Pack Animals at Fringe

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Scantily Glad Theatre from Victoria, BC, presented Pack Animals at this year’s Orlando Fringe. The premise it pretty straight forward. Two girl scouts get lost in the woods. One is a scout with plenty of merit badges (Holly Brinkman) who was confident she could navigate their way out with her trusty compass, while the other with just a few scattered badges had never camped in her life. The huge stage seemed cavernous for this intimate production.

When the inexperienced camper (S.E. Grummett) had to go to the bathroom she asked her fried for her guide book. She didn’t need the book to learn something new, but instead ripped out several pages to wipe. When done, she handed off the book and a trowel to a lucky audience member. The songs in the show were light-hearted, lyrical, and quite funny.

One guy in the front row of the audience kept interrupting the girls to let them know that they weren’t doing things right. After a few of these interruptions, it became clear that he was a plant. I think that during the run of the show they recruited various male Fringe artists to take on the role of the heckler. He became a focus for their searing and funny feminist sarcasm.

Puppetry was used to define the attributes of various forest creatures. The creatures all seemed to have the habits and attitudes of annoying guys. A much bigger forest creature, the bear, caused some chaos, but the campers survived. Overall this was a fun hour of wacky gay theater with just a dash of nudity.

The Flute on its Feet

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The Flute on its Feet was one of the more classically refined shows at this year’s Fringe Festival. Zara Lawler, a classically trained flutist, made her concerto debut with the Houston Symphony. Dancer C. Neil Parsons is a veteran of dozens of Fringe Productions, most recently Fruit Flies Like a Banana. Together they performed eight pieces. What was unique was that Zara on flute would often join Neil in the dance moves as she played.

The most unique performance came when Zara interacted with an orange steel square rack similar to a clothes rack in size and shape. She circled the rack and walked through it. Then she stood inside and maneuvered herself until she was standing on her head while still playing flute. Later, she lay on the floor and let the rack roll over her like a railroad car.

Neil’s dances were at times mechanical and at time graceful. It was modern dance with a quirky edge. There was audience interaction as the attendees were divided in half and one side began a round, followed by the other side repeating the lyrics. Think row row row your boat, only with more refined lyrics, “Music Alone Shall Live.“

Weekend Top 6 Picks for June 1 and 2, 2019

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Saturday June 1, 2019

8am to 1pm Free. Parramore Farmers Market. The east side of the Orlando City Stadium, across from City View. Purchase
quality, fresh and healthy food grown in your own neighborhood by local
farmers, including Fleet Farming, Growing Orlando, and other community
growers.

10am to 4pm Free. Sanford Farmers Market. First and Magnolia Sanford Fl.  

8pm to 10pm Free. Shuffleboard. Orlando’s Beardall Courts 800 Delaney Ave Orlando FL.

1st Saturday of each month. Free fun! 

  

Sunday June 2, 2019

10am to 4pm Free. Lake Eola Farmers Market. Lake Eola Park, Orlando, FL 32801.

Noon to 1pm Free. Yoga. Lake Eola near red gazibo.  


Noon to 3pm Donation based. Music at the Casa. Violinist Lisa Ferrigno. Casa Feliz Historic Home Museum, 656 N Park Ave, Winter Park, FL 32789.

Hombre at Fringe

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Hombre was a contemporary dance show choreographed by Ana Cuellar. The show poster featured an anatomical drawing of a man’s musculature as he clutches his heart with beam of red light emanating outwards. The theater went dark and the first dance number had the entire cast on stage as they used their cell phones to light their way. Titled Monotony, the dance seemed to showcase the ways people are isolating themselves thanks to the distractions of the digital world. At times, the dancers literally could not  be seen. It was thrilling, but impossible to catch in a sketch.

Ana doesn’t usually dance in the shows she choreographs, but she did appear in the middle of this Fringe show. She danced with Brett DeBeaulieu in a daring routine that featured plenty of strength and acrobatics. I have a renewed respect for Ana’s abilities as a dancer after seeing her leap through the air and tumble over Brett’s shoulders.

