Features

Year after year, one of the most fascinating things that I love about the Montreal Fringe Festival is that you will never know what you will bump into, you will never know what you will discover, and you will never know what happen until you go out there and dive yourself into the excitement.

It gets crazier by the moment, and zanier by the second. And just like life itself, spontaneity is what makes this festival so exciting - whether you're a playwright, performer, or a random spectator. This is the magic of the Fringe happening, and needless to say, it goes beyond words in describing it.

Okay maybe euphoria. But that's just one of many.

To say that Rachel Jury’s A Thousand Kindnesses is ambitious, would be an understatement. In this one woman show, the performer weaves first-hand experience of asylum seekers, and refugees from war-ravaged nations of the past 30 years, from the Sudanese civil war to the ongoing Syrian conflict.

CJLO's Lazy Sunday Series

Earlier this year, Pokémon released the English titles for the newest version of the series: Sun and Moon. Needless to say, fans went crazy. Speculations and theories about what wonders awaited players in the new titles shot up in every corner of the Internet. From concept art of possible new starters, to ideas for new types, to hopes that the map would include the ability to travel to previous regions. Whether or not some of these speculations are true is yet to be seen, but Pokémon has been dropping teasers for the release of the game coming this November.

There’s nothing like finding a treasure in your own backyard.

Joyce N’Sana was this year’s resident World artist at CJLO and though I heard her name and praise often, I never got around to listening to her music let alone see any of her performances.

Luckily this past Friday she was performing at the Montreal Fringe Festival as a part of the "CJLO Presents" music series and I was available to go check her out.

Simone de Beauvoir said surrealism is often more real than realism, and this certainly rings true in regards to A David Lynch Wet Dream. Promoted as a dark non-narrative, after seeing it for myself I’m reminded that there is no such thing as a non-narrative, only that the viewer dictates what’s happening instead of the screenwriter.

As part of a special Montreal Fringe edition of Creator's Chorus that first aired June 15th 2016, co-hosts Jess Glavina and Annick MF together discussed issues, the challenges, and the narratives that surround mental health through the lense of the independent theatre.

Guiding you along for this special review that you will read is some contextual and important information regarding this sensitive yet important topic. Included below is an excerpt of the audio from that episode, and a few notes from our author as well.