Fringe Festival 2006: Jem Rolls and Uncalled For
Posted by Skrud at Tuesday, June 13th 2006 at 7:08pm
I went to see both Jem Rolls and Uncalled For last night at the Fringe Festival. It was my second time seeing Jem Rolls and the third time seeing Uncalled For.
Jem Rolls is unbelievably awesome, it’s just impossible to accurately describe what he does to anyone who hasn’t seen him perform – even then, I don’t think you could accurately describe it. If poetry and cunning linguistics were turned shoved into a blender with Reese Pieces, you still wouldn’t have Jem Rolls. Technically, it’s a performance poetry, but that term doesn’t do justice for Jem’s act.
Unfortunately, Jem Rolls does not do any recordings – there are no CDs, DVDs or movies for you to get a sampling from – which only makes it that much more difficult to describe. Suffice it to say that if you even have a remote appreciation for hearing the English language used in peculiar, original and interesting ways you should definitely, definitely check out Jem Rolls before the Fringe is out.
Uncalled For is usually my favourite performance of the Fringe. They’re a wildly entertaining improv troupe that not only performs hysterical sketch-improv comedy, but experiments with it, too. Every Fringe show is completely different – and not only because of audience participation: they’re trying a different experimental approach to improv comedy each night. When Guillaume saw them on Sunday they did everything ”backwards”. When I saw them last night, they tried to show how Stalin was connected to Big Bob from Alberta through degrees of separation (Stalin and Big Bob were both audience contributions). It sure was hilarious, but slightly weaker than last year’s tunip (sic) patch, prison inames, Norway and siamese twins story. :D
I’m going to try to hit Uncalled For at least one more time this Fringe, but I doubt I can make any of the other showings.
Hahaha Fring. :P
And I’m totally down with hitting up Uncalled for again.
Are we still on for Thursday?
You should comment on the “Net Buzz” portion of the fringe site Seems like no one but you has anything to say about this show. I think its important to put it on the festival’s site for other theatre goers.
Skruddy, if you guys are hitting Uncalled for on Thursday let me know. I wanna go too.
wrt mb, done and done. Net Buzz for Jem Rolls is generated.
Blaring typo alarm
I think this post’s title should be Fringe and not Fring.
I saw Jem Rolls last night; my report is in the process of being excreted.