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Winnipeg Free Press - ONLINE EDITION
Ellamentary: A One-person Musical About Filling Out and Fitting In
Our Rating: 
This hour-long musical memoir benefits from the charm and resonant vocal pipes of Toronto-based writer-performer Christine Aziz. Playing a tween with the mortifying name of Ella Salmon (reverse the order and cringe), Aziz recounts first-day-of-school highs and end-of-the-year high anxieties as Ella comes to terms with her changing body, social awkwardness, and a painful first almost-romance.
Songs composed by Aziz and other collaborators are not as strong as the performer’s voice, possibly because they only aspire to ’80s bubblegum pop — and fall short. Ella is a fan of actress Tallulah Bankhead as a kind of role model, a fact that might have lent itself to some outrageous humour. Aziz doesn’t go there, and that’s probably a good thing for the girls and younger women in the audience, but a pity for the parents.
— Randall King
From the Fringe program:
Ella Salmon, a vibrant elementary school student growing up in the 90s, loves t-ball, Pogs and YM Magazine. Her comedic coming-of-age adventure features a school dance, an old-time movie star and many awkward pre-teen moments.
Ella interacts with the audience and sings up a storm as an observant and spunky youngster with a ginormous heart.
WINNER - Best of the Fringe, 2011 Toronto Fringe
Recommended For: General Audience
Length: 60 min
Tickets: $10
Discount Tickets: $8 for Matinees, Students, Seniors, Fringe performers
Warnings: Show is geared towards ages 12 and up
History
Updated on Friday, July 20, 2012 at 1:28 PM CDT:
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