Keir Cutler (Teaching Shakespeare) in his sixth consecutive Ottawa Fringe presents
“Teaching the Fringe”
written and performed by Keir Cutler, directed by TJ Dawe
In 2006 Keir wrote and performed Teaching As You Like It, TJ directed. The third play in the Teaching Shakespeare Trilogy, where Keir’s inept Shakespearean character has sunk to substitute teaching English in a high school. On the day he’s to teach Shakespeare’s comedy As You Like It, he instead spends the class denying the rumour that he’s involved with one of the students in the class, who’s conspicuously absent that day. As he endlessly justifies himself he digs a bigger and bigger hole and inadvertently admits he’s done exactly what he’s been accused of. The show ends with him swamped in the guilt of his actions and admissions, waiting for the police to show up and arrest him.
Teaching As You Like It toured fringes across Canada in 2006 and 2007 receiving rave reviews from critics, the Ottawa Citizen called the play “utterly superb,” the mayor of Edmonton loved it, and a Toronto psychologist who treats abusive priests, asked Keir for a video of the piece to show his patients how they justify and rationalize their criminal behavior.
After his last fringe performance of the show at the 2007 Winnipeg Fringe, Keir was forwarded a three-page letter an audience member wrote to the head of the Winnipeg Fringe Festival and most disturbingly, a child protection agency. The handwritten letter complains that the show promotes the idea that sexual predation of underaged girls is acceptable, and that it could be used as a textbook for anyone who wanted to take advantage of a student. Accusations not made by a single critic in any of the seven cities the play has been performed in.
Teaching the Fringe tells the story of Keir receiving this letter, and his reaction to it. Along with other stories of encounters with strange audience members. TJ directs again. The play is packed with hilarious comic insights, and is told with a biting sarcastic edge.
Much more on the show at http://www.keircutler.com
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