{"data":{"id":"20ff9710-d648-4ea0-9848-43f91bd66962","originKind":"SYNDICATED","title":"Fringe Review: QUEENS OF ROMANCE proves there can be anger in love","summary":"QUEENS OF ROMANCE\n\n4 stars out of 5\n\nStage 11, Varscona Theatre, 10329 83 Ave.\n\nLove, it turns out, is neither patient nor kind. It’s chock full of envy, revels in boasting and is proud as hell. At minimum, that’s a good description of romance authors.\n\nQUEENS OF ROMANCE brings us to the 7th Annual Loving Literary Festival, a celebration of romance and the writers who specialize in it. For the final, sold out panel, three of the genre’s biggest names will come together for a discussion about their craft.\n\nThere’s Dame Nausea Wildenheart, the old hand of romance who has penned more than 700 novels. She never reveals her age (and a gentleman never asks) but says she’s about to celebrate her 86th wedding anniversary. Janet van Herpen lives on the sexy edge of romance literature, expounding upon the sexual proclivities of her protagonists and enjoying every second of it. Finally there is Karin (pronounced Car-In) Cutler, a fifth-wave feminist pushing back against the strictures of society and putting everyone else in their place.\n\nThe three bicker for the full 75 minutes, clashing in their views of life, the place of women and the direction of romance as a genre.\n\nQUEENS OF ROMANCE lives in the awkward: an old woman who mis-pronounces names and rails against overt sexualization, the know-it-all academic lashing out against ignorance and making enemies along the way, the vapid sexualized author who lives out the lives of her characters. It’s like the Golden Girls but instead of solving their problems over a cheesecake you worry one of these authors might pull a knife.\n\nIt’s funny in the same way The Office with Ricky Gervais was funny. You’re laughing at the protagonists, at the overwhelming awkwardness of it all, at the absurd situation you find yourself presented with. It’s better to laugh than to cringe or cry.\n\nThe performances and writing are great, top-notch even. Just know that you’re going to wince more than once.\n\nRelated Fringe review: Darrin Hagen does it again with the delightful Go West, Young Man\n\nFringe Review: The Game of Bluff deals a winning hand","url":"https://edmontonjournal.com/entertainment/review-queens-of-romance-edmonton-fringe","imageUrl":"https://smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital/edmontonjournal/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/queens-of-romance_304715785.jpg","publishedAt":"2026-08-14T22:05:07.000Z","sourceLabel":"Edmonton Journal Music","tags":["Entertainment","Festivals","Local Arts","Theatre"],"authorName":"Justin Bell","contentHtml":"<img alt=\"100% More Girls presents QUEENS OF ROMANCE at the Edmonton Fringe.\" src=\"https://smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital/edmontonjournal/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/queens-of-romance_304715785.jpg\" title=\"100% More Girls presents QUEENS OF ROMANCE at the Edmonton Fringe.\" /><p> <strong>QUEENS OF ROMANCE</strong> </p><p> <strong>4 stars out of 5</strong> </p><p> <strong>Stage 11, Varscona Theatre, 10329 83 Ave.</strong> </p><p> Love, it turns out, is neither patient nor kind. It’s chock full of envy, revels in boasting and is proud as hell. At minimum, that’s a good description of romance authors. </p><p> QUEENS OF ROMANCE brings us to the 7th Annual Loving Literary Festival, a celebration of romance and the writers who specialize in it. For the final, sold out panel, three of the genre’s biggest names will come together for a discussion about their craft. </p><p> There’s Dame Nausea Wildenheart, the old hand of romance who has penned more than 700 novels. She never reveals her age (and a gentleman never asks) but says she’s about to celebrate her 86th wedding anniversary. Janet van Herpen lives on the sexy edge of romance literature, expounding upon the sexual proclivities of her protagonists and enjoying every second of it. Finally there is Karin (pronounced Car-In) Cutler, a fifth-wave feminist pushing back against the strictures of society and putting everyone else in their place. </p><p> The three bicker for the full 75 minutes, clashing in their views of life, the place of women and the direction of romance as a genre. </p><p> QUEENS OF ROMANCE lives in the awkward: an old woman who mis-pronounces names and rails against overt sexualization, the know-it-all academic lashing out against ignorance and making enemies along the way, the vapid sexualized author who lives out the lives of her characters. It’s like the Golden Girls but instead of solving their problems over a cheesecake you worry one of these authors might pull a knife. </p><p> It’s funny in the same way The Office with Ricky Gervais was funny. You’re laughing at the protagonists, at the overwhelming awkwardness of it all, at the absurd situation you find yourself presented with. It’s better to laugh than to cringe or cry. </p><p> The performances and writing are great, top-notch even. Just know that you’re going to wince more than once. </p><h2>Related</h2><ul><li><a href=\"https://edmontonjournal.com/entertainment/theatre/fringe-review-darrin-hagen-does-it-again-with-the-delightful-go-west-young-man\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Fringe review: Darrin Hagen does it again with the delightful Go West, Young Man</a></li><li><a href=\"https://edmontonjournal.com/entertainment/review-game-of-bluff-edmonton-fringe\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Fringe Review: The Game of Bluff deals a winning hand</a></li></ul>","slug":"fringe-review-queens-of-romance-proves-there-can-be-anger-in-love","publicPath":"/news/2026-08-14-fringe-review-queens-of-romance-proves-there-can-be-anger-in-love"}}