2013 Toronto Fringe Festival: Urge For Going

The work of Canadian folk legend Joni Mitchell inspired Quality Productions' latest multidisciplinary piece Urge For Going, now playing at the Tarragon Theatre Mainspace as part of the Toronto Fringe Festival. Featuring beautiful puppetry, animation and live music by Ronley Teper and Ben Hermann, the play tells the story of a prairie girl who dreams of leaving her Saskatchewan hometown to follow in the footsteps of her favourite musician.

Obsessed with Joni Mitchell and 1960s hippie culture, the 13-year-old Carrie (played by writer/director/puppetmaker bekky O'Neil) believes she was "born in the wrong time" (a poignant sentiment for those of us who felt exactly this way at that age) and struggles to relate to her distant mother after her father's death. Carrie's only real friend is a magical talking fox named Henry (maneuvered by puppeteer Cloé Verreault-Bouchard), who follows her on the journey away from home.

A bittersweet tale of self-discovery, Urge For Going is both entertaining and gorgeous to look at. The production alternates between scenes with puppets—Carrie, her mother and other characters in miniature—and life-size scenes with actors playing the same roles. An ensemble of skilled puppeteers/performers, including Sam Silversides, Justin Linds and Robin Sharp, juggle a wide variety of props throughout the show, showcasing the fine craftmanship that defines Quality Slippers' work.

O'Neil has a unique way of representing child-like wonder in her art, with a generous and thoughtful worldview that has the power to captivate audiences of all ages.

Urge For Going runs until July 14 at the Tarragon Theatre. Visit fringetoronto.com for showtimes.

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