Montreal's eccentric Fringe Festival steps up its game

Montreal's favourite performance free-for-all, the Fringe Festival, is ready to open the artistic floodgates with abigger and more accessible program.

The lottery-based mixof showsseesestablished artists rubbing elbows withnewbie performers. All shows cost$10 or less.

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Amy Blackmore, the artistic director of the Montreal Fringe Festival told CBC Montreal's Homerunthatshe sees the Fringe as a kind of pinball machine.

"You put money in and play around a bit," Blackmore said.

Risky business

Local burlesque darling Miss Sugarpuss is back this year with her showLove and Pasties, Miss S.

Miss Sugarpuss, also known as Holly Gauthier-Frankel, has a reputation fordeliveringfun and charismatic performances with her burlesque alter ego. This show picks up where her award winning Fringe hit Miss Sugarpuss Must Die! left off six years ago.

For those wanting to see something free and risqu, theDrag Racesare always a crowd favourite.

The event is hosted by Montreal's most notorious drag queen, Mado Lamotte. Fringe performers are pitted against professional drag queens in a series of skill-testing challenges, such as riding a mini-tricycle in high heels.

First time attendees should note that sitting in the front row may lead to getting pulled onstage.

Free Fringe

The festival's centre, the Fringe Park at Rachel Street and St-Laurent Boulevard in the PlateauMont-Royal borough, hosts free concerts regularly between June 9 and 19.

The late night party, the 13th Hour, is back. The 1 a.m. show features festival performers and lots of audience participation. When the show is over the floor opens up toall-night dancing.

Trekkieswho love deals should know thatStar Trek: Discoveryis selling tickets for $0. This is because CBS Studios' copyright of Star Trek prohibits anyone from making money off the franchise.

Returning festival favourites

The performance poet Jem Rolls is a fixture on the Canadian fringe circuit. The Surrey, UK, native is known for his frenetic, fast-paced performances. This year his show Get Lost offers up stories of his intercontinental journeys "as he sheds skins, dignity and the sensible."

Australian Jon Bennett's shows regularly get nods from Just For Laughs as comedic stand-outs. His show this year is called Aussie Rules (Playing with Men).

Audiences attending one of Bennett's performancesshould be prepared for anything. His show last year, It's Rabbit Night, was presented as if the audience wereall members of a failed rabbit meetup, complete withfree carrots and a PowerPoint presentation on how to be a rabbit.

A more accessible Fringe

The festival has softened its raucous tone since Blackmore took the helm six years ago.

In that time family-friendly programming has become more prominently featured. For instance, the Fringe Parkholds an annual community breakfast with pancakes and coffee on the last Sunday of the festival.

This year's Eco Carnivalewill promote sustainability through a clothing swap and yoga classes.

There isalso a new,second outdoor site to accommodate mellow festival-goers calledThe Hive, located on the National TheatreSchool's property on St-Denis Street.