It's Cheap! It's Edgy! And it's Here!

Date Posted: 17/07/2019

NORTH(519) The Best of Fringe: Three Companies, Three Days, Three Locations

July 19-21, 2019

Hanging out on the edge of the performing arts, Theatre Orangeville is ecstatic to announce our 2019 selections for NORTH(519) Best of Fringe are The Commandment, and An Atlas, A Necktie & Other Concerns coming to the Orangeville Curling Club, Friday July 19 and Revival 1863 on Saturday July 20 — these dates only.

This is the second year in a row that Theatre Orangeville has partnered with The Toronto Fringe Festival to bring edgy, independent theatre from downtown to our town. “This is not the normal fare you’ll see on our mainstage,” says Artistic Director David Nairn. “These plays are shorter and saltier, giving independent artists a chance to test new material that pushes the boundaries of the performance arts. It’s truly exciting stuff and you don’t have to drive to Toronto to see it!”

This year we’ve added a KID-friendly selection featuring Stories by Dan at Jungle Oasis on Sunday July 21. They are Dungee the Dragon & The Just-Okay Juggler at 11 am, followed by Inky the Octopus Takes Over the World at 2 pm.

Keeping NORTH(519) affordable, tickets are $5 each for KIDS’ shows and $15 each or both shows for $25 for the more mature content. And some of the content is definitely mature for the adult shows.

The Commandment is the story of an unfortunate guy who is charged by God to deliver the 12^th Commandment to the world, a challenge when the guy doesn’t believe in the first place! This is a funny, highly irreverent, heart-breaking, and eventually hopeful solo show by Simple Truth Theatre.

An Atlas, A Necktie & Other Concerns by Period.Productions features four, life-long, 30-something friends with very different world views, who have to problem-solve their way out of an escape room with surprising results. Both shows run about 60 minutes.

The Fringe started in 1947 in Edinburgh, Scotland as a boost to public morale and the Arts after World War II. The concept of a festival of short, independent new works has spread all over the world, and provides audiences and artists an opportunity to explore new ideas in new ways. Performances are typically one-act and max out at 90 minutes long. The Toronto Fringe is in its 31^st year and this year featured 150+ shows at 30+ theatres between July 3 and 14, a feast for any theatre fanatic.

Theatre Orangeville’s panel of local jurors (including two under age 10) saw 54 shows during the first weekend of the Toronto Fringe Festival. While we knew what we wanted to bring to Orangeville by Monday July 8 we couldn’t tell you until Toronto Fringe made its announcements on July 12. With only a week until our Festival starts, we need your help to spread to the news!

It’s cheap. It’s edgy. And it’s here! Call the Box Office for tickets 519-942-3423 or go online theatreorangeville.ca

NORTH (519) The Best of Fringe DETAILS: