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Reviewed by Sally Swan

What amazing performances in all three of these creative adventures - all different, all unique and extraordinarily well performed.

Such passion from young writers and actors who have talent beyond their years. Comic at first glance with thought provoking layers underneath - touching our modern lives, exposing our fears and follies in such imaginative ways. Such courage and fearless performers who have managed to combine dance, comedy and drama in such clever and entertaining ways.

I congratulate all of the Wakefiled folk who had a hand in getting the Piggyback Fringe Festival going. What a coup! Merci mille fois à vous tous!

The Swan

Reviewed by Peter Tremblay

Loved it, a one woman wrecking crew tackling high stakes emotions with humour, character reflections and nostalgia all wrapped up in respect.

Reviewed by Gwen Shea

SAVE POINT. Bring the family! Saw it last night. Mom and teen son take a fantastical cyber-journey that had me laughing out loud at them and at myself. From Gwen Shea, a parent who used to think Pong was leading technology (well, it was!).

Reviewed by Sally Swan

Chaotica is a thought provoking game of life - revelaed to us by an energetic, highly talented single star!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

What a performance! The play itself with unique props, perfectly timed music and sounds and endless energy and a wide array of singing, dancing and acting all performed flawlessly in the tiniest of spaces! Congratulations! This show was extraordinary and I recommend that you don't miss it!

The Swan

Reviewed by Meg Barker

Dante, written by Kaitlin Phillips, is an intriguing, modern play about the historical tendency of literary society (or societies generally), to idolize women for the creative or other ends of the human male, who, in the past and largely in the present, is in the driver’s seat. Here, we see a change – the beginnings of a transfer of some societal motive force from men to women. The play is structured on a layering of two time periods – the dawning of the Renaissance in Western civilization, and our contemporary, bewildering times.

The poet Dante Alighieri is seemingly the object of attraction and source of inspiration for the playwright, an interesting reversal – it turns the basic premise for literary creation on its head. It questions the use of idealized women as the source of creative forces such as Dante found in fixing his passions on an unattainable Beatrice. The product that came out of this alchemy – The Inferno, laid a moral and literary groundwork for future literary achievements in the Renaissance. Petrarch, a later poet, used an already-married Laura as his source of inspiration, but had little use for her friendship.

Three talented actors play the roles of Laura (Kristan Brown), Dante (Forrest Seamons) and Beatrice (Caitlin Goldie). The contemporary Laura is the girlfriend and co-habitant of Dante, and she is frustrated and anxious over Dante’s lack of interest in finding employment. Her demonstration of the tactics used by some females in trying to motivate the modern man - a mix of manipulation, seduction and pleading – are superb. Laura suffers the consequences of her own scheme to get Dante to work, in introducing Dante to Beatrice, for whom he admits his seemingly permanent yearning. Beatrice, a decisive, career-driven and unapologetic figure, is unimpressed of his use of her and decides to get her own back.

While it was probably intentional that Dante was to be played as an object, himself, by the two women, and had little character of his own, it wasn’t very convincing or exciting. I believe the play could have had more explosive power if Dante, like the two women, had been allowed to express who he is today, and come clean. Likewise, there was all kind of potential in the relationship that-never-was between the two intelligent and energetic women.

The play is a fascinating incursion into significant topics for our times, however it remains somewhat obscure. This reviewer guesses that there were several themes and devices within the play that weren’t entirely developed. Consequently it became a bit too complex for the standard audience. At the same time, this reviewer, for one, would laud Peanutfish Productions for a challenging, thought-provoking show. And I urge the playwright Kaitlin Phillips not to “sell out” but to keep on going. If there’s one thing women should learn about playwrighting, it’s that.

Sunday Shows ...

Pitch Blonde is not only charming and informative, it's very entertaining as well. Giving us an intimate portrait of an overlooked talent, actress Lara Anne Harris invites us into the audiences of yesteryear to meet icons like Bob Hope, Groucho Marx, and Tallulah Bankhead.

But more than that we are reminded of what happens when fear takes over and our rights are threatened in the name of national security. Something Judy's generation shares with our own.

Transcanada 69

Before it was discontinued about 20 years ago, I managed to take the TransCanada three times. I won't even try to pretend that it was just like 1969, but I remember that it was gathering place for Canadians to share music, stories, and our great country with each other and any tourist who happened to drop by.

TransCanada 69 harkens back to this great experience and gives us a musical journey from Montreal to Vancouver with fellow passengers Neil Young, Leonard Cohen, Leona Boyd and others. This is a very intimate and beautiful moment shared between the artist and the audience.

Chaotica

Remember the board game Life? Well, this show is like that on speed. Energetic, frenetic, challenging, funny and cause for self reflection, this one woman show will captivate and enthrall.

Yes, there is audience participation and, yes, the gods of irony smiled upon our village and found me at the altar at St. Andrew's United. I'm not sure Eric was impressed, though.

Note to self: suggest to Rev. Gisele Gilfillan that Sunday numbers may increase if we added flashing lights, disco music and a tap dance floor to the services.

Dante

I have just enough battery power to tell you that Dante was amazinggggggggg

Scott Hebert Daly - Theatre Wakefield's playwright in residence and head "Ed" - is blogging live from the Piggy Fest. Starting at 1700 on Sunday at the opening ceremonies Scott will have the hottest gossip and the ripest reviews - all at Live Piggy.

Comments are "enabled" - tell Scott what you think about him. the festival and life during Piggy.

Scott Hebert Daly has the disarming face and gentle touch of a master reviewer.