Early on in his performance, I suspected that the sissy dolt which he portrayed was based on his childhood, and that through acting out scenarios which put the play’s bully in his place (quite effectively and creatively, I might add) he found comfort in the audience’s reaction, as if we were collectively patting him on the back and saying, ‘there there Gibbs, he’s a jerk, you’re all right.’ He deserved the back patting, and certainly earned the instant ovation when the lights went out. Excellent performance, and pleasantly clean (call me a prude, but I don’t go to the fringe to be shocked or otherwise offended, as so many seem to).

-Jerry Aulenbach

Edmonton, AB – Novelist George Sand said, “No one makes a revolution by himself; and there are some revolutions which humanity accomplishes without quite knowing how, because it is everybody who takes them in hand.” From August 13 – 23, 2009, more than 550,000 local, national, and international visitors came together in Edmonton and brought about a revolution like no other at the 28th annual Edmonton International Fringe Theatre Festival. Themed Stage a Revolution, this year’s festival will definitely hold a prominent page in Fringe Festival history books.

Post-revolution figures are in and it’s obvious that the people listened when Fringe Theatre Adventure’s Executive Director, Julian Mayne, put out the challenge “to embrace the spirit of creativity … and buy one ticket to one show”. This year’s Fringe lived up to its reputation as one of the largest and most successful Fringe theatre festivals in the world with paid attendance to indoor shows reaching a record-breaking 92,279, bringing ticket sales up almost 20% from last year’s total of 77,800. The bold collection of theatrical works at this year’s Fringe yielded 334 sold-out shows. Single day attendance at ticketed performances shattered records on Saturday, August 22nd, entertaining 11,303 theatre patrons. Record numbers of little Fringers and their caregivers took part in the evolution of theatre with 21,015 marching to the KidsFringe site to watch interactive theatre performances, play games, and create revolutionary artwork.

Fringe Theatre Adventures wishes to thank everyone who mobilized to help Stage a Revolution and who continue to celebrate democratic, unjuried, uncensored, and accessible theatre: our sponsors and supporters for their generosity; over 1,000 volunteers; more than 700 talented performers who graced our stages; more than half a million audience members who watched over 1,200 indoor and outdoor performances in 29 venues.
The Fringe Festival will continue to Stage a Revolution from August 26 – 30, 2009 with seven holdover shows presented by Fringe Theatre Adventures and for the first time, one BYOV holdover show presented by an independent producer. Show details and times are posted at www.fringetheatre.ca. Tickets are $15 for adults and $12 for students/seniors (plus a $2 Capital Replacement Fee per ticket) and are on sale now. Tickets can be purchased online at www.fringetheatre.ca, by phone at 780.409.1910, or in-person at the Central Box Office in the TransAlta Arts Barns (10330 – 84 Avenue).
The 29th Edmonton International Fringe Theatre Festival runs from August 12 -22, 2010.

Media Contact:
Kathleen Chmilar, Media & Marketing Coordinator * Fringe Theatre Adventures * 780.448.9001 * kathleen.chmilar@fringetheatre.ca

This has been an experience to say the least. We had our final show today at noon, and we shared our last day with a great audience. We were nearly sold out, and the energy was high. We loaded up our set, and now we are catching the last couple of shows, and enjoying the last couple of moments that we can with the incredible people we have had the chance to meet while on the tour.

Between Winnipeg, Calgary and Edmonton- I did a count, and found that I have had the opportunity to watch 64 shows, that’s including four outdoor performances. There is no circuit like this in the states so to have this experience, to see this many shows, to visit different cities of Canada, has been one of those life affirming treats.

Nothing is a blur it is all very carefully and thankfully contained in my mind and memory. Many, many thanks to the City and people of Edmonton for supporting the performance art world.

For now Edmonton; good-bye and good-night

Thank you, again.

I’m not sure if I had mentioned it but we did something different on this portion of the tour by inviting various performers to come on stage and be our sexy performance poets. We had Jem Rolls, Rob Gee, Jonno Katz and Keria McDonald performed with us. During our midnight show we had a drinking game. When ever you heard select dirty words the audience drank. Even having the small stage, which I felt we took over and owned, turned out to be a cool experience.

With our last show a little under 24 hours away, I am beginning to think of home. The clock is ticking as the final hours pass in this great tradition of celebrating performance in all of its forms. I recommend you make the most of it, because these shows will not return.

