Another Fringe Festival tour complete. For 2012 I toured a new show, called Lies! which consisted of about two thirds new material, tied together (loosely) by a discussion of lying in the context of a theatrical magic show.
The show started in Winnipeg, where I worked out the bugs, made adjustments, tried to figure out the new material. One show I screwed up the finale (and had already gone over time, so couldn't make use of my backup). Full on screw up, no way to recover. And of course, the CBC reviewer was in the house. Luckily the mistake didn't affect the review too much.
From Winnipeg to Saskatoon, where the show survived some hilarious tech issues. A wobbly, cobbled together stage in the middle of a giant school gym, with a tech person who had never done it before in her life (she was enthusiastic, hard working, and everything you'd want in a technician, just no experience whatsoever).
I was surprised at how difficult it was to get some of the new material off the ground, at just how much work it was taking to get things up to standard.
Showing posts with label Reviews. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Reviews. Show all posts
Edmonton (and Saskatoon) Fringe.
Edmonton Fringe is big. There are also 180 or so indoor shows. And the indoor shows are only a small part of it--apparently 75% of the people who come down to the festival site never even see an indoor show. For them there are six busking pitches, with world class street performers working all day long. There are also food stalls galore, carnival rides, a dance party tent... it's ridiculous.
The indoor show went well. Good attendance, especially considering it was my first time there. And got a good review from Vue Weekly.
(Before that, a brief visit to Saskatoon where I did not bring my indoor show, but worked the street. Saskatoon was lovely, and though the festival is small, it was worth it to see some old friends and visit a beautiful place.)
The indoor show went well. Good attendance, especially considering it was my first time there. And got a good review from Vue Weekly.
(Before that, a brief visit to Saskatoon where I did not bring my indoor show, but worked the street. Saskatoon was lovely, and though the festival is small, it was worth it to see some old friends and visit a beautiful place.)
Winnipeg Fringe, 2011.
This year's Winnipeg Fringe was, I think, a success. The show was well reviewed (Free Press, CBC, Uptown), and attendance was way up from last year, including two sellouts.
I didn't manage to see many shows, but there were some great ones that I did manage to catch. Steve Larkin's N.O.N.C.E. springs to mind right away, as does RC Weslowski's underrated The Wet Dream Catcher. Guess I like the poets.
The best part, though, is hanging around with the other Fringe performers around the site. It's addictive and I didn't get much sleep.
I didn't manage to see many shows, but there were some great ones that I did manage to catch. Steve Larkin's N.O.N.C.E. springs to mind right away, as does RC Weslowski's underrated The Wet Dream Catcher. Guess I like the poets.
The best part, though, is hanging around with the other Fringe performers around the site. It's addictive and I didn't get much sleep.
Fringe reviews, photos:
The first review for the 2010 Vancouver version of Things That Never Happen is now up, here: Plank. Update: at the time of this writing, the site is down, so here's the full text:
"Travis Bernhardt’s performance actually prompted an audience member to exclaim, “I’m all sweaty now!” after his final card trick on Sunday afternoon. This was because after much anticipation…the trick did not actually work! This illusionist, luckily, is not only a great performer but is also charming and very funny. The trick was repeated with double the anticipation in the crowd as well as, seemingly, in Bernhardt himself. The audience was tense and the heat was rising in the air… to the climax of…yes! a successful and truly amazing peak to the show.
This magician exudes a quirky humour while filling the venue with his personality. Go and see some reality bending illusions and laugh with fellow Fringer’s at this entertaining and energetic performance."
Update: Another review, by "A Chick in Van Blogs About Stuff", which includes this quote: "Go see this show now. And sit in the front row. Or we’re not friends any more. Not even Facebook friends. That’s harsh i know but i am doing it for your own good. Like when The Henderson’s told Harry they no longer loved him."
And another review, a little bit of work to find it so I'll quote the whole thing (but if you want to see the original, at the time I write this it's available at the Urban Pie website in their "latest issue"): "I saw this on a whim during a break between two other shows I had scheduled. As it turned out, this was the best show I saw all day. Travis Bernhardt is a magician and “Things That Never Happen” is a delightful performance of parlor magic tricks set in the intimate space at Origins Coffee. Bernhardt is a charming and skilled performer, even if his tricks had failed, I still would have been entertained by his clever banter. But his tricks are amazing. On several occasions, people in the audience gasped audibly (I was one of them). The card trick at the end is simply mind blowing. See it; you will not be disappointed."
And a few photos, taken by an audience member:
"Travis Bernhardt’s performance actually prompted an audience member to exclaim, “I’m all sweaty now!” after his final card trick on Sunday afternoon. This was because after much anticipation…the trick did not actually work! This illusionist, luckily, is not only a great performer but is also charming and very funny. The trick was repeated with double the anticipation in the crowd as well as, seemingly, in Bernhardt himself. The audience was tense and the heat was rising in the air… to the climax of…yes! a successful and truly amazing peak to the show.
This magician exudes a quirky humour while filling the venue with his personality. Go and see some reality bending illusions and laugh with fellow Fringer’s at this entertaining and energetic performance."
Update: Another review, by "A Chick in Van Blogs About Stuff", which includes this quote: "Go see this show now. And sit in the front row. Or we’re not friends any more. Not even Facebook friends. That’s harsh i know but i am doing it for your own good. Like when The Henderson’s told Harry they no longer loved him."
And another review, a little bit of work to find it so I'll quote the whole thing (but if you want to see the original, at the time I write this it's available at the Urban Pie website in their "latest issue"): "I saw this on a whim during a break between two other shows I had scheduled. As it turned out, this was the best show I saw all day. Travis Bernhardt is a magician and “Things That Never Happen” is a delightful performance of parlor magic tricks set in the intimate space at Origins Coffee. Bernhardt is a charming and skilled performer, even if his tricks had failed, I still would have been entertained by his clever banter. But his tricks are amazing. On several occasions, people in the audience gasped audibly (I was one of them). The card trick at the end is simply mind blowing. See it; you will not be disappointed."
And a few photos, taken by an audience member:
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