Although it is not on the main Fringe grounds, taking in “Son of a Dwarf” at the Garneau Theatre offers something other shows at the Fringe do not possess: Cinema + Theatre. Under the direction of Kimberlee Stadelmann and Brent Felzien, the show highlights local Edmonton talent starring Murray Cullen, Willie Banfield, Cliff Kelly and Cari Russell.

The story structure is epicly formulaic in its own right and embraces hallmarks of the fantasy franchise. Saavy viewers will appreciate the fantasy and pop-culture references interspersed throughout the performance. The story begins when a half-elf child is cast out into the wilderness to be executed because his father realizes his wife had been cheating on him with the elf milk man. However, the executioner is thwarted by a passing Dwarf who later raises the child as his own. Meanwhile, the kingdom is ruled by the evil Raxbar and his evil Sentator Palpatine-like advisor, Zinephor. Thus, as the child matures, he realizes he is not the biological son of Titan, the Dwarf and he wishes to discover his true identity. Thus, begins a quest where he meets his mountain-man friend, Himli, and the nimble oracle archer, Sorento. Together they acquire talismans that will assist them on their journey while meeting an array of magical creatures along the way.

The most stunning part of this production in the seamless and innovative integration of the cinematic scenes projected on screens behind the stage. Oftentimes, a shot serves as the background for the on-stage action; however, there are moments where cinematic characters interact with the on-stage actors. It creates a diverse universe within the physical constraints of a standard stage, expanding the visual realm for the audience. Even the sound recordings matched the projected images to aid in sound localization of locations or characters. Some of the best parts were seeing the camera shots panning over the Alberta wilderness. Audience members could watch the characters trek across the rugged landscape as if it were in real-time. Plus, there was a training montage scene included in the story. No story of self-discovery and impending battle could be complete without a training montage! This performance fuses live theatre with cinema to create a unique visual showcase that should not be missed by Fringe audiences.

Take a glimpse in this trailer:

Son of a Dwarf – Edmonton Fringe Teaser Trailer from Brent Felzien on Vimeo.

Upcoming Performances:

Tuesday August 21 at 5:00PM

Wednesday August 22 at 5:00PM

Thursday August 23 at 9:00PM

Friday August 24 at 9:00PM

Saturday August 25 at 7:00PM

Sunday August 26 at 1:00PM

Tickets are available at the Fringe Theatre Adventures Box Office and at the Garneau Theatre box office before the show. You can also check YegLive.ca for more information.

-miss. sable