Watch your wallets, ladies and gentlemen. Felony—part history lesson, part how-to session, part medley of misdemeanours—was a show unlike any I’ve ever seen…or I should say, participated in. This is one of the Fringe Festival’s on-site performances, and it takes you on a wild chase through the parking lots, alleys, and shadowy sidewalks of Granville Island. Without giving too much away, be prepared to move quickly and get hands on in this one.
Your night starts with a Fringe Festival volunteer recounting tales of past drug smuggling and bootlegging in the area, setting the mood for what awaits you as you walk down a cement stretch towards a hooded man. Under the Big Yellow Crane, you meet your host, Chris, who (according to the Fringe Festival guide) is Vancouver’s most notorious pickpocket. And he knows his stuff. He introduces himself—he’s disarmingly likeable and personally shakes everyone’s hand—and then proceeds to teach you the tricks of the pickpocket trade, lingo and all. After an unexpected turn of events and an encounter with an irritated law enforcer, it’s time to get down to some shady business.
Chris, played by Allen Morrison, is a convincing instigator and ringleader as he whisks you through Granville Island, and there are plenty of opportunities for misconduct along the way. So what do you dare do? And of course there’s that inevitable question in the back of your mind: what happens if you get caught?
Felony offers a good mix of fun and provocative content. From the moment you meet Chris, who charismatically pulls you into his world and cleverly acquaints you with your fellow felons, you find yourself part of an adventurous chain of criminal events. Whether or not you choose to partake in them, you’ll certainly never be fooled by a “reco” again.