Are you a bully or the bull?

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Tasty Monster Productions from the United Kingdom presented Ferdinand in the Red venue of this year’s Orlando International Fringe Festival. The show was inspired by the classic children’s book “The Story of Ferdinand” by
Munro Leaf, Ferdinand tells the story of Tom, a single dad struggling to
raise his son in a world determined to make him fight. Raised on the
story of his namesake Ferdinand, the bull who refused to fight but just
wanted to sit and smell the flowers, young Ferdy learns the hard lessons
in life as his father tries to shield him from the harsh realities of
adulthood.

Tom reads the story of Ferdinand the bull to his son so many times at night that the boy knows the story by heart. Tom’s increasingly demanding job keeps pulling him away from being able to spent time with his son.  He brings his son into work for “bring your child to work day”.  At the end of the work day his boss came in and demanded that he stay late. He starts yelling and bullying Tom in front of his son. Furious, Tom
clenches his fists and is ready to punch his boss. His son however stops
him, reminding him to be the bull not the bully. Tom does however quite
his job on the spot.

The boy begs his dad to come to a school play. It turned out that his son was playing the title roll as the kind natured bull Ferdinand. Tom’s boss is also in the audience.  He confides that he wasn’t ready for all the new responsibility and he needed Tom’s expertise to get through the rough patch. Tom is hired back and for the first time sees the more human side of his boss, who was there to see his own son in the play.



This was a simple heart warming tale about the difficulties of raising a child alone. It was a solo show with heart and sincerity. I was surprised that some people don’t know the story of Ferdinand the Bull. I included a link to the Disney Animated classic above, so if you don’t know the story, then at least watch the animated short.

Alone in the Universe presented a humerous existential look at the meaning of life.

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Big Whoop productions from Vancouver Canada presented Alone in the Universe a one-man sketch comedy experience about the mystery of existence and
what it means to be just a dumb human floating in space, examined
through characters, mime, music, and stand-up. This Fringe show written and performed by Adam Pateman was presented in the Bronze venue inside the Orlando Museum of Art. Adam who was dressed like a gas station attendant was challenged by an alien announcer to solve the mysteries of life, or the entire human race would be annihilated.

Adam followed with a one man monologue that reflected on his past and present. Of course none of what he said addressed the ultimate question but the point was to go along for a fun ride. He seemed to feel that turning 30 was a major life change. Hair grew in new and unexpected places. The following decades bring much greater surprises.

He ultimately concluded that the meaning of life must be the question itself, that we had been given life and the ability to reason so that we might ultimately ask the question. The sinister alien announcer stated simply “No”. It turns out that all of existence came about so that there might be a seventh season of Glee on TV.

Since Adam was wrong the announcer stated that the world would end at any moment. The audience sat in the dark theater and waited. He toyed with the audience by announcing our untimely end several times. Would the show ever end? Were we destined to sit in this dark purgatory forever?

Corsets and Cuties bring belly laughs to burlesque at Fringe.

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Double Tree Productions presents Corsets and Cuties a Burlesque Cabaret in the Black Venue (The Venue) at this year’s Orlando International Fringe Festival. I went to one of their earlier shows at 10:30pm to sketch. What Babs and her troupe do is make burlesque fun and classy in equal measure. A three foot long sausage with balls on the male dancer might not be classy, but it is laugh out loud fun. He also did a number to the song Kriptonite in superman pajamas. When he stripped behind his long red cape, the women in the audience went crazy. He did turn around but kept part of the cape covering his midsection at all times just like the drapery in a Michelangelo.

I love the Three Belly dancers who performed a James Bond themed belly dance.  Theirs is a graceful class act. I wanted to catch their graceful gestures but my sketch was already crowded with performers. Their was a magical effect created by the blue footlights that I would have loved to catch. Sometimes I wish my right hand could move a whole lot faster (for sketching).

The number about the history of the brazier featured Babs in a costume that had impossibly large pillowy breasts. Jaimz wore a German Tirolean costume and the routine has to be seen to be believed. I laughed so hard my sides hurt. The big reveal would often happen with a performer’s back to the audience and these performers understand the art of the tease. Performers walked out into the audience and dollar bills would be stuffed into crevices. As the whole troupe took their final bow, a fist full of dollars rained down on the stage. The show is sponsored by Premier Couples Superstore. Every evenings show is different so there are always surprises.

