Well, another Fringe Festival has come and gone. But like every year, there are a few shows that will go on to bigger things. In 1999, there was the Drowsy Chaperone. In 2002, Job: The Hip Hop Musical got all the buzz. Last year gave us the Gladstone Variations and An Inconvenient Musical.

And in 2008, we have The Christian Republican Fundraiser in Dayton Tennessee. I reviewed this show during the Fringe and loved it. But since Christian Republican Fundraiser is playing next week as part of Diesel Playhouse's "Best of the Fringe", I thought I'd tell you a bit more about what makes this show so good.

I was talking with my good friend yesterday, a veteran of many a Fringe performance. I asked him: with 150+ shows and 29 venue, is it possible to see everything?

"No. But you can try."

Indeed. And try we might, with only two days to go.

Continue reading for reviews of Lupe: Undone, Einstein's Wife, Putz, Blastback Babyzap, and You Mean Now?.

Well, it's crunch time now folks. Only three days left to see dozens of innovative and occasionally bizarre shows at the 2008 Fringe.

And while you're out there desperately cramming as much theatre into 72 hours as you can, remember to show the Fringe volunteers a little love. It's hard work, but there wouldn't be a festival without them.

Continue reading for reviews of How To Build and Empire, Sarah Hennessey Time, Middle of the End, Viva Vivi!, and Kaliban.

Not even a torrential downpour could stop Tuesday's Fringe festivities. It almost stopped me, but I persevered and saw some quality theatre in soaking wet shorts. Remember, Fringers- only five days left in the 2008 Toronto Fringe. Get out there and see some shows. But bring an umbrella. Or a raft.

Continue reading for reviews of The Barbecue King, Telegrams from the new Canadian cinema, The Tricky Part, Acis and Galatea, Teaching the Fringe, Trust, A Girl Named Ralph, and The Further Adventures of Antoine Feval.

I'm going to try something a bit different in the ol' TTR this week. As I'm trying to conserve my limited critical resources for the two-week theatre orgy called The Fringe, today will be a combination 'review' and 'feature'. What I like to call a 'freview', or occasionally a 'reveature'.

Moving forward.

Everyone loves a summit. If by 'everyone', you mean scowling diplomats and folks really into the reduction of nuclear weapon stockpiles. But Toronto's Bad Dog Theatre has come up with an event with much broader appeal- instead of arguing about the number of ICBMs in Poland, the Bad Dog Improv Summit is all about funny.

The National Theatre of Scotland is approximately 3300 Km from Toronto. Under normal circumstances, seeing a show there would involve a lot of money, time, jetlag, and hangovers, as the last time I was in Scotland I somehow ended up drinking the volume of a small bathtub every day.

So, I owe the Luminato Festival a debt of thanks. Their importation of the NTS's Black Watch saved me a handful of cash and spared my liver the vagaries of a week in Glasgow. And as a happy bonus, it was a pretty damn amazing show to boot.