Fringe comedy 'The Rock That Boated' sails through with sea shanties and wit
Dangerous Dames Theatre's playful take on Homer's Odyssey features an all-female crew disguised as sailors, sold-out runs, and plenty of laughs through June 28.
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A Fringe comedy about a secret crew of women sailors has packed audiences with acapella sea shanties, physical comedy, and rapid-fire wit.
"The Rock That Boated," created by David Scotswood and Sarah Thuswaldner and produced by Dangerous Dames Theatre, reimagines the high seas in 1804 during the Napoleonic Wars. The story centers on a "tactical island" run by the British Navy—complete with a wheel, ropes, and a crew of sailors who are all women, unbeknownst to their commanding officer, Lieutenant Morris. The voyage encounters sea monsters, Greek goddesses, French enemy ships, contemporary and traditional powwow music, and pure silliness from beginning to end.
The five-person cast—Sarah McKay, Becky McKercher, Rachel Stanley, Sarah Thuswaldner, and David Scotswood—deliver impeccable comedic timing throughout. Their rapport shines through physical humour, such as getting tangled in ropes, and sarcastic banter about their increasingly ridiculous situations. One running joke involves the Lieutenant battling an enemy spy with a soup ladle, leading to laughs when that joke pays off in an actual swashbuckling duel. When the crew believes they've captured an enemy spy only to discover it's a whale, or when they must convince the goddess Circe not to turn the men into pigs, the audience erupts.
The band of disguised sailors sing their hearts out in acapella arrangements, weaving contemporary and traditional powwow music throughout. Multiple cast members play different characters through quick costume changes—a technical feat that underscores the show's theatrical ambition beneath its comedic surface.
"The Rock That Boated" is playing at Studio 2201 until June 28. Almost every show has sold out. Tickets are $14 plus service fees and can be purchased online, at the Fringe box office (Fringe Courtyard, 67 Nicholas St), or at satellite box offices at Arts Court (2 Daly Avenue, 3rd floor) and La Nouvelle Scène (333 King Edward Ave). Five and ten Show Passes are also available.