The multi-talented musicians of The Fourth Wall are well-known to Winnipeg Fringe audiences. With sold-out shows at each of the past two festivals (2016, 2017), the trio is often nicknamed "The Fruit Flies," after their award-winning variety show Fruit Flies Like a Banana. Fringe fans may be surprised to learn that, rather than return with a new version of the Fruit Flies... format, The Fourth Wall will be bringing a new show to the 2018 festival, entitled Fallen From the Toy Box.
Promising their signature "hybrid arts" approach seen in previous performances, the new production will feature a variety of works blending music, dance, and theatre, with an increased focus on thematic relationships and narrative depth. Fallen From the Toy Box will be performed at the Tom Hendry Warehouse between July 19 and July 28, 2018.
Fallen From the Toy Box draws inspiration from discarded mementos of youth, fairy tales, childhood games, and the secret life of toys. In addition to established musical repertoire - arrangements of familiar music by Claude Debussy and Vince Guaraldi, as well as lesser-known works by Lili Boulanger and Iannis Xenakis - The Fourth Wall will perform fully-staged works by living composers. Brett Abigana's "L'Histoire du Soldat de Jouet" features flutist Hilary Abigana dancing en pointe as Collette, the mechanical ballerina; percussionist Greg Jukes as Jacques, the jack-in-the-box; and bass trombonist C. Neil Parsons dancing the role of Rene, the toy soldier. Mr. Parsons has also composed and choreographed "Refrigerator Art," an experimental piece interpreting the drawings of children aged 3 to 6 ½ as graphic scores. Most significantly, Fallen From the Toy Box includes Rülàkàm, a newly-commissioned work by Bahar Royaee. Born in Iran, the Boston-based composer has incorporated a lullaby recorded by a grandmother in northern Iran with a regional folk tale to create a poignant portrait of innocence and loss.
The Fourth Wall was founded in 2010 by flutist Hilary Abigana, bass trombonist C. Neil Parsons, and percussionist Greg Jukes, all conservatory-trained musicians who are also dancers and actors. Since 2013, the Massachusetts-based trio has toured the North American Fringe Festival circuit with Fruit Flies Like a Banana. The Fourth Wall premiered Fallen From the Toy Box at the Orlando Fringe Festival in May.
TICKETS: $12 general admission
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