Orlando International Fringe, Awards Ceremony

Posted on by Thor

I got to the Fringe Green Lawn of Fabulousness early to secure a spot to sketch the Awards Ceremony. I decided to sit at a spot that had a view down the center aisle of the approach to the stage. I was the only artist sitting at a long picnic table. Behind me a group gathered at another table. An actress at this table invited me to lean in and join their group. I am glad I did because there were so many amazing conversations happening leading up to the ceremonies. It was wonderful just being on the lawn and watching the sun set.

The Awards Ceremony started firing up when there was a flash mob dance scene along with stilt walkers in front of the outdoor stage. The conversations at our table were so heated that many didn’t notice the dancing going on. I resisted the urge to sketch until it got darker out.

This is the last sketch I did at this year’s Fringe, however there are three other sketchbooks filled with Fringe sketches being held hostage by a printer in town. Some Fringe artists have ordered prints from their shows and so I am waiting for the printer to get those done in a week or two weeks’ time. I suspect I will have to go and pick up one of the sketchbooks today so I can continue posting Fringe sketches.

Whenever an award was announced the audience would go wild. Having seen and sketched so many shows this year, I felt so much more invested in the awards since I had seen most of the shows which were winners. I hooted an hollered as loud as anyone. A couple of people at my table covered their ears and slipped away early, but I rejoiced in the loud chaos. Such energy fuels a sloppy but energetic sketch.

Critics’ Choice Award Highlights

  • Best Show: Then, Eve – A seriocomic monologue by Billie Jane exploring identity in the Garden of Eden.
  • Outstanding Comedy Play: Dolley. F*king. Madison. by Michael Knight, focusing on American democratic ideals.
  • Outstanding Original Script: Aradhana Tiwari for Byte, exploring AI and human relations.
  • Outstanding Ensemble: Queer!, highlighting Latinx experiences through story, song, and movement.
  • Outstanding Individual Performance (Comedy): Michael Knight.
  • Outstanding Individual Performance: Alexander Mrazek in Once Upon a Traitor and Robin Olson in The Sting of Revenge: A Prequel of Sorts.
  • Outstanding Individual Performance (Musical): Tymisha Harris for her roles in Bullock & the Bandits IV, Masquerade of the Red Death, and Josephine.
  • The Beth Marshall Spirit of the Fringe Award: Renaissance Theatre Company.

PlayFest: I Can Go

Posted on by Thor

I sketched the first read through rehearsal for  I Can Go by Meridith Friedman
which is a Comic Drama at the Orlando Shakes (812 Rollins Street Orlando FL).

Armed with sharp tongues and dry wit, Richard (Dan Bright) and David (Alexander Mrazek) navigate complex family relationships on the eve of their wedding. Despite hindrances ranging from little white lies to life-altering secrets, I Can Go uncovers human truths about the ones they love most. This contemporary and wryly humorous dramedy is the final installment in a series of three plays by Meridith Friedman, following The Luckiest People (produced by Orlando Shakes in April 2018) and Your Best One (read at PlayFest 2017).

I had seen and sketched a production of The Luckiest People but missed Your Best One. Despite that I felt quickly up to speed and familiar with this family and cast who had already won my heart. The patriarchal father had passed away but the family had a way of resolving any differences with humor. Richard and David now have an adopted son, Josh (Connar Vidman). Josh didn’t have a large part in the section of the rehearsal I sketched, but I heard him rehearsing in the Shakes lobby and thus knew something of his back story.  Richard’s sister, Laura (Suzanne O’Donnell) spilled a family secret in her attempts to get the attention of her son Matt (Terance Lee) who seemed largely shut off, tuned in to his headset. Nancy (Kate Denson), David’s mom sat with her back to me. She had a calming voice and seemed the anchor of fairness and reason as wedding plans escalated into petty arguments.



For me, this was time well spent with a family I already had grown to love, and a fun cast who seemed at home in this family’s skin. You don’t have to have seen the previous two dramas by Meridith Friedman for this show to make sense. There was a relaxed humor as they eased into the comedic drama. This is clearly going to be a fun performance.

Director: Tara Kromer,
Stage Manager: Jackqueline Hilliker, Stage Directions Reader: Kaley Pharr.

The performance will be on Saturday, November 10, 2018 at 4:00 p.m. Tickets are $10.

The Luckiest People at the Shakes

Posted on by Thor

The Luckiest People written by Meridith Friedman will rip your heart out. Oscar Hoffman (J.D.Sutton) and his son Richard (David Lane) enter Oscar’s retirement in an assisted living facility along with David’s partner David (Alexander Mrazek.) David is carrying what I presumed to be ashes. They had just returned from a funeral burring Oscar’s wife. Oscar finds himself alone in the world and he is cantankerous and angry. Richard is blindsided when his father demands to leave his
assisted living facility.

With his sister Laura (Suzanne O’Donnell) living in Shanghai, and his plans to soon to become a first time father with his partner, he is less
than thrilled at the prospect of housing his–to put it mildly–difficult
father. Accusations begin to fly and defenses are drawn, spiraling
father and son, brother and sister, and spouses into a heated game of
finger pointing with unintended consequences.

When Richard has second thoughts about adopting a child with his partner, their relationship is strained to the point of breaking. David knows he wants to raise a child but suddenly Richard is faced with having to possibly care for his father. He also discovers that his sister Laura is planning to meet an old boy friend behind her husband’s back. She yearns to be with someone who knew her before life set so many demands on her. This contemporary and wryly humorous play touchingly explores the
middle years of life when competing priorities from children, spouses,
and parents create challenges and self-examination.

I laughed, I cried, I sketched. Seemingly comedic at first, the play delved deep into this family’s relationships, demands, and blunt trauma.  The injuries of childhood surface and the injustice of being treated like a child as an elder become a driving theme. “You are lucky to have somewhere to runaway to. Someone to run to.” Everyone had hidden scars and no one seemed particularly lucky to me. This is the first play in a
trilogy about the Hoffman family.

The Luckiest People runs approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes with one 15-minute intermission.

Tickets are $25 to $50

John and Rita Lowndes Shakespeare Center 812 E Rollins St, Orlando, FL 32803

The remaining show dates are:

Thursday, April 12, 2018 – 7:30 PM

Friday, April 13, 2018 – 7:30 PM

Saturday, April 14, 2018 – 7:30 PM

Sunday, April 15, 2018 – 2:00 PM

Wednesday, April 18, 2018 – 2:00 PM

Wednesday, April 18, 2018 – 7:30 PM

Thursday, April 19, 2018 – 7:30 PM

Friday, April 20, 2018 – 7:30 PM

Saturday, April 21, 2018 – 7:30 PM

Sunday, April 22, 2018 – 2:00 PM

Wednesday, April 25, 2018 – 2:00 PM

Wednesday, April 25, 2018 – 7:30 PM

Thursday, April 26, 2018 – 7:30 PM

Friday, April 27, 2018 – 7:30 PM

Saturday, April 28, 2018 – 7:30 PM

Sunday, April 29, 2018 – 2:00 PM