MARDI BRA 3: MILK’N IT written and performed by Renée Percy and Jen Radomsky, directed by Bruce Hunter. At the Robert Gill Theatre (214 College). July 6 at 9:15 pm, July 7 at 3:30 pm, July 10 at 8:45 pm, July 11 at 5:45 pm, July 12 at 3:30 pm, July 13 at 1:45 pm, July 15 at 7:30 pm. Rating: NNNNN
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THE FRINGE: TORONTO?S THEATRE FESTIVALfeaturing local, national and international companies at 30 venues.Runs to July 15. $10 or less, $2 surcharge on advance tickets, discountpasses. Advance tickets sold up to three hours prior to showtime online,by phone or at the Fringe Club (292 Brunswick). At least half of all ticketsgo on sale at the venue one hour before showtime. No latecomers.See Fringe listings, this page. 416-966-1062, www.fringetoronto.com.Check out NOW?s fringe reviews at www.nowtoronto.com/fringe. |
Renee Percy and Jen Radomsky are a couple of boobs. Nipples, actually.
At this year’s Fringe, the two comedians present Mardi Bra 3: Milk’n It , which contains all the outrageous elements of their past shows.
“You’ve got sketch, song, video and sometimes dance all mixed up with the boobs,” says Percy, who has written and performed for Comedy NOW! and Comedy Inc.
The bodacious breasts in question are 7 feet tall with removable nipples.
“Sometimes we wear red bathing caps and play the nipples,” adds Radomsky, a Bad Dog Theatre regular in Harold Night and The Neutrino Video Project.
But Percy and Radomsky don’t go in for flagrant cheesecake, nor are they part of the current burlesque revival. Call theirs the thinking person’s boobs.
“We’ll try to come up with a concept, an idea. Then we’ll write it and ask ourselves, ‘Is there something we’re trying to say with that?'” explains Radomsky. “Yes, it’s funny, but can we comment on an issue?”
Hot topics include implants, virginity and lesbian weddings, but the show’s far from a chick-flick for the stage. It has a raunchy edge and the humour crosses gender lines. In fact, based on past audiences, their fans include men and women equally.
The show also benefits from having a male director, especially a comedy stalwart like Bruce Hunter . Percy and Radomsky insist they didn’t intentionally seek out a male director just a funny one but they appreciate the unique slant Hunter adds to the show.
“When we asked him,” says Percy, “he’s like, “Are you sure you want me? I’m just going to sit in the audience going, “More boobs! More boobs!’ But it’s actually interesting to have a male perspective thrown in. Maybe it keeps us from getting too girlie.”
No need to worry about that when you’re doing space spoofs like Deep Shit Nine, something that sounds just right for their return to the Fringe.
“The Fringe feels like carte blanche,” says Percy. “You can do whatever you want, which is really freeing and fun for us.”
“Yes,” adds Radomsky, “cuz we like to blanche the carte. If it makes us laugh, it goes onstage.”
