Toronto Fringe Review: D.E.I. Another Day

Bollywood movies have never been known for subtlety, and D.E.I. Another Day certainly gets the memo. HINPROV's latest comedy imagines what might happen if corporate DEI workshops found their way into a Bollywood gangster film. The result is a high-energy parody packed with dramatic slow-motion entrances, sweeping romance, impossible coincidences, and yes, the occasional dance number.

While the Bollywood-inspired chaos may be the main event, the workplace satire gives the show its foundation. Instead of making DEI the punchline, D.E.I. Another Day pokes fun at the corporate culture surrounding it. Anyone who's sat through a mandatory workplace training session will recognize the exaggerated buzzwords and awkward attempts at inclusivity. Throw in a few jokes that feel distinctly Torontonian, and you've got a satire that's surprisingly relatable beneath all the melodrama.

The script delivers plenty of laughs on its own, but the occasional hiccups of live theatre become a bonus. A wig slipping off, a fake moustache refusing to cooperate, or a prop lingering onstage a little longer than intended never slowed the show down. Instead, the cast embraced those moments, keeping the story moving while letting the audience in on the fun. The occasional fourth-wall break and well-timed ad-libs only added to that playful atmosphere. It gave the show the energy of a school playground at recess, where everyone was having fun simply because they could.

D.E.I. Another Day is the kind of show that reminds you why live theatre is so much fun. Add it to your Fringe schedule for an evening full of laughs, and don't be surprised if you leave dancing along. After all, this is one DEI meeting you'll actually want to attend.

D.E.I. Another Day is on now until July 11 at the Toronto Fringe. Show times and tickets