Date: Fri, 10 Nov 2006 16:49:22 -0500 (EST) From: Michael Black To: letters@hour.ca Subject: Fringe Festival 2007 Some months back, Jeremy Hechtman joked that he'd change his son's name if a new sponsor came along for the Fringe Festival. But before that, we have to bring William Shatner to the Fringe next year. I'm sure this is something Jeremy would like. After all, his son isn't named after a Degrassi character. Jeremy staged some Star Trek episodes over a decade ago. There was a time when some Fringe venues were in the Shatner Building at McGill, and we had a venue in the old High School of Montreal where William Shatner apparently went to school. And Star Trek turned forty this year. There must still be family and friends in town who know William Shatner and can talk him into attending. We could make him Guest of Honor, and honorary judge in the Frankies. I've said for years that the Fringe could expand by reaching a different audience, and this would instantly bring in all those Star Trek fans. That said, Fringe 2007 is set for June 7 to 17, and the deadline for submissions for those wanting to put on a show is December 4th at 5pm. Noteworthy this year is that the mix has changed, with 30% local English, 30% local French, 20% rest of Canada and 20% international. Details are at www.montrealfringe.ca or 514-849-FEST. I can remember when the non-locals were a treat because they were a minority, but it's good to see an acknowledgement that the Fringe isn't just about the foreign shows. Pay the fee, win a place in the draw (long gone are the days when first come first served worked), and then anything goes. And now that it's been declared a "performing arts festival" (in yet another Fringe Mystery, it was called that in last year's program) there's even less reason to treat it like a theatre festival. We should be seeing Ethel Bruneau tap-dancing a tribute to Cab Calloway, or local Indian dance, both of which are actually fringe for many. They can bring their own audience, and find a new one. And there's no need to embed burlesque in a play, when the very notion of a Fringe Festival means there could simply be a burlesque show (or vaudeville for that matter). Someone could even do something Star Trek related, to further lure William Shatner. Michael Black