It’s mid-July and that means it’s time for the Winnipeg Fringe Theatre Festival! This year the festival runs from July 16-27. There are 25 venues and 145 shows to choose from, including local offerings and national and international productions.

To get in on the fun, pick up a Winnipeg Fringe Festival program from any liquor commission in the city, or download the PDF on the Fringe website:
winnipegfringe.com

I’ll be reviewing some shows this year for CJNU, so be sure to read the latest review here on the website.

Below is the review for “SUGARBOYZ: A Boy Band Musical” at Venue 25 (The Gargoyle Theatre).

Check your program for dates and times.

WINNIPEG, MB — JHG Creative, a local, award-winning musical collective geared to younger audiences, is known for its catchy pop tunes, tight choreography and tongue-in-cheek dialogue.

Their offering this year – SugarBoyz: A Boy Band Musical – does not disappoint. This high-energy production makes good use of mixed media to recall the band at their pinnacle of fame, before a tragedy befalls the group, causing them to abandon the spotlight for other pursuits. When one of the “boys” tries to reunite the band 15 years later, lingering grief and unresolved issues surface, threatening the reunion and giving the audience pause: Will Sugarboyz ever be Sugarboyz again? Terrific songs and top-notch performances, with a stand-out turn by Monique Gauthier as “Playboy”, gave the show a decidedly professional presence. Written by highly gifted brothers, Cuinn and Connor Joseph, the musical works for the audience it’s aimed at.

Robbi Goltsman-Ferris
CJNU Radio