin Wall. "Hedwig" is presented June 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 and 19 at Katacombes, 1635 St. Laurent Blvd.
The 21st Montreal Fringe Festival is on now through June 19. The events are held at 10 venues located mostly in Montreal's Plateau district. Individual tickets cost $10 (and a $2 service charge). A six-show pass costs $55; a 10-show pass is $85; an unlimited pass, $250. For more information, visit www.montrealfringe.ca, or call the Fringe hotline at (514) 849-3378.
Steven Howell is the author of Montreal Essential Guide, a Sutro Media iPhone travel app available at iTunes.com.
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