Toronto -- Fishbowl Theatre, a collaboration of Toronto actors and directors, will present Jane Martin's Criminal Hearts at the Fringe Festival of Toronto July 3 to 14, 2002.

"Fishbowl was created specifically to present plays that revolve around the taboo," says Chloë Ariane Whitehorn, the company's founder. "Criminal Hearts certainly hits that mark." Martin's 1992 play revolves around the interaction between a socialite and a thief, identifying the stereotypes society creates for us, the discovery of roles we play for ourselves, and every individual's overwhelming need to be accepted.

Fishbowl Theatre's contributing talents include veterans of the Queen's University drama department, Renaissance Stage Company, Rapier Wit, Poculi Ludique Societas, Upstart Crow, and numerous independent films. Co-producer Cat Ratusny says there is a strong common value among the cast about taking on challenging roles.

"Each character has so many layers and hides themselves from the others so well that only the audience can see each character's true self," Ratusny says. Whitehorn adds, "That sort of deception and complexity is a lot of fun as an actor to play and for an audience to watch."

Criminal Hearts by Jane Martin
Directed by Martina Kuska and Andrea Stark
Featuring Cat Ratusny, Chloë Ariane Whitehorn, Kevin Fox, Trevor Hayes and Melanie Moore
 The Poor Alex Theatre (Venue #3), 296 Brunswick Avenue
Wednesday July 3 10:30PM; Saturday July 6 2:30PM; Sunday July 7 8:30PM; Tuesday July 9 7:00PM; Wednesday July 10 4:30PM; Thursday July 11 7:30PM; Saturday July 13 4:00PM

Warnings: Mature Audiences, Language, Gunshots