Fringed and Confused

The week has been flying by.  The days off work have worked well for Fringe volunteer shifts (not so much for housework and other chores), but not for shows.

Front of House volunteering is much like previous years - a lot of activity for about 45 minutes followed by a break almost as long (rinse and repeat once or twice).  It's tempting to try to fit a show into that break, but not really that feasible.  Instead, I've mostly walked the site and people watched.

Street performers try their best to get the attention to draw a crowd.  One promising to swallow a flaming sword while riding a bicycle... but only if the crowd is big enough.  The zombie bride stares down audience members, while her zombie groom unpacks a big trunk of props...

The Copper Cowboy, Paul photographed last year, is also the "Space Cowboy" on alternating days. The petticoated woman seems to hover next to a large stack of suitcases.  (I catch her setting up one time and ruin the illusion for myself.)

Artists do their spiel to get you to consider their show.  A volunteer tells me how she thought the animal rights protest against "Me & My Monkey" was for real, before realising it was the artist trying to get you to buy a ticket to the show (to protest or not)...

My favourite had to be the handsome man in tighty-whities handing out samples of chocolate cake.  Photos (for Steph) below.

The show involved?  "Red Wine, French Toast, and the Best Sex You've Ever Had" - a contemporary dance number I'm told.  Oh, those beautiful dancers.  























Despite parade of amusements and actual volunteering, I do feel a bit down and alone on site.  I'm really happy to see a familiar faces.

On duty, checking the line at the Walterdale, I spot my high school biology teacher!  She seems to remember me :)

I caught Peter from dance  at VHQ (Volunteer Head Quarters).   I'm pretty sure he doesn't remember my name, but he remembers the dancing and has promised me one at the volunteer party.  With him at my table, I feel a bit more included and laugh along when he hands another volunteer a Canadian penny: "I give these to the Americans as a souvenir and tell them, "Here's my two cents - rounding up from 1.6.  It has a copper maple leaf and the queen's backside."

(Above: A piano fortifies the barrier and encourages people to stop and play. / Below: Marg and Peter - Paul's old neighbours - are team leaders of a different volunteer team.)

I'm ecstatic when I see Rem at VHQ!  He directs me outside and I see there are more good surprises abound: Malcolm and French Anne were in town!

(Right: This guy makes the most amazingly intricate balloon animals - look for his unicorns on site.)

Between slapping at mosquitoes, I catch a small update: They are doing well.  They're now in Strasbourg instead of Marseille.  There are fewer mosquitoes there.  And they're leaving the next day.

 (Above: A magpie appraises the garden / Left: Bicycle couple / Below: Little girl dances to the music of the fiddle septet buskers).

 (Left: Patrons are not allowed to bring food into theatres - this one gets rid of cotton candy impressively fast.)

I also take the opportunity of being on Whyte Ave to check out the stores.  Many pretty things I can't afford, but are certainly nice to touch.  At Murn's Clothing and Curios, I find Murn is a most accomplished cat (see below).

Tomorrow Paul and I will go together to some shows... we'll see what adventures we'll get into.