Autobahn shines it’s headlights on the drama of road trips.

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Handwritten Productions presented Autobahn written by Neil Labute, in the Red Venue of this year’s Orlando International Fringe Festival. It presented five one act scenes with the audience voyeuristicly looking through the windshield at couples in the front seats of their car. The show began with headlights shining in the audiences eyes. The first scene featured a young woman, (Kristen Shoffner) in a black skull T-shirt slouching down in the passenger seat. Presumably her mother, (Candy Heller) sat stoic and silent behind the driving wheel. The young woman chatted non-stop while the driver never spoke and always seemed a bit annoyed. It became clear over time that the young woman had beer released from a rehab program. She had learned how to give the staff all the right answers. The one thing she had learned is that she needed to have one person she could always confide in. She informed the driver that it was her lucky day because she would always confide in her. What she confided however was that she couldn’t wait to start using again. She missed the rush, the heavenly high. It was clear that the stoic driver wasn’t pleased, but she must have had a checkered past as well because the passenger felt no one would take the driver’s word were she to try and turn the young woman in.

A boy and girl sat in a car with a bench seat at a lovers point. The girl, (Jillian Gizzi) was on edge because she thought the boy, (Adam DelMedica)  might want to break up with her. Instead then began to make out. When they come up for air she tells him  about the last boy who broke up with her. She sought revenge by mailing dead mice to his house from different locations. She rejoiced in the fact that police were unable to stop her. The boy’s face turned pale as he heard about her fatal attraction and unending need for revenge. He had been happy with their relationship, but now he clearly wanted out but was to frightened to broach the subject.

The scene that hit closest to home for me featured an older man behind the wheel, (Lucas Perez) and a young girl curled up in the passenger’s seat (Marisa Nieves Hemphill). From their first interactions I presumed this was a father and daughter. He chastised her for her behavior in a rest stop where her temper tantrum had gotten him quite upset. However, the more they spoke, the less close they seemed. I kept trying to guess her age. When she was curled up in the fetal position she seemed like such a young child but as they spoke she seemed to mature. The drivers affection for the girl seemed fine when I imagined he was her dad but when it became clear he was a stranger, his affection became menacing. He was her driver’s ed instructor and he was taking her to a secluded cabin. I wanted to shout out, “Get out of the car!” But instead she chatted amicably seeking forgiveness for her outburst at the rest stop. He spotted a deer on the side of the road, and she begged him to turn around so she could see it. He refused. He was now clearly in control. She curled up again. He asked, “Can I touch your hair?” She asked “Why?” “Because I want to.” he replied. The lights dimmed as he ran his fingers through her hair. Marisa, the actress in this scene, resembles a friend of mine who once confided that a relative had sexually abused her. This is more common than I ever imagined here in Florida. Another friend, who later committed suicide confided that her brother had done the same when she was very young. She had blocked that memory for years. When it resurfaced, she couldn’t live with it. This scene sticks with me because I wish that the inevitable tragedy could be averted.

The plays title comes from the last scene in which the woman says that perhaps the Germans had it right with their Autobahn in that there should be no speed limits and we should speed through life never having time to see the people speeding past us. We are all in a mad automotive rush, but to what end, what final destination? I can’t shake this play which first appeared at the Little Shubert Theater in NYC on March 8, 2004. This is what Fringe does best, five one act scenes that will linger forever. This was the Patron’s Pick in the Red Venue so there is one more performance.

Autobahn

Last performance: Monday May 25,  12:30pm to 1:30pm

Length: 60 minutes.

Venue: Red (Shakes behind through the courtyard and up to a second floor theater)

Rated: 18+ for language and sexual themes

Tickets: $11 (+service charge)

7(+1) Samurai is high energy fun at this year’s Orlando Fringe.

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Actor David Gaines thanked patrons standing in line for his solo show, 7(+1) Samurai. His show is in one of the largest venues which is a good thing because word of mouth will result in even larger lines. On his own, David acts out the movie 7 Samurai, playing all the parts himself. The result is at times mysterious, and often hilarious. His impression of a frightened farmer running through his field is worth the price of admission alone.

