Fringe: 1001 Red Flags (Shereen’s Version)

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I met Shereen Kassam at several Fringe Press preview shows and loved her back story so I had to see her show. 1001 Red Flags is a candid hilarious romp with equally candid views of American racism.

Shereen worked at Real Radio in Orlando which is a talk show station. Two talk show hosts kept teasing Shereen for not getting herself out there in the dating scene. They set up a dating game and invited men to come into the station to try an win a date with her.

Over 100 men applied but in the end she had to pick between three contestants. One was an a-hole of a jock who simply bragged about how long he could last in bed. Another wanted to get her knocked up immediately. The third was a fireman who said he had a steady income and would support her career. She picked the fireman.

Red flags started popping up immediately that hinted at the fact that they did not belong together. She was a bit drunk on the first date and didn’t want to be alone so she ignored the signs. She talked about just wanting to meet a guy with good insurance. As a freelance artist I can relate to that. Two doctors I have used have left the practice and my last doctors phone line was disconnected. Doctors ghost patients worst that any would be date.

In one stand up comedy show in Central Florida Shereen mentioned in her act that she was Muslim. After the show she was actually physically assaulted by a woman from the audience. American hatred and isolationism runs deep. All Shereen wants to do is make people laugh and she does that in spades.

She loves sneakers and wore a different pair during each section of the show. She had one pair that was absolutely gorgeous with vibrant rainbow springtime colors. I admire that obsession though I only wear earth tone hiking boots anywhere I go.

At one point Shereen was joking about the wonder and joy of uncircumcised penis’s. She might not have gotten along with her boyfriend, but she loved his penis. That started up a discussion in the audience members directly in front of me. Rather than ignore them, or heckle them, Shereen joined in their discussion to find out the guy was bragging about his penis. A mom seated directly in front of me was offering her opinions and mentioned off hand that her daughter was seated beside her. It was a hilarious unscripted moment you only get in live comedy theater. The hilarious discussion could have continued but Shereen managed to steer her show back on track.

I highly recommend this show. I love any performer who can share their life experiences so openly. It was a blast.

1001 Red Flags is in the Blue Venue in the Shakes. It is rated 18 and up and runs for 55 minutes. Tickets are $15.

Remaining show times:

  • Saturday May 18, 9:50pm
  • Sunday May 19, 3:00pm
  • Monday May 20, 8:10pm
  • Tuesday May 21 6:45pm
  • Friday May 24, 10:20pm
  • Sunday May 26, 9:40pm

At the Table with Keith Brown

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The Fringe show, At the Table with Keith Brown is being performed in the huge Silver Venue in the Orlando Family Theater. This magic show features intimate slight of hand card tricks best observed close up. Four folding chairs were on stage and four audience members were invited on stage to watch the magic up close and personal.

The rest of the audience got to see the magic through multiple cameras. One camera was aimed at Keith, while another was aimed down on the table.

Since I was sketching, I am not the best person to try and catch how the tricks were done. I just trusted through audience reactions that there was some pretty stunning tricks being performed.

Keith told a story of a trip he went on with his family as a teen. He was still honing his magic skills, when someone in a bar approached with a card trick intending to get a free drink with a bet. He didn’t know he was trying to con a magician. Of course the young Keith won every time.  Soon a crowd had gathered and people hooted and hollered every time the young Keith guessed right.

Some people believe in magic and some don’t. I am in the camp that there is magic to be seen every day. You just have to be looking for it, and in my case, I need to sketch it to prove that it exists. I was amazed and awestruck many times during this show. I give the show five ace of spades.

At the Table is rated for all ages and runs 60 minutes. Tickets are $15.

Remaining show times…

  • Saturday May 18, 9:30pm
  • Sunday May 19, 6:00pm
  • Tuesday May 21, 7:55pm
  • Thursday May 23, 8pm
  • Friday May 24, 9:05pm
  • Sunday May 25, 1;05PM

 

Orlando Fringe: Life Goes On

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The Orlando Fringe show, Life Goes On is produced by Kelsay + Morales Company. It is being performed at the Renaissance Theater. The theater now sports a beautiful rainbow  colored mural with the phrase “We Are All from Here”.

