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.

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

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

Girl at Fringe

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Beth Marshall is directing, Girl, written by Megan Mostyn-Brown, a hard-hitting drama at this year’s Fringe. When the audience entered the Gold Venue there were three black boxes on the stage and a blue suitcase. Girl consisted of three intimate stories which create a compelling account of the female adolescent experience and what it means to be “home.”

The play opened with a young girl, Hannah (Chloe Shaw), seated on the center box. Hate and ugly were scrawled on her legs. Her sister had recently died and she was trying to come to terms with this harsh reality. Days of the week flashed on the screen above her head and we watched as she spiraled downward. She had become numb and the only reality was the feeling she got when began cutting herself. Her sister might not have lived the most exemplary life, but she began to emulate her, going so far as to buy a red-haired wig to look like her.

The second scene introduced a tom boy, Lucy (Alexa Carroll), with a Polaroid camera around her neck. She didn’t try and blend in with the upper crust snobbish girls in school, preferring to keep to herself and document the moments of her life with the camera. A group of students began talking about sex and asked, “Where is the strangest place you have done it?” Well, she hadn’t actually had sex yet, but when confronted with the question she said, “In a tree,” and was shocked that they believed her. a classmate, Isaac (Matthew Gray), later called her out in private saying she was better than that. He walked her home and they began talking as if they had been friends for years. The girl’s mom, (Sierra Vennes), sat house right and began talking about the mistakes she had made in life and how she hoped she could protect her daughter from making the same mistakes.  Ultimately, that goal is impossible.

Lydia (Rachel Comeau) performed the final scene alone. Her performance was stellar. Without going into details, I will say her story had heartbreak and pain, with hope in the end. She brought the entire audience on her emotional journey and we were faced with the harsh reality of what she had to face. She cried and laughed and tried to stay strong through it all. She is the one actress I didn’t sketch, but I just had to stop and watch her performance without the interruption of glancing down at the page. She held new life dear and close to her chest, discovering what it meant to be at home.

This was heart-wrenching theater at its best. A tour-de-force of emotions.

Girl is in the Gold Venue inside the Orlando Museum of Art, 2416 Mills Ave N, Orlando, FL 32803.

Tickets are $6 along with the $10 Fringe button.

The remaining show dates are:

7:00 PM

6:30 PM

7:00 PM

Pollywood at Orlando Fringe

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Polly Esther had been through some pretty rough times, but no matter how bad things got, she could always listen to a Weird Al Yankovic recording and laugh. She addressed the Fringe audience wearing a Weird Al t-shirt. Her excitement was manic and contagious. She heard that Al would be getting a star on Hollywood’s walk of fame. This is an honor that has to be paid for, but it is still an honor.

Since she loves Weird Al so much, she decided she had to go to Hollywood to see him when his star was unveiled. The trouble was, she didn’t have the money for a plane flight or hotel stay. Deena Ronayne from Orlando Fringe advised her to start a Go Fund me page to raise money for the trip. Polly took her advice and was surprised when she actually raised the money needed for the trip. She actually surpassed her goal by a bit and decided to get a pair of sandals with plenty of bling so she would blend in on the Hollywood strip.

She hadn’t planned ahead for the trip very much, since it never seemed quite like a reality. The morning she had to leave for the airport she hadn’t packed a thing. She performed a manic mime of the frantic struggle to pack, which was quite hilarious. Polly’s 37 hour adventure was as fun and quirky as Pee Wee’s Big Adventure.

The map taped to the back wall with green frog tape showed her trip route to Hollywood. She had the names of all her contributors and added them to the map alongside the route. When she was in Hollywood, she met one of Weird Al’s entourage and he invited her to a VIP party on the day of the unveiling. When she met Al, she was amazed that he looked her right in the eye and he loved her name “Polyester!” It wasn’t until that moment that it occurred to me that her first and last name, when said quickly, was a synthetic fabric used in cheap clothing lines. 


The bottom line is that this was a fun story about one woman’s dream coming true in ways she never expected. Dream big and sometimes you might just reach the stars.


Pollywood is in the Blue Venue inside the Orlando Shakes, 812 E Rollins St, Orlando, FL 32803.

Tickets are $12 plus a $10 Fringe button. 

The remaining show times are:

10:45 PM

8:45 PM

3:30 PM

Abridged Orlando Fringe Sketchbook

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The Abridged Orlando Fringe Sketchbook documents 10 years of the Orlando Fringe in sketches. The project began in 2009 and today, 10 years later, the sketching continues. Above is a sample of the first 10 pages of the book.

