The Centre Of It All - Fringe Park

Adam Reider doesn't remember how many years he's been involved with Fringe Montreal. I can almost hear the memories speeding through his mind as he considers the question. "At least 10," is what he settles on. I can tell by his tone that he's being conservative.

Adam's an award winning filmmaker, and owner of Montreal based Spectropia Pictures, but he's been known to wear a lot of hats, including "tour manager, circus sideshow performer, musician and stand up comic" (per his IMDB). Despite the impressive skillset, he’s kept his Fringe involvement Parkside from the start.

He began as volunteer security for the park (no, not the overnight shift), and then took on the gig as Park Manager for a bit. This time around, he's in charge of booking the acts for Fringe Park, but has passed the manager title along. "I won't be there every day like I have in the past."

All these seasons later, he says I'm the first to ask him for an interview about Fringe Park. There's symmetry there: the first time I ever set foot in Mainline Theatre was to act as PA for his first feature length film.

As it's my first time Fringing, I didn't know about Fringe Park. Sure, I've passed it by on random summer days of yore, noticed the festivities, the music, the crowd, the dare I say buzz. But I didn't know what the hell was going on, and I strolled on by. Now I know it's the hangout centre for the whole kit-and-caboodle. (Editor’s Note: While this is exactly how Dawn would speak, I still object to this ridiculous phrase.) It's where you get your drinks, chat with performers and audience members, read the #FringeBuzz reviews, and spend time between shows. From another perspective, it's a space to showcase our amazing local talent, and build some hype around some lesser known bands that deserve it. 

"We have so much talent in this city," Adam tells me. "Just because a band is smaller, doesn't mean they're not amazing."

Artists are the focus at Fringe, so while the park performers are donating their time, it's for a greater cause. "As an artist myself, I know that you can't survive doing things 'for exposure', but this is different, it's to support other artists in Fringe. We pass the hat, and all that money goes to the band, but it's for the community. They're donating their time for Art." I hear the capital A in it, and get a bit giddy. I'm a sucker for capital-A Art, and I’m familiar with donating my time to the cause.

Weather is the biggest, baddest, most immovable challenge for the Park. "It rains every year, and we only have small pop-up tents on site." Last year the rains came through like vandals, collapsing those tents, flooding the park, cancelling music for three days. And if the weather ruins your time slot, that's it, that's all, no do-overs. (I suggest making your offerings to Mother Nature immediately.)

I ask him how he selects the lineup, sets the tone. He tells me that he stays away from theme days ("there's no Funk Saturday, or anything"), but spends his time considering how the vibe of one band will flow into the next. Plenty of bands submit to be part of Fringe Park every year (including some perennial faves), and all genres are considered. Well, almost all genres; while Adam's a metalhead from way back, he understands that wouldn't work for the scene.

There's more than music too, with fan favourites like the Drag Races returning (hosted this year by Uma Gahd), along with Mini Fringe, a time slot geared to entertaining and involving the youngest Fringers. Local indie radio will be there too, with UQAM’s CHOQ and Concordia’s CJLO both on the lineup.

When I ask Adam for his favourite Fringe Park moment, or the most dramatically memorable one, I imagine how many he must have, and wish we both had the time for me to hear them all. After a moment he tells me about the time a band had to cancel at the last minute due to scheduling. “I was walking into Sherbrooke metro, in the long tunnel there, and there were these people busking. I stopped to listen, and they were really good! I asked them if they wanted to perform at a festival the next day. They were really excited.” They came the next day, a folky rock duo just travelling through, got their time in the spotlight, the applause of the crowd, and the contents of the passed-hat.

The performers come away with their own treasure trove of memories. I touched base with Gabrielle Banville, founder of Half Twin Theatre, and she shared how Fringe Park helped her through her first season.

"Last year was my very first Montreal Fringe show. I was performing my solo show, A Paisley Mind, which I had written over the last three years. Granted, I was very nervous to the point where I felt sick.

"It was opening day, and I was heading over to Mainline Theatre early to get ready for the show. I was in full stage makeup, which consisted of wrinkles to make me look like a grandma. I walked by the Fringe Park, and lo and behold I saw my show's poster on the poster wall. I was thrilled yet terrified; my face is there for everyone to see, and oh my goodness that's kinda scary!

"I stood there for a good five minutes, planted in the sidewalk, before I heard a voice say, ‘Look who it is!’ I was shook. I turned around and saw two of my dearest friends from theatre school. The relief I felt was so needed. They hugged me and invited me to join them in the park. So I did!

"We listened to some great music, chatted up new Fringe pals, and overall had a good laugh. I can honestly say that this moment at the Fringe Park released any and all scaries that I had. It reminded me of all the fun that Fringe entails, both on and off stage. And boy is it great!"

The closer I look and the more people I speak to, the more I find these kinds of stories, from Camryn Moore telling Andrew Jamieson about throwing a pancake breakfast in the Park, to the open-hearted eagerness of the performers involved. It's becoming clear that Fringe is much more than a theatre festival. I haven't even seen a play yet, and I'm caught up in the sense of community, the no holds barred "try it and see" creativity. I'm starting to think that while the audience comes for the shows, the people involved in FringeMTL keep coming back for the camaraderie, the freedom, the adventures, to be part of a whole.

And if that's what this institution is really about, then think of Fringe Park as the family backyard. It's the place to meet your friends, old and new, touch grass (we all need to), and celebrate the whole season. See you there. Don't forget the sunscreen.

For more information about the opening of Fringe Park, visit Facebook.