Author Archives: Liz Nicholls

And the plot thickens: The Real Inspector Hound, a Fringe review

Posted on August 18, 2018 by Liz Nicholls

By Liz Nicholls, 12thnight.ca The Real Inspector Hound (Stage 12, Varscona Theatre) In Tom Stoppard’s cunning 1968 comedy, you’re watching two theatre critics watch a hoary English country manor house whodunit à la Dame Agatha. “Has it started?” wonders one … Continue reading →

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A multi-cultural collision as comedy: FOB, a guest 12thnight Fringe review by Alan Kellogg

Posted on August 18, 2018 by Liz Nicholls

FOB (Stage 10, Acacia Hall) One of the valuable aspects of any Fringe worth its salt is offering younger, less experienced — or locally less known — performers and creators the opportunity to strut their stuff (or at least try … Continue reading →

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The life and times story of a great artist: Josephine, a guest 12thnight Fringe review by Alan Kellogg

Posted on August 18, 2018 by Liz Nicholls

Josephine (Stage 1, Westbury Theatre) Here is an entertaining, if gentle primer on the life and times of Josephine Baker, the multi-threat talent African-American performer who — generations ago — escaped the mean streets of St. Louis and became the … Continue reading →

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God is back: An All New God Is A Scottish Drag Queen, a 12thnight guest Fringe review by Todd Babiak

Posted on August 18, 2018 by Liz Nicholls

An All New God is a Scottish Drag Queen (Stage 22, Garneau Theatre) “I don’t know if you’ve heard the news,” says God, a portly Scottish man in an 80s skirt and blazer combo, “but people don’t give a shit … Continue reading →

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The weird world of WASP: A 2thnight Fringe guest review by Todd Babiak

Posted on August 18, 2018 by Liz Nicholls

WASP (Stage 5, King Edward Elementary School) By Todd Babiak The white protestant family has a lot to answer for and much of it is on display in WASP, Steve Martin’s 1990s take on the 1950s. Dad is cruel, sexist, … Continue reading →

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A dark night of the soul on the 24-hour news cycle. Tragedy: A Tragedy. A Fringe review

Posted on August 17, 2018 by Liz Nicholls

By Liz Nicholls, 12thnight.ca Tragedy: A Tragedy (Stage 3, Walterdale Theatre The title’s a tip-off — and media types should permit themselves a little wince of apprehension. Yup, they take it in the neck in the sharp and funny parody … Continue reading →

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Breaking the rules of love, Red Bastard: Lie With Me. A guest 12thnight Fringe review by Todd Babiak

Posted on August 17, 2018 by Liz Nicholls

Red Bastard: Lie With Me (Stage 11, Nordic Studio Theatre) The Red Bastard is a white-faced, red-eyed beast in a unitard with a balloon-stuffed midriff. He jumps, dances, slurps, spins, shouts, cackles, and snorts across the stage trying to understand … Continue reading →

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The Tudor period: heads of state in wigs. 2 Queens & A Joker: A Fringe review

Posted on August 17, 2018 by Liz Nicholls

By Liz Nicholls, 12thnight.ca 2 Queens & A Joker (Stage 17, The Roxy on Gateway) It’s been a while (OK, a decade) since Guys in Disguise, those flamboyant cultural historians, applied themselves to the Tudor period, famous for its strong … Continue reading →

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The appropriation dance: Whiteface. A Fringe review

Posted on August 17, 2018 by Liz Nicholls

Whiteface (Stage 4, Academy at King Edward) By Liz Nicholls, 12thnight.ca “Is there a way out? Does anybody know a way out?” The masked figures trapped onstage are increasingly frantic. No suggestions are forthcoming. Masks are the chief theatrical device, … Continue reading →

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Experiment with this one: For Science! A guest Fringe review by Alan Kellogg

Posted on August 17, 2018 by Liz Nicholls

For Science! (Stage 3, Walterdale Theatre) There’s pretty big fun in this big science show via playwright Christine Lesiak. As we walk in, with dance-mix classics on the box (there is a link near the joy-induced finale of the show), … Continue reading →

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