Sketch show “Alone in this Together” reunites Second City grads

Hot, up-n-coming Toronto Sketch comedy troupe Not Oasis is bringing their unique blend of absurd, heartfelt, provocative, and delightfully dark comedy to the 2017 Toronto Fringe Festival with a brand new show “Alone in this Together.”

The highly diverse troupe –  they are Jewish, Muslim, Christian, Chinese, Bangladeshi, Gay, Straight, Bi, Brit, so basically they couldn’t be more Torontonian – are developing the show as a follow up to their acclaimed Second City Conservatory grad show “We Can’t Even Even.”

Once again the troupe will be directed by Second City Alumnus Nigel Downer. “Aw, shit: I’m directing them again?” said Downer when asked why he agreed to sign on with Not Oasis for a second show “I thought I deleted their phone numbers.”

Written by and starring King Chiu, Katherine Fogler, Jennifer Ashleigh Lloyd, Anne McMaster, Chris O’Neill, Nico Rice, and Shohana Sharmin, the show touches on many current hot button issues as well as topics you’ve likely never even thought about. “That’s the beauty of writing comedy from so many unique individual perspectives,” says troupe member Anne McMaster. “You get scenes about stuff we all care about like racism and homophobia but you also get weird stuff like scenes about bra padding, lost yogurt and Tetris that make you think ‘oh yeaaaaaah that IS weird!’”

Not Oasis formed at the Second City Training Centre in 2015 and has been building buzz ever since they made the finals of the Big City Improv Festival’s Total Knock Out Tournament. The troupe has since appeared at the 2016 Big City Improv Festival and the 2017 Toronto SketchFest. Their monthly show “Hat Trick Comedy” at the Social Capital theatre runs the third Saturday of the month.

Not Oasis develops sketches through free-form and narrative improvisation, as well as premise-based improv. Sketches are tested and re-tested in front of live audiences, until they are baked to perfection.

Chris Middleton is the stage manager. Jordan Armstrong provides musical direction.

The show opens July 6 and runs until July 16 at the Tarragon Extraspace at 30 Bridgman Ave. For performance times or to buy tickets online visit https://fringetoronto.com/festivals/fringe/event/alone-together. Tickets can also be purchased by phone at (416) 966-1062 or in derson (during the festival) at the main box office at the Fringe Club at Scadding Court, 707 Dundas St. W.

Please note that there is absolutely no latecomer seating.