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Winnipeg Free Press
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Winnipeg Free Press
Fringe reviews #13: You took the flyer from the mime; there's no turning back now
52 STORIES Dave Morris Son of Warehouse (Venue 5), to Sunday ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Fifty-two cards are the key to Dave Morris' exotic, unpredictable memory palace, which the Victoria storyteller generously unlocks during this hilarious and heartfelt homage to mnemonics. 'It's a pretty weird place,' he says. A few years ago, Morris stumbled upon the high-stakes world of memory competitions, deciding to take on a challenge that suited him best: rapidly recalling the exact order of a standard deck from front to back. Using a system called person-action-object, Morris encodes three-card sequences into codon-sized chunks that reveal not just how the comedian remembers, but which parts of his life he's been unable to lose in the shuffle: the queen of spades is Maleficent, the two of hearts is his grandmother, and the three of diamonds is a symphony. Each card unlocks a story that will lodge its way into your own hippocampus: that's what happens when you're in the hands of a masterful player. — Ben Waldman AFTER AUGUST Thinking & Feeling Theatre Company Tom Hendry Warehouse (Venue 6), to Sunday ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Eve Ross Moore's 70-minute drama, her first fully finished script, is exceptionally moving, featuring an impressive trio of young actors that will leave a lasting impression. The show opens with Avery (Moore) and her brother August (played by Ben Robertson) getting in a car accident that kills August. Wracked with guilt and longing, Avery is haunted and taunted by August for what she has done. She's a mess, leaning hard on August's best friend (now her boyfriend) Elliot, played by Samuel Benson. As Avery's downward spiral accelerates, her relationships with August and Elliot become increasingly fraught before she dramatically takes matters into her own hands. The performances by this Winnipeg outfit are exceptional: Moore's thrilling portrayal conveys Avery's range of emotions brilliantly, Robertson slinks around interjecting with equal parts venom and compassion, while Benson harbours secrets that are gradually coaxed out into the open. The production is slick and well thought out, and aside from a couple of expository, repeated and unnecessary lines, the script is tight, moving along briskly. — Ben Sigurdson THE BIRDCAGE Crosswalk Productions Tom Hendry Warehouse (Venue 6), to Sunday ⭐⭐⭐⭐ The daughter (Sadie Kornovski) of an ultra-conservative senator (Kevin Birkholz) and his status-obsessed wife (Pamela Roz) falls in love with the scion (Ethan Stark) of drag-club proprietors (Mat Pilgrim and Corey Quintane) in this wildly enjoyable, well-cast staging of Elaine May's treatment of La Cage Aux Folles. This is the fourth time Crosswalk has returned to the Goldmans' club in South Beach, but the production, directed by Mitch Krohn, still feels as fresh, topical and crowd-pleasing as ever. As the extravagant Albert, Pilgrim alone is worth the price of admission, playing the role with the self-pity of 30 Rock's Jenna Maroney while playing up his height to rewarding ends. Ditto for Albert's manservant Agador, whose Harvey Fierstein growl and toddling saunter are enough to send you spilling into the aisles and asking for seconds of sweet-and-sour peasant soup. — Ben Waldman BRAIN Blair Moro Rachel Browne Theatre (Venue 8), to Sunday ⭐⭐⭐ In this new comedy, two affable young actors — Marissa Sauve and Jillian Burke — play the right and left brain; the right brain knows something bad has happened to the owner of the brain but the injured organ needs to figure out what is going on. It can sort it out with the audience's help. Get ready to be a part of the show! Brain borrows heavily from the Pixar movie Inside Out, but in this case, the trauma is physical rather than emotional. The information given by Vancouver playwright Blair Moro (Cabaret of Murder) at the end of the show about the intention of the production makes it more clear and might be better off the top. More genuine information on how the brain works would make the show more 'educational,' but it's a lot of fun and given the show is a work in progress, the shorter-than-promised run time is just fine. It's sloppy and messy, but so are we all. — Lara Rae DOG Ross McMillan Again Rachel Browne Theatre (Venue 8), to Sunday ⭐⭐⭐ Ross McMillan, one of Canadian theatre's lovable elders, is a charming