Pamela’s Reviews - FringeMTL 2026
UN HUARD A LE CAFARD/
A LONE LOON
The venue of this play could not have been more appropriate for the story! The lush outdoor space of Café Santropol, with its trees and flowers, its fishpond and bubbling fountains, formed the perfect backdrop to the strange little tale that unfolded when I attended today. The performance was held in the back garden of the cafe, an oasis with uneven rocky terrain, dotted with woodchips, and accessible through the back entrance.
There was magic in the air, partly due to the weather. A downpour had necessitated cancellation yesterday of what should have been the very first performance of this World Premiere—so today’s audience received that honour instead, under a grey sky that wanted to rain again, yet kindly refrained. Leaves, still wet and intensely green, fluttered around us as squirrels dashed across the staged area and birds chirped overhead. It was easy to believe we were seated on the shore of a lonely lake. And as far as theatre goes, the natural lighting was perfection.
Enter Maggie Winston, the solo stage artist who carries the show from beginning to end, mostly without any words whatsoever. The character’s aim is to sight a loon, but the curious audience is left to wonder: Is this creature actually a human, or a bird herself? After watching her undergo the gamut of emotions, from sadness to frustration to joy and transformation, by the end it is clear that she is simply, and adorably, as fluid as a northern lake.
It’s a lovely play for children up to age 10 or so, which their families can enjoy with them. Unfortunately, the turnout was sparse today, with nary a child in sight. Still, the half-dozen young-at-heart adults in attendance enjoyed the gentle humour, and willingly participated in activities such as gazing up at the skies with toilet-paper-tube binoculars, and helping to create waves in the lake with undulating strips of blue fabric. The little puppet stage and props were simple and rustic, yet successful in creating imaginative effects and extending the lake illusion beyond the proscenium and up to the feet of the audience. The loon puppets bobbing in the waves were equally simple in design, yet completely charming.
Virtually a character in its own right is the human-made soundscape of the play, subtly manipulated from a laptop and projected into the action by sound technician Shany Diaz. Nature sounds of birds, animals, and bubbling water are layered with fragments of music from toy pianos and xylophones to give extra dimension to the narrative and to build emotion towards the climax of the story—where we finally get to hear the ethereal call of the loons.
A lovely serendipity in the case of today’s show was the way the electronic sound effects blended randomly with nature’s own small orchestra of birds and breezes located in the immediate vicinity.
At this point, in the beginning of its run, there were a few hiccups in the direction of A Lone Loon. Communication between actor and sound tech could be tightened up a bit to make for smoother synchronization. And one of the equipment supports in the seating area was used as a chair by an audience member, causing a small mishap—but this was before the play started. There were also moments of slightly interruptive noise from diners in another area of the outdoor café.
These were all minor points, and did not detract from my enjoyment of A Lone Loon. I feel that it will be an even better, and livelier, experience when children are in the audience. I do recommend that families sample this short and delightful multi-media production with their kids!