This is a new musical about a young millennial names Calvin, performed by Damian Barry, who is tired of struggling as an aspiring actor who works at a clothing store to make ends meet and never gets the acting roles he dreams of.

His partner, Jon performed by Max Herskovitz,  listens to his complaints with only marginal interest since he has heard it all before. Their relationship has lost it’s spark. There is no big fall out, just a slow decay. Flash back to when they first meet on a subway and the attraction is palpable.

Their duet had me welling up. I don’t think I was ready for a show about love lost. Calvin calls a long time friend, Gabby, Performed by Dee Quinterro and they hit the town. She is a new mom and needed to escape the pressure cooker of new responsibilities of raising a baby and a demanding husband.

Calvin and his partner do break up, but he seems to land on his feet by moving in with two acting buddies and starting therapy. Guilt, sorrow and hope all well up to the surface. The reprise of “Life Goes ON’ was an uplifting song about self discovery and moving on even as relationships fall to the wayside. We move on because we have to. I was thoroughly impressed with the show. It left me aching.

She show is rated 18 and up with a runtime of 60 minutes. Tickets are $15 plus a $10 Fringe button.

Show times:

  • Thursday May 16, 6:30pm
  • Saturday May 18, 7:30pm
  • Sunday May 19, 1:30pm
  • Wednesday May 22, 8:00pm
  • Saturday May 25, 3:00pm
  • Saturday May 25, 9:00pm
  • Sunday May 26, 4:30pm

 

Cocaine Bear the Opera

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I caught a dress rehearsal for Cocaine Bear the Opera which will be performed at this year’s Fringe festival. The show is written and produced by Eric Pinder.

If you have ever been to an opera or even seen some bugs bunny cartoons that use the classics, you will be familiar with the music, now with lyrics telling the tale of a cocaine crazed bear.

I know of the movie which this opera is built around, but I haven’t seen it. The opera holds its own as a hilarious romp.

The show begins with a drug runner dreaming of his future life filled with beautiful woman now that he is in possession of a stack of cocaine bricks. On the rear projection screen a plane on a stick bobs up and down before crashing into the forest.

A bear finds the mysterious substance which he calls “magic snow” and he lusts after it like Gollum after the ring.

There are lots of intestinal entrails when people find the magic snow and the bear defends his stash. I was entertained by a lustful scene between two park rangers who were then both disemboweled by the bear. Strangely a little girl in tears caused the bear to pause and take pity. Horrific chase scenes played out in delightful slow motion.

The glue holding this all together was classic operatic ballads that were so familiar that I found myself humming along. This is a strange quirky but absolutely delightful show. I give it five bloody bear paws.

The show will be in the Peach Venue inside the Orlando Family Theater. It is rated 18 and up for some language and suggestive situations. The run time is 50 minutes and Tickets are $15.

Show times:

  • Wednesday May 15, 5:45pm
  • Saturday May 18, 9:50pm
  • Sunday May 19, 10:05pm
  • Monday May 20, 9:35pm
  • Tuesday May 21, 6:05pm
  • Saturday May 25, 12:30pm
  • Sunday May 26, 9:40pm

Brain Bros Presents: Uber Chronicles

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When going to the Fringe show, Brain Bros Presents: Urber Chronicles, I imagined I might experience a show that showcased the unexpected insights gathered from candid and insightful conversations with Uber passengers.

The show was part rap and much stumbling. A phone alarm started going off in the audience. “Who’s phone is that?! He shouted. People looked around in confusion. It turns out it was his phone. He made his way into the audience and grabbed it. It was just a strange unrehearsed moment of chaos.

Beats were provided by Fryemixes who was seated in the audience. When he stood and explained how he was mixing the beats, I wanted to hear more. I wish he was also in front of the audience. His creative process was fascinating. I liked that Brain Bro had a large photo of his dead dog Cooper Thatius leaning up against a flat of a taxi.