Sound effects play an integral part in every scene and he created them all with his voice from the flump of a falling body to the swipp, chunck, jigga jigga jigga of an arrow slicing through the air and hitting its target.  In many ways it felt like the movie was being projected quickly like in the silent film era. The masks were used to represent the villain and then the quiet and stoic hero samurai who helped the villagers learn how to defend themselves.

As an artist, I had to glance down at my sketch sometimes, and when I looked up, David had become another character. Fight sequences might find him changing character 7 times or more every minute. It was a non-stop fun whirlwind that didn’t stop until his open hand with radiating fingers representing the setting sun,

lowered behind his extended arm and the lights faded to black.

This high energy romp is one of my top picks from this year’s Fringe Festival. It is a show that must be seen to be believed.

7(+1) Samurai

Only one show remaining: Sunday 5/24 3:45pm to 4:45pm

Tickets are $10 (plus a service charge).

Rating: 7+

Run time: 60 minutes.

Venue: Orange (The Margison Theater inside the John and Rita Lowndes Shakespeare Center)

Weekend Top 6 Orlando Fringe Picks.

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Saturday May 23, 2015

A $10 Fringe Button is needed for entrance to all shows. Available at the Shakes box office. (good for entire 14-Day Festival.). Anyone can Fringe. I will be at Fringe from 10am to 4pm all weekend doing a Fringe Sketch Tour. If you spot me, be sure to say hi.

11:45pm to 12:45pm $11 + service charge. Moonlight After Midnight. Green Venue (Rep Black Box). 60 minutes. Rated 7+ years old. “A beautiful woman meets a mysterious man in a midnight hotel room.
Starring Martin Dockery & Vanessa Quesnelle”. I have seen Martin Dockery tell stories on the Fringe stages for the past several years and I am always spellbound.

2pm to 2:55pm $11 + service charge. Tales Too Tall for Trailers. Brown Venue (Shakes inside former Philharmonic rehearsal space). 55 minutes. All ages. “Comedian / Storyteller Paul Strickland  and Erika Kate MacDonald  join forces in this off-kilter musical family
comedy! Funny songs, strange southern stories, shadow puppetry, a pet
named “Peeve” and more. The final installment in Paul’s trailer park trilogy.” I saw this show and was delighted with it’s humor, innocent and clever use of shadow puppetry and wit.

4:30pm to 5pm $5 + service charge. Judy Garland. Orange Venue (Shakes Margison Theater). 30 minutes. Rated 18+. “That Judy Garland show from last year that sold out four times and
wasn’t even listed in the program is back in a bigger venue with cheaper
tickets.” This show had me laughing out loud last year, and I have to see it again.

Sunday May 24, 2015

12:30pm to 1:30pm  $11 + service charge. Hoodies. Silver Venue (Large Rep Theater). 60 minutes. Rated 13+. “The third piece in our Beth Marshall Presents: The Trayvon Martin
Project year – long exploration of racism, profiling, gun control and
the tragic loss of too many black teens. A raw and powerful
socio-political play delving deeply into the core of race relations
between blacks and whites today with the purpose of greater
communication, healing and celebration of diversity.” Theater at it’s best. That opens a raw and much needed discussion of race in America.

3:15pm to 4:15pm $11 + service charge. Autobahn. Red Venue (Shakes back courtyard and then upstairs) 60 minutes. Rated 18+.  “From the playwright of reasons to be pretty, Neil LaBute’s Autobahn is a
provocative, darkly comic portrait of America – “from a make-out
session gone awry to a kidnapping thinly disguised as a road trip” – set
within the confines of the front seat of a car, a gritty fable about
the words we leave unsaid.” Incredibly compelling theater. One of my favorite shows this year.

4:20pm to 5:20pm $11 + service charge. Janis Joplin, Little Girl Blue. Gold Venue (In the Orlando Museum of Art theater). 60 minutes. Rated 18+.  “Kaleigh Baker and an all-star band of Orlando’s finest musicians,
including director Andy Matchett, present an in-depth and passionate
look at the life, music and untimely death of one of Music’s greatest
icons: Janis Joplin. Baker swells in volume as she moves from a solo
rendition of “What Good Can Drinkin Do?” to an explosive 8 piece band
backing her on hits like Peace of My Heart and Get It While You Can.” Kaleigh is the one singer who can truly capture the spirit of Janice when she sings. At the rehearsal I was transported back in time.  If you also see Autobahn the same day, you will literally have to run across the parking lot to catch this show but it is worth the effort.

