Musical Comedy and Circus Show DEATH MEETS HARLEQUIN to Fly High at Toronto Fringe

Unspoken Theatre is proud to present Death Meets Harlequin at Toronto Fringe KidsFest with special guest performances by Deflying Feets circus troupe (June 11-16). Death Meets Harlequin by award-winning Toronto playwright Nina Kaye is a family friendly comedy that integrates music, Commedia dell'Arte, symbolism, and archetype to explore themes of family, love, loss, and transformation. Harlequin is a wide-eyed boy who loves to chase butterflies and play guitar, while his strict father the Doctor, despairs at his son's lack of work ethic. A musical encounter with Death awakens the father and son to new perspectives. In English with some Spanish.

Tom Beattie stars as Harlequin, returning to Fringe Festival after Unspoken Theatre's 2016 Fringe production of the award-winning play Mood Swings, alongside the indie darling Thomas Gough (Hamlet/Hart House; Blood Relations/Alumnae; Donors/Safeword; Much Ado/Single Thread; Lear/Soupcan; Human Furniture/Storefront). Aleksandra Maslennikova (The Diary of Anne Frank/Marion Abbott; Red Lacquered Box/Alumnae; The Tarot Show/Unspoken Theatre) completes the acting team. Nina Kaye (with playwriting awards from Hart House Players & Sterling Studio; directing credits with Alumnae, Unspoken, Bard in the Park) writes and directs.

Unspoken Theatre was founded in Toronto in 2011 by sisters, Natalie and Nina Kaye. The company has produced and developed over a dozen plays in a variety of genres including award-winning new works, children's theatre, 1920's cabaret, and raw adult drama. The company has a focus on new writing by local female playwrights featuring a classical or mythological element. Past productions have been praised for poetic imagery, believable characters, inventive staging and powerful performances. www.unspokentheatrecompany.weebly.com

Deflying Feets circus troupe will perform a special pre-show July 11, 13, 15 and 16. Founded in 2009 as a solo hand-balancing act, the company has grown to include a multi-talented group of artists covering a wide range of circus specialties. Current members, Andralyn Zayn; Duane Steel; Glory Dearling; and Leigh Louise perform Icarian games, Hand-balancing, Hand-to-Hand, Aerial Hoop, Silks, Spanish Web, Duo Trapeze and Teeterboard. http://deflyingfeets.com

Mooney on Theatre says: Nina Kaye is one of "our city's best emergent playwrights"; Harlequin and Doctor "are caricatures, delightfully so"; Music in the show is "striking" "comical" and "pretty"

Audience on Facebook says: Death Meets Harlequin has "A terrific interaction between father and son" "Mesmerizing singing" "Great acting"

Tickets Tickets: $5 for kids, and $12 regular. Purchase online https://fringetoronto.com/festivals/kidsfest/event/death-meets-harlequin by phone 416-966-1062 or in person during the festival at our main box office at the Fringe Club at Scadding Court (707 Dundas Street West)

Performances: (Please note that there is no latecomer seating)

Wed July 5 at 4:15 p.m.

Fri July 7 at 1:45 p.m.

Sun July 9 at 11:45 a.m.

Tues July 11 at 1:15 p.m.

Thurs July 13 at 4:30 p.m.

Sat July 15 at 10:00 a.m.

Sun July 16 at 11:45 a.m.

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