Fringe festivals are renowned for featuring performance artists whose output is far from kid-friendly. But the Victoria do has options for parents looking to "fringe" with their youngsters in tow. The FamilyFest, playing at Langham Court Theatre, boasts the festival's plucky, do-it-yourself spirit, sans the foul language and detailed descriptions of intimate physical acts. Here's a quick roundup of some of the family-oriented fare on the bill:
What: The Secret Life of Walter Manny
When: Aug. 29 to 31
Rating: 4 1/2 stars (out of five)
In this one-man show, Victoria's Trent Arterberry plays Walter Manny, an eight-year-old boy whose imagination gets him in regular trouble at home and at school. Using only his wiry body, elastic face and shape-shifting voice, the middle-aged thespian acts out Walter's daydreamed worlds of adventure being a heroic fireman, playing for a big-league baseball club, boarding an alien spaceship as well as the child's collisions with reality. The play, a true gem, resolves with a nugget of wisdom as useful for adults as it is for children your imagination has pretty nifty real-world applications.
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What: The Night That the Knight Learned Wrong From Right
When: Aug. 29 to 31
Rating: 3 stars
Incorporating hand puppets and homemade props, The Night tells of the land of Cardboardia, whose king is suffering from severe boredom. He assigns his loyal knight to venture off to faraway lands to gather stories that might break his highness's ennui.
Along the way, the swordsman encounters a series of helpful strangers, each of whom dispenses a well-worn fable. Though cute, it's a somewhat plodding odyssey, one that might too easily lose the attention of its target audience, the tot-and-kindergarten set.
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What: The Great Beanstalk Conspiracy
When: Aug. 30, 31
Rating: 4 stars
Put on by Story Theatre, a Victoria-based company that tours schools across Canada, The Great Beanstalk Conspiracy is a cautionary tale about the dangers of failing to treat Mother Earth with respect. It depicts a bleak future in which children must don breathing masks before walking to school and power blackouts are routine occurrences.
Main character Jackie and her classmate Michael assume the role of green-minded superheroes, climbing a mysterious beanstalk to discover what's causing all the environmental destruction.
It might sound like a heavy-handed bummer, but the bright costumes and bouncy performances temper the dystopian vibe. Plus, after the moralistic main course, the players serve up a dessert of spirited song and dance, as well as chuckle-inducing improv games.
