arts // no. 8 Fringe Festival full of fun, fantasy, and familiar faces » Vancouver takes on another year of diverse entertainment = i Cheryl Minns . Arts Editor Marts @theotherpress.ca hether you’re seeking an original performance that explores the human condition, or craving a catchy song-and-dance parody of pop culture icons, the 2015 Vancouver Fringe Festival has a bit of something for everyone. The following productions showcase the lighter and darker sides of the Fringe, from upbeat musicals to soul-searching dramas. Plan 2 Theatre presents: ~ EURYDICE by Sarah Ruhl a 4 ite a : Eurydice Presented by Plan Z Theatre Company Runs until September 20 at Pacific Theatre Presenting a new perspective on the Greek myth “Orpheus and the Underworld,” writer Sarah Ruhl explores the tale from his wife’s point of view in Eurydice. After Eurydice (Julie Casselman) dies and ends up in the Underworld, she is reunited with her father. Later, her husband Orpheus comes to the Underworld to rescue her, forcing her to choose between her father and him. “Most Fringe shows typically just go for laughs and comedy, whereas Eurydice will make you laugh, cry, keep you in suspense, and force you to ask some hard who stars in the show. “The story is also very relevant to a college age group: the : joy of falling in love, the pain of losing : : your love, trying to change your own fate, : : and facing the decision to move on are all : : themes that are explored in Eurydice.” : : Hunger Games: The Musical : Presented by District 13 : Runs until September 20 at Pacific : Theatre Surviving a battle royale and choosing between two boys isn’t easy, : so Katniss (Jennifer Pielak) has to sing : about it. Filled with catchy pop tunes : and 14 cast members, Hunger Games: The : : Musical makes the dystopian tale a fun, : upbeat comedy for all to enjoy. “Hunger Games: The Musical is : catered to fans of the movie and books, so : : we are hoping to pull ina crowd ofteens : : and adult Hunger Games nerds alike,” : said Pielak. “If college students are still : anything like I was when I was in college, : they will love this show because we make : fun of the Hunger Games and provide : commentary on some of the absurdity of : the show. Plus the show feels like a big : party—and college students of course questions afterwards,” said Brandon Bate, : love to do that too. Oh the Humanity, and other : good intentions : Presented by Staircase Theatre : Runs until September 16 at Firehall Arts : Centre : The O.C.: The Musical : Presented by Two Lobsters Productions : Runs until September 20 at Firehall Arts : Centre Will Eno’s Oh The Humanity, and other good intentions is a series of five : short, witty plays about people coping : with being human and managing human : misery. The stories range from a coach : having to explain why his team hasn’t : won a game that season, to a couple : trying to recall if they are attending a : funeral or a christening, to two people : poorly promoting themselves on a video : dating service. “This is a show we did in 2010, but : it is now even better, completely up- : levelled,” said Maryanne Renzetti, who : performs multiple roles in the show. : “The writing is smart, quirky, quick. The : humour is dry, almost subtle, almost absurd.” =e - Join bad-boy Ryan (Joey Coleman) as he adjusts to life in Orange County with theotherpress.ca : his friends Seth (Mark Dozlaw), Marissa : (Grace Newson), and Summer (Laura : Geluch) in this unauthorized parody of : the hit Fox TV series. From Stewart Yu : and Angela Wong, the creators of Fringe : sensation Riverview High: The Musical, : comes a delightful retelling of a favourite : teen soap opera in The O.C.: The Musical. “There is literally something for : everyone in this show,” said Geluch, : a Douglas College theatre program : graduate. “Ifyou grew up and specifically : went to high school in the 2000s, there : is no way you don’t know at least one : reference from this show. We promise : to let you relive many of those iconic ; moments with our own parody flare.” : Village Ax : Presented by Peachy Keen Productions : Runs until September 19 at Studio 16 In this one-woman show, Sydney : Hayduk plays Charlie, a social media : consultant who disappears into a hive- : shaped Village of 200 inhabitants. : Switching between multiple characters, : Hayduk creates what appears to bea : Utopian society, but what might actually : be a prison, in this show written by : Hayduk and Elsa Reesor Taylor. “The twenty-something-year-old : Charlie is struggling through allowing : herself to really be seen,” Hayduk said. : “This is her story of coming out from : behind her wall and truly allowing herself : to be seen—a struggle which many young : adults face in our fast pace, technology- : obsessed world.” Comic Corner: The secret life of the 50s housewife » ‘Lady Killer’ review : so off-kilter that it becomes Despite this, | felt that there : Brittney MacDonald Life & Style Editor Mlifeandstyle @theotherpress.ca OOOSS We would you get if you mashed up June Cleaver, The Bride from Kill Bill, and James Bond? Lady Killer by Joélle Jones and Jamie S. Rich. Boasting some of the best art I have seen since Angela: Asgard’s Assassin, this series is quirky and modern ina way that pays homage to the classic aesthetic of the 1950s. Unfortunately, the pacing is : distracting and greatly hinders : the development of the : characters and narrative. Written by Jones and Rich, : Lady Killer follows perfect ’50s : housewife Josie Schuller as she : cooks and cleans—and kills : people. Unbeknownst to her : family, Josie leads a secret life : as a blade-wielding assassin, : capable of getting the job done : all before dinnertime. The thing I appreciated : most about this series—beyond : the incredible art by Jones— : was the reality of the character : interactions. Josie isn’t a : superhero, and the fight scenes : reflect that. : needed to be more in-between ? moments. The narrative jumps : from scene to scene in a linear : fashion but lacks any real rest : periods, so the characters don’t : seem to develop, and things : progress far too quickly. This is : just as crippling as a plot that : moves too slowly, because the : narrative gets largely overtaken : by the continual action : : sequences. A balance needs to be : : maintained that can sustain the : : plot, while holding the reader’s : interest. perfect, especially for the : overall stylization of the book. : Somewhat retro but with The art is pretty much : modern attention to detail, Jones : : could rival some comic book : artist greats like Jim Lee and : Frank Miller. Art by Joelle Jones Despite pacing issues, I : definitely like the series and : will probably recommend it to : anyone looking for a quick read.