By Kim Dismont Robinson A local theatre company expects to wow Canadian audiences in July after being invited to perform at the Toronto Fringe Festival.

Waterspout Theatre produced a play called "The Man'', which showed in Bermuda last year.

The play, written by Canadian Sandra Alland, is produced by Bermudian artist Alan Smith and directed by poet Andra Simons.

"The play is about two women who have been part of a whole revolution to rid the community of men because of the rape of one of the women named Encanta,'' said Mr. Simons.

"These women live in a state of constant fear of men because of the violence they feel men symbolise.

"The play begins with the return of a man who is the brother of the rape victim. Their mother is so blinded by vengeance over what happened to her daughter that she sacrifices her own son.'' Mr. Simons explained that the Toronto Fringe Festival attracts somewhere between 60,000 to 100,000 people.

And although 66 companies are chosen from the Ontario area, Waterspout is one of only nine international companies to participate. "The Man'' will have eight performances from July 6 to 12.

"The whole point of fringe is that it's usually theatre that isn't commercial,'' said Mr. Simons.

"The audience prepares themselves for a theatre of the unexpected... it's avant-garde -- high melodrama to musical farce,'' he added.

Mr. Simons said the performance is a one-act play with a "Greek-tragedy'' feel, since all the action happens offstage.

Mr. Simons said he and Mr. Smith decided to produce the play since it went along with Waterspout's mandate, which is "to provide financially accessible yet challenging theatre''.

And the group recently announced that Canada-based actress Karen Glade, whose parents reside in Bermuda, will be playing a major role in the production.

Ms Glade, who was voted one of Toronto-based Now magazine's top-ten actors, has acted in HBO's "Blind Faith'' with Charles Dutton, "The Anita Hill Story'' and "Last Night''.

She has also held minor roles in "Earth: Final Conflict'' and "Traders''.

Mr. Simons stated that he is pleased to be working with her, since the two are good friends who have not worked together since theatre school.

And he said although the Bermuda Arts Council donated money toward airfare and prop designer Michael Mello made them a portable torture chair free of charge, the group is still trying to raise funds for the trip through Thursday night movies at Rock Island Coffee.