From: PX7555@... <PX7555@...>
Subject: [SG1_spoilme] Kate Hewlett
To: sg1_spoilme@yahoogroups.com
Date: Friday, 4 July, 2008, 3:11 AM

http://www.theglobe andmail.com/ servlet/story/ RTGAM.20080703. WBTheatre2008070 3113737/WBStory/ WBTheatre

Toronto Fringe festival diary: The Swearing Jar and Bluebeard
J. Kelly Nestruck, today at 11:37 AM EDT

excerpt:

Hello - for those of you just arriving at Nestruck on Theatre, here's an
introductory blog post. Part of the reason why we're launching at this particular
moment is so I can blog about the 20th edition of the Toronto Fringe festival,
which began last night.

I'm a fan of Canada's cross-country Fringe circuit, which is unique in the
world. It's an excellent testing ground for artists and audiences and provides a
home for genres of theatre that are often neglected by mainstream theatre
companies. And I don't just mean zombie musicals.

Kate Hewlett, whose new play The Swearing Jar opened in the Tarragon Theatre
last night as part of the festival, is an example of the kind of playwright
that thrives on the Fringe. Her characters are quirky and gentle and armed to
the hilt with clever one-liners; they make passing reference to pop-culture
detritus like scrunchies and the sitcom Blossom. It's the kind of writing which,
for better or for worse, we associate with television shows like the Gilmore
Girls rather than theatre.

Hewlett, whose earlier play Humans Anonymous was a sell-out at the Fringe two
years ago, should have another festival hit on her hands here. Cleverly
structured and interspersed with song, The Swearing Jar concerns thirtysomething
Carey's relationships with two men - her husband and a musician she meets in a
bookstore. Though it deals with serious subjects like pregnancy, death and
adultery, it always stays light, funny and charming. It's difficult to say much
more because there is a M. Night Shyamalan-esque twist halfway through that
changes everything - and reveals the play to be even slighter than thought. (Check
the Toronto Fringe website for venue and times.)

REST AT LINK ABOVE

Elyse

************ **
Gas prices getting you down? Search AOL Autos for
fuel-efficient used cars.
(http://autos. aol.com/used? ncid=aolaut00050 000000007)

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]