One of the great joys of the Montreal Fringe Festival is discovering productions that could not be more different, yet are equally memorable in their own way. This year’s lineup once again showcases the festival’s remarkable range, from inventive murder mysteries filled with music and intrigue to deeply personal stories that balance humour with emotional honesty.
In the following reviews, we take a closer look at two Fringe offerings that leave a lasting impression: Bloody Cabaret!, a stylish whodunnit set against the backdrop of a London jazz club, and Therapy Fund, a sharp and relatable exploration of life’s struggles, resilience, and self-discovery. Together, they demonstrate why the Fringe remains one of Montreal’s most exciting and unpredictable theatre experiences.
A night at a cabaret or nightclub should be a time to relax, unwind, and enjoy some fine live entertainment…but not to solve a series of mysterious murders!
But that is what you get when you catch Bloody Cabaret! Now playing at the Montreal Fringe Festival until June 21, 2026.
Bloody Cabaret!
The play is set sometime in the 70s at the Paradi Closet, a trendy night spot in London, England, where the evening’s entertainment line-up is emceed by Zion, the club’s flamboyant owner.
The regular customers are there, along with some newcomers, to hear the club’s resident headliner, the exotic songstress Desiree, as well as Rosalind, the up-and-coming songstress who is celebrating her 18th birthday on that fateful night. As Rosalind begins her set, she starts to act strangely and then suddenly drops dead on the floor. The patrons and personnel are deeply shocked by this tragedy that should strike such an innocent, talented young woman. However, they suspect one thing: Rosalind was murdered by poison.
That’s when all the suspicions, jealousies, finger-pointing, accusations, hysterics, and dirty little secrets emerge while this mixed-up group of capital “A” amateur sleuths try to solve the crime…but not before another murder victim hits the floor.
Bloody Cabaret! is like watching an Agatha Christie mystery that’s taken to its comically absurd level (all that’s missing is Belgian detective Hercule Poirot tagging along to solve the crime once and for all). The ensemble cast is terrific and wonderfully employs their comic acting chops to great effect. And the music is quite entertaining, too, as Zion and Desiree brought the audience to their feet with their interpretations of some memorable songs from the Great American Songbook (all accompanied by a live trio that doubled as the cabaret’s house band).
And speaking of Zion, it’s to the character’s credit for making the audience feel welcome the moment they set foot into the theatre space. This was accomplished by breaking down the fourth wall and engaging each audience member in brief chats prior to showtime. Now that’s what I call the perfect hostess/emcee!
All the clues point toward a fun hour of music, mystery and murder with Bloody Cabaret!
Therapy Fund
No one ever said being a parent was easy.
Just ask Merry Ross, a therapist by profession, who has gone through the angst of raising two daughters and dealing with their respective quirks that would make anyone want to seek a therapist’s help. Which is why Merry turns the tables on herself and undergoes her own type of therapy — and the audience plays the role of the therapist — in her solo show Therapy Fund.
This is a 45-minute entertaining therapy session where Merry shares her life as a mother, daughter and granddaughter with a great deal of verve and quirky stories that kept the audience laughing. Whether it be parental embarrassment, teenage rage, or an abortive junior prom experience, Merry covers the bases so well about trying to be a good, caring, empathetic parent and all the joys and pitfalls that go along with it. A couple of standout highlights include Merry’s relationship with her youngest daughter Phoebe (whom she regarded as an evil child during her pre-teen years), and her chain-smoking, martini-draining grandmother who is more like a combination of Tallulah Bankhead and Bette Davis.
So if you’re a young parent or a veteran parent, and the hazards of raising children is making you a nervous wreck, don’t fall apart. Just hit the couch and dip into your Therapy Fund.
Tickets for Fringe
To purchase tickets for the above-mentioned shows, or any other Fringe Festival show, go to Montreal Fringe.ca.
by Stuart Nulman
