21°c N/A
Winnipeg Free Press - ONLINE EDITION
Just One Spark
Our Rating: 
Clumsy and goofy, slightly off-key and completely off-kilter, and yet somehow note-for-note precise, this unexpectedly clever musical-comedy romance generates all kinds of heat when it comes to love, lust and flat-out physical comedy.
With piano man Peter Reinhardt directing traffic and providing voice-over support from behind a keyboard that doubles as music source and radio-DJ booth, Just One Spark follows the unlikely love story between a lonely, cigarette-obsessed librarian (playwright Andraea Lauren Sartison) and a single and very available firefighter (David Arial) who comes to her rescue after an ill-considered decision to sneak a smoke in the library stacks burns her workplace to the ground.
As he drags her from the burning-book rubble, different sparks start to fly. But she forgets to catch his name and, fearing she’ll never reconnect with her hose-toting hero, decides that their heaven-sent love’s best chance at survival depends on another “accidental” fire. Her plan goes awry, of course, and what follows is a crazy, loopy, madly-in-motion sequence in which romantic possibilities and heart-heating ideals are explored in a frenzied, funny fashion.
Just One Spark is a smartly written piece whose many intentionally not-quite-true notes add to its quirky charm. But it’s the comedic courage of its two mostly mute stars — they don’t possess a single self-conscious bone between them — that makes this very odd love story a winner.
— Brad Oswald
From the official Fringe Festival program:
ARSON: a mere obstacle for Green, en route to re-meet the fireman of her dreams. Her determination sets the stage for this musical love story in physical mask.
A blaze of events, in a world a touch quirkier than our own, will set hearts and minds on fire in Just One Spark.
Find us on Facebook
Warnings: Subject Matter, Language, Herbal Cigarettes,
RECOMMENDED:Mature Audience
90 min.
Venue#1 MTC Backstage at the Mainstage 174 Market Ave (Entrance on John Hirsch Pl)
Tickets: $9
Discount Tickets: $7 for Students, Librarians and Firefighters (if they can prove it)
- Back to Top
- Return to Fringe Show Reviews
Poll
Most Popular Fringe Reviews
- Jesus Christ's Favourite Comedian
- All-New Misadventures of a Massage Therapist
- Big Shot
- The Fabulous Miss Rosie Bitts
- Party Worth Crashing
- Outside Joke's Summertime Party Jam!
- In Adagio
- Jumpman Bros. Enter 8 bit Underland
Ads by Google
You can comment on most stories on winnipegfreepress.com. You can also agree or disagree with other comments. All you need to do is register and/or login and you can join the conversation and give your feedback.
Have Your Say
New to commenting? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions.
The Winnipeg Free Press does not necessarily endorse any of the views posted. By submitting your comment, you agree to our Terms and Conditions. These terms were revised effective April 16, 2010.