Fringe Festival Guide: (Better-than-the-Original) Adaptations of Classics

Beardoncé, one of the artists in this year's Fringe Festival. Photo by Tanja Tiziana

TORONTO FRINGE FESTIVAL SHOWS

(Better-than-the-Original) Adaptations of Classics

FABLES FROM FAR AWAY LANDS, by Greg Carruthers, Merlene’s Impact Project (*KIDSFEST)

Our heroine sets off on a quest for self-discovery and needs your help! Using traditional fables, original songs and silly characters, this show focuses on bullying, female empowerment and working together.

A FLEA IN HER EAR, by Georges Feydeau, translated and adapted by Mladen Obradovic, Pulse Theatre

Life, sex, friends, letters, guns, strangers, tigers, … What? Tigers? Not real ones, of course.

LYSISTRATA, by Aristophanes, how.dare.collective.

A burlesque adaptation of the classic Greek comedy by Aristophanes. The women of Greece band together in a sex strike to save their country from the violence of war.

MACBETH’S HEAD, by Kyle McDonald, Malfi Productions

When Tim and Rupert activate an ancient curse, they awaken Macbeth’s severed head, who’s athirst for revenge on William Shakespeare. It’s up to Tim and Rupert to stop the maniacal Head lest Shakespeare’s works are obliterated from the face of the earth forever!

MACBETH MUET, La Fille Du Laitier

MURDER! AMBITION! SEX! EGGS! Shakespeare’s bloodiest couple cordially invites you to a hyper-speed rendition of their gruesome story, told entirely without words. Funny silent-film gestures will be made.

THE MISERABLE WORM, by Justine Christensen, Let Me In

Platonov will be shot tonight. But, by who? This vodka-soaked, gender bent adaptation of Anton Chekhov’s Untitled Play remixes a six-hour melodrama into a modern tragi-farce.

MONSTERS BY NATURE, Kindling Collective

Inspired by the renown tales of Dracula, Frankenstein, Steppenwolf, and more, Monsters By Nature takes an in-depth look at the human capacity to commit evils and embrace inner bestial power.

OLIVE COPPERBOTTOM, by Charles Dickens and Penny Ashton

Penny Ashton brings orphaned hero Olive and a squalid gaggle of Victorian characters to poxy London life. Will Olive find a family? Or will Mrs. Sourtart break her heart as well as her teeth?

A PETER N’ CHRIS-TMAS CAROL, Peter N’ Chris

It’s Christmas in July! A hilarious send up of the classic Dickens’ Christmas story. Grumpy Chris, Busy ghosts and dangerous snowmen. This show has it all. Please wear appropriate Christmas attire, thanks.

ROUGH MAGIC, by Phillip Pstutka, Theatre Arcturus

This original play follows the innocent beginnings and volatile consequences of a relationship between Ariel, an airy sprite, and Caliban, a ground-dwelling mortal.

SHAKESPEARE’S GHOSTBUSTERS, The Coincidence Men

Whom Wilt Thou Call? Ghostbusters as if it were written by the Bard. A staged reading of Shakespeare’s version of the original movie. Alas poor Slimer, we knew him well…

UNIVERSAL HORRORS, by Dyana Sonik-Henderson, Broken Rhythm’s Victoria Society

Winners of five Pick of the Fringe awards, Broken Rhythms brings classic horror movies such as Dracula, Wolfman, and Frankenstein to the stage. This multimedia show will both surprise and seduce you.

WEIRDER THOU ART, by Ardyth Johnson, Physically Speaking

Three bouffon women (if you want to call them that) put the weird in the Wyrd sisters. The bouffon search for humanity brings a reluctant William Shakespeare on a journey from a living hell to acceptance.

The Toronto Fringe Festival is on from July 5 to July 16 at locations around the city.

For tickets or more information on shows, click here

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