With the Vancouver International Fringe Festival offering 97 shows, choosing what to see might be a tad daunting. Fear not. We’re here to help. The Straight saw 20 performances that are coming to Vancouver from the Victoria Fringe Theatre Festival and our responses are below.

The first 10 are all worth seeing, which is a damn good average. We recommend the top six especially. And the top four we’re promoting to anyone who will listen.

Fishbowl has a big heart

Bookworm is a gift

Lies! will make you a believer

Burnt At the Steak offers food for thought

Slut (R)Evolution turns seriousness on its head

Fear Factor, Canine Edition is polished and affecting

Pump Trolley Comedy Presents is willing to go anywhere for laughs

The Ballad Of Herbie Cox offers a lot of love

Where’s My Flying Car?! welcomes you to the future

Jem Rolls: Ten Starts And An End connects, entertains, and enlightens

Hip.Bang! Improv hits some walls

The Water is Wide makes the most of its story

Sex, Religion, and Other Hang-Ups has charm

First Day Back has good intentions

Hanafuda Denki: A Tale Of Playing Cards offers diminishing returns

Zero Tolerance: Sex, Math And Seizures searches for its core

Little Lady doesn’t have much to say

There’s poignancy in My Aim Is True's relationships

There’s a mystery at the heart of The Abyss Burrow

Temple Of Khaos: A Modern Myth is all over the place