The very first Orlando International Fringe Show I saw this year was with local Orlando legend Chase Padgett at the Renaissance Theater. The Renaissance has had a crazy year with the City of Orlando insisting it close while renovations were done to bring all aspects of the venue up to code. Over the course of renovations, the venue stayed afloat only through donations and a few shows staged at other venues. This was my first time returning to the venue and in my humble opinion the sound system is spectacular. The Phoenix has risen from the ashes of bureaucracy.
Chase was on stage as the audience filtered into the theater. He offered his own pre-show music as people settled in. The title of the play implies this might be an instructional show and it was, but it was not instructions on how to play Guitar, but rather on how to live while embracing your passions. In high school Chase had to choose between writing computer code or playing in the school band. The choice was obvious.
One Christmas Chases father, who loved Eric Clapton, bought Chase a guitar for Christmas. That guitar went abandoned and ignored while Chase played trumpet in the school band. Trumpet was his passion and he rose to first chair. It was only later in life that the guitar case was dusted off and the strings tuned. When Chase played, he could see how his father’s face would light up.
Chase took a course on how to build guitars, and he built the guitar he was using on stage by hand. He cut and sanded the wood, polished it and pieced it all together to be sure the acoustics were perfect. When his father learned this, he was in awe.
Separation, divorce, and substance abuse could have distanced Chase from his father, but he still sought to find ways to stay close. The approval of someone you love as an artist is something that some only dream about.
When Chase’s dad passed away there were tearful remembrances at the funeral and Chase decided to get up and play an Eric Clapton song on his guitar. As he played Tears in Heaven, my eyes welled up making it hard to sketch, so I stopped. The actress next to me was crying and I smiled as I fought back tears.
I am not sure why this show hit me so hard. Chase stressed that life as an artist was hard, but so rewarding. Had he decided to write computer code for a living he would have made so much more money. But life isn’t only about how much you earn. It is also about how much you can share.
After seeing several dozen Fringe shows so far, I can say without any hesitation that this show hit closest to home for me. You need to make your way several blocks over to the Renaissance and see this show.
Remaining Show times…
Chase Padgett: How to Play Guitar (Poorly), Peacock Farm Productions Orlando Florida United States. At the Renaissance Theater Company, 13 and up, 60 minutes. $15 and a Fringe button. Adult language.
Sunday May 17, 4:30pm
Tuesday May 19, 8:00pm
Thursday May 21, 7:00pm
Saturday May 23, 3:00PM
Sunday May 24, 6:00pm