Fringe Review: 52 Stories

Dates: Aug 21, 2024 - Sep 1, 2024

Location: Baumann Centre – Fringe Venue 3

Performer: Dave Morris (Victoria, BC)

Duration: 60 mins

Rating: All ages

Genre: Dramedy, Storytelling

Review by Septimus & Carmunist

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Dave Morris combines his skills as a improv performer and masterful storyteller in this unique show about memory. Some elements of the show will be the same from one night to the next, but the structure is as variable as the order of a well-shuffled deck of cards. He offers some touching stories about his family along with plenty of laughs.

52 Stories is a true Fringe show in its inventiveness and unique approach to performance. We'd love to see it again, just because it's bound to be quite different each night. Alas, our Fringe schedule is completely booked up!

We can't say much more than that without giving away what makes 52 Stories so unique. You'll just have to see it for yourself. This is a play that will have appeal to a wide range of audiences (those who enjoy storytelling, improvisation, physical comedy, and emotional family content).

Workshop notes

• Without giving away any spoilers, we thought the opening video could have seeded more of the stories and people that would be referenced as the show unfolds. As it is, the time Morris spends in preparation feels like a slow start without something crucial for the audience to connect with.

• The ending didn't have as much impact as it could have. This was down to the randomized structure. We don't think the audience would feel cheated if one non-random cue was saved for the end to make sure the conclusion hits harder.

Despite these nitpicks, Dave Morris received a standing ovation for his performance. Word is going to get out, so make sure you get your tickets ASAP since this one is going to sell out for sure.

Get your tickets to 52 Stories here.

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The Victoria Fringe Festival, presented by Intrepid Theatre since 1986, has become a cornerstone of the city’s arts scene, known for its unjuried, anything-goes approach to performance. For Carmunist and Septimus, Fringe is the highlight of the year. We’ve been involved as volunteers for more than a decade, and more recently, we’ve opened our home to performers as billets. Reviewing Fringe shows is something we’ve talked about for some time, and now we’re putting our experience as fiction editors and theatre stans to work, offering our thoughts and workshop notes for as many performances as we can attend.

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