Myriad of one-woman shows will be on display at Edmonton fringe festival
CBC
Artists and shows at the Edmonton International Fringe Theatre Festival this year are as varied and eclectic as ever — although attendees may notice a plethora of one-woman productions.
Edmonton playwright Madi May and her modern adaptation of Fantomina, a nearly 300-year-old novella by English writer Eliza Haywood, is one of at least 20 one-woman productions on the festival's bill.
In both the novella and May's version of Fantomina, a woman repeatedly disguises herself in order to dupe a man into believing he's met four different women.
"I'm not super married to the idea that the stories that plays tell have to be realistic," May said when asked if she thought an endeavour like Fantomina would be possible in today's world.
"I think theatre is the most unrealistic form of art. And you have to suspend your disbelief and you have to just go with the story, because otherwise it's just not as fun."
May said she decided to make Fantomina a one-woman show to keep the play in line with the novella, which was written in the third person. She's also long had a personal goal of performing solo.
"Everyone knows it's daunting," May said, adding that the pressure is "part of the fun."
On the other hand, May feels that bringing a one-woman show to the festival can also be an isolating experience.
"Organizing for the Fringe is bonkers, even if you have a whole crew with you," she said. "When it's just you, it's kind of even more bonkers."
Another one-woman performer at the festival this year is Ontario comedian and playwright Laura Piccinin.
Her show GO tells the tale of conquering the massive East Coast Trail hike in Newfoundland and Labrador.
"I'm writing in my journal every single day. And at the end of every day, it's like, 'That was so awful and difficult. Tomorrow must be better,"' Piccinin said.
"And then you flip the page, and the next day it's like, 'Fell into a lake."'
Piccinin spent a total of 19 days on the trail, which was three times longer than any of her previous hikes.
