Gui Fontanezzi gets a second chance

While we would certainly love to see more LGBTQ content at the Vancouver Fringe, part of the fun, besides the queer shows themselves, is in discovering the diverse talent that permeates through the Festival.  Gui Fontanezzi is one of those discoveries: a local gay actor who reprises his role in the Hardline Productions presentation of Heptademic Redux.

Originally performed as part of a Studio 58 Risky Nights series in 2008, Fontanezzi remains a little circumspect about the nature of the show itself: "I think that audiences can expect to see something they haven't seen done before. It's a very physically demanding "business" the actors perform during the show, it plays a trick on the eye. But I can't say too much about it without spoiling it."

Part of that original Studio 58 production, Fontanezzi returns to reprise his role in this Fringe version and he couldn't be more excited.  Indeed it is a reunion of sorts for Fontanezzi and a number of his fellow graduates and classmates from Langara's theatre school.

"As part of Studio 58's program, Risky Nights is one of the projects we had to do in our fourth term," said Fontanezzi. "It was so much fun to be part of this show from the conception, starting with the writing, all the way to the execution. I remember feeling sad to not do it again after a week but now we have the opportunity to do it again, and even better. It's really great."

Being part of the Vancouver Fringe for the first time, Fontanezzi says he can't wait to find out how new audiences will react to the show and how those who saw it the first time will react to this new production.

"I think what makes a Fringe show different is that it attracts a lot of people to come to the festival and allows all types of original theatre to come together. Fringe-goers are in a different frame of mind because they are here to see exciting theatre."

For Hardline Productions, who as Fontanezzi points out "prides itself on presenting theatre that punches you in the face", that different frame of mind will no doubt come in handy.

Heptademic Redux
Little Mountain Studios, 195 East 26th Avenue, Vancouver

Friday, Sept 10, 8:00pm
Saturday, Sept 11, 6:00pm & 8:00pm
Sunday, Sept 12, 6:00pm & 8:00pm
Monday, Sept 13, 6:00pm & 8:00pm
Wednesday, Sept 15, 8:00pm
Thursday, Sept 16, 8:00pm
Friday, Sept 17, 6:00pm & 8:00pm
Saturday, Sept 18, 6:00pm & 8:00pm
Sunday, Sept 19, 6:00pm & 8:00pm

Watch this Hardline Productions presentation as fantasy and reality colide as seven strangers are quarantined during an epidemic (or should we say Heptademic).