Teaching the Fringe is the first show I have ever seen by Keir Cutler. Apparently, it is different from all of the Fringe shows he has done in the past, in that this show is autobiographical: a response to a three page criticism he received from a Fringe regular in Winnipeg.

As a woman who I do volunteer work with put it, "Just his expression on it's own is worth the money".

I have to agree. Keir would read a line of the letter at a time, then look up in wide-eyed disbelief to the crowd. I am now unable to use the word "however" without the urge to utter it in a sinister tone.

Keir also admitted what most people already subconsciously knew: Fringe actors perform out of a need for attention they, for some reason, did not receive in the past. I often enjoy looking for the "aha" moment in Fringe plays, most of which are autobiographical, at least to some degree, where they talk about their mother running off with the milkman when they were six or some other "secret pain".

Keir's mother had twins when he was two.

However ... I think I will come back in the future to sample more of Keir's work. I don't know what his younger siblings are doing now, but I doubt that they could still be more entertaining than he is.

Teaching the Fringe
Doctor Keir Co.
Off Broadway Arts Centre
4 stars out of 5

Keir Cutler's rejected inner two-year-old desperately needs attention. That's why he acts. And that's why the veteran Fringe performer - who usually receives rave reviews - based his latest play on a less-than-glowing letter from an audience member. Cutler, you see, is sensitive.

From the moment he took the stage it was evident from a chorus of laughter that the audience was familiar with Cutler's work. Having played a crazed priest and a pathetic English teacher in the past, this is the Montreal-based actor's first autobiographical show. The self-described "nut magnet" has established himself as a Fringe circuit favourite for his superb timing, sense of humour and ability to seamlessly tie a serious message into the comedy.

The writer of the letter - a Fringe "expert" who has been to hundreds of shows - is greatly offended by Cutler's Teaching As You Like It, in which his pitiful teacher character falls for a student. She claims it encourages, even teaches, sexual predators how to get to children. The audience reacted with a mixture of laughter and shock as he dissected the three-page criticism.

While it helps to have seen the scorned play in question, Teaching the Fringe can stand on its own. Cutler may have been hurt by the woman's cruel comments - and crueler actions - but he should probably thank her. Without that wildly misguided interpretation of his work, this new play wouldn't exist and his delicate actor's ego wouldn't receive the well-deserved praise it needs.

Culter's crisp, clever sense keeps people coming back every year. If you're not yet a Cutler convert, there's no time to waste.

© The StarPhoenix (Saskatoon) 2008