This weekend, the Ottawa Fringe Festival wrapped up. I got the chance to see one show called Love Me... NOW! put on by DECA Playwrights.

It was a hilarious play exploring the world of speed-dating and we were laughing the whole time. It was well written and well performed and made me sorry I didn't have the opportunity to see more of the Fringe shows. At only $8 each, it's a good deal too.

Here is the brief description of the play:

You have 4 minutes to tell me why I should spend the rest of my life with you! What the Hell?! It's SPEED DATING! The 21st Century solution for love. Watch the sparks fly and fall as a motley cast of crazy, fragile, and often world-weary characters look for love in the fast lane! So love me...NOW!


What is a Fringe Festival you ask? Here is a short history taken from the official site:

A Fringe Festival is a forum that unites artists and audiences in a fun, exploratory environment. The guiding principles of the Fringe include unrestricted artistic expression, accessibility and community development.

The Fringe encourages artists to explore and test boundaries and make bold choices in the creation of art.

The Canadian Fringe Festival model guarantees that the artists, performers and musicians involved receive 100% of ticket revenue and it does not subject the artists' work to jury approval or censor it in any way. Theatre companies are selected by non-judicial means and work within the technical guidelines of the Fringe Festival to produce their own art. Festival patrons enjoy physically and financially accessible arts experiences and the opportunity to engage in meaningful dialogues with artist and fellow Fringe patrons.

Founded in 1997, the Ottawa Fringe Festival has enjoyed consistent growth over the years and now includes 15 venues in the heart of the National Capital.

Source: http://www.ottawa-festivals.com/frm_festivals.htm

Unfortunately, it's all over for this year, but I'll be sure to keep my eyes open for it next year, it was well worth the effort...