Some acts need to be seen live, and when Sticks and Stone is billed as talented percussionists with a purpose, I had to check them out. They have been performing since 2017, and I had certain expectations when I saw Superhero Percussion: All the Hits! was coming to the Victoria Fringe Festival and they are playing at the CCPA Performance Hall. This group has a solid reputation for drawing crowds, but showrunner Stephen Stone was hoping some children would attend the 8 p.m. show. Unless you are a parent, there is a reason no one under eight was there.
The long weekend also offered plenty of reasons for people to be outdoors. Turning a busking spirit into a seated Fringe experience takes an ability to read the room and adapt on the spot, and the trio did a great job at adjusting. Had it been dialed up another notch, I’d say we would’ve been treated to a true tribute.