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Rat Academy
Stage 23, The de Villars Jones LLP Stage at Holy Trinity Anglican Church (10037 84 Ave.)
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5 stars out of 5
The heartstrings tugged in this Edmonton-grown comedy aren’t tied to any sad subject. Instead, it’s the endearing simplicity of the premise and how much it accomplishes when infused with a passion and commitment evident in the costumes, set design, writing and natural presence of its players.
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Fingers (Dayna Lea Hoffmann) and Shrimp (Katie Yoner) are the last two rats in Alberta, a province that prides itself on a program aimed at eliminating these rodents. Shrimp is gentle and naïve so the responsibility has fallen on Fingers to teach their best friend the most important life lessons for a rat. While they are opposite personalities, part of the charm is the dynamic and balance realized between the two.
These characters are embodied and polished to near perfection — it’s easy to forget you’re watching two humans on stage — and this is where the magic happens in any performance. There’s no age restriction here — Hoffmann and Yoner have crafted a play that will entertain and enlighten audiences of any age, which is another impressive feat in a time that too often relies on shock value and vulgarity for a reaction.
Rat Academy is funny, it’s moving and exactly why the Fringe exists. And it’s definitely deserving one of four coveted holdover spots at this year’s Fringe before moving on to Vancouver. If you haven’t yet, let Rat Academy enchant you. Find the additional showtimes at fringetheatre.ca.
Find more reviews of the 2023 Edmonton International Fringe Festival in the Arts section at EdmontonJournal.com.
