Straight and strange at showcase
LOVE, acceptance and diversity were overwhelming themes at the Fringe Festival Showcase on Wednesday night. The audience had been reminded of recent events by security checks at the door, but inside the mood was upbeat.
Welcoming the nearcapacity crowd, Cr Aaron Hawkins commented on the Fringe’s assemblage of the straight and the strange, and its ability to provide perspectives through the eyes of other people and cultures. There was a minute’s silence to remember the victims of the Christchurch mosque shootings.
Mayor Dave Cull emphasised the value of having emerging and established talents working alongside one another, and the importance to the city of its vibrant creative sector.
The show consisted mostly of excerpts from, or introductions to, acts that will entertain Dunedin audiences during the remainder of March. Comedy predominated — a range of sidesplitting, mysterious and outrageous offerings. Also included were musical, theatrical and dance contributions.
MCs Tahu Mackenzie and Jesse Griffin and house band Inati helped ensure a very enjoyable evening and a great introduction to the rollicking, challenging, inventive, mad experi ences of the Dunedin Fringe. The straight and the strange, indeed.
What to see? Not all Fringe events were represented at the Showcase, so making recommendations is going to be fraught: my comedy shortlist would include Charmian Hughes’ Whatnot
for sheer warmth and storytelling, Snap’s Pretty Good Jokes which appears to deliver just what the title describes, and Austin Dean Ashford’s
(I)sland (T)rap — anyone who gets the audience to sing Happy Birthday to them has to be worth watching.
On the music side, Ian Chapman’s
David Bowie and Sydney Manowitz and Donald Cullington’s Appassionata
promise different but rewarding musical experiences.
Local production Lavvie’s looks like a good theatrical bet.