{"data":{"id":"b0f1a116-1e36-4591-ba93-794a9d4bc4eb","originKind":"SYNDICATED","title":"Fringe Review: The Shape of Seamen rides a tide of laughter","summary":"The Shape of Seamen\n\n4.5 stars (Out of 5)\n\nStage 25, Spotlight Cabaret, 8217 104 St.\n\nIt’s a tale as old as time, really. Sailor meets siren, they fall in love, transform each other, get tied up in a couple of deaths, live happily ever after.\n\nYou know, that old chestnut.\n\nThe Shape of Seamen is a comedic musical maritime melodrama, er, oceanic opera, um, a little Gilbert and scuba diver.\n\nHerman and Calypso are in love and yet there are obstacles standing in the way, like mistrust and a nosy ex-girlfriend, a meddlesome boss, the fact that Calypso is confined to Herman’s bathtub. And well, he’s a man, she’s a mermaid.\n\nThis is silly and saucy stuff, and our two performers take on four characters with ease.\n\nNicole Maloney is steadfast and earnest as Herman, while Michael Watt is uproarious as Calypso, with an equally silly turn as Herman’s boss at the docks.\n\nThe stage at the Spotlight is crammed in a corner, and doesn’t leave much room to work, but the pair, especially Maloney, use the space between tables with ease.\n\nCredit also to musicians Jacquelin Walters (who also wrote and directed the show) and Alex Ward, who, with just a guitar and an accordion, bring a briny moodiness to the show.\n\nIt’s as strangely entertaining an hour at sea as you’ll get this Fringe.\n\nRelated Fringe Review: Things That Go Bump a gentle dip into the spirit world\n\nEvery Journal review from the 2026 Edmonton Fringe\n\nBookmark our website and support our journalism: Don’t miss the news you need to know — add EdmontonJournal.com and EdmontonSun.com to your bookmarks and sign up for our newsletters here.\n\nYou can also support our journalism by becoming a digital subscriber. Subscribers gain unlimited access to The Edmonton Journal, Edmonton Sun, National Post and 13 other Canadian news sites. Support us by subscribing today: The Edmonton Journal | The Edmonton Sun.","url":"https://edmontonjournal.com/entertainment/edmonton-fringe-review-the-shape-of-seamen","imageUrl":"https://smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital/edmontonjournal/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/shape-of-seamen_304752623.jpg","publishedAt":"2026-08-18T20:25:41.000Z","sourceLabel":"Edmonton Journal Music","tags":["Entertainment","Festivals","Local Arts","Theatre"],"authorName":"Dave Breakenridge","contentHtml":"<img alt=\"The Shape of Seamen, at the Edmonton Fringe Festival.\" src=\"https://smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital/edmontonjournal/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/shape-of-seamen_304752623.jpg\" title=\"The Shape of Seamen, at the Edmonton Fringe Festival.\" /><p> <strong>The Shape of Seamen</strong> </p><p> <strong>4.5 stars (Out of 5)</strong> </p><p> <strong>Stage 25, Spotlight Cabaret, 8217 104 St. </strong> </p><p> It’s a tale as old as time, really. Sailor meets siren, they fall in love, transform each other, get tied up in a couple of deaths, live happily ever after. </p><p> You know, that old chestnut. </p><p> The Shape of Seamen is a comedic musical maritime melodrama, er, oceanic opera, um, a little Gilbert and scuba diver. </p><p> Herman and Calypso are in love and yet there are obstacles standing in the way, like mistrust and a nosy ex-girlfriend, a meddlesome boss, the fact that Calypso is confined to Herman’s bathtub. And well, he’s a man, she’s a mermaid. </p><p> This is silly and saucy stuff, and our two performers take on four characters with ease. </p><p> Nicole Maloney is steadfast and earnest as Herman, while Michael Watt is uproarious as Calypso, with an equally silly turn as Herman’s boss at the docks. </p><p> The stage at the Spotlight is crammed in a corner, and doesn’t leave much room to work, but the pair, especially Maloney, use the space between tables with ease. </p><p> Credit also to musicians Jacquelin Walters (who also wrote and directed the show) and Alex Ward, who, with just a guitar and an accordion, bring a briny moodiness to the show. </p><p> It’s as strangely entertaining an hour at sea as you’ll get this Fringe. </p><h2>Related</h2><ul><li><a href=\"https://edmontonjournal.com/entertainment/edmonton-fringe-review-things-that-go-bump\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Fringe Review: Things That Go Bump a gentle dip into the spirit world</a></li><li><a href=\"https://edmontonjournal.com/entertainment/every-journal-review-from-the-2026-edmonton-fringe\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Every Journal review from the 2026 Edmonton Fringe</a></li></ul><p> <strong>Bookmark our website and support our journalism:</strong><em>Don’t miss the news you need to know — add <a href=\"http://edmontonjournal.com/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">EdmontonJournal.com</a> and <a href=\"http://edmontonsun.com/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">EdmontonSun.com</a> to your bookmarks and <a href=\"https://edmontonjournal.com/newsletters/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">sign up for our newsletters here.</a></em> </p><p> <em>You can also support our journalism by becoming a digital subscriber. Subscribers gain unlimited access to The Edmonton Journal, Edmonton Sun, National Post and 13 other Canadian news sites. Support us by subscribing today: <a href=\"https://edmontonjournal.com/subscribe/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">The Edmonton Journal</a> | <a href=\"https://edmontonsun.com/subscribe/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">The Edmonton Sun.</a></em> </p>","slug":"fringe-review-the-shape-of-seamen-rides-a-tide-of-laughter","publicPath":"/news/2026-08-18-fringe-review-the-shape-of-seamen-rides-a-tide-of-laughter"}}