Recommendations for Sunday:

Inviting Desire (well I gotta plug it, last I checked we have 20 tickets left get em while they are hot)

The Further Adventures of Antoine Feval- this has been held over so you should get a chance to see it along with FruitCake.

Red Bastard also has been held over

Cherry Cherry Lemon; 6pm

Cabaret Terrarium; 8:15pm

More Bange for Your Buck: 6:15pm

Afterlife: 4pm

Pipa: 8pm

Jem Rolls: 8:30pm

Pumpkin Pie: 4:30pm

Shows I wish I had seen:

The Year of Magical Thinking

Grandpas Sol and Grandma Rosi

Circumference

Tasha Diamant’s Human Body Project

Full Frontal Nudity

Letters to Noce

The Seven Lives of Louis Riel

Full of Sound and Fury

Blue is the Water

Red Wine and Canvas

NGGRFG

Lysistrata

Honey in the Lion’s Head

Bashir Lazhar

Chaotica

Tinsel Town

Cadaver

The Author’s Voice

Life in a Box

School House Rock

George Orwell Is Not my Real Name

Cowboy Mouth

One More day of shows be sure to see what you can.

I didn’t laugh much in this show, but not because it wasn’t good but because I was rivited with the relationships and the story. This script reminds me of movies like, Gumo, Happiness, Kids, My Own Private Idaho, Drug store Cowboy ,and the truly messed up Ken Park. Rabbit Rabbit is a perspective not often seen and the pure dysfunction adds to the elements of humor plus the fact that the characters are actually likable does create a somewhat light tone in the obviously dark atmosphere. Larry or Cosmo the clown isn’t played like a lascivious monster slimming across the room and Britney is not played as a tough and rough pro. They easily could have been played like that but instead the actors and the director chose to give the characters more dimension. (Thank God)

Again, my only concern is that it is so subtle, that what is happening in the ending or what may very well happen in the imagined play’s future is missed. I caught it, but many people seemed to be chuckling as they left the theatre when I feel they should have been a little more concerned. But maybe I am wrong and I missed the point.

Still, I enjoyed the performances, I thought they put a lot of hard work into it and Katie Swift was truly amazing, so convincing it was uncomfortable.

I have to admit I feel a bit jealous of everyone continuing on to Victoria and Vancouver. I wouldn’t have time to do the circuit this year anyway, as I am moving to Glasgow in less than three weeks, but perhaps I will make it my goal next year to do the Canadian Fringe tour!

It always strikes me just how quickly the Fringe passes after months and months of preparation, but it’s been a wonderful festival, and a fantastic learning experience once again.

I was fortunate enough to be asked to particicpate in one of the Fringe Forums – the one about Dramaturgy – and I had a fantastic time! It was fascinating to be on a panel with three amazing artists – Gemma Wilcox, Christel Bartelse, and Erk de Waal – all of whom are performing in one-person shows this year – because the next play I plan to work on is a one-woman show. Brian Dooley and Tracy Carroll were lovely hosts – so thank you to everyone!

One thing I think the Edmonton Fringe needs is a better way of connecting all of the artists – it would be nice to have an artists’ lounge, where we could all exchange our passwords, offer one another advice, and just hang out! I know it existed at one point, but it seems to have vanished over the years.

But since I’m on the topic of connecting artists, I would love to invite everyone to the Fringe closing party I am throwing at Wunderbar (101 street and Whytve ave) – Sunday, August 23 at 8pm. If you have a show that goes until 10pm, or whenever, you can always come afterwards! We plan on keeping it going until the wee hours.

All right, I had better get a start on my day – so many shows left to see (and three remaining of my own that I need to handbill for!) and so little time to do so!

Oh, one last thing! Holdovers I highly recommend: Moving Along, Red Bastard, Triple Platinum, and Cherry Cherry Lemon! Catch them while you can!

1. it can just wear on you after a while
2. not being in your own bed
3. not having your creature comforts at hand
4. not being with my guy…and missing him terribly
5. not being with my community/friends from home for so long
6. can sometimes feel ungrounded
7. working so hard can be draining – the constant promoting ones-self, pumping up of show, keeping a smile through interviews
8. sometimes I just don’t want to be around many people, and that is hard on the fringe
9. the late nights, partying, not always eating well – or as well as at home – can get tiring
10. weird dreams
11. needing to succeed with reviewers/critics, public, peers, fringe, etc, etc….not to mention my own self-critic

It’s s’all good….just feeling a little tender-hearted…..thought I’d share….

A good night’s sleep, is always a good cure!