Exhausting. Exhilarating. Unpredictable. IndyFringe is ten days of all that and more. Paula Nicewanger and I have walked up and down Mass Ave. for several days now, checking out shows at eight venues, talking to fellow Fringers and performers in lines and at the beer tent (strictly for research purposes, of course), and spent hours in darkened theaters in our fair city watching everything from Acrobatic clowns to Zany circus acts. There was a lot that wowed us.
First, eastside-based EclecticPond’s “Speedthru” at the Firefighter’s Union Hall (748 Mass Ave.) was what I expect from every performance put on by this fine organization: excellent. Kate Homan and Matt Anderson play two actors with minor parts who must speed through an obscure two hour (fictional) play without the rest of the cast. Split second timing, flying costumes, a sword fight, and one or two poignant moments make “Speedthru” a must-see. Next performances are Aug. 21 at 10:30 p.m. and Aug. 22 at 7:30 p.m.
Another local, Tiffani Bridges, performs “Is That Your Reel Hair?” at the Theatre on the Square Stage Two (627 E. Mass Ave.). A couple of years ago, Bridges did this show at Fringe, which mixes storytelling, wig changes, and music into a narrative about becoming the star of your own life. Uplifting, funny, and sweet, this show hits on all cylinders. The next shows will be on Aug. 21 at 9 p.m. and Aug. 22 at 6 p.m.
“The Best of Indy Magic Monthly” at the same theater (TOTs Stage Two) is put on by the good folks who do the Indy Magic Monthly shows. Every performance features different magicians doing sleight-of-hand, escapes, and other magical feats. Highly professional and well worth the price of admission. Next shows are Aug. 21 at 10:30 p.m., Aug. 22 at 1:30 p.m. and Aug. 23 at 7:30 p.m.
NoExit’s “Drosselmeyer’s Magical Bedtime Story” at the Marott Center (342 Mass Ave.) features Sparkle the clown, two “Mosquito Girls” (two male dancers doing some fly moves), and Wolfgang Drosselmeyer’s non-magical magic tricks. Surrealism is the watchword in this edgy show. Next performances are Aug. 21 at 6 p.m. and Aug. 22 at 1:30 p.m.
“Mr. Boniface, the Wise,” written by KT Peterson at the Indy Fringe Basile Theatre (719 E. St. Clair) was a fascinating one-act play involving a narcoleptic mom, her genius daughter, her other youngster who sees and hears things from “Mr. Boniface” in her room, and a visiting science teacher who is in love with the older daughter’s genius. Next shows are Aug. 21 and 10:30 p.m. and Aug. 22 at 7:30 p.m.
Dance Kaleidoscope’s “New/Next/Now” at the Theatre on the Square Mainstage is a powerful reminder of how good this dance company is, with dancer-choreographers showcasing their talents in jazz, contemporary, and traditional ballet. Next shows are Aug. 20 at 9 p.m. and Aug. 23 at 7:30 p.m. Buy tickets early online, as these shows sell out fast.
Other locals with shows generating a lot of buzz include Matt Holt from Beech Grove in “Acting My Age” at ComedySportz (721 E. Mass Ave., next shows Aug. 20 at 6 p.m., Aug. 21 at 7:30 p.m., and Aug. 22 at 4:30 p.m.), Casey Ross Productions’ “Hell’s Fourth Ring: The Mall Musical” at the Firefighter’s Union Hall (next performances Aug. 21 at 9 p.m., Aug. 22 at 6 p.m., and Aug. 23 at 1:30 p.m.), “The Wizer of Odd” by Gift of Gab in Indianapolis also at the Firefighter’s Union Hall (next performances on Aug. 22 at 1:30 p.m. and Aug. 23 at 6 p.m.), “Cabaret of Puppetry” by Peewinkle’s Puppet Studio also at the Firefigher’s Hall (next shows are Aug. 22 at 4:30and Aug. 23 at 4:30 p.m. for family-friendly shows), and “Holy Ficus” by Zach Rosing at Theatre on the Square Mainstage (next shows Aug. 20 at 6 p.m., Aug. 21 at 7:30 p.m., and Aug. 22 at 4:30 p.m.). Silly Safaris’ “My Wildlife: Owl By Myself” will be at TOTs Stage Two Aug. 20 at 6 p.m. and Aug. 22 at 10:30 p.m. There are a lot of local performers with good shows; get out and support them!
There were many out of town performers as well, including Fringe favorite Stewart Huff from Winterville, Georgia in “Road Stories” at ComedySportz (721 E. Mass Ave.). His sell-out stand-up shows are wildly funny and not-safe-for-children stories about his experiences as a free-thinking comedian in the deep south. (Next shows are Aug. 21 at 9 p.m., Aug. 22 at 10:30 p.m. and Aug. 23 at 6 p.m. Online ticket sales probably needed.).
Three shows at the Basile Theatre were outstanding: “Threads,” by Tonya Jones explores the story of her mother, a farm girl from Freedom, Indiana who steps off a plane in 1968 Saigon, and gets swept up in a completely foreign world. This is a very emotional piece, beautifully articulated. Next shows are Aug. 20 at 6 p.m., Aug. 22 at 4:30 p.m., and Aug. 23 at 3 p.m. Seasoned professional actor Pat O’Brien (the librarian in the TV show “Saved by the Bell”) gives a reprise of his one-man show “Under the Lintel,” a perennial Fringe favorite which is a must-see. Next shows are Aug. 22 at 9 p.m. and Aug. 23 at 1:30 p.m. Then, he goes one better, teaming up with another veteran actor, Larry Ripp, in “Whisper Into My Good Ear,” a beautiful short play about getting older and coming to grips with death and life. Both give superb performances. Next shows are Aug. 22 at 10:30 p.m. and Aug. 23 at 6 p.m. Both “Lintel” and “Whisper” are likely to be sell outs, so get tickets early.
Another Fringe favorite, David Gaines, is back with a new mime show, “A Little Business at the Big Top” at TOTs. The creator of last year’s popular “7 (x1) Samurai,” this time Gaines plays all the characters in a circus, with a sweet story to boot. The kids in the audience were mesmerized, and so were the adults. Next shows are Aug. 21 at 6 p.m. Aug. 22 at 6 p.m. and Aug. 23 at 3 p.m. Another Fringe favorite, Timothy Mooney, brought “Breakneck Hamlet” to the Musicians Union Hall, 325 N. Delaware, in a startling one-hour summary of one of the more complex of Shakespeare’s plays. Mooney manages to pack a lot of info into a scant hour without overwhelming the audience. Next performances will be Aug. 20 at 6 p.m., Aug. 22 at 9 p.m. and Aug. 23 at 3 p.m. “Mom? A Comedy of Mourners” features fine physical clown humor at a funeral. Yeah, we scratched our head at that as well, but it works. This family-friendly show will be at TOTs Mainstage Aug. 22 at 1:30 p.m. and Aug. 23 at 6 p.m. “The Invisible Man” at the Firefighter’s Hall was a powerful show about how easy it is to fall through the cracks of the system, with next shows on Aug. 21 at 6 p.m. and Aug. 22 at 9 p.m.
This year’s IndyFringe closes on Sunday, Aug. 23. The beer tent at 748 Mass Ave. (corner of Mass Ave. and St. Clair) is open Thursday and Friday from 5-10 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 3-10 p.m. For a full schedule of shows, to order tickets online, and more information about IndyFringe, visit www.indyfringe.org
