Eclectic avenue

>> All the hilarious street antics you can bear at JFL

by GENEVIEVE PAIEMENT

 If you didn't get enough of the crowds at the Jazz Fest, take heart: more frenzied street action awaits you at the Just for Laughs festival site in what's known as the Quartier Latin. All manner of international freaks, er, street performers will be vying for your precious attention, so get ready for an overwhelming onslaught of bizarre and ridiculous proportions.

 First up, from the "we can't believe how wacky this is" department, there is a Dutch rollerblading-tapdancing combo, the Stomp-like escapade Ish (as in, "more or less"). Starring young exuberant bladers and incorporating beat-boxing, DJs, VJs and a vague plot about dreams, the show, conceived by Flemish-Philippine actor-dancer Marco Gerris, is aimed at teens. People were, like, totally digging it at the Northern Alberta International Children's Festival, so who knows? At the Place Labatt Bleue (corner de Maisonneuve and St-Denis), July 12, 15, 18, 20-22, 8:30 p.m.; July 13, 14, 16, 17, 19, 9 p.m.

 MECHANICAL ANIMALS, GYPSIES AND TWINS

 If Noah's ark came to life as a gigantic parade of mechanical animals, it would be Tranhumance--The Time of the Herd. Created by French company Oposito (creators of the bubble-icious Aquarave), the work promises to be freakier than the day is long. Dozens of giant steel animals will be pulled through the streets by a motley crew of characters. Puppets, robots and dolls will mingle, while flashing lights and strange sound effects go off, and the huge elephant keeps a bombastic beat. The whole surreal shebang culminates in the Champs de Mars where the Montreal Symphony Orchestra will be waiting and playing their favourite tunes. July 13-14, the parade begins at the corner of Ste-Dominique and de Maisonneuve at 9:43 p.m. and winds its way to Champs de Mars where the MSO begin playing at 9:30 p.m.

 Then there's Belgian-based gypsy theatre company Les Baladins du Miroir. The travelling troupe (they're said to cover 7,000 kilometres a year) are setting up camp with their caravans at 180 de Maisonneuve E. (by those stout, square blocks of apartments behind the St-Laurent metro station). Beneath their big top, they present their modern adaptation of Faust, directed by Nele Paxinou, complete with flamboyant costumes, flying angels and "barkers." The Baladins also invite the public to admire the extremely colourful, ornately decorated caravans where they live. Through July 22, 8 p.m., $10.

 For double-trouble seekers there is next weekend's Naturo Twins Weekend. That brazen display of twin pride, the Night of the Living Doubles parade, happens Saturday, July 21 at

 7:30 p.m. along St-Denis, followed by all-night rug-cutting under the Twins Canopy (200 Ontario E.). Other activities include a beach party, a spaghetti dinner, a hot dog lunch and a round-table discussion. E-mail twins@hahaha.com for more twin details.

 BITS AND BOBS

 With literally hundreds of performers taking to the streets over the 10-day fest, there just isn't the space to list them all. But here's a tiny, mind-boggling teaser, just to whet your appetite. There's Cock-Tales from Germans Les Frites Foutues, in which four giant roosters musically compete for a giant chicken's affections. July 15-22 at the Arts forains Loto-Quebec (corner de Maisonneuve and Sanguinet), 6:45 p.m. Along de Maisonneuve, between St-Denis and Sanguinet, sneak a peak at 12 paintings and sculpture on the theme of funny stories. Or, stumble upon the operatic street theatre of French troupe Les Grooms who try to act fancy but usually fall flat on their faces (Ha! Ha!). July 12 (7:45), 14-15 (8 p.m.), 17 (7:15 p.m.) at the Piste Loto-Quebec (St-Denis, below Ontario). Or, get politicized by the French Theatre de l'Unite as they make you laugh and think. The roving show starts at the Place Labatt Blue (St-Denis below de Maisonneuve), everyday at 9 p.m., roving show. Then, if you haven't had enough, you can watch the pyrotechnics and giant insects on stilts of Gog i Magog who hail from Catalan Spain. At Place Labatt Bleue July 12, 15-22, 10 p.m., July 13-14, 10:30 p.m. :

 

For complete Just for Laughs information, call the info-line at 790-HAHA or visit www.hahaha.com