raconteur. After last year's fireside chat on his Scots roots, he returns with a new work about dogs. Eschewing the fireside format, he opts for the addlepated lecturer, replete with vintage slide screen and a projector he works from the stage. There are many lovely stories, some moving, some melancholy, some amusing, interspersed with interesting factoids and tales of human canine relationships extending back tens of thousands of years. Audience members seated on the side near the door won't be able to clearly make out the slides. Quirky pauses of five to 10 seconds make it hard to parse if the 'character' or the actor is struggling to maintain the sequence of events. Despite the charm, some oddball jokes and the insertion of some theatrical quirks, it is difficult to know what's dazzle and what's being ill-prepared. For dog lovers, it's a small treat, but given the technological marvels and slickness abounding at this year's 21st-century fringe, to return to a hand-made tale means the actor must be the fireworks; there is more work to be done before this work bursts into distinction. — Lara Rae FAKESPEARE'S MACBETH Jack&Marlowe Son of Warehouse (Venue 5), to Sunday ⭐⭐⭐⭐ ½ Patrick Hercamp's one-man Shakespeare play may be the shortest production you'll see this year, clocking in at just over 30 minutes (advertised as 45). But what he packs into the hilarious, rapid-fire monologue will stay with audiences long after he's exited stage left. The American vaudeville comedian recently jumped from his long-running, fast-paced Hamlet synopsis into Shakespeare's 'cursed play' (whose name he won't even speak, referring to it as 'Mac-b' throughout), which he sums up (in modern English) with great gusto and with loads of fun audience interactions for the packed house. Hercamp's delivery is blistering (how else can you do Mac-b in half an hour?), and his comedic timing and wit razor-sharp; the crowd ate up his uproarious Coles Notes version of the Scottish play. Despite the show's brief length, the audience got their money's worth and more; Hercamp hung out chatting with folks in line before the doors opened, then bantered onstage with the crowd before the show proper. You needn't be a die-hard Shakespeare fan to leave fully satisfied and with a huge smile on your face. — Ben Sigurdson LITERALLY AGAINST ALL ODDS Inspired I Theatre MTC Up the Alley (Venue 2), to Sunday ⭐⭐⭐ ½ Over the course of 40-ish minutes, Grade 1 teacher Ms. Thompson is pushed to the brink in this 'new play in development' written by Winnipeg's Alissa Watson. Played by Spenser Payne, the sweet Ms. Thompson takes the students/crowd through how to deal with small, medium and big problems, pushed to her wit's end in art class by the need to help kids craft stuff for their parents. After some basic math, she details the lives of caterpillars in a biology lesson, where things get decidedly dark in a wild, unhinged scene. Near the show's end we get a Class of 2034 graduation speech from one of Ms. Thompson's former students detailing the class's first wave of teacherless education (thanks, AI) hammering home just how brutal educators have (and have had) it. Payne charms and eventually terrifies as Ms. Thompson; anyone in (or who knows someone in) education will find plenty familiar in her woes. It's a well-written (so far) and well-acted, play bringing both laughs and gasps (and a few cutting haikus), and is sure to only get better. — Ben Sigurdson SUGARBOYZ: A BOY BAND MUSICAL JHG Creative The Gargoyle Theatre (Venue 25), to Sunday ⭐⭐⭐ ½ When Spinal Tap composed Lick My Love Pump, the title was hilarious because it so closely spoofed heavy metal. When the SugarBoyz, a parody boy band, refer to their hit Nocturnal Emissions, there's no sharp mockery of the genre. It's just one of many sophomoric jokes in a musical by Winnipeg's JHG Creative (The Mail Room, World's Fair 1876) that needs stronger comedic writing, especially since boy bands have been previously sent up in the clever BoyGroove and Altar Boyz. Monique Gauthier (Play Boy), Ian Ingram (Baby Boy), Connor Joseph (Good Boy), Cuinn Joseph (Nasty Boy) and Ben Krawchuk (Schmancy Boy) are terrific vocalists, though the backing tracks at times slightly overpower them. Not every boy nails the urban choreography with equal confidence, but a moony 'emotional dance break' is a highlight of the hour-long show. Gauthier is the acting standout as the raunchy Play Boy. Video segments vary, some marred by unprofessional lighting. Though the boys croon, 'You're eatin' good tonight,' SugarBoyz isn't quite the feast of musical silliness