A Magical Start to the Edmonton Fringe

Cory Meets Colin

The smiles in the snapshot say it all. We just got out of the Chase Padgett: The Next Guy play a little before ten, still buzzing, and instead of heading for the door we did what you're supposed to do at the Fringe: we lingered. The Westbury lobby had that perfect late-show energy. The box office lights were still glowing, the information boards were filled with schedules and people were comparing notes on what they'd seen and what they were going to see next.

And then, out of nowhere, appeared Colin Mochrie, in town with his own Fringe show, Colin Keeps It Fresh. We were lucky enough to actually meet him and have a real conversation, the kind of moment you replay in your head the whole drive home.

Outside it was a cool, damp August night with barely a breath of wind. The sun had just gone down and a thin sliver of moon was hanging over Old Strathcona. A funny and touching show, followed by a chance encounter with a comedy legend. Some Fringe nights are good. This one was magical.