Living on the Fringe in the Hammer!
It’s time to take get out of the heat and get into an air-conditioned theatre to experience the Hamilton Fringe Festival!
Mark Cassidy — who really hasn’t aged much since this picture was taken. Credit: The Hamilton Fringe Festival
Hamilton is known for its arts scene. There’s no end to the festivals like the Art Gallery of Hamilton (AGH) film festival, Gritlit, Festival of Friends and of course, the monthly Art Crawl along James St.
But for 11 days every July it’s time to take get out of the heat and get into an air-conditioned theatre to experience the Hamilton Fringe Festival!
Last night was opening night. So, I headed off to the Westdale Theatre to experience ABD with Mark the C. The plays title translates into, ‘Allistonian, Brockvillian and Dionysian with writer and performer, Mark Cassidy.’ Quite the mouthful.
In case there’s anyone out there – like me – who doesn’t know what Dionysian means, here’s a brief definition: Dionysus was the Greek god of wine-making, fertility, festivity, insanity, and theatre.
Billed as a storytelling/solo show, Cassidy takes his audience on a unique journey detailing life as a kid growing up in the historic Windsor Hotel in downtown Alliston, ON before moving to Brockville, ON when his father sells the hotel to buy the Long Beach Motel.
The motel was a bit of an oddity given the fact that it backed onto the beautiful St. Lawrence River, yet every single room faced the highway. Guess the builder was related to Doug Ford, eh? Just saying.
Eventually, Cassidy’s father would buy a second motel in Kitchener-Waterloo, ON called the Flying Dutchman prompting him to rename the Long Beach Motel in the hopes of creating a chain of Flying Dutchman motels.
Cassidy’s reminiscences of the folks who lived and performed in the hotel, as well as those who worked or were regulars at Brockville lounge, is bittersweet at times evoking a laugh or two.
The show picks up its pace once Cassidy becomes the disc jockey at the Brockville Flying Dutchman playing two slow songs for every three fast ones ranging from Englebert Humperdinck and Tom Jones to Jim Croce.
Then, Saturday Night Fever hit the screen in 1977 changing everything from the music that was popular, to the way people danced and yes, even the dress code at the lounge.
Eventually, it’s New Year’s Eve 1979 and Gloria Gainer is belting out her hit, I Will Survive as Cassidy counts down to the new year and decade.
A cute show that would benefit from a little tweaking – Cassidy could be seen reading lines at times and the timing of the music was a little off with pauses being too long before it started or after it had finished.
The disco ball was a nice touch and Cassidy deserves praise for the tricky way he gets everyone on their feet dancing just before declaring the end of the show and guaranteeing himself a standing ovation.
A nostalgic night out for folks of a certain age and a good choice for a first date or for parents who want their kids to experience a slice of life from the 1960s and 70s. Bet they won’t believe that Cassidy’s dad bought his first house in Riverdale (Toronto) with just a $200 down payment!
ABD with Mark the C has been workshopped extensively including at The Gladstone Hotel, The Albion in Guelph and The Porch and Pint in Peterborough. It appears next at the Kingston Fringe Festival from August 1 to 11 at the Grand Theatre.
General Admission: $14
Age Suitability: Parental Guidance (ages 13+)
Warnings: None
Genre: Storytelling/Solo Show
Run Time: 60 mins
Find all Hamilton Fringe Festival shows here.
The festival runs from July 18 to 28, 2024 at 13 venues around Hamilton.
For those new to the Hamilton Fringe Festival, full- length shows are $14 for adults and $5 for kids, plus the mandatory one-time purchase of a Fringe Festival button for $4 for each person.
Full-length shows are mainly 60 minutes with a few running 90 minutes. There’s also Fringe Mini Bar performances that are 20 minutes and only $7 for admission as well as a variety of packages like 6 shows for $66.
All proceeds from sales go to the performers while button sales fund the festival.
It’s best to purchase your tickets online so you’re not disappointed.
Cash is no longer accepted at the door – only debit or credit.
Arrive 10 minutes before the start of the performance so you have time to have your ticket scanned and find a seat, because not all venues will accommodate late arrivals.
As part of the 20th Anniversary celebrations audiences can enjoy Fringe On The Streets, an immersive walking tour where you can experience the city through live art and performance. Hop on or off anywhere along the 90-minute route and enjoy all of the performances along the way.
While Fringe On The Streets events are free, registration is required.
Be sure to build in plenty of travel time if you are coming from outside Hamilton because summer construction within the Hammer and surrounding areas is causing chaotic traffic congestion.
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