Fringe Show Reviews

Winnipeg Free Press - ONLINE EDITION

Top Dog

Written by: Janice Salkeld

Presented by: Puppy Productions, Winnipeg

Kids Venue: School of Contemporary Dancers

Our Rating: Your Average Rating:

07/22/2012 1:50 PM | Comments: 0

If you’re into gibberish, you will love this fusion of sound, clown and physical theatre. Four players cavort onstage for an hour, gradually revealing their alliterative, nonsensical names and unique dialect. It is uncanny how they all manage to communicate, though that’s the least of their problems.

It takes a full 15 minutes for the show to really get going. There’s a lot of yelling and whistle-blowing with an unclear storyline. At times, individuals appear to jockey for position — now, that has potential as a statement about bullying and group dynamics. However, the action keep sliding back into overly long games of hopscotch, tag, races and hide-and-seek that feel self-indulgent.

More audience participation would have helped sustain interest. That, or edit this head-scratcher to about half the length.

— Holly Harris

From the Fringe program:

With the snap of a shiny kitchen utensil and the flick of a colourful hat, four characters use clowning, physical theatre and sound/rhythm to transition from self-absorption to a greater understanding of the world - and their ability to change it!

A comedic and heartwarming journey of what it means to be a friend and to give and ask for forgiveness.

Directed by Brenda McLean and featuring Delf Gravert, Micheal Long, Kaitlynn Porath and Heather Russell.

Recommended For: Family Friendly

Length: 60 min

Tickets: $5

Babes in arms permitted.

History

Updated on Sunday, July 22, 2012 at 1:50 PM CDT:
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