Fringe Fest 2024: Day 7
The day Christianity became Inescapable
The dispatch from day 7 at Edmonton’s 43rd annual Fringe Festival was coincidentally biblical in nature.
I would like to shout out Katie Tobie’s show HerPlease, which I was not able to fit into my schedule but that I hear is worth seeing. My friend says it’s funny and intense—oh! and Tobie is dressed up as a clitoris the whole time. Tobie also slayed at the Late Night Cabaret this evening. You should see HerPlease and tell me what you think.
Day 7 Reviews
Brother Love’s Good Time Gospel Hour
We know God loves us, because he gave us poppers. Jesus is a relatable God, because he loves butt stuff, just like you and me. Brother Love’s Good Time Gospel Hour is sensational. It’s a full hour of sex and songs with the most honest pastor you’ll ever meet. Brother Love himself let me know this year’s show would be a lot different than the one I saw some years ago, and he was right. Brother Love’s revival features a full band and larger cast of characters, including the irresistible Sister Alice. For the love of all that is holy, attend Brother Love’s Good Time Gospel Hour and embrace the soft, clasping hands of the Lord.
Mass Debating
Cutting to the chase here: Mass Debating is fun, but it did not live up to its potential. This musical about a debate championship between two all-boys and all-girls Catholic schools is fun, but about 15 minutes too short. There’s nothing wrong with a 45 minute show, of course, but Mass Debating ends without a third act. It seems easy and obvious how they could have brought it home, but they didn’t. I’m only being honest. Mass Debating is full of cute performances, relatable humour, social commentary, and a wicked tap-dance dance-off, but in the end I left a groanin’ Catholic.
Sweet Jesus - The Gospel According to Felt
I enjoyed The Gospel According to Felt. Jesus Christ returns to earth, finally, as a puppet, and in today’s world he’s far more concerned with filling the gaps in his employment history and developing transferable skills than he is offering hope and help to the poor, much like us. A lesson here, perhaps. Sweet Jesus does not get too heady, however, and could do much more to milk its premise. Regardless, if you’ve yearned to hear puppet Jesus curse for an hour, this is your opportunity for salvation.
Inescapable
Inescapable is classic Martin Dockery. Whip-smart rapid-fire dialogue carries the comedy and drama between two men without giving the audience a single second to even think about checking their watch. However, hours later and after much thought, I cannot escape what I wanted Inescapable to be. I thought I knew exactly where it was going, but it just doesn’t go there. Perhaps my own expectations are to blame, but there is an even neater bow Dockery could have tied this all into, and it would have been completely on-brand. He routinely brings long, winding stories full circle, such as in his other show this festival, Truth, as well as the even more similar Stakeout. Inescapable clocks in at a crisp 45 minutes, so it’s not like there isn’t time to spare. Dockery does not need any writing lessons from me, but I sincerely feel there is a missed opportunity for something even more profound here. Perhaps I will feel differently after some time has passed and I remember to check back.