Author Archives: Jay Menard

London Fringe – Jon Bennett’s Hilarious Death by PowerPoint

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By Jay Menard

Jon Bennett is a masterful storyteller and his latest show, My Dad’s Deaths, shows a continuation of his incredible talent and depth. It’s a hilarious presentation combining stand-up, archival video, and poetry.

A veteran of the circuit, Bennett is most known for Pretending Things are a Cock — a venture that served to disappoint his stern father to no end. Bennett shares the story of growing up on a pig farm in Australia, where his father was the central figure in his life — in addition to being a father, he was the local minister, his teacher, and his coach. His father oversaw all aspects of his life, but had a self-professed distaste for jokes.

Bennett is an engaging storyteller who immediately puts you at ease and has you laughing from the start. He’s a professional at his craft and even the most disturbing stories are told in a way that cause the audience to laugh uproariously. Continue reading →

London Fringe — The Charming Cheat is a Polished Portrayal of a Convivial Con Man

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By Jay Menard

The Charming Cheat offers a modern twist on some classic conjuring. It’s a polished production that will delight viewers of all ages.

Michael Fisher introduces London Fringe audiences to Corbin, the Charming Cheat — a convivial con man whose act has clearly been honed to almost perfection. Impeccable timing, smooth banter, and smooth delivery are hallmarks of each and every trick.

Corbin looks the part and plays the part of a turn-of-the -20th century con man. Appear straight out of the days of the snake oil salesman, Corbin shares his twist on some classic examples of the art of deception: the shell game, three-card monte, sleight-of-hand tricks, and reading tells. Continue reading →

London Fringe – Whisper into my Good Ear. When is Living Living?

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By Jay Menard

When is life worth living? When does living merely become existence and, once you reach that point, where’s the value in going on? Do we ever stop living? Or are there always going to be new pomegranates to discover.

Whisper Into My Good Ear is a two-man exploration of the end of life — and the question of whether we should take matters into their own hands, or let nature take its course. Continue reading →

London Fringe — Joyous Bella Culpa Combines Hilarity and Grace in Movement

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By Jay Menard

Bella Culpa — at least according to the Googles — translates as “Beautiful Fault,” and the latest Fringe production by Portland, OR-based A Little Bit Off is a rollicking comedy of “errors” that showcase two masters of modern slapstick.

David Cantor and Amica Hunter play a pair of servants in an Edwardian manor. They wait for the call and command of their off-stage mistress (who delivers her orders in a most Charlie-Brown-parent sort of way.) It is in the execution of these orders — and during the times in between — that hilarity ensues.

The show is a delight for the children in the audience. One young girl in the front row was thoroughly engaged and laughed uproariously throughout. To their credit, Cantor and Hunter acknowledged and incorporated her youthful enthusiasm throughout the production. But it’s by no means a childish show and the adults in the crowd clearly appreciate the humour and technical and physical expertise. Continue reading →

London Fringe – The Sweetest, Funniest, and Most Uplifting Morning After the Life Before

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By Jay Menard

Often, when it comes to great social issues, we don’t fully understand the importance of what we say and what we do. We vote in isolation — understanding, conceptually, the topic at hand; we choose based on our values and how we define community. But for many of us, the end result is often separated by a degree or so.

For the topic of gay marriage, many of us have friends, family, or colleagues who are gay. Many of us support the cause — or have even been to a few weddings. But for those of us who are not gay, there remains that degree of separation. We can know what’s right; we can know what’s good — but to understand is something different.

LK Theatre’s The Morning After the Life Before tears down that barrier in a production that’s at once funny, sweet, endearing, and heart-wrenching. Ann Blake and Lucia Smyth seamlessly interweave characters, locations, topics, and times in a production that’s a delight to see. Continue reading →