{"id":115380,"date":"2025-06-20T11:15:55","date_gmt":"2025-06-20T15:15:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/?p=115380"},"modified":"2025-06-20T14:00:01","modified_gmt":"2025-06-20T18:00:01","slug":"preview-fringe-hit-people-suck-returns-toronto-ask-musical-question-wrong-humanity","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/2025\/06\/20\/preview-fringe-hit-people-suck-returns-toronto-ask-musical-question-wrong-humanity\/","title":{"rendered":"PREVIEW | Fringe Hit People Suck Returns To Toronto To Ask The Musical Question: \u2018What Is Wrong With Humanity?\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"<figure id=\"attachment_115383\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-115383\" style=\"width: 1200px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-115383\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/06\/Copy-of-PREVIEW-2025-06-20T110706.748.jpg\" alt=\"The cast of People Suck, coming to the Toronto Fringe theatre festival: L-R - David Silvestri; Chris Johnson; Megan Phillips; Michelle Nash; Liana Bdewi (Photo: Kristy Boyce)\" width=\"1200\" height=\"628\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/06\/Copy-of-PREVIEW-2025-06-20T110706.748.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/06\/Copy-of-PREVIEW-2025-06-20T110706.748-300x157.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/06\/Copy-of-PREVIEW-2025-06-20T110706.748-1024x536.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/06\/Copy-of-PREVIEW-2025-06-20T110706.748-768x402.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-115383\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The cast of People Suck, coming to the Toronto Fringe theatre festival: L-R &#8211; David Silvestri; Chris Johnson; Megan Phillips; Michelle Nash; Liana Bdewi (Photo: Kristy Boyce)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>WT*A*F is wrong with humanity??<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s a question that has no doubt occurred to many of us. Peter Cavell (The Second City) and Megan Phillips (The Anxiety Show) took that feeling a step further, and made a show out of it. The soldout debut at Toronto Fringe back in 2015 garnered the Best of Fringe, Patron\u2019s Pick, and the Ed Mirvish Awards, and led to two tours through Australia.<\/p>\n<p>People Suck is back at Toronto Fringe where it all began a decade later with a message that\u2019s perhaps more relevant than ever \u2014 along with new songs and fresh material.<\/p>\n<p>The Toronto Fringe Show is part of the specially curated Alliance for Canadian Musicals showcase that takes place at Theatre Passe Muraille from July 2 to 13, 2025.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_115384\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-115384\" style=\"width: 1200px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-115384\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/06\/Megan-Phillips-and-Peter-Cavell-writers-credit-Kristy-Boyce-2.jpg\" alt=\"Show creators Megan Phillips (front) and Peter Cavell stand in a bright yellow public toilet stall (Photo: Kristy Boyce)\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/06\/Megan-Phillips-and-Peter-Cavell-writers-credit-Kristy-Boyce-2.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/06\/Megan-Phillips-and-Peter-Cavell-writers-credit-Kristy-Boyce-2-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/06\/Megan-Phillips-and-Peter-Cavell-writers-credit-Kristy-Boyce-2-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/06\/Megan-Phillips-and-Peter-Cavell-writers-credit-Kristy-Boyce-2-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-115384\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Show creators Megan Phillips and Peter Cavell (Photo: Kristy Boyce)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2>People Suck<\/h2>\n<p>The original Fringe hit has been expanded and developed over the last ten years, including the musical elements of the show.<\/p>\n<p>People Suck features 18 original songs, with titles like Where the Hell is Darwin When You Need Him?, a lyrical lament on the collapse of society, When I See You Smile (I Want To Kill You), sung as a heartfelt ballad, and the NSFW audience participation number Some People Are A**holes!.<\/p>\n<p>From an earlier production:<\/p>\n<div class=\"jetpack-video-wrapper\"><span class=\"embed-youtube\" style=\"text-align:center; display: block;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"youtube-player\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/LkqJymSWutY?version=3&#038;rel=1&#038;showsearch=0&#038;showinfo=1&#038;iv_load_policy=1&#038;fs=1&#038;hl=en-US&#038;autohide=2&#038;wmode=transparent\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" style=\"border:0;\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-presentation\"><\/iframe><\/span><\/div>\n<p>\u201cWe\u2019re thrilled to be bringing the show back to Toronto! When we originally wrote People Suck back in 2015, we didn\u2019t realize just how sucky the world would soon become,\u201d says composer <strong>Peter Cavell<\/strong> in a statement. \u201cIt seems people agree since the show has been picked up and produced twice by theatre companies in Australia, and we\u2019ll soon be announcing a new production in Saskatoon this fall.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><strong>Megan Phillips<\/strong> describes its popularity, \u201cThere is an inherent catharsis in making art when surrounded by the dumpster fire that is humanity in 2025. We may not be able to change the actual people, but at least we can use punch-up humour to commiserate. And when we laugh together, we feel less alone.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSince people somehow haven\u2019t stopped sucking yet, it\u2019s clear that People Suck has a long future ahead,\u201d adds Cavell.<\/p>\n<p>The show is directed by Jessica Sherman, who starred in the US and Toronto tours of Dear Evan Hansen. The humour ranges from clever to dark and back again.<\/p>\n<p>And, in pointing the finger at everyone who\u2019s annoying, be prepared for the fact that it will point back at you too.<\/p>\n<p>Not sucking, after all, starts with each one and every of us.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_115385\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-115385\" style=\"width: 1200px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-115385\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/06\/4-Chris-Johnson-Liana-Bdewi-Megan-Phillips-David-Silvestri-Michelle-Nash-credit-Kristy-Boyce.jpg\" alt=\"The cast of People Suck, coming to the Toronto Fringe theatre festival: L-R - Chris Johnson; Liana Bdewi; Megan Phillips; David Silvestri; Michelle Nash (Photo: Kristy Boyce)\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/06\/4-Chris-Johnson-Liana-Bdewi-Megan-Phillips-David-Silvestri-Michelle-Nash-credit-Kristy-Boyce.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/06\/4-Chris-Johnson-Liana-Bdewi-Megan-Phillips-David-Silvestri-Michelle-Nash-credit-Kristy-Boyce-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/06\/4-Chris-Johnson-Liana-Bdewi-Megan-Phillips-David-Silvestri-Michelle-Nash-credit-Kristy-Boyce-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/06\/4-Chris-Johnson-Liana-Bdewi-Megan-Phillips-David-Silvestri-Michelle-Nash-credit-Kristy-Boyce-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-115385\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The cast of People Suck, coming to the Toronto Fringe theatre festival: L-R &#8211; Chris Johnson; Liana Bdewi; Megan Phillips; David Silvestri; Michelle Nash (Photo: Kristy Boyce)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2>Show Details<\/h2>\n<p>People Suck: a musical airing of grievances<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Showtimes: July 2 at 3:45 p.m., July 4 at 9:30 p.m., July 6 at 7 p.m., July 7 at 3 p.m., July 8 at 8 p.m., July 10 at 3:30 p.m., July 12 at 6 p.m.<\/li>\n<li>Venue: Theatre Passe Muraille, Mainspace, 16 Ryerson Avenue<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Find tickets and more information [<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/fringetoronto.com\/fringe\/show\/people-suck-musical-airing-grievances\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">HERE<\/a><\/strong>].<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>Are you looking to promote an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/advertising\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"color: #0e101a\"><u>event<\/u><\/span><\/a>? 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