life with more cowbell

Here’s how much Kat Leonard loves Johnny Depp:

I’m also so very happy to have finally figured out how to insert an actual vid image into this post – much prettier than a link for sure.

Leonard’s one-woman music/movement/dance/multimedia extravaganza A Depper Kind of Love was the first of three shows I saw this past weekend. And what a weekend of Fringing it was! Kat’s energy and enthusiasm won over the skeptical, and got the audience clapping and singing along (Hope for Dopes was the official sing-along, but some folks were even singing with her on I’m My Own Asshole). So. Much. Fun. Kat is all kinds of awesome.

While hanging out with Kat and some pals at the beer tent after the show, we got flyered by several other Fringe folk, including playwright Shannon Bramer, who was promoting her play MonaRita (which was conveniently located across the street at the Bathurst Street Theatre). Besides being a lovely gal, Shannon had me at “St. John’s” – the folks producing the play were from St. John’s, Newfoundland (She Said Yes! and White Rooster Theatre). I love St. John’s. So far, it’s been from afar – but I have a trip planned at the end of August. Anyway – MonaRita features two friends – two halves of the same person – who struggle to be together but can’t be apart. Funny and touching. And actors Ruth Lawrence (Rita), Sara Tilley (Mona) and Mark White (the Dapper Stylist) shine.

On Sunday, I got down early to get in line for Kim’s Convenience. This show, and playwright/actor Ins Choi, have had a lot buzz – both pre-Fringe and during. In fact, I heard that as of yesterday, all the pre-sale tix for this show are sold out! And I’m here to tell you, this sizzle has steak, chickens. Also playing at the Bathurst Street Theatre, this show features an awesome cast – Choi is joined by Esther Jun, Paul Sun-Hyung Lee, Andre Sills and Jean Yoon – and an amazing script. Set in a convenience store run by Korean immigrant Mr. Kim (Lee), we see the comings and goings of one day – a day that acts as a window on not only the store but on the family who run it and live upstairs. Yoon plays Mrs. Kim, and Choi and Jun play son and daughter John and Janet, while Sills multi-tasks as customers, a developer and a cop (Alex) who grew up with the Kim kids. Hilariously funny and very moving – this show has legs. And I wouldn’t be surprised to see it remounted – hopefully, at the Best of Fringe, since I imagine a lot of folks won’t be able to get in to see it, and even beyond.

Kat played the Fringe tent late Sunday afternoon, so after a wander downtown and a frozen yogurt, I returned to the beer tent for more pints and fun.

All in all, a most excellent weekend at the Fringe. And, note to self, having a venue located near the beer tent makes it very convenient to promote the show and draw audience.

So. Who would you lick off a dirty sidewalk?