Tiger Lady, Dead Rabbits Theatre, Edmonton Fringe 2023. Photo supplied

By Liz Nicholls, 12thnight.ca

The Answer Is Fringe, the 42nd annual edition of Edmonton’s mighty summer theatre extravaganza, might end Sunday night. But don’t be alarmed that you will be left bereft in a universe full of unanswerable questions. A high-contrast quartet of the Fringe’s most exciting shows will be held over Aug. 30 through Sept. 2 in the Westbury Theatre: Tiger Lady, Rat Academy, and Anatomica: A Comedy About Meat, Bones & The Skin You’re In, and This Won’t Hurt, I Promise.

Tiger Lady: the ingenious Dead Rabbits Theatre production London cat-apults us us into an atmospheric, richly imagined world, the story of the world’s first female tiger trainer in the early years of the last century. And it uses the most theatrical of means. Have a peek at the 12thnight review.

Dayna Lea Hoffmann and Katie Yoner in Rat Academy, Batrabbit Productions. Pghoto supplied.

Rat Academy: a clever gem of a clown show, expert in its execution by Dayna Lea Hoffman and Katie Yoner, from the perspective of the ultimate marginalized outsider (especially in rat-free Alberta). Here’s the 12thnight review.

Anatomica: a weird and captivating solo show masquerading as stand-up comedy but more like funny performance art. Amica Hunter, an easeful and disarming performer, pursues a question you’ve never asked yourself. Check out the 12thnight review here.

Elena Belyea in This Won’t Hurt, I Promise, Tiny Bear Jaws, Edmonton Fringe 2023. Photo supplied

This Won’t Hurt, I Promise: In a world that offers us so many opportunities to be mad, and anxious, playwright/actor Elena Belyea of Tiny Bear Jaws offers an antidote. An original fusion of standup, conversation, and the comedy of empathy. The 12thnight review is here.

The holdover schedule, and tickets, are available at fringetheatre.ca.