Fringe 2012: The Soaps
Christie Bruce, Paul Bates, and Murphy. Photo by Matt Baram.
The National Theatre Company of the World
Monday, July 9, 6:30 p.m.
Wednesday, July 11, 11:15 p.m.
Thursday, July 12, 9:15 p.m.
Friday, July 13, 12:30 p.m.
Sunday, July 15, 2:45 p.m.
St. Vladimir’s Theatre (620 Spadina Avenue)
Students of history take note: the short introductory summaries of each participating nation’s perspective on the outcome of the War of 1812 are as insightful as thick literary works. After that, The Soaps sticks to gut-busting improvised silliness set against the backdrop of wartime intrigue and lust. The cast of veteran improvisers keep the laughs coming via characters that face their cowardice, passions, and mushroom-induced 19th century equivalents of the Great Gazoo. Verbal fumbles swiftly turn into running jokes—without a momentary miscue, there wouldn’t have been numerous references to that all-but-forgotten Napoleonic weapon, the mucket.