Toronto’s highly popular 2011 Fringe Festival opens tomorrow, and with over 150 productions showing in just 12 days, it’s the city’s marathon of theatre. Of course, this being indie theatre, there’s an “anything goes” (pun intended) feel to the variety of productions that range from edgy dramas to daring musicals to, well, puppetry. Though it’s hard to predict which show will be the next Drowsy Chaperone, here are our top picks for this year’s fest.
A Depper Kind of Love
This is a multi-media musical extravaganza dedicated to loving Johnny Depp – because, really, who doesn’t? Kat Leonard wrote the show and she even has an online petition hoping get Depp to see the show himself.
Helen Gardiner Phelan Playhouse, 79 Saint George Street, #302
Austen for the Attention-Impaired
By way of Montreal comes this story of two actors and a stage manager trying to fit Jane Austen’s entire works into an hour. Even if you’re not a fan of Austen’s chick lit, the promised British accents and rapping sure sounds intriguing.
Tarragon Theatre Extra Space, 30 Bridgman Avenue
Cellar Hotel
A rock musical about Faust? Cool! Art may be long (the show clocks in at 90 minutes) but life is fleeting, so why not check out a show that promises to be sinfully entertaining.
Bathurst Street Theatre, 736 Bathurst Street
The Soaps – The Live Improvised Soap Opera
Watch some of Toronto’s best improvisers create a new episode of crazy soap opera antics every night – but this time, the ridiculousness will be funny on purpose.
Bathurst Street Theatre, 736 Bathurst Street
Swoon!
The newest play by local playwright Jason Maghanoy (who’s just been announced as the new playwright-in-residence at Theatre Passe Muraille), promises to tug at the heart strings as it follows a group of young people swooning, breaking up and coming back together again.
Factory Theatre Mainspace, 125 Bathurst Street
Dates and times can be found here.