Original music in the show was by Alejandro Padilla and sung by Bruno Sanger. There was a dance that acted as a tribute to Pulse. The common theme running through this show was love and finding one’s self. The final routine was set to music based on a poem by Lori Aach called Essence. The back scrim turned a bright red. Twice, a dancer in a bright red dress danced with vestiges of flamenco passion. The goal was poetry in motion, and the combination of the arts’ forms suspended the audience for a rare moment between a sense of wonder and hope.

Florida Man at Fringe

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I sketched a tech rehearsal for Florida Man. We all know about the Florida Man twitter feed where you can read the insane headlines that make Florida appear like a Looney Toons version of the Wild West. Such headlines include, “Florida man takes a bubble bath in Wendy’s kitchen sink and gets fired,” or “Florida man arrested and charged with assault with a deadly
weapon after throwing alligator
through a fast-food chain’s drive-thru window.”

This Fringe show allowed the  audience to pick one of three headlines that would affect the plot of the show. J. Scott Browning directed the cast. Florida Man’s (Adam Murray) abode was simply a small couch with milk crates functioning as side tables and a coffee table. Pizza boxes were littered everywhere. The basic premise of the show was that Florida Man lived with a curse, but he wanted to live a life separate from the headlines.

Florida hick standards abounded, like shopping at Walmart or dealing with an apathetic drive-thru hostess.  Of course being a tech rehearsal the show was disjointed with many pauses for blocking. It was clear however that the cast was having fun and the show was light-hearted fun. Two smarmy newscasters (Andy Gion, Trenell Mooring ) would announce the headlines with false saccharine sweet humor. It became clear that Florida Man had more heart than the headlines that defined his existence to the rest of the world. Florida man deserved to find Florida woman (Sharon Yost), and together they might carve out some form of a life beyond comical headlines.

My Left Tit at Fringe

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My Left Tit, written by Gwen Edward, is about two years in the lives of a cancer patient and her faithful mutt, Omie, from initial diagnosis, through experimental treatments, up until the final hours. Brandon Roberts played all the parts in this play about facing a horrible diagnosis and a pup’s faithful love and devotion given with boundless energy. Roberts shifted quickly back and forth between the heart felt monologue of the female owner and the endearing antics of her energetic pup. Lighting cues helped separate these quick mercurial jumps back and forth.

The pup dreamed of chasing fireworks that exploded in the sky. Like Wile E. Coyote in  the roadrunner cartoons, he ordered packages that would arrive at the doorstep. Any time the doorbell rang he would bark wildly and bound down the aisles of the theater. He constantly bragged that his front paws were like lion’s paws. His energy and enthusiasm were a stark contrast to the female owner’s heartfelt reflections on life and her gallow’s humor in the face of death.

Only days before seeing the show, my pup had cornered a baby possum, which she then chomped on and dragged to the center of the back yard. She dropped it on a dead patch of lawn and the possum lay still as death. I grabbed her leash before she bit it again and dragged the pup inside. I returned to the baby possum to see it lying lifeless, but breathing. I ran inside to call animal services and as I did, I saw the possum get up and walk calmly away into the bushes. I  forgot that possums play dead as a survival mechanism. For this reason, I identified with the stuffed possum that was strewn on the stage.

For any dog owner who understands the endless support and devotion of an energetic pup, this was a heartfelt show with humor to balance out the harsh reality we all must face someday.

Static at Fringe

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New Vintage Ensemble, from New Orleans, LA, presented Static, a hybrid theater, live concert production that told the story of a son using music as a means to cope with losing his father to dementia.

The show is the work of playwright Connor Kelly O’Brien, who created it after hearing Daniel Amedee’s music. The theater was dark and on the black curtain behind the performers, projections moved with the forms’ outlines in white.  I could decipher some street scenes and pedestrians moving. The theater remained dark for the duration of the show with isolated spot lights focusing on each performer, in turn, as they traded back and forth while the narrative progressed.

Connor sat house left, going through boxes of his past memories. He was never as close as he hoped he could be to his father. As his father developed dementia and his days were numbered, the son decided to take him on a road trip to try and rekindle some form of connection. The show was about the love between people and the way we cope with the hard things in life.  

