Fringe Festival kicks off in Regina

The Regina Fringe Festival kicks off Wednesday after a two-year hiatus due to COVID-19.

The festival is to run in three locations across Regina for the next five days, wrapping up on Sunday.

Earlier this week, some of the performers gave a sneak peak of what they will bring to the festival.

A steely detective performed magic tricks, two dancers took to the floor to perform the Argentine Tango, and a saloon girl sang, taking the audience back to the Prohibition era.

Just moments ago, Erin Scott-Kafadar and Alexander Richardson performed with their company PointeTango. They will be dancing at the Regina Fringe Festival July 6-10. @CJMENews pic.twitter.com/nxv7NGWKXP

— Gillian Massie (@massie_gillian) July 5, 2022

William Hales, a board member for the Fringe Festival, said it has been a slow year getting performers.

“We have jokingly called this the mini-Fringe because we are only doing three venues,” Hales said.

Every year, the selection process brings different performers locally to the international level. Each performer is then given complete artistic freedom.

“It’s the same as it has always been. It’s 100 per cent for the artists; we have no idea what we are going to see,” said Hales. “It’s just that great free-for-all. You never know what you are going to see until you walk into the theatre.”

Two of the performers at the showcase have been performing together for a long time.

Gilles Denis and Andre Roy have been performing “Everything is Beautiful” for 10 years. In 2021, they helped translate and rework the script from French to English.

“We have been lifelong friends in real life, but in the play, we also perform as these two friends who have been friends since they were kids,” said Denis.

The play is about two older men sitting in the park. Robert, a sour old man, waits most days to see his grandson playing at the schoolyard playground. His friend Jean sits next to him and tries to brighten his outlook on life.

“I have seen lots of old people in that situation,” said Roy, who plays Robert. “You have to find your way to bring yourself up and be relevant, and bring yourself up for everything that you want to see.”

Gilles Dennis and Andre Roy in a snippet of “Everything is Beautiful.” They will be performing at the Regina Fringe Theatre Festival @CJMENews pic.twitter.com/dF1EkG2ChP

— Gillian Massie (@massie_gillian) July 5, 2022

On stage, the pair goes through a series of highs and lows. Denis explains how Jean sees life through rose-coloured glasses.

“It’s my job onstage to get my friend to start smiling again, enjoy life again, and find ways to be relevant again,” said Denis, “because we feel ignored as seniors, like we can no longer contribute, and that’s part of the depression — and if we can find ways to be relevant again, we can learn to be happy.”

Despite the serious tone of the performance, Roy ensures it is a hoot to watch.

“It’s also very funny — like really funny,” said Roy. “People just crack right up, and then all of a sudden, we switch right back to depression. It’s up and down the entire way, but at the end, there is hope.”

The two are performing at the Royal Saskatchewan Museum starting at 8:30 p.m. until Sunday.