
Fringe Review: Pink Chicken Comedy is an undercooked mess
Stage 19 Lumos Dental Stage
Article content
Stand-up comedy shows have a tough hill to climb at an event like the Fringe, given all of the other creative and unique productions taking place.
Article content
It must be even more challenging to host a stand-up show described as a 'women-forward show' to a primarily young male audience.
Article content
That's what hosts and comedians Hilary Henderson and Michelle Forrester faced during my showing of Pink Chicken Comedy, which featured razor-sharp wit and unfiltered personal humour that went underappreciated by much of the audience.
Article content
Article content
There was a lot of crowd work built into the show, unfortunately, which lead to multiple moments of dead air as their calls received nearly no responses. Personally, I don't find crowd work entertaining at all, and see it as a crutch for performers who can't write jokes. Hilary and Michelle clearly had comedy writing chops, so it was a shame they spent so much of their show trying to get the audience to fill their time.
Article content
Article content
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Edmonton Journal
2 hours ago
- Edmonton Journal
Fringe Review: RIOT! is a delightfully kinetic masterpiece
Article content Stage 15, Campus Saint-Jean Theatre (8406 91 St.) Article content Taking the theatrical form of one of the best history podcasts you've ever heard, brothers Jeff and Ryan Gladstone play rival Shakespearean stage actors at the centre of an 1948 Manhattan riot in a show that goes delightfully meta. Article content Certainly the most accomplished piece of Fringe theatre I've seen inside this remarkably stellar year, the brothers Gladstone open the play squabbling slightly about which one of them discovered this wild bit of international chest-pounding first. Article content Article content Each character full of the sort of ego that makes Shakespeare's doomed leads so juicy, elder Jeff plays the pompous, traditional English actor William Charles Macready, while brother Ryan looses braying bull (if more fun) American Edwin Forrest, who touring England looks up to Macready in the first of five quick acts. Article content Article content Amid British-style hissing back and forth, a true rivalry is born, exacerbated by the eager media amplifying and distorting their grievances. Article content Cleverly, when Ryan is out offstage, Jeff also conspires against his brother in some truly terrific audience participation, Macready's big soliloquy interrupted by our booing, hissing and even hurled objects. So fun! Article content Article content It turns out the brothers had disagreements from the get go creating this show, which tightens tensely (and hilariously) around the long-dead thespians amid a whirl of conflicting New York Nativists a la Gangs of New York, tinder-box class differences and the idiot deployment of troops by an inept politician, déjà vu. Article content


Edmonton Journal
a day ago
- Edmonton Journal
Fringe Reviews: Andrew Iwanyk Fulfills Your Dreams and fills the theatre with laughter
Article content Andrew Iwanyk fulfills Your Dreams Article content I can promise that whatever you think this show might be, it's not that. Article content I'd never heard of Andrew Iwanyk, before, despite being introduced by director Leif Oleson-Cormack as a 'millionaire comedian' and 'visionary guru' of the 'The Iwanyk Institute for incremental improvement.' As the audience took their seats, we were each asked to write our deepest dream on a card for Andrew to pick from. Still, I doubted the sincerity of the claim. How could one make make my dream of being a pro wrestler come true during a one hour Fringe production? Article content Article content As soon as he emerged from the green room, sporting a Steve Jobs turtle neck, shaking hands with the audience, and signing autographs no one asked for, I knew I was in for an hour of hearty laughter. Iwanyk is charismatic and witty, working with the audience to mine comedy gold from the depths of our life goals. Article content Article content The challenge for this review is that it's hard to say much about the moment-to-moment experience without revealing too much about the show itself, and I think it will vary from audience to audience. That said, I left the theatre with a huge smile on my face and laughter in my heart. If you need a really good laugh, check this one out.


National Post
a day ago
- National Post
Fringe Review: I'm Actually Right About Everything is a bisexual love story for the modern ages
Article content Stage 7 Chianti Yardbird Suite Article content This year's Fringe festival has a number of one-person shows full of heartfelt confessions and witty retorts, and this one may be the best of them all. Article content Canadian comedy stalwart, Tracy Hamilton, bares her soul in this tender, vulnerable, and genuinely hilarious solo outing as she shares with the audience her complicated relationship with her sexual identity. Article content Through stories about teenage crushes, toxic relationships, and representation in romantic comedy, Tracy brings along with her on this retelling of her life, captivating the audience with her smile and honest reflections. While some of us may only listen to our gut, she fully converses with hers, letting us in on her idiosyncrasies and irrational fears. Article content This bisexual love story is about identity, attraction, personal reflection, and learning to trust your own instincts. After the show, I found myself questioning my own interpretations of my instincts and reflecting on how Tracy managed similar issues. Article content Like so many of these kinds shows, they act as parable, reflecting their lives to give us insight into our own. Tracy weaves in plenty of laughter and wit to make the medicine go down.