by AMY BARRATT

If variety is indeed the spice of life then this last week in May is vindaloo-hot. A new Canadian musical kick-starts the summer at Village Theatre West, the latest Kiss My Cabaret takes to the stage Saturday at La Sala Rossa, and Monday night is your chance to catch sneak previews of many Fringe shows at the vaudeville-esque Fringe-for-all.

This weekend also boasts Canada's first-ever Burlesque festival, Burlesk Goes North (www.victoryburlesk.com). In addition to the stellar line-up of acts, the festivities include film screenings, afterhours partying and a Sunday brunch. Unfortunately, it's being held at the 360 Club in Toronto. When oh when will Montreal reclaim its historical status as the burlesque capital of North America?

Back to our own backyard, Eddie is a world-premiere musical by folk-country musician Murray McLauchlan, which has its Gala opening Friday night in Hudson. The CBC radio host and Juno winner tries his hand at a different kind of music with this small-cast musical about the rise and fall of fictional singer Eddie Staynor.

The lead role is played by Adam James, who has appeared in several Sinatra revues as well as with his band Panache at the Jazz Festival.

Presented by Trouper Belle Productions, Eddie is directed by Clint Ward. The cast also includes Karen Cromar as Eddie's sweetheart Betty, Mark Goldman and Marc Francoeur.

As mentioned above, May 31 is the Fringe-for-all, a frenetic soirée featuring two-minute excerpts from dozens of shows that will be in the Montreal Fringe (June 10–20). The media are on the same footing as everyone else as we sift through a torrent of theatre, dance and comedy offerings and try to guess what will be a hit.

Running concurrently with the Fringe for the first time this year is the infringement festival. Created by Optative Theatre Laboratories - a company whose sordid history with the Fringe I am not going to get into - and their partners in crime at Travesty Theatre, this is shaping up to be a real event, not just another rehashing of the so-so-to-begin-with Car Stories. Although there is no word yet on where much of it is happening, the organizers promise theatre, performance art, cabaret, poetry, film and, especially, "whatnot," and can boast a few big names including David Fennario - a renowned shit-disturber in his own right - performing his one-man show Mysteries of Montreal.

In addition to the monthly Kiss My Cabaret on May 29, Danette Mackay and some of her friends will also appear at a somewhat pricier do on June 11. The Supper Club Soirée, also at Sala Rossa, features "a sumptuous six-course meal and complimentary martini." The renowned Fluff Girl Revue will be providing a soupçon of genuine burlesque while singer John Labelle brings a touch of class. Local guy Labelle is my personal favourite of the new generation of crooners. He doesn't look like Sinatra, but close your eyes and listen and it's uncanny.

Eddie continues to June 13 at Village Theatre West (Old Train Station, Hudson), $22–$28, (450) 458-2743. Fringe-For-All, May 31, 8pm, at Café Campus , free, 849-FEST. Kiss My Cabaret, May 29, 9pm at La Sala Rossa, $6. Supper Club Soirée, June 11, 7:30pm, $75, reserve at kissmycabaret@yahoo.ca. Infringement Festival info: www.infringementfestival.com

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