Wych Elm Productions
Vacancy available at 188 Holmes Street! An old “character” building in the heart of the city, Holmes is the perfect apartment for anyone (given you can handle the pests, the mold, the thin walls, the apathetic owners or the break-ins).
When new caretaker Osric finds that his favourite tenant has vanished into thin air, he leads an investigation through the building’s dark hallways to find her and uncover the building’s many dark mysteries – encountering burning furniture, skeletal figures, half-eaten cats and secrets as old as the city.
This was honestly so good. The concept of the bugs didn’t scare me as much as the acting did. The pure commitment the actor had to this show was so powerful, I ACTUALLY cried at the end. Truly such an amazing show and I regret not seeing it sooner in my fringing. I cannot sing the praise of this show enough. The writing was amazing, the follow through of the actor was INCREDIBLE. 99999999/10
Captivating storyteller. Just the right amount of laughs to ease the tension. Felt like listening to an extremely good campfire story.
Jaw dropped, truly an incredible show! The performance and storytelling was phenomenal, seeing a one man show can be risky, but The ghost of a Flea is worth every penny. Never wanted to pick up my phone once or got lost daydreaming because of the story was so captivating.
A great (almost?) horror story with an actor doing excellent work. It’s a monologue that could be used as an example of how to write for a single actor. Bravo.
This was one of those shows where I realized partway through that I was holding my breath. Stephen is utterly captivating and the script is gorgeous. Everything about this show was so well done, beautiful directing and lighting!!! So eerie! So mesmerizing! Definitely one of my favourites.
Ghost of a Flea is great! It combines comedy and horror beautifully together creating an amazing story and overall fun experience! I would highly recommend you go see it!
I loved the bit of the radiator man! It was so awesome and vivid. Loved the buildup of the eyes too, fun details that all came together for such an awesome scene. Would recommend!
Such a funny show! I feel sorry for anyone who hasn’t seen it. The lead is top-notch, paired with a great script; this is not a show you’ll want to miss.
Beyond being a romp, and a bit of a spooky one, this show has its fair share of touching moments that hit just as hard as the laughs and scares. The venue that it is being performed in is a perfect fit for it also – The subtle location shifts and use of eye-gaze of the groups of characters depending on which room they are in in the old building/who is in a scene were abundantly clear, despite there not being a single set-change in the whole show. That immersion was the perfect vehicle for the lead’s great performance.
3 stars out of a possible 3 stars. YOU WILL NOT REGRET SEEING ‘THE GHOST OF A FLEA’!
They definitely sent the wrong Free Press person to review this one… What a masterpiece!! I went on opening night, and loved it so much I took a small stack of handbills to go advertise it myself, and will be going back again with my partner. It’s packed with silly, creepy fun, and put on by such an amazing creative team. You definitely don’t want to miss this one!! (Also they have buttons you can get by donation!)
As a first time Fringe viewer, I was delighted to explore appartment 188 Holmes Street with the lovely, charming caretaker named Stephen. For myself, I believe Stephen depicted the most realistic winnipeg caretaker role, being able to take on anything that comes his way. He tackle all his duties with all the itch, slop and even controlling bugs. I would highly recommend this show to anyone itching for a fun and unexpected ride!
PLEASE IGNORE WINNIPEG FREE PRESS
THIS IS A GREAT SHOW. The critic did not understood the play and don’t know anything about theatre.
One of the best actors I ever seen on Fringe.
This show completely missed my radar but I’m so glad I was able to catch it. What a stellar performance from the actor. He nailed the storytelling elements and wasn’t afraid to interact with the audience.
This is a hidden gem as far as fringe shows go- the storytelling, the creepy elements coupled with the actor’s innate ability to relate with the audience. 4/5 stars for sure and would definitely recommend everyone to go see it. As far as one-man shows go, this was probably my favourite of the festival!
Congrats to the cast and crew!
What a show! The writing, stage direction, and performance from Stephen were absolutely incredible. I highly recommend seeing The Ghost of a Flea, especially if you have experience living in a old “character” apartment in Winnipeg!
LONG LIVE THE TUBE.
It was so amazing! Stephen killed it in this one man show. Not only did his performance give us the hardest laugh of fringe so far but was also able to truly unsettle us. The team did an amazing job with creating the atmosphere and balancing the humor with the horror. I highly recommend it!
The Ghost of a Flea is a thrilling horror comedy that kept me hooked the whole way through. This one-man show follows a heritage building caretaker named Os, masterfully and acrobatically played by Stephen Gatphoh, who uncovers the mysterious disappearance of his tenants and the creepy crawly horrors that follow. The directing by Daphne Finlayson was brilliant, and the use of space makes the audience feel like a part of the story. The writing by local playwright Logan Stefanson was incredible, and I found the use of past and present tense throughout very unique and engaging. The setting will resonate with anyone who has lived in a “character” building in Winnipeg, and to those who still do, you’ll find yourself bringing those creepy crawly pieces of the story back home with you. Funny, unsettling, shocking, engaging—I highly recommend seeing this play, and I’d love to see it as a film adaptation one day!
As a one-man show, Stephen brings each tenant of 188 Holmes Street to life with seemingly effortless distinction. From his comedic delivery of Mrs. Fajardo to his dramatic enactment of Peter, this show captivated me from the beginning.
I laughed, I shuddered, and I left feeling itchy and crawly inside. Highly recommend!
Holy wow with this one. It was keeping me entertained while also being justttt creepy enough for me to be super unsettled.
The actor does amazing as they tell the story all on their own (and with the help of some incredible lighting, awesome job with those as well!)
I attended opening night and loved the humour and creepiness of the play. Lots of energy from the sole actor.
I saw it opening night and loved it. Lots of fun with a big creep factor.
Saw this in a 10 PM slot and I was absolutely captivated. Start to finish, the details and focus on the story had me right there in the moment. Performer has an inherent charm that draws you in from his first entrance.
I loved ghost of a flea! It’s so creative and done beautifully. I will be seeing it again!
If you like “The Magnus Archives” and SCP, you will ADORE this show. Absolutely phenomenal performance, this is not one to miss!