{"data":{"id":"9882806c-70c4-4dd3-9f1e-3c10633dfeb2","originKind":"SYNDICATED","title":"Fringe Review: Tony Wrestles a Stranger but also eats hot dogs and explores masculinity","summary":"Tony Wrestles a Stranger\n\n5 stars out of 5\n\nStage 20, Mile Zero Dance Stage, 9931 78 Ave.\n\nAre you Tony’s dad? Can you be, just for a few minutes? If you attend Tony’s show, you’ll have the opportunity. If you want to. But please, say you want to?\n\nIn this almost-one-person show, Tony Adams explores masculinity both verbally and physically. While pondering an absent father and what it means to be a man, Adams performs numerous physical feats: burpees while storytelling, a one-person hotdog eating contest, and, of course, the titular wrestling match. Did Tony do it right? Is this masculinity?\n\nAdams brings warmth and authenticity to a performance that will keep you laughing. I often wonder whether a show could be shortened, but I could have lingered longer in this one.\n\nThere are some great lines in Tony Wrestles a Stranger, but every time I quote them out of context, they lose their magic. You’ll just have to check it out for yourself. Go on, now: be Tony’s dad for a while.\n\nRelated Fringe Review: Timothy Felton’s Softie takes stand up to a unnervingly pleasant place\n\nEvery Journal review from the 2026 Edmonton Fringe","url":"https://edmontonjournal.com/entertainment/edmonton-fringe-review-tony-wrestles-a-stranger","imageUrl":"https://smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital/edmontonjournal/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/tony_304767555.jpg","publishedAt":"2026-08-19T05:13:00.000Z","sourceLabel":"Edmonton Journal Music","tags":["Entertainment","Festivals","Local Arts","Theatre"],"authorName":"Angela Johnston","contentHtml":"<img alt=\"Tony Wrestles a Stranger, at the Edmonton Fringe Festival.\" src=\"https://smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital/edmontonjournal/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/tony_304767555.jpg\" title=\"Tony Wrestles a Stranger, at the Edmonton Fringe Festival.\" /><p> <strong>Tony Wrestles a Stranger</strong> </p><p> <strong>5 stars out of 5</strong> </p><p> <strong>Stage 20, Mile Zero Dance Stage, 9931 78 Ave.</strong> </p><p> Are you Tony’s dad? Can you be, just for a few minutes? If you attend Tony’s show, you’ll have the opportunity. If you want to. But please, say you want to? </p><p> In this almost-one-person show, Tony Adams explores masculinity both verbally and physically. While pondering an absent father and what it means to be a man, Adams performs numerous physical feats: burpees while storytelling, a one-person hotdog eating contest, and, of course, the titular wrestling match. Did Tony do it right? Is this masculinity? </p><p> Adams brings warmth and authenticity to a performance that will keep you laughing. I often wonder whether a show could be shortened, but I could have lingered longer in this one. </p><p> There are some great lines in Tony Wrestles a Stranger, but every time I quote them out of context, they lose their magic. You’ll just have to check it out for yourself. Go on, now: be Tony’s dad for a while. </p><h2>Related</h2><ul><li><a href=\"https://edmontonjournal.com/entertainment/theatre/fringe-review-timothy-feltons-softie-takes-stand-up-to-a-unnervingly-pleasant-place\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Fringe Review: Timothy Felton’s Softie takes stand up to a unnervingly pleasant place</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>","slug":"fringe-review-tony-wrestles-a-stranger-but-also-eats-hot-dogs-and-explores-masculinity","publicPath":"/news/2026-08-18-fringe-review-tony-wrestles-a-stranger-but-also-eats-hot-dogs-and-explores-masculinity"}}