2019 St-Ambroise Montreal FRINGE Festival St-Ambroise Fringe de Montréal #fringebuzz
There is something magical about the Montreal Fringe Festival, this year more so than ever with a number of magicians in town for the FRINGE. This diverse bilingual intercultural talent showcase has been playing in Montreal for 29 years creating a stage for emerging artists across a variety of genres to hone their craft, make connections, and experience the best of Montreal often incorporating what is unique to Montreal into their shows.
Where else can you see hundreds of theatre shows, stand-up comedy routines, bands, circus acts, and dance performances over the course of a few weeks for the price of of a really great night out? The FRINGE as it is known by "Fringers" also offers a cornucopia of free events at its famous Beer Tent located at the corner of Boulevard St. Laurent and Rachel in the heart of the Plateau Mont-Royal as well as at other venues. From the artist vernissage expo at the Galerie FRINGE to hilarious improvisation with Montreal IMPROV & Friends to the 13th Hour + Dance Party!, it's all going on at the Montreal FRINGE Festival.
The FRINGE also presents quality drama along with lots of fun stuff. Keir Cutler's homage to his mother May Cutler rises to the top of the list. The World Premiere of Magnificence written and performed by Keir Cutler and directed by Paul Van Dyck is adapted from the words and writings of the late May Ebbitt Cutler, (1923-2011). Tundra Books was founded in 1967 by May Cutler, then a Montreal-based writer and editor. Cutler established the publishing company in the basement of her home, becoming the first woman to publish children's books in Canada. Later, as the Mayor of Westmount she lent her moderating voice and reasoned arguments to the often fractious political debates of the era winning the respect and admiration of her peers across the island-city. For these reasons, and her significant contribution to the local arts scene, she is a truly iconic Montrealer.
Montreal being a city with elan the Montreal FRINGE Festival overlaps a number of other festivals happening around the same time on St. Laurent Boulevard and its environs most notably the MURAL Art & Music Festival which provides a stunning visual backdrop to the FRINGE and other events with its massive colorful murals and new forms of urban art transforming the Montreal cityscape. The Frénésie de la Main street fair dovetails with the last weekend of the St-Ambroise FRINGE Festival providing a nice segue between shows as Fringers and tourists alike stroll up and down "The Main".
As always, the Montreal FRINGE Festival has worked its magic for another terrific year of magical entertainment and madcap antics pulling the proverbial rabbit out of the hat with Montreal panache!
www.montrealfringe.ca