FRINGE 2015: Myth Mirrors Punk & Allie Weigh's Inn - Deciphering the human experience

Life is all about stories. Whether that's the latest TV show we shamelessly binge on or a feel-good bedtime tale we anticipate when we're young, stories spark both our curiosity to learn about the world and ourselves.

Notably, stories of the human experience come in all shapes and sizes. Some wonderful. Others upsetting. Many fascinating.

Just a few blocks down Mont-Royal Metro station, you will find a cozy petite coffee shop tucked inside the heart of the Plateau neighborhood, called Café Tuyo. Inside houses a pair of some of the most emotionally riveting performances about life at the 2015 Montreal Fringe Festival - packaged, shaped, and shared together in all of its succulent Fringe-yness for all to devour.

In Myth Mirrors Punk, Carole TenBrink and Magali Desjardins Potvin are a fun pair to witness together, as each take their own turn in delivering a unique perspective to their own personal stories, segmented by intervals of silence, awe and reflection. Their respective manner of storytelling effectively sets the mood of each moment, of each anecdote, and of each personal lesson embedded within. These two talented spoken-word storytellers complement each other with tact - one with calmness, the other with feistiness. One fascinating story about an indigenous icon complements a personal story of defying the social norm of being both a woman and a senior in her retirement years. It is definitely a rotation of two talented performers from two opposite ends that harmonize so well.

And perhaps it is how these wonderful folks have integrated the stereotypically defiant theme of "punk" that makes this play charming in the first place. It does not hit you with the cliché ideals of anarchy many people tend to associate. Instead, it invigorates your soul and you realize that it is okay to stand up for something that you feel can make a difference not just for yourself, but for the people you care about.

Similarly enough, Allie Weigh's Inn doesn't veer away from that radical spirit of defying the norm- vying to be a unique individual in an unpredictable and socially conforming universe. With Allie Weigh's show, her personal stories are all brought out in a much more intimate and introspective manner. Through her various monologues, you experience her personal journey from childhood, teenhood, adulthood, parenthood, and beyond as she pours out what she has learned being in almost every kind of adventure she has gone through.

Since life is tough for all, it was a relief that this play provided soothing violin intermissions to comfort the audience. Come to think of it, when you're collectively experiencing a personal hour-long roller coaster journey through love, lust, victory, loss, and reconciliation, it's good to know that you're not alone. It's comforting to know that you're not only discovering more about Allie via her life stories, but you're also learning about yourself. This play has a very distinct charm in storytelling that shouldn't be taken for granted. Is it the violin? Is it the way she delivers her stories? Maybe it is her personal experience that connects the audience. Maybe it is all of the above.

Whatever the answer may be, her voice - as manifested in various tones and mindsets - brings in a sense of authenticity to the way she presents herself.

With hundreds of Fringe shows out there, it is completely normal not to know which production you’d want to see. However, no matter what show you choose, there is a certain charm that comes within Fringe territory. Whether it is your first festival experience, or your umpteenth time, each performance showcases a slice of the human experience being shared to the public in the raw. Carefully orchestrated yet full of unpredictability; spontaneous in nature yet full of enthusiasm. There is passion, there is dedication, and there is a lot of heart.

For those who lean on the kind of good old back-to-basics storytelling experience, Allie Weigh's Inn and Myth Mirrors Punk were just some of the shows that stood out. Even long after the festival has drawn to a close, these local storytellers have something insightful to bring to the table in celebrating the wisdom of the human experience.

To learn more about the people behind these plays and to keep up to date with what they have in store, follow the creators of Myth Mirrors Punk here, and Allie Weigh's Inn here.

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Saturn De Los Angeles is part of CJLO’s Official Fringe Team covering the sights and sounds from the 2015 St-Ambroise Montreal Fringe Festival. Saturn also hosts Shibuya Crossing every Wednesday afternoon from 2 – 4pm, and is a member of the CJLO News Team.

Follow Saturn on Twitter and Instagram @satyyy.