Have you been to the Montreal Fringe Festival yet? On Saturday I took in a few shows, Existential Lingerie<\/em> with Lou Laurence and A Lone Loon.<\/em><\/p>\n Let\u2019s start off with Laurence, an award-winning Montreal singer, comedian, and storyteller. Existential Lingerie was described as a hilarious, absurd, sultry new musical comedy about an existential crash-out sparked by ill-fitting underwear and Lou’s ultimate quest for… fulfillment. Well explained indeed!<\/p>\n This 60 minute show, which Laurence admitted to the audience was written right on deadline, was marvelous. It was my first time seeing Laurence on stage and she is delightful: a ball full of energy.<\/p>\n Most of her routine centered around a date with a man named Carl. The interesting thing here is that Laurence actually sits at a table for two alone and plays both parts. At some point you think Carl is actually there. It is clever concept and Laurence’s back and forth is barrel of laughs. At one point, Laurence excuses herself to go to the washroom where she proceeds to perform a song with guitar in hand; and yes all of her numbers are funny and good to listen to.\u00a0 During her talkback, the audience gave her several loud ovations. This lady is a talent!<\/p>\n Laurence\u2019s solo show, Love, Sharks & Frenching: a hot date w\/ Lou Laurence<\/em>, won Best Solo Show, Best Music Show, and was runner up for Best Show with Improv at the 2023 Victoria Fringe Festival. The show was also nominated for Best English Comedy at the Montreal Fringe Festival. In June 2023, her French solo show, C’est une date. Right?!, premiered at Montreal\u2019s Festival Minifest. In February 2024, she produced, wrote, and hosted the live game show, Montreal’s Most Delicious Date. Spring 2024, she performed, It\u2019s Time to Love Laurence, at Toronto Sketch Comedy Festival, Newfoundland & Labrador Sketchfest, and Montreal Sketchfest. In the summer, she is brought, Love, Sharks & Frenching, to the Montreal Fringe Festival, Regina Fringe Festival, Edmonton Fringe Festival with Grindstone Comedy, and Halifax Fringe. She was a featured performer at Toronto\u2019s Comedy is Art Festival in October of 2024.<\/p>\n Laurence says she creates shows to bring a room together to share in the intimacy and singularity of live performance. Her deep, soulful voice brings to life her original songs which are jazzy-acoustic in style, and lyrically hilarious. Lou’s songs play with timing and rhythm in a distinct way that makes the laughs unexpected and the transitions through song and story seamless. Her real name is Lauren Katherine Clinton. Originally from Toronto, she relocated here in 2011 where she earned an MA in English Literature (with a Creative Writing thesis) from McGill. She has been trained in contemporary voice, improv, and storytelling.<\/p>\n You can still catch shows June 16 ( 5:30pm), June 18 (10:30pm) and June 19 ( 7 pm) at Petit Campus (57 rue Prince-Arthur E.)<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Maggie Winston in Loon mode.<\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n A Lone Loon<\/em> from the Lost & Found Puppet Co is being presented at\u00a0 Caf\u00e9 Santropol on Bagg Street near St. Urbain. Through clown and puppetry, this playful and poetic show is a delight for all ages. It was 30 minutes long and audiences are limited to 20 maximum. We sat on lawn chairs and lounges while performer Maggie Winston proceeded with a very clever piece of theatre. It begins with Maggie looking from behind a covering with binoculars while we hear sound effects of a lake. Maggie’s character keeps looking for the loon. She dives behind a curtain, with water sound effects as she carries on her search for the\u00a0 loon.\u00a0 These are lare large, aquatic diving birds famous for their haunting calls and strikingly patterned plumage. They are perfectly adapted for life on the water, featuring spear-like bills, ruby-red eyes, dense bones for deep diving, and legs positioned far back on their bodies.<\/p>\n Yes, we see the loon via puppetry. But Maggie keeps missing it. Finally, she makes a big reveal near the end of the play.<\/p>\n I spoke to Maggie after the presentation. She said she’d like to visit schools and talk to kids about loons. It sounds interesting.<\/p>\n You can still catch A Lone Loon Sat. June 20 (Noon and 2 pm) at Caf\u00e9 Centropol, which is making its debut as a Fringe venue. Log on to: https:\/\/www.montrealfringe.ca\/<\/a><\/p>\n BILLION DOLLAR SPORTS INDUSTRY:<\/strong> Documentary producer Giancarlo Mirabella<\/strong> and GM12 Productions are gearing up for the world premiere of “Signed, Sealed & Delivered,” a feature-length documentary exploring the global sports collectibles industry and the passion, psychology, and business behind one of the world’s most rapidly growing markets. It will make its debut will premiere on Wed. June 17 at the Cineplex Forum downtown before its digital release on major streaming platforms. The film takes viewers behind the scenes of the sports memorabilia and trading card world, examining the people, companies, and collectors driving a multi-billion-dollar industry that has evolved from a childhood hobby into a global marketplace.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Giancarlo Mirabella<\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n
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