He wanted audience participation and this group of seasoned Fringers were more than happy to play along. Since he wasn’t great with the dance moves, he asked several audience members to get up and act as his back up dancers. The two dancers did an awesome job swaying to the beats and even ventured to try and do a moon walk. Part of the appeal of the show is the fact that it is such a train wreck. I admire the effort, and perhaps the show will find it’s feet over the course of it’s Fringe run.

I was surprised that COVID did play a part in the show monologue. Usually any mention of the C word is certain death in entertainment. People prefer to pretend it didn’t happen and certainly they don’t want to think the pandemic is still ongoing.  He said the pandemic experience changed him forever. However he referred to the pandemic in the past tense. Based on the show flats, it would seem he must have been in NYC during the worst wave of the NYC COVID deaths at the start of the pandemic. The Fringe program however points out that he is an Orlando performer. Is his name Brain Bros? Probably not. Observations about the pandemic were  cursory, all he seemed to gain was some patience at stop lights where he peruses his social media.

ReTRIBUTEion: The Ultimate Tribute Band Tribute

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I went to Renaissance Theater to sketch a dress rehearsal for ReTRIBUTEion. The show is a sort of fictional mockumentary about a 1980s and 1990s hardcore rock tribute band.

When I entered the theater, there was an argument between actors in front of the stage. I would have to press past them to make my way up into the seating area. I soon realized they were rehearsing. It was a very Meta moment. It was hard to distinguish between the rehearsal and the performance.

Between sets there are video interviews with band members about the history of the group. I love that an Austin Powers look alike proclaimed the band the Beetles of tribute bands.

I have sketched multiple times at a celebrity impersonator convention here in Orlando and it was rewarding to see so many familiar faces.

The show felt custom written for actress Monica Leamy. It followed the bands start as a high school garage band and its endless chameleon morphing into many celebrity tribute bands. When an Ozzie Osborn tribute singer joined the band things blew up and the group became famous in tribute circles. With so many big celebrity impersonators collaborating tensions grew for who should take center stage.

I loved the show. I was often laughing out loud and swaying to the rock and roll beat. The producer warned that the music might be rather loud, but I was fine with the levels. Then again I am adjusting to living in a home that is on the Orlando Airport landing flight path. The house rumbles as the planes fly maybe 100 feet overhead. I highly advise that you check this show out, I had a blast.

Fringe performances are on…

  • 9:00PM Saturday May 18,
  • 10:30PM Sunday May 19,
  • 8:30pm Tuesday May 21,
  • 6:30PM Wednesday May 22,
  • 9:30PM Thursday May 23,
  • 9:30PM Friday May 24,
  • 6:00 Monday May 26

The venue is the Renaissance Theater Company. The show is rated 13 and up. Runtime is 60 minutes. Tickets are $15 plus a Fringe button.

 

COVID Dystopia: Fifth Horseman of the Apocalypse

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The Fifth Horseman of the Apocalypse shot from COVID Dystopia has the flames animated. There is a fast pan from right to left slowing down towards blind justice.

The fifth horseman also tilts back a bit but that is hardly noticeable with everything else going on. I could pump the fists up in the air, but that might distract from looking at the horsemen. I created some nice distortion in the smoke rising as well. I consider the shot complete.

Tonight I will begin sketching Fringe shows. The next week should be filled with reviews as I sketch each show in turn.

If there are any show producers who would like me to sketch a tech rehearsal, let me know. I plan to be sketching multiple shows every day and I will not have time on my end to reach out. Shows that reach out to me always get top priority for a sketch and write up.

I haven’t sketched at Fringe for the last several years due to COVID. With COVID levels low compared to the insane peaks, it is time for me to get back in the theaters and sketch my heart out.

I plan to sketch digital this year, so the drawings will be like the film stills but rougher, since a sketch has to be finished in an hour rather than a day.

