Fringe Play Reviews

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Trashcan Duet

By: Jayson McDonald

If You Can’t Beat Em Productions / Ottawa, ON

07/19/2009 3:13 PM | Comments: 0 (including replies) Our Rating: Your Average Rating:

This two-hander from Ontario playwright Jayson McDonald, who hit fringe paydirt in 2007 with his one-man show Giant Invisible Robot, seems to be a romantic comedy for masochists.
Well, maybe for sadists, too.

Trashcan Duet

Fringe Festival

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Stella and Billy, both in their 20s, find themselves frequenting the same coffee shop. She’s an angry poet with a vulgar mouth, and he’s a loser who talks to himself when he’s not making excuses to a judge.

For about 35 of the piece’s 45 minutes, she rebuffs his advances with mean talk, then steals his clothes, leaving him naked in the bushes, and he comes back for more.

As Stella, Adrienne McGrath shows a bruised heart beating under her bitter exterior, and Michael Showler has a Hugh Grant-like stuttering charm.

But the material is run-of-the-mill, and you never believe these two are made for each other.

— Morley Walker

From the official Fringe Festival program:

An angry romantic comedy from the wrong side of the tracks. She’s a beat poet. He’s just a deadbeat. It’s hard to believe they’ll find some common ground.

A new comic drama by Jayson McDonald (Giant Invisible Robot ***** ) Directed by Dave Dawson (She Rules with Iron Sticks ***** , Bat Boy: the Musical **** ) SOLD OUT in Edmonton and Ottawa!

Warnings: Subject Matter, Language,
RECOMMENDED: General Audience

60 min.

Venue#3 The Playhouse Studio 180 Market Ave (Entrance on Main St)

Tickets: $9
Discount Tickets: $8 for Opening Show
Under 12 not admitted.

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