By Christine Antoniadis
Those who wanted to try a fun and unique way to explore The Fringe festival hopped on the Fringe Bus on July 17/15. Participants warmed up with a few drinks at Baltimore House before boarding.
Spectator writer, Jeff Mahoney, hosted the tour, providing commentary on the festival, venues, artists and history injected with a wonderful sense of humour. This helped create great energy during the 90 minute bumpy school bus ride.
As Mahoney explained, “The bus tour helps newcomers get used to the geography of The Fringe Festival. It’s also a good way to get a sampling of what’s out there”.
The bus stopped at two venues to treat participants to a play and snacks. Adding to the festive atmosphere were a few Fringe artists that rode the bus to promote their acts. Jeff pointed out that some of the plays “capture challenging themes in a creative way.” “The Rabbit Done Died” is a perfect example of that.
Written and performed by Rose Hopkins, it tackles the tough issue of unplanned pregnancies in the 50’s when abortions were illegal and societal attitudes toward unwed mothers were judgmental rather than supportive. Many women and girls left with few options died or were injured seeking backdoor abortions by shady practitioners in unsanitary places and for a hefty price. “The pain is the punishment for giving in to the sins of the flesh” explains the main character. She talks about “the rules” of her business taking calls from desperate females while smoking cigarettes and recalling her own traumatic personal experiences. The smallest stage prop, the phone, features prominently. This thought provoking play was captivating and got a big, well deserved round of applause.
Don’t miss this play, plus a ton of other entertainment at this year’s Fringe Festival, which runs until July 26.