Bubble Gum Party blows up the Brown Venve.

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The Bubble Gum Party is a splash of color at this year’s Orlando International Fringe Festival. The  Silver Dollar Productions singing trio consists of Robbie Bubble (dad),
Debbie Bubble (mom), and
Abby Bubble (daughter). They sing sugar sweet pop songs with a twist. The show stars Summer Aiello,  Sarah French, and Keven Kriegel. The book and lyrics are by Kevin and Sarah, and the music by Ned Wilkinson. I met the cast briefly before the show and Kevin gave me a “Blow Me!” button that I proudly sport on my art bag. Blue Estrella had invited me to the show.

The show is billed a wholesome family fun, yet every song has hilarious double meanings. As the poster says, “Fun for the whole family” and “Not suitable for children”. Sarah was adorable as the child in this high octane Partridge family. Dad dropped hint after hint that he enjoys a muscular mans body while Debbie seemed oblivious to his wandering lust. Sarah announced that she likes “sexting” but to her that is any text with some hip urban attitude.

Every song in the show was laugh out loud funny and the audience was on there feet clapping and dancing. The show began with Sarah shouting out to the audience, “Who’s been to a Bubble Gum Party before!” The audience sat silent. “Well who hasn’t been to a Bubble Gum Party before!” The audience cheered. “Yay!” From that moment on, the energy never dropped. Abby wondered how many bubble gum balls she could fit in her mouth.  Debbie thought two balls were enough for her, but Robbie could fit or dreamed of fitting far more. What followed was a fun hour of laughter and sexual innuendo. I laughed so hard, that at times it was hard to draw.

The sock puppets that represented stereo typical racial types made me a bit uncomfortable but they were so un-pc that I had to laugh.  Robbie held a guitar but clearly couldn’t play. Perhaps this was a poke at lip syncing divas. This boisterous family did however know how to sing into their brightly colored mics! If you love laughter and having a good time, this is the show for you.

Bubble Gum Party

Remaining show times:

Friday May 22,  9:45pm to 10:45pm

Saturday May 23, 3:15pm to 4:15pm

Sunday May 24,  3:15pm to 4:15pm

Venue: Brown (Shakes former Philharmonic rehearsal space)

Rating: 13+

Length: 60 minutes 

Tickets: $9

Nick Paul’s Impossible Feats of Fake Magic offered comedy and Magic.

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Nick Paul’s Impossible Feats of Fake Magic in the Fringe bronze venue inside the Orlando Museum of Art was a highly entertaining hour of magic. Nick is an Orlando native and this was the first time I had to sketch his act. A helium balloon was suspended in the middle of the stage. Nick eyed the balloon and with a flourish decided to cut the ribbon that held the balloon to the stage. Amazingly the balloon remained hovering where it was rather than floating to the ceiling. He then waved his hands around the balloon to show that there were no rods or supports holding the balloon in place. Next he tried to move the balloon by pushing and pulling it with no effect. I actually used to show a YouTube clip to my Full Sail students in which a mime tried to move a helium balloon. Darko Cesar, a former Disney Animator turned me on to this entertaining piece. We used it to show students how an animators job is to imply stress and strain by using exaggerated poses. When done right the unbelievable becomes plausible.

Nick asked an audience member to pick out a long word in the Fringe program. An envelope taped to the back of the trunk was opened and somehow that work was written on the sheet of paper inside. I tried to figure out the trick but in the end enjoyed simply being amazed. Nick’s wife joined him at the end of the show and somehow she was quickly transported inside a small box when behind a curtain for a minute. Her hand waved from a small hole in the box and that was the end of the show. People didn’t know if they should leave. At the exit several audience members approached Nick, concerned that his wife was still locked away in the box.  I don’t know if she ever got out. Of course all magic is fake, but Nicks physical comedy and audience participation made it a fun and entertaining show. He performs magic regularly at Walt Disney World where magic is expected.

Venue: Bronze

Length: 50 minutes

Rating: 13+

Tickets: $10 (+service charge)

Remaining Show Times:

Wednesday May 20, 2015  5:30pm to 6:20pm

Sunday May 24, 2015        8:15pm to 9:05pm

Valence explores the psycology of touch through dance.

