- Real Live Entertainment
Vancouver Fringe: Best of Fest runner-up
“People keep asking me if I’m Mennonite. They have no idea how complicated that question really is.”
When Stephen’s family moves to a small conservative town, his search for belonging pulls him closer to truths he’d rather avoid.
Part gay burlesque, part history lesson, The Naked Mennonite strips away all façade until only the bare truth is left behind.
Uncovered trauma I didn’t know I had, and it was the best thing that happened to me that day! Highly recommend the show to everyone Mennonite or the Mennonite-curious.
Knew close to nothing about the Mennonites to be frank, and still enjoyed ourselves a bunch during this show!
The religion was explained in a funny and easy way, the performer was really entertaining and knew how to keep his audience’s attention. He had a perfect balance of emotion and introspection too that made it all tie together really well. Go see this show!
A wonderful show that resonates with anyone who has grappled with religious trauma, and trying to fit in while ignoring their conscience. The use of burlesque for entertainment and as an analogy for the character’s processing of Mennonite identity is poignant.
4 and 1/2 ⭐️
Definitely a fringe highlight! This show is everything fringe is about: partial nudity, religious humour, and somehow also interrogating power dynamics that many of us – Mennonite and otherwise – have grown up within.
Incredible. Riveting. A true performance, hilarious and sharp. A must see!
Absolutely the highlight of the festival so far for me. Well written, well executed, honest and moving performance, thoughtful, funny, wonderful use of burlesque for storytelling. I loved it.
As someone who was raised in a religious setting and has since abandoned those beliefs, this show brought tears to my eyes. Hilarious but also heartwarming, poignant and educational. Highly recommend!
Moved me to tears… and laughter, more than once.
What more can you ask?
Great show! Definitely worth a watch
Interesting subject matter, I wanted to hear more about gay experience growing up in the Mennonite church
I deeply resonated with this show, and laughed and cried throughout. Fehr does a fantastic job captivating the audience. This show is able to capture the loneliness of spiritual struggles, and the desperation of trying to fit in to a certain box that is crushing you. I am gay and Mennonite and found it all very cathartic. 10/10. Must see.
I grew up going to church in Steinbach as a 50% Mennonite. This shit was very relatable in so many ways. There is so much passion, hilarity, emotion, and just realness! I’m so glad I got to see it! Ten out of ten, two thumbs up, highly recommend!
This show was both hilarious and poignant! I would highly recommend it for anyone who had a small-town religious upbringing and felt like an outsider. Bravo!
Heartfelt account of real struggle. Funny and gripping at the same time, by a wonderful human. Must see!
Well written, well executed, and very funny. The only reason I didn’t give a full 5-stars is my sadness during the performance at his not knowing that there are some Christian communities (even Mennonite ones) which revel in diversity, and queer folk are part of planning teams. Great show otherwise!
A beautiful combination of humour and carthartic expression of cultural and spiritual turmoil. Stephen captivates the audience immediately, before the house doors close, and he doesn’t lose them once. I might have to see it twice!
So much fun, yet deeply moving. Don’t worry if you’re not Mennonite, or have not spent time in a Mennonite community, you will be educated and entertained. Bravo! (Go see it.)
He was very passionate and emotional, so much dialogue! Being raised as a Mennonite myself, it was, shall I say, eye opening!
Wow… Just a fantastic show. This is how you do a 1 man show. Educationally baked in comedy! Just such a good person shining through a performance. Well done sir.
An excellent, must see show! Funny and thought provoking…. The best show I’ve seen in the fringe
Fehr strikes a delicate balance—mostly hilarious with just the right amount of tender introspection. An authentic performance that draws the audience in. Don’t miss this show.
This show was so funny, as a Mennonite myself I related very much to several aspects and it’s a must see!
A beautifully crafted, must-see show this fringe! Well-staged, hilarious, deeply personal and so very easy to follow whether you’ve got previous religious knowledge or not. Big laughs and tears shed, an amazing piece of theatre.
This is an MUST SEE and that’s coming from someone who knows nothing about religion. Will be going again if it doesn’t sell out!
A deeply personal solo show that blends Mennonite history with queer identity and bold vulnerability. Alan Fehr’s courage and commitment to the material are undeniable. A brave performance with room to grow.
It was great
Do you know what a Mennonite is? Do you question organized religion? Have you experienced Mennonite burlesque?
A thoughtful look at growing up in a devote community, while grappling with your faith.
A heartfelt, humorous and vulnerable piece by Alan Fehr.
Engaging, hilarious, and surprisingly educational. The clothes do actually come off, often very creatively. I won’t spoil the story, but it is unique and kind of unexpected. Bonus Bible and European history lessons!
Excellent!!! Go see it!