ON STAGE
What: Victoria Fringe Theatre Festival
Where: Eight downtown venues (see victoriafringe.com for schedule)
When: Thursday to Sept. 2
Tickets: $9 to $11 (with $5 Fringe button). Sold at the door, by phoning 250-590-6291 or victoriafringe.com. Packages available: five shows for $55 or 10 shows for $80.40 Sure, you've heard tell of that kooky fringe festival thing. But what exactly is it? And how does one "fringe," anyway?
The Victoria Fringe Theatre Festival, now in its 26th season, is Vancouver Island's largest theatre festival. This year's event offers more than 370 performance of 55 shows. Offerings range from Shakespeare's Henry V to a "hillbilly hip-hopera" titled Homewrecker Hot Dogs. Or perhaps you prefer a Yiddish folk tale called Two Corpses Go Dancing, or The Wyf of Bathe (a.k.a. The Wife of Bath's Tale) delivered in Chaucer's original Middle English. It's all here: comedy, drama, dance, music, spoken word and children's theatre.
Fringe producer Janet Munsil estimates more than 25,000 people will attend the festival, held in downtown venues such as the Victoria Event Centre, the Metro Studio and St. Ann's Academy. (Go to victoriafringe.com for a full schedule.)
Tickets range from $9 to $11. There is a one-time fee: a fringe "visa button" which costs $5. This button must be displayed to purchase a ticket. Tickets go on sale an hour before each show. For a $2 surcharge, advance tickets can be purchased. More fringe tips:
? Dress in layers (venues can turn into saunas)
? Check out the Fringe on Twitter (#yyjfringe)
? Talk to people in lineups to get tips on hot shows
? Hang out and meet performers nightly at the Fringe Club (Victoria Event Centre) from 10 p.m.
? Read fringe reviews daily in the sa国际传媒 and online at timescolonist.com/ entertainment/fringefest.