This Abridged Fringe Sketchbook is 110 pages with over 200 full-color sketches. The book is going to press now and will be available by the 2019 Orlando Fringe Festival. Each year has a few paragraphs highlighting my favorite shows of the year. The goal has been to assemble every sketch done at Fringe shows over the past 10 years at an affordable price.

The books will sell for about $25 at the Orlando Fringe. If you would like to pre-order a book, contact pam-schwartz@hotmail.com. If you pre-order, we will arrange to give you the book when you arrive at the Fringe Festival.  We can take orders via pay pal, checks, or of course, the preferred cash. The books can now be found out on the Green Lawn of Fabulousness and inside the Orlando Shakespeare Theater in the Fringe Merchandise booths. I pulled aside one for myself since I now fear they might sellout. If they do sell out we will print more books which can be delivered or picked up after Fringe.

A much larger 249 page book that has all the original articles written for Analog Artist Digital World is also being produced if we have enough pre-orders and interest!

Ladies Room: The Musical at Orlando Fringe

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Ladies Room: The Musical presented by Bikini Katie Productions was an absolute delight. The audience sat in folding chairs place in each stall. One stall was empty, so I plopped myself down as I travel with my own chair. Bikini Katie quickly warned me that that particular stall would be used during the production. I erased the sketch I had started and began fresh. I was particularly panicked since this show is just a half hour long. A bearded pianist sat at his keyboard in the handicap stall.

Once the audience was settled in, four women entered the ladies room. They sang about poor dates, societal expectations, and friendship. One woman hadn’t dated for a long time and she was on a date with a guy who turned out to be a real jerk. She seriously didn’t want to go back out to face him, fearing she might not make it through the night alive.

A woman wearing a tiara was having her birthday with friends and she was getting as drunk as possible. Her song was interrupted when she ran into the stall I had sat in and hurled. She was the only woman who noticed the musician in the handicap stall. It was a fun way to break the fourth wall.

A thin fashion model of a woman changed her dress and hair styles several times. She seriously had multiple dresses and wigs. Any time she lost interest in a guy she would change her look and find a new guy.

The fourth woman in the group was sort of the mom figure. She had everything in her purse that might necessary to help her younger and misguided friends. She was there for her sage advice. These four woman banded together to help each other get through the night.

Without giving away more details, I can just say that this show was such a fun time. It was the most unique venue this year for sure and the music and performances were amazing. This is my favorite musical so far this year. I hope the show is ultimately fleshed out even further. Definitely get in line for the Ladies Room you will be glad you did.

Coconuts, Coral, and Cow S#it at Fringe

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The title for this show was quite misleading. I walked into the preview assuming I would find a strange comedy. Instead, I found a compelling personal drama. Actress Sara Kunz stood on a chair looking down into an abyss. Wind whistled in our ears as she subtly swayed forward and back. She began to cry. The moment lingers, allowing the audience time to realize that she might be willing to jump. The theater went black.

Sara excitedly considered a challenging hike in Hawaii. She loved physical challenges, they allow her to push to her physical limits and beyond. The park announcements in her iPod headset kept reminding her of the dangers. The announcer offered much needed humor, since she seemed to be directing her recorded commentary directly at Sara.

At an outdoor festival, Sara discovered that people would actually pay her money when she performed with her hula hoop. She showed us her act, which was incredible and graceful. She beamed when performing, a human flame, making the hula hoop move in unexpected and magical ways. Realizing that people actually paid her for her art, she decided to travel the world, busking along the way to supplement her life. Her parents didn’t think this was a wise life choice, but her mind was made up.

Someone she thought was her friend took a part of her that sent her into a spiraling depression. The scene I sketched had her seated in a therapist’s office as she described how her life had been put on hold. We returned to the Hawaiian hike where she was crossing a dangerous ravine that only had a PVC ladder as a crossing point. The ladder was across two chairs, but her terror as she crossed was palpable. I identified with this scene as I had just painted a mural and reaching up to paint the sky, high on the wall, was terrifying on the tall swaying scaffolding.

This performance was testimony to the fact that Sara had not only overcome the horrible experience in her past, but that she also has the strength to share her story so that others who might feel the same guilt and debilitating shame might realize that they are not alone. So don’t go to Coconuts, Coral, and Cow S#it expecting comedy, go to be challenged and inspired by the strength of the human spirit. I highly recommend the show.

Tickets are $8 plus a $10 Fringe Button.

The Green Venue is in the black box theater behind the Repertory Theater, 1001 E Princeton St, Orlando, FL 32803

Remaining show times are:

2:00 PM

6:15 PM

5:45 PM