I wasn’t around much for Fringe 2025. I’d planned to spend the first weekend at a family wedding in another province, and the second weekend at friends’ wedding locally – but I did not plan that an airline labour disruption would strand me away for most of a week.

So I managed a bit of Fringing, but I didn’t make time to blog about anything I saw until later, and I’m just posting now, for completeness.

Carole of the Belles – 100% More Girls – the same writers and performers as in last year’s Mass Debating. Kristin Johnson as the take-charge member of a handbell choir and Cheryl Jameson as the trying-hard second-wife newbie, Jake Tkaczyk as timid and mysterious Carole, Billy Brown as an aged mother-in-law and Michelle Todd and Jason Hardwick rounding out the troupe of older women preparing for a Christmas recital. Nuanced as well as funny.

Giorgi of the Jungle – I’ve seen an earlier staged reading of this growing-up story by Lynda Celentano, but I really enjoyed this version, on the Sanctuary stage at Holy Trinity Anglican, as directed by Jake Tkaczyk. Natalie Czar played the Italian-immigrant mother and the three daughters were Miracle Mopera, Jason Hardwick, and Kirsten Throndson. Mopera was particularly impressive as the oldest daughter sharing her beauty-school skills and her own hard-won learning of how to fit in, to advise and defend her younger sisters. And Czar’s monologue of how similar issues had played out for her as a young immigrant woman was thought-provoking, although possibly too long.

Anne Zander is MOTHER – I loved this clown’s look at some of the indignities, challenges, and complications of giving birth and raising an infant. In classic clown fashion, she made brilliant and unexpected use of a few simple props.

The Lost Sock Rescue Society – I thought I knew what would happen in this show, from the premise of an organization created to find new owners for abandoned socks … but it had unexpected delights. Christine Lesiak and Louise Casemore treat the audience as volunteer-recruits for their sock-adoption team.

Flora and Fawna Face their Fears – Flora (Trevor Schmidt) and Fawna (Jake Tkaczyk) welcome a new friend, Fern, played by Jason Hardwick. A fun addition to the trilogy with a few pointed comments on current events. Also, a reprise of the strangely catchy theme song “Face Your Fears”.

Plays by BOTS – I’d never been to this Rapid Fire Theatre improv format, although I’d heard good things about it. The one I went to this year was in the early afternoon and was planned as kid-friendly, with the improvisers playing kids on a ridiculous adventure. (In 2026, RFT is instead doing Plays by Humans.)

Undiscovered Country – Chris Bullough at his essence.

Cabaret of Legends – Tymisha Harris celebrates great Black women musicians of the 20th century and reminds us of their context. (Back in 2026! Worth seeing!)

52 Stories – Dave Morris uses a memory-palace trick to frame some great memoir and storytelling. Also back in 2026!

And now it’s the eve of Fringe Unforgettable, the 2026 festival. My list of want-to-see is three pages long, so I’m postponing some hard decisions. Here’s an excerpt from my list.