FRINGE REVIEW: 638 Ways to Kill Castro shows heart in unexpected setting

638 Ways to Kill Castro

Stage 31, The Roxy Theatre, 10708 124 St.

5 Stars out of 5

It’s the early 1970s and that slippery world leader, Fidel Castro, has managed to evade assassination attempts for years.

That’s where we pick up our four Central Intelligence Agency protagonists in 638 Ways to Kill Castro, a very absurdist drama somewhat set alongside a very real series of plans to kill the former Cuban dictator.

Trench is the leader of this group of CIA misfits tasked with eliminating the then-prime minister and dictator of Cuba. Pope develops the high-tech gadgets used in the plots, while Goldwater is the old hand of the group, his experience stretching back to the Second World War.

The newest member, Vandenburg, has been sent by the higher-ups to look at their accounting, to get a better idea of how such a small group spends thousands of dollars on assassination attempts. There’s the exploding cigar, the poison-filled pen and the diving suit full of fungus.

But this isn’t a show about political assassination, but the interpersonal relationships of the four quirky agents. Imagine The Office, except instead of selling paper products in the American Midwest they are government-approved killers.

Things go wrong and our protagonists suffer through heartbreak and reveal inner demons that haunt and taunt them. 638 Ways to Kill Castro shows so much heart, a surprise given the setting but a pleasant one that pushes this show into “must-see” territory.

Don’t worry, a history background is not a prerequisite to enjoying this heartwarming and funny show. As long as you know who Fidel Castro is, the Vault Theatre will do the rest, putting a smile on your face and bringing you to your feet by the end of the performance.

Find your Fringe! You can read all of our reviews here.

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