Magazine

Independent, provocative, now! The CJLO Magazine is the resource for features, reviews, and interviews. Established in 2004, and run by dedicated CJLO volunteers, the magazine covers the latest and best in local and international music, art, theatre, film, festivals, and more!

FRINGE 2015: Captain Aurora is a smashing success

June 14 2015 // Marilla Steuter-Martin // Magazine // Features

Captain Aurora: A Superhero Musical hits exactly the right chord as this highly professional and fully fleshed-out musical comedy sings and dances its way into the Fringe history hall of fame.

The play tells the story of a banker-by-day/superhero-by-night lead who struggles to find purpose in an increasingly routine life. When her life is shaken up by political plot, alien invasion and the threat of exposure, Captain Aurora will have to rise to the challenge, regardless of the sacrifices she may unwillingly make on the way.

FRINGE 2015: Five Lesbians Eating a Quiche will leave you wanting more

June 14 2015 // Marilla Steuter-Martin // Magazine // Features

Five Lesbians Eating a Quiche is, at a glance, an absurd, apocalyptic, queer comedy of manners. The show is largely character driven and its five leading ladies hit the right combination of pep and pluck as egg-worshipping, 50s-era closet lesbians.

The play takes place during the 1956 annual quiche breakfast of The Susan B. Anthony Society for the Sisters of Gertrude Stein. The five executives of the society are preparing for the tasting of the quiches when an air raid siren goes off. On lockdown in the bunker, the so-called widow and ladysisters must come to terms with themselves and face each other in this winking, tongue-in-cheek comedy.

FRINGE 2015: “The Shiner” dishes out bittersweet comedy

June 14 2015 // Marilla Steuter-Martin // Magazine // Features

The Shiner is a relatively simple one-woman show that succeeds in its heartfelt and poignant storytelling.

Focusing on stories originating in the school system, the show will resonate with anyone who has spent significant time observing and engaging with young minds.

Performed by local sketch comedian and spiritual animator Katie Leggitt, The Shiner weaves together different narratives that reflect on the experience of educators and students alike.

Funny and at times bittersweet, Leggitt smoothly transitions from precocious school girl to gruff physical educator to earnest animator.

FRINGE 2015: Legitimate Investment Opportunity

June 13 2015 // Patricia Petit Liang // Magazine // Features

Directed by Paul Naiman and written by Jacob Greco (and company), Legitimate Investment Opportunity, or LIO, is a sweaty, delusional and inspirational “octo-annual assembly presentation summit conference meeting” that you’ll never forget!

The show was performed inside of the intimate confines of the Theatre Ste. Catherine, with long thin rows of seats for anyone who’s looking to make a sane, sound investment! And don’t worry about whether or not you’ll have trouble hearing the performers, they’ll be yelling frantically at you for the entire night.

FRINGE 2015: Icepick-moé l’coeur

June 11 2015 // Frantz-Patrice Séïde Cameau // Magazine // Features

On June 9th, we spoke to Ghislain St-Germain Forcier and Emmanuelle Brousseau at the lovely Bela Vista, a family-owned Portuguese bakery located at the corner of Papineau and Beaubien.

Ghislain is 24-year-old French Literature student at L’Univesité de Montréal. Emmanuelle is 21, and studies Production at L’École Nationale de Théâtre/National Theatre School of Canada (NTS). Together they wrote “Icepick-moé l’coeur” (Icepick), a drama about two ex-lovers that can’t quite seem to let each other go. Emmanuelle is the director of the play.

Read more to see our conversation, translated into English from the original French-language interview.

FRINGE 2015: A Nightmare for Oberon

June 11 2015 // Sarah Stupar // Magazine // Features

A Nightmare for Oberon asks the question “what happens when Shakespeare's women collide?”

Written by Toronto-born Concordia student Julie Foster, the script is the strongest part of the production. The worlds of Faerie Queen Titania, Hamlet's Ophelia, and the Lady Macbeth collide in a magical forest, and through the lens of Shakespeare we are presented arguments around gender, sexuality and femininity.

FRINGE 2015: APigeon at Le Divan Orange

June 11 2015 // Danilo Bulatovic // Magazine // Features

Montreal’s own Annie Sama (alias APigeon) brought her tour to an end at Le Divan Orange on Saturday June 6th, in support of her 2014 debut album “APigeon is Born”.

The electricity was tangible in the air as patrons milled into the venue on a deceptively long spring evening, as the very last of the sun absorbed by the window faded into darkness. Perhaps it was a shared subconscious anticipation for the summer, or the volatile cosmic combination of Mercury in retrograde and a Sagittarius moon that made APigeon's innovative sound particularly potent that evening.

FRINGE 2015: Je pense donc je suis

June 9 2015 // Frantz-Patrice Séïde Cameau // Magazine // Features

On June 8th, we went back stage with Jade Ghalila, director of "Je pense donc je suis”, a few minutes after the Générale devant Public* at La Maison des Amis du Plateau Mont-Royal, a community oriented, non-profit organization. Here is the conversation, translated into English from the original French-language interview.

*Fun fact: Générale devant Public means the dress rehearsal in front of a live theatre audience.

Frantz: How’s the stress level?

FRINGE 2015: A SILVER-PLATED STARTER KIT

June 6 2015 // Saturn De Los Angeles // Magazine // Features

Welcome to that time of the year where the sun shines bright and a wild, creative, euphoric, and unpredictable three-week party takes in full stride. #FringeBuzz is beginning to take the city by storm and we’re here to keep you company!

CJLO has been blazing with extensive coverage of this year’s St-Ambroise Montreal Fringe Festival as they celebrate their 25th Silver Anniversary. Whether you are new to the Fringe or you have been a patron of this one-of-a-kind summer experience, we got you covered.

Learn what we have in store just for you in this pocket-size silver-plated starter kit.

FRINGE 2015: TRANTASY

June 5 2015 // Sarah Stupar // Magazine // Features

I mean, you know who Tranna Wintour is right?

The readers of CULT MTL voted Tranna among the hottest and best dressed Montrealers with a killer Instagram account to boot. She is also performing at The Wiggle Room as a part of the St-Ambroise Montreal Fringe Festival, so if you don’t know who Tranna Wintour is, now is a good time to find out!

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