More Fringe notes

We're almost at the end of the "debut days" at the Toronto Fringe Festival--I have just one more show Saturday afternoon and I'll have done my reviewing duties. A few thoughts.

* The techies are an unforgiving bunch. Says one in the beer garden. "There was this one show today and they asked me for chairs! Chairs! What do they think this is? Are they going to be asking me for costumes next?" Then she started talking about what techies would do if they ran the world. I expected it to sound like Fascism, but it was more about some kind of automated lighting system.

* Most obvious piece of dialogue today: "Life is so... alive."

* Thursday's best line: "Nobody likes the aging divorcee but everyone loves a widow."

* If there is a choice between a no-name act that seems to come from a place of passion and an act with a few "professionals" on its roster--references to L.A. or London in the program bios, for example--always take the amateurs. Big egos spell indifferent work ethic and you have to wonder: If you're doing so well in L.A., why are you in the Fringe?

* In a similar vein, I am often left wondering about what it takes to make something "entertaining." I've seen plays that have been workshopped, dramaturged, workshopped again, performed and directed by trained theatre professionals that have been vastly less entertaining that somebody just hopping on stage and telling funny stories. I suppose if Hollywood hasn't figured it out, the chances I will are slim.

* Past Fringe success is an unreliable indicator of what this year's show will be like. The best expectations are no expectations.

Overheard in the YMCA lockerroom

Two guys on the opposite side of the bank of lockers, so I can't see them very well. This is slightly condensed with names changed.

Guy #1: Fucking assholes! Douchebag!...(more loud, irrate sputtering).
Guy #2: Don't worry, man, don't worry.
Guy #1: And fucking Gina and fucking Jim! Fuckers! They think I'm on crack again! I'm totally clean! I'm fucking clean, man! And those shitheads think I'm using crack again!
Guy #2: It doesn't matter what people think. It matters if you're using or not. You know you're clean...
Guy #1: I fucking know I'm clean, man. I haven't been this clean in long time. And if I was going to use, I'd be fucking slamming heroine! Crack, no fucking way!
Guy #2: Exactly, exactly, man.
Guy #1: Why would they, why would they? I mean, okay! (Pauses, thinks.) Okay. You know what, I'm off my meds! I stopped taking my fucking medication. Maybe that's their fucking problem!
Guy #2: You seem fine to me, budddy.

Overheard on Dufferin

From a trio of teenage girls leaving the Dufferin Mall:

#1: ....It's all old guys there. If you don't watch out, they'll take your hand and put it on their balls.

#2: And if they find out you're high--oh fuck!

#3: [Nodding head emphatically] Uh-huh, uh-huh!