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I thought I had sketched every dance company in town, but Explore Theatre and Dance Company from Winter Park presenting Valence at this year’s Orlando International Fringe Festival was new on my radar. The show began with the entire line of dancers walking in slow motion towards the audience, then an elegant and solidly built female dancer pivoted at a 90 degree angle to the stage grid. What followed was dancers balancing and supporting each other in a slow abstract choreography. Bonds seemed to form and then break apart.

Between scenes audio recordings would showcase a dancers insecurities, doubts and accomplishments. I kind of dreaded these audio prologues since I couldn’t sketch in the dark and I didn’t have anything for my hungry eyes to soak in. When the lights came up, each dance was fluid and focused on relationships and isolation. It seems like isolation always won in the end. I loved that not all the dancers where thin. Every imaginable body shape and size moves in fluid elegant ways. Even the dance company’s founder,  Chris Gonzalez, is a solid brick of a man who is willing to experiment and take chances. I love sketching dance despite the challenges, so I was a kid in a candy shop. You might notice that sitting in an audience is not my MO. I like being on the outside looking in, a voyeur to the whole theatrical experience. Perhaps that is why I identify with the theme of isolation in the show.

Remaining Show Times:

Thursday May 21  7:00pm

Thursday May 24, 7:00pm

Run Time:

60 minutes

Venue: 

Red  (behind the Shakes, 2nd floor)

Rating:

13+

Tickets: $7 (+ service charge)

Janice Joplin brings her amazing voice to the Fringe.

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Andy Matchett the show’s author and director invited me to a dress rehearsal for Janice Joplin, Little Girl BIue starring Kaleigh Baker.  The rehearsal was in Castle Door Recording Studio on Kentucky Avenue in Winter Park. This was the perfect setting for this show. From the moment I entered the recording studio, I felt like I had stepped back into the 60s.

 As I approached the sound studio on foot, I saw costume designer Sara Grey struggling to push a tall rack of 60’s outfits towards the entrance. The wheels caught on every bump in the pavement causing her to have to pause every few feet to lift the rack up. Because of her I knew I was in the right place. I helped her get the costumes through the door. It turns out that Kaleigh and a band member had to perform at the Fringe opening ceremonies that night, so that gave Sara an hour to hand out costumes and make any adjustments. When Andy arrived, he offered me a Yuengling  before the rehearsal started and I felt the
thrill of being in a recording studio with so much raw talent. I had
sketched Kaleigh Baker before at smokey dives like Tanquerey’s downtown and I knew that she is the one person who could sing like Janice.

The show presents an in-depth and passionate
look at the life, music and untimely death of one of Music’s greatest
icons: Janis Joplin. Baker swells in volume as she moves from a solo
rendition of “What Good Can Drinkin Do?” to an explosive 8 piece band
backing her on hits like “Peace of My Heart” and “Get It While You Can“. Laura Joplin (Amanda Warren) sat and spoke about her sister Janice. She painted a picture of Janice as a child that never fit in who was bullied and harassed by fellow students. There was a hint of envy in her words and I loved that Janice had overcome her past and her music helped her soar.

The scene that I saw rehearsed several times involved Jimmy Hendrix (Pascal Sacleux) taking the place of one of the guitarists on stage (Jeff Nolan).  In shock the guitarist walks off stage. The following instrumental performance blew the roof off. Hendrix exuded confidence and he made love to Janice with his guitar with wild abandon. By the end of the performance he lay the guitar on the ground and caressed its strings like an out of control lover. After one performance in which Janice sang her heart out, a band member shouted out “I don’t know what that was, but it was out of control!” “Damn right!” I thought. “That was absolute wild magic!” I thought the scene had ended and I laughed and shouted in delight. The scene hadn’t ended I had forgotten this was a rehearsal. For a moment I was in the studio with the real Janice Joplin and I wanted her to burn bright. I loved how she could let go.

Magic happened in the studio that night. Janice Joplin will blow your mind at this year’s Fringe Festival.

Venue: Gold (in the Orlando Museum of Art)

Length: 60 minutes

Rating: 18 and up 

Remaining shows:

May 19  8:15pm to 9:15pm

May 22  10:00pm to 11:00pm

May 23  10:00pm to 11:00pm

May 24  4:20pm to 5:20pm

Tickets: $11 (+service. Charge)