Dragon Monkey Theatre presents
The Smell of the Kill
A cold, dark comedy by Michele Lowe!
In this “chilling” comedy, three women have had enough of their unhappy marriages. Suddenly, the women receive a unique opportunity to free themselves without the complications of divorce – there’s just one little problem…
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Victoria Fringe Veteran Returns with Local Production of Broadway Hit!
VICTORIA, BC. (July 29, 2011)– Victoria-based director Wendy Merk, who participated in the sophomore year of the Victoria Fringe Festival 24 years ago, is returning once again to help celebrate the 25th anniversary of the VFF. This year she directs a talented local cast in Michele Lowe’s dark comedy, The Smell of the Kill. The play is being mounted by a new local company, Dragon Monkey Theatre.
“When I first participated in 1987, the Fringe was just starting out as a little known shoestring theatre venture,” Merk says. “Now, it’s grown into an international showcase with thousands of attendees. It’s great for the Victoria theatre scene, because it gives all of us an opportunity to learn from, and share with, theatre artists from all over the world.”
Festival founder Randy Smith first recruited Merk to participate in the 2ndannual Fringe. Her first production was a remounting of “FAAANTASTIC PLANET!” an original musical satire that drew inspiration from then-Premier Bill Vander Zalm and his penchant for saying “FAAANTASTIC!”
“My business partner at the time, Bill Johnston, and I each made a grand total of $11 dollars and change,” Merk says. Ten years later, Merk returned to produce and direct Michel Tremblay’s Surprise, Surprise!. Then, in 2009 she directed The Measure of Love. This year, she’s back with The Smell of the Kill – a dark comedy about three very unhappily married women who suddenly receive a rather unique opportunity to free themselves without the complications of divorce…
“For me, in a way, this is the ‘fringiest” show I’ve been involved with,” Merk says. “It stands out because it’s so dark, quirky and just a bit nasty. A little like ‘Desperate Housewives’ meets ‘Six-Feet Under’”.
Merk’s production features Lorene Cammiade, Caroline Mackenzie de Korte, Erin Sterling, Osiris de Korte, Paul Gillan and Michael King. The play’s many, many props (from golf balls to nylons to starter pistols) are being managed by stage manager extraordinaire, Alex Carroll.
Dragon Monkey Theatre presents The Smell of the Kill at the Metro Studio Theatre (1411 Quadra Street, Victoria).
Dates and Times are: Friday August 26 @ 6:00 p.m., Saturday August 27 @ 6:30 p.m., Sunday August 28 @ 10:15 p.m., Tuesday August 30 @ 8:15 p.m., Thursday September 1 @ 6:15 p.m., Sunday September 4 @ 3:15 p.m.
Tickets are $11 for regular, $9 for seniors/students. They are available at the door, or in advance by calling 250.590.6291 or by going to www.victoriafringe.com. Please note: all Fringe attendees must have a Fringe button, available for a one-time-only purchase of $5 at all Fringe box offices.
