FRINGE 2016: Checkout 606

The Plateau is full of oddities - offbeat, extraordinary, or just plain strange. To people who don't understand Montreal or have never been here before; I tell them its the french Portland in 30 or so blocks - keeping it weird. Still, nothing could have prepared me for The Fringe Festival's Checkout 606.

A milk truck in the middle of St. Laurent street with a checkout counter built in to the side. To passers-by, it just looks like a milk truck, not even out of place among the kiosks of the sidewalk sale. The announcer trying to advertise the show says "Where else can you see something like this? Nowhere." and it's true. Nowhere. Nowhere but here. 

To attract spectators, the same man dances in the street with some leeks à la Miku Hatsune. One thing is for sure, though; Even if it's by a man dancing with leeks - nobody likes to be solicited.

The piece itself is essentialy vaporwave expressed in theatre - a colorful parody of consumerist culture set to 80s muzak.The musings of two bored and exasperated cash workers. The style is flawless and frantic at the same time. It's hard to believe that this is free - and happening out of the back of a truck.The actors involve passers by without even really speaking to them. 

"Would you like a bag?"

The pedestrians and all respond as if they're scripted - they completely ignore the actors, and I sympathize. These parts of the play remind me of my time in solicitation work. The two cashiers border on mania when we get to see snippets of their inner, imaginary world. It's funny - but it's not. It's a world that's full of perfectly synchronized movement, dialogue, and endless vegetable puns.

I hope that the brilliance of this piece isn't lost on the audience members. 

You can see the play on the corner of st. Laurent and Rachel. Four times a day in English and French until the end of Fringe. Don't miss out - you WILL regret it.
 

Checkout 606 plays at La Fille du Laitier Camion de Livraison Théâtre, located at 1 Rachel E., at the following times:

- Friday, June 17 from 15:00
- Friday, June 17 from 18:00
- Saturday, June 18 from 16:30
- Saturday, June 18 from 19:30
- Sunday, June 19 from 15:00
- Sunday, June 19 from 16:30

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DJ Thinkbox is part of CJLO’s Official Fringe Team covering the sights and sounds from the 2016 St-Ambroise Montreal Fringe Festival.

She also hosts The Machine Stops every Friday morning from 9am – 10am ET, only on 1690AM in Montreal and online at CJLO.com. Follow her show Tumblr, @themachine-stops