it's aiming to be. — Alison Mayes WORLD PEACE THRU HUMOR — A GERMAN 101 Paco Erhard | German Comedy International MTC Up the Alley (Venue 2), to Sunday ⭐⭐⭐ ½ In the past, German-born, New York-based comic Paco Erhard has imparted his homeland's sensibilities in 5-Step Guide to Being German; in his new 75-minute standup show, he looks to the country of his birth to offer guidance through the world's many problems. Erhard draws parallels between fascist Germany and today's America, recounting his own U.S. border horror stories. Urging folks to lose their ego and 'dare to look stupid or stay stupid,' he offers funny and insightful observations about Canada, AI, resisting nationalism and more with solid timing and delivery and just the right amount of stronger language. The nearly full house responded positively to Erhard's pointed but slightly rough-around-the-edges show, with plenty of chuckles throughout as well as a couple of legit belly laughs. He may not bring about world peace, but Erhard is sure to have audiences leaving with smiles on their faces and plenty to think about. — Ben Sigurdson YESTERDAY REIMAGINED Phoenix Productions John Hirsch Mainstage (Venue 1), to Saturday ⭐⭐ Two couples who low-key hate each other get together for their weekly card game, but this Saturday night's alright for fighting after they begin having a provocative philosophical discussion: if you could go back in time and change one pivotal decision in your life, would you? This locally produced dramedy, written by Liz Farler, has enough tension to keep the audience engaged, but it never really moves forward, hampered by tedious, circular dialogue and characters so one dimensional that they border on caricatures — although Daniel Cormier is excellent as Curtis, the smug, right-wing husband of conflict-avoidant Denise (Leslie Boardman). There's no real growth or insight to be had, no surprising or interesting revelations. The baddie is bad, the goodies are good, which makes for boring theatre. — Jen Zoratti
Los Angeles Times
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Los Angeles Times
Visitors flock to opening day of the 135th Orange County Fair to find their happy
Newborn piglets sleeping snugly in their straw beds, kids lugging larger-than-life-sized stuffed animals by their necks or hindquarters, neat rows of baskets filled with tomatoes, cukes and spiny bitter melons and every food fit for deep-fried impalement. What just a few weeks before was a sleepy Costa Mesa fairgrounds, on Friday transformed into a wondrous scene of sights and sounds, as the 135th annual Orange County Fair welcomed guests to an exuberant opening day. A beloved local tradition that for generations has beckoned families from both near and far, this year's fair entices guests to 'Find Your Happy.' And, by the looks of it, legions of faithful fairgoers heeded the call, lining up outside the main Blue Gate hours in advance. At the head of the line, checking his watch for an 11 a.m. start, was Martin Guzman. The 55-year-old Garden Grove resident flew solo this year, only because his fiancee Jena, who's attended the fair with him for the last three years, needed to take care of her mother. 'Every year, we do this as a family thing whenever we can. It's a special time, and I'm waiting to get in because I want to call her as soon as I'm there,' he said. Built a bit like a bouncer in a club, Guzman made sure to arrive two hours early so he could get a fresh crack at the festivities — and the food. 'I like to eat, can't you see how big I am?' he quipped. 'I like the turkey legs, or anything I can shove down, especially since the lady's not here.' Three spots behind him in line was Costa Mesa resident Jordan Stanton, 35. He came to opening day with a group of friends so he could make the most use of his Every Day Passport, which allows entry even on days when the cap of 50,000 guests has been exceeded. 'I used to work here; I worked at the Blue Gate last year, then the previous year I worked at Viv's [employee cafe],' said Stanton, who lives nearby and is able to walk to the fair. 'I just like to walk around and talk to people; mostly everybody knows me here.' Nearby, Chris and Elyse Alford of Tustin were awash in opening day excitement as they awaited entry with daughters Avery, 15, and 12-year-old Reese. More than mere spectators, the girls are participating in this year's festivities. Avery was heading for the Hangar, to perform a routine with Tustin dance troupe HBP Dance Extreme, while Reese plans to present two cows she raised, Tucker and Oakley, in the livestock auction later this week. In no time at all, the gates opened to the sound of cheers from the crowd. Inside, waiting to welcome guests was James Canfield, hired last month to helm the Orange County Fair & Event Center, the organizing body of the fair. His first day on the job was July 1. 