All the music by Daniel was original and mesmerizing. This wasn’t your typical musical stage production. The dark, brooding production left in its wake sadness at the ways people deflect from any form of connection, with idle conversation that never gets to the heart of what should be said. Though the play felt like a personal reflection on loss, it was fictional.

The Hammered Dog at Fringe

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Freeline Productions, from Orlando, presented Hammered Dog in the Red Venue at Fringe.

Shy, insecure, and emotionally fragile, Sandra (Sarah Lockhard) met the handsome, sexually possessive Ted (Steven Johnson) at a nightclub  Sandra was clearly unsure of herself in the loud club, but when she spotted Ted, she perked up. She hesitated before approaching him and when she finally worked up the nerve, he turned to walk away and her drink splashed on his shirt. Her cursed and stormed off. Later she considered cutting herself in the alley, but he intervened, becoming her knight in shining armor. The title of the play came from Ted describing other men he would make fun of at the club. He would watch them get hammered and then try and hit on women. He would laugh at their failures and then hit on the girls himself since he was such a catch. He called these losers Hammered Dogs. I despise those who denigrate others in an attempt to raise their own self-worth.

This chance interaction quickly led to an intense, volatile relationship. He had to be the most self-absorbed and lazy boyfriend of all time. When she offered him a home cooked meal, he insisted she get him a Publix rotisserie chicken instead. It was his one redeeming quality, since Publix does have some good chicken. He was jealous at every turn, saying she was lucky to have found him. He was one of the most repulsive characters I have seen on stage.

Ted’s horrible behavior mirrored behavior she had experienced from her dad in the past. Her only life line was a gay older co-worker (Todd Allen-Long) who helped her out and listened to her, hoping she could get her life back on track. His affection and support would have driven Ted mad. So each intimate conversation was a ticking time bomb.

Under the strain of her obscure past and Ted’s emotional manipulation, her life took a fateful turn.  Some wounds never heal.

Tickets for Hammered Dog are $12 plus the $10 Fringe Button.

Only one show date remains and that is tonight:

Sunday, May 26, 2019 9:15 PM to 10:15 PM

Dandy Darkly’s All Aboard at Fringe

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Dandy Darkly’s All Aboard was a high energy hour of sinister story telling. “Where were you the night the Gaybird Steamer ran off her tracks?”
Resplendent storyteller Dandy Darkly served up another audacious hour of
hypnotic Southern Gothic grotesquery: creepy robots, African spider
gods, beauty shop gossip and inbred redneck freaks. Oh, also trains!

An ongoing stream in the flowing story line was the mass marketing of Lollybot, a toy that every child had to have. It had a hypnotic single eye. Of course, I couldn’t help but think of the pink Lollybot of Dog-Powered Robot fame. The mastermind behind his marketing mania was similar to Henry F. Potter from It’s a Wonderful Life. He only cared about the money that could be made. Greed ruled supreme.

The story told was delivered at a feverish pitch the entire show, much slipped by me as I concentrated on the details of costuming and the set. Giant golden spiders embellished Dandy’s shoes and lapel. Tassel’s waved and Dandy gestured. Glittering golden tights and puffy sleeves fully engrossed my attention. A golden goblet on a tiny side table lit by candles, was used to quench Dandy’s parched lips when he needed to pause to let a story point sink in.  A quilt of spiders, pumpkins, top hats, Easter eggs, presents, and a one-eyed robot acted as a backdrop for all that unfolded.

The existential world of the south he painted was dark, mysterious, and sinister. Danger loomed at every turn.

Tickets are $12 plus a $10 Fringe button.

Remaining show times are:

9:00 PM

2:45 PM

Weekend Top 6 Fringe Picks

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Saturday May 25, 2019

5:30 PM to 6 PM $10 plus a $10 Fringe Button. Ladies Room: The Musical. Bikini Katie Productions, Orlando, FL. Four women meet in line for
the ladies room. They explore poor dates, societal expectations,
friendship, and why there’s ALWAYS a line for the women’s restroom. From
the writer of Beneath the Bikini, and the composer of Buggin Out: A
Small Musical, this musical journey is sure to entertain. Taking place
in the ladies room by the blue venue, you’ll want to get in line to grab
these tickets! Just like these ladies, you gotta go! It’s sure to be
#1.

