A cynical producer who once said staging theatre in Canada is no picnic should have visited Centennial Square on Tuesday.
The launch party there for Intrepid Theatre’s 10-day Fringe Theatre Festival couldn’t have been more picnic-like.
There was no shortage of gingham, picnic baskets and amusing sights such as St. Michaels University School students who are staging a family-friendly version of Avenue Q masquerading as gigantic ants while hoisting a huge slice of watermelon.
“We wanted to do something that would symbolize the feast aspect of the festival,” said artistic director Janet Munsil, carrying around a stuffed Jack Russell terrier, the festival’s mascot inspired by a photo of a dog in a truck she came across.
“It’s [nicknamed Project Picnic] because it has that smorgasbord feeling where you get a taste of a lot of different shows.”
Munsil hand-crafted a large watermelon pillow that began to get tossed around like a beach ball at a rock concert, she said.
“It’s because I don’t have enough to do the day before the Fringe show,” laughed Munsil. “I should take on a craft project.”
Characters from ballplayers to The Birdmann, an Aussie comedian, mingled with fans and fellow performers at the all-ages event preceded by Suddenly Dance Theatre’s Romp! festival sampler. An estimated 400 Fringe fans who showed up for the block party were also entertained by music spun by a DJ, a speech by Victoria Mayor Dean Fortin and a colourful lantern parade. It included a return appearance by a giant illuminated sock monkey commissioned for the festival’s 25th anniversary two years ago.
Costumed performers included Miss Hiccup, the clown from Japan; the cast of The Life and Times of Ty Cobb; and director Dave Morris with castmembers from Paper Street Theatre’s An Improvised Quentin Tarantino.
“I enjoy improvising conversations about minutiae like burgers or foot massages — that and getting to pull a gun onstage,” said Missie Peters, who mimics Uma Thurman on the play’s Pulp Fiction-inspired poster, cross-legged with a cigarette.
“Tarantino is one of the greatest filmmakers of our tme,” Morris said, explaining the inspiration for the cinematic show. “We wanted to improvise his film style onstage — and the Fringe seemed like the perfect place to do it.”
The colourful event gave Munsil a chance to meet performers she says she has only known from their bios and photos.
“I feel like I know all these people and they’re going, ‘Who are you?’ ”
The Fringe Festival, featuring more than 50 shows from around the world at 11 venues, continues until Sept. 1.