'Since I arrived, I've seen this go from a parking lot to a fair — it's just incredible,' said Canfield, who got to the fairgrounds at 4 a.m. for opening day TV press coverage with demonstrations galore. 'I love doing events, kind of riding the wave of an event from the opening throughout and all the minute adjustments you make through the course of it and the challenges and opportunities you face over time and the learning curve. So, I'm very excited.' Equally excited was 5th District Orange County Supervisor Katrina Foley, who lives nearby and who treated her contingent of hard-working staffers and interns to lunch and a day at the fair. A group of about 15, they were heading to a noon flag ceremony at the Hangar with city and county officials. 'This is the annual opening of the fair day. Everybody works in the morning, then we come here and do the flag raising and have lunch at Baja Blue,' said Foley, herself an Every Day Passport holder. 'Tonight, our whole neighborhood is taking our golf carts over here.' In nearby Centennial Farm the Murphy family, of Ladera Ranch, huddled around the agricultural exhibits, enthusing over teeny pumpkins with twig vines curly-queuing upward and fluffy rabbits in hutches. Kevin and Alyssa Murphy came with their three daughters — 8-year-old Harper, Brynn, 5, and 3-year-old Reese — and Alyssa's mom, Cindy Woodroof, of San Clemente. Kevin said each year, the family's first order of business is to crowd into a photo booth for an annual family fair photo. While Harper and Reese figured out which rides they wanted to go on, Woodroof, 71, recalled coming to the fair as a young woman with her parents, then her own husband and children. 'We'd be here with the kids and eat corn — my husband, he would love to come here for the corn,' she said, a tear forming in her eye. 'For me, it's about family. I grew up in Costa Mesa, the kids have all grown up here.' 'There's a nostalgia for the fair,' Alyssa said. 'And keeping the tradition,' her mom added.
Business Upturn
15-07-2025
- Business
- Business Upturn
Arctic Gateway Group Makes Significant Infrastructure Upgrades
WINNIPEG, Manitoba, July 15, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Arctic Gateway Group (AGG) is currently undertaking major infrastructure improvements at the Port of Churchill and along the Hudson Bay Railway. With expanded freight operations, new construction at the Port of Churchill, and upcoming port modernization projects, AGG is investing in long-term strength for Canada's Arctic trade corridor. 'The Port of Churchill is primed to become a major Canadian trade asset,' said Chris Avery, CEO, Arctic Gateway Group. 'The investments we are making are setting the stage for a new era of growth and Northern economic activity, unlocking the trade and transportation potential of Canada's Arctic Trade Corridor to better serve the Canadian national interest.' Expanded Freight Operations Now in Effect A second weekly wayfreight train is now operating along the Hudson Bay Railway, following successful efforts to train and hire new conductors for the Northern workforce. This expansion has also been made possible by years of investment in railway rehabilitation and new technologies that keep the railway strong and safe. The Hudson Bay Railway is now in its best condition in more than 30 years. 'This marks a new level of service and reliability along the line,' said Avery. 'We've reached this point by investing in the people and technologies needed to operate safely and reliably in Canada's North.' AGG's investments in hiring and training local conductors and railway staff have deepened the company's workforce capacity, while partnerships with Canadian firms such as TrackSense by DecisionWorks and Aposys have brought new technologies into the field. These include ground-penetrating radar, LiDAR, drone inspections, GPS-tracked maintenance, land-based sensors, and artificial intelligence for data monitoring. New Critical Mineral Storage at the Port of Churchill Construction is now complete on a new critical mineral storage facility at the Port of Churchill. Once operational, it will triple the port's storage capacity for critical minerals, meeting growing demand from the Canadian mining sector and positioning Churchill as a key hub for resource exports. This facility can also support the storage needs of other commodities, such as certain types of potash. 