13 and Up – Strong Language, Adult Content

30 Minutes

7 PM to 8PM $12 plus a $10 Fringe Button. The Agony and the Ivories.  Grown Man Productions, Chicago, IL. He feels the music and he
feels your pain. Actor, musician, and SAK Comedy Lab alum Bill Larkin
stands behind a keyboard to perform his original comedy songs tackling
subjects such as aging, homosexuality, self-esteem and social media. As
seen on Comedy Central’s “Premium Blend” and at the Edinburgh Fringe
Festival. The Los Angeles Times calls him “bitingly satirical”. Weird Al
Yankovic himself is “a big fan”. Intended for mature audiences.

18 and Up – Strong Language, Adult Content

60 Minutes

9 PM to 10 PM $12.00 plus a $10 Fringe Button. My Left Tit: A Sort True Tale of the Magical Bond Between a Dog and her Person.  Moustache Running Club, Fayetteville, AR Brandon Roberts shares a
whimsical and touching tale of the perfectly matched pair of Omie the
dog – who has taken on a vital mission – and her person, Gwen, who is
fighting a battle of her own. Typically known for his non-verbal work
with Gromalot Theatre Factory, this is Brandon’s first solo (and
speaking) engagement at Orlando Fringe. All earnings from the show will
be donated to the New Community Project. newcommunityproject.org

13 and Up – Strong Language, Adult Content

60 Minutes

Sunday May 26, 2019

1 PM to 2 PM $12 plus a $10 Fringe Button. Pack Animals. Scantily Glad Theatre, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. Ever been to summer camp? Took a shit in the woods and wiped using pages from your guidebook? Speared the patriarchy on a hot dog stick and toasted it over a roaring fire?

After getting lost in the woods, a multi-badged Woodpecker and a

wildernessly-inept
Beaver must set aside their differences to find their way home. JOIN US
for an adventure through the untamed forest of sex, puppets,
bushcraft…and campfire songs!

13 and Up – Strong Language, Nudity, Adult Content

60 Minutes

5 PM to  8 PM $60. Urban Sketching Workshop at Orlando Fringe with Thomas Thorspecken.

Loch Haven Park 777 East Princeton Street, Orlando, Florida 32803. Meet at Rocket Thrower Statue between Rep and Shakes. There are benches around it. Urban Sketchers Orlando continues in its third year to bring a variety of courses on urban sketching techniques taught by talented local instructors in their home cities. All skill levels are welcome and encouraged to join us.

DESCRIPTION:

The goal of this workshop will be to sketch the Green Lawn of Fabulousness during the golden hours as the sun sets. Instruction will be provided on how to populate the scene and how to keep darkening the painted aspect of the sketch as the light grows dim.

The FRINGE is a quirky and colorful event, so students are encouraged to get inspired by color and light. A tree might flair up a bright orange as the setting sun hits it or the lights as they come on may create a romantic glow.

Thorspecken is a correspondent for the Urban Sketchers organization since 2009 and has been an official Urban Sketching instructor for three years. An illustrator and journalist he is working in and around Central Florida and has been documenting arts and entertainment for over a decade in one sketch a day for his online news site, Analog Artist Digital World. Thorspecken was an animation artist for Disney for 10 years and has taught courses at Full Sail University and Elite Animation Academy. USk Correspondent

Instructor Thomas Thorspecken will have copies of his FRINGE Sketchbook at the workshop, which contains over 200 paintings done live at the FRINGE over the past 10 years. “I have been inspired by this unique Orlando institution and I hope to share that passion with artists who attend.”

 7:15 PM to 6:15 PM $12 plus a $10 Fringe Button. Ray Bradbury’s H2O. Susan Turner and Kangagirl Productions, Orlando, FL

Ray
Bradbury’s H20- Three short stories: The Lake, Picasso Summer and The
Million Year Picnic are brought together for the first time in a World
Premiere by David Lee, recipient of The Orlando International Fringe
Festival’s Lifetime Achievement Award and The Critic’s Choice Awards for
Best Director, Best Solo Drama and Best Male Performer.

13 and Up

60 Minutes