life with more cowbell

Kicked off this year’s Toronto Fringe with some sketch comedy courtesy of Spoon Vs. Hammer’s Behold, the Barfly! at the Monarch Tavern last night.

Written and Directed by Justin Haigh, Behold, the Barfly!  is a step into the mind of an unconscious bar patron, as we travel into his hilarious and sometimes bizarre dream world. Goofing around with sharp social commentary and poking fun at human foibles, it’s all about making sense of a crazy world. The fun and games features scenes that play with Shakespearean text and language, deconstruct popular song lyrics, and present segments of a news magazine show that covers the current state of the world’s nonsense.

The energetic, sharp-witted and playful ensemble features Elizabeth Anacleto, Jeff Hanson, Steve Hobbs, Kevin MacPherson, Marsha Mason, Eric Miinch, Ned Petrie and Sarah Thorpe. These guys really give ‘er, bringing to life hilarious characters and situations – from a child-like face painter struggling to hold down a job, to a serial killer stand-up comic wannabe, to a family trip to the Ontario Science Centre gone awry, to the members of a support group who get caught up in an Agatha Christie-inspired whodunit. And there’s a special celebrity guest in the program that you’ll just have to see for yourself.

Sketch comedy shenanigans and witty wordplay to make sense of the nonsense in wacky fun Behold, the Barfly!

Behold, the Barfly continues at the Monarch Tavern until July 10, with a show every night at 7 p.m.

For ticket info and advance tickets/passes, check out the Fringe website.