'Manitoba, Nunavut and Western Canada hold vast amounts of critical minerals,' said Avery. 'With more storage capabilities at the Port of Churchill we can better meet the needs of Canadian critical mineral producers looking for new, reliable trade routes.' Port Modernization and Wharf Refacing In the coming months, major modernization work will begin at the Port of Churchill. Work this year includes the refacing of the wharf, ensuring long-term safety and operability as shipping traffic grows. These upgrades will enhance the Port's ability to handle bulk cargo efficiently and safely, and sets the Port up to further diversify export and import commodities. First Arctic Supply Ship The first Arctic supply ship of the 2025 season arrived at the Port of Churchill over the weekend, loading construction equipment, essential goods, and building materials to be exported to the Kivalliq region of Nunavut. AGG has a long-standing relationship with Kivalliq communities, with partnerships in place for expanded growth. 'We're focused on building a resilient transportation corridor that people in the Canadian North can rely on, one that also serves the trade, transportation, and security needs of a changing Arctic,' said Avery. About Arctic Gateway Group The Arctic Gateway Group is a proudly Indigenous- and community-owned Manitoba company that owns and operates the Port of Churchill, Canada's only Arctic seaport serviced by rail, as well as the Hudson Bay Railway, operating from The Pas to Churchill. Together this northern infrastructure forms the nexus of Canada's Arctic Trade Corridor, providing a reliable and efficient route for Canadian resources to access world markets. Disclaimer: The above press release comes to you under an arrangement with GlobeNewswire. Business Upturn takes no editorial responsibility for the same. Ahmedabad Plane Crash
Boston Globe
14-07-2025
- Automotive
- Boston Globe
Driver killed Sunday in Concord, N.H. crash
Emergency responders freed Avery from the wreckage and brought him to a nearby hospital, authorities said. Investigators determined that Avery, who was driving an orange 1979 Volkswagen Bus, crashed into the back of a 2023 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter van as traffic slowed around them. The driver of the Mercedes-Benz was taken to the hospital for a precautionary evaluation. The southbound side of the highway was closed for approximately three hours. Advertisement Truman Dickerson can be reached at
Glasgow Times
11-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Glasgow Times
'Fantastic' crime show can finally be watched in the UK
Sight Unseen first premiered in Canada in January 2024 and was not avaialbe to watch in the UK until now, as it's being added to streaming service Paramount Plus. The ten-episode series is being released weekly and follows Vancouver homicide detective Tess Avery (Dolly Lewis). Avery is forced to quit her job after an accident nearly kills her partner and results in her becoming clinically blind. But, everything changes for Avery when she meets Sunny Patel (Agam Darshi), a volunteer on a visual assistance app. Despite being based thousands of miles away, Patel can provide Avery with a visual description via a lapel camera. With Patel's help, Avery returns to work, and together they begin working as a crime-solving duo. However, while Patel is helping Avery, she is facing her own health problems as she suffers from agoraphobia, meaning she struggles to leave her own home. 'Fantastic' crime show finally avaialbe to watch in the UK Sight Unseen has gained mass praise since it was first released, with one fan taking to Google Reviews to share their thoughts: "Loved this! Unique story, great back story, characters, and I have loved every episode!" Another viewer wrote: "Fantastic! It is smart and keeps me interested, and the CW hasn't done that in a while." A third viewer said: "One of the best series I have seen lately. It's very exciting." Sight Unseen was inspired by the co-showrunner Kat Troubetzkoy, own life when her half-sister Niko experienced sight loss. Recommended Reading As Troubetzkoy told The Hollywood Reporter that one day Niko woke up with little vision due to retinal detachment. Telling the outlet, " Without any warning, as a vain 20-something, I was blind. I was bandaged, and it took about three weeks for my vision to slowly return. I had to be guided by a family member." Sight Unseen is available to watch with a subscription to Paramount Plus.
