Review: No rush to self-destruct when 'Two Weird Ladies Bomb the Fringe' Special

Toronto - Two Weird Ladies take neuroses, paranoia and lack of sleep, and create a labyrinth of eccentric sketch comedy spun from reality, insanity, awkwardness and rage.

Since 1989, the Toronto Fringe Festival has provided independent artists the opportunity to showcase their various talents to audiences across the city. This year, a sure to be breakout hit is "Two Weird Ladies Bomb the Fringe." The comedy duo of Laura Salvas and Mandy Sellers were laugh out loud funny, receiving thunderous applause from the good-sized matinee audience at their premiere Fringe show. The sketch comedy artists have an obvious instinct for making people laugh. But be warned: no topic is too controversial and being politically correct is not a priority. One of the highlights of the hour show is a scene featuring a girl who is mentally challenged becoming the envy of a popular girl at her school. Others include a spoof of the charity workers that stand on sidewalks, soliciting passers-by, and a foundation that helps dying kids dream – but that’s it. Well-practiced and excellently written dialogue flows seamlessly between the ladies as they slap each other, hug awkwardly (in the same scene) and arrange props between skits. The lead-in music and occasional backdrop extinguish the amateurish feeling some independent showcases possess. Two Weird Ladies ensure your hard earned dollars are spent wisely on their performance by displaying an impressive level of professionalism and entertaining audiences from start to finish. The title is unexpectedly, but cleverly, incorporated into the show, resulting in an ending that will blow the roof off the playhouse. But first, egg farmers compete over time travel and bestiality; texting goes medieval; and a woman discovers some secrets shouldn't be shared. Two Weird Ladies will be performing until July 14 at the Helen Gardiner Phelan Playhouse (79A St. George Street) at varying times so visit the website for details about showtimes and tickets. They show will also be a part of the Hamilton Fringe Festival, July 19 – 29.