Ophelia Pre-Show at Fringe Art Space

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Mallory Sabetodos Vance founded Phoenix Tears Productions, a local acting troupe that experiments with interactive theater. I have been sketching their quirky shows for years. They are now staging Ophelia, an original musical about Hamlets amore.

It was pouring as Pam and I drove to the theater. We honestly thought we might be the only people willing to go out in such insane weather. We got to the theater an hour early to be able to see the pre-show in the lobby of the new Fringe Art Space. Sure enough we were the only people in the lobby.

Mallory came out and explained that the show would be starting late because of the weather. Apparently the drummer could not get off from work. With time to kill Pam and I looked around. The show has a well designed and illustrated poster. The poster artist also had her thick impasto floral paintings on display outside the bathrooms.

Originally I had not planned to sketch the pre-show but with an hour and a half to kill I decided there was plenty of time to get a sketch done of the lobby and ensuing frivolity.

The actresses began to trickle out and interact with the gathering crowd. Combine,  in a peach colored dress (Emily Sheetz) kept dusting all the surfaces in the room. She asked the couple next to us to get up so she could dust their seats. Thankfully she left me to sketch in peace. Violet, (Carson Holley), in a light purple dress came over. welcomed us and offered her hand which I delicately shook. In Hamlet’s day a gentleman would have stood and kissed her hand, but I was busy sketching.

There was an Ophelia backdrop where people could have their pictures taken. Violet was gleefully encouraging people to pose. In contrast, Rue (Lex Bently) lurked nearby all in black exuding her goth menace. Fennel (Ashley Vogt) in her bright pink stippers outfit and fabulous white leather boots with massive heels, made her way into the sketch.

Fringe: The City Beautiful

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On the evening of my Fringe film premiere, dancers from The City Beautiful dropped off cards and talked about the show as we drank beer at the beer tent. Now Pam is the director of the Orange County Regional History Center so of course she would be curious about the history being presented.

The show was presented in the green venue which was packed to the overflowing. Pam and I were the only ones masked up. The show was more of a musical than a burlesque show, though pasties did appear a few times. One singer, Marissa was a lead in the Key of E which was very familiar with since a singe from that show was the backbone of the soundtrack for the short film I just finished. As always she belted out the songs with professional aplomb.

The history seemed to jump around quite a bit. Some momentum was lost as dancers were asked to simply read from the history book. The show does have a lot of potential however and I am glad I had a chance to see it. I have lost practice in sketching inside a dark theater but I just had to accept what I could do.

Fringe Favorite: Bugged Lady

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This was my favorite show that I saw at Fringe this year. It was a site specific show held at Leu gardens. Sandi Linn played the part of Professor Levi instructing a class of Invertebrate Biology 101. Sandi actually works at Leu gardens teaching similar lasses to school children as her daytime job. She wanted to present a show that was a bit edgier than her day to day classes.

In this show professor Levi presented real live insects to the crowded Fringe audience. Invertebrates make up over 80% of life on earth. You could tell form her presentation that the professor had a true love of insects, particularly the most venomous and frightening. When in undergraduate studies she was the only woman in her class. She was teased and told she should pursue an occupation more suitable for a woman.

On a field trip with classmates and a professor, she wanted no part in the lewd campfire banter so she retired. She was startled awake with the drunken professor forcing himself on her. She got even when she discoverer a huge nest of these cockroaches and mistakenly dropped them all over her sleeping professor.  She had a terrarium full of hissing cockroaches that she massaged with her hands to make them hiss. She walked the room so we all could hear and flinch.

The moral that threads its way through her presentation is that insects only will attack if they are threatened. Though she was the best student in her class she was passed over for promotions. Strangely the unqualified student who was promoted over her also was attacked by thousands of insects. he swatted at then which only made then angry. Over time she had to settle on teaching for as she said those who can not do, teach.

We got so see glowing scorpions, tarantulas, venomous grasshoppers. centipedes tape worms and of course hissing cockroaches up close and personal. The show was educational and horrifying.