Fringe preview introduces P. Sparkle, festival’s theme

The Orlando Fringe Festival offered previews of its upcoming productions on Monday night, but all eyes were on a colorful debut.

Rob Ward introduced Fringe audiences to P. Sparkle, a comic personality that evolved from Pepe, a flamboyant, glitter-loving alter ego that has been a fixture at the Fringe, SAK Comedy Lab and other venues around Central Florida for years.

“I’m still the same [rhymes with witch] I’ve always been,” he cheerfully announced in a blindingly sparkly new costume.

With this new characterization, Ward decided to ditch any of Pepe’s affectations that could be seen as derogatory toward Spanish speakers; hence, the name change and the elimination of certain catchphrases and most notably Pepe’s garbled accent.

But if P. Sparkle has better enunciation, he still has Pepe’s fashion sense — perhaps taken to new extremes by Justin Lore’s rainbow riot of a poofed-up, frizzedout wig, complete with twinkling lights. Sequins abounded, and is it possible that Ward’s towering platform boots hit even higher heights?

Hosting the adults-only segment of the Fringe’s preview, P. Sparkle seemed a bit more subdued than his predecessor — a little lighter on the sexual innuendo but with a similar air of fun, and, of course, quick with a quip.

The missing accent is jolting at first for longtime Pepe fans. When I spoke with Ward afterward, he said he had experimented with different accents in front of test audiences and found they responded best when he used no accent at all.

But I wouldn’t be surprised to see P. Sparkle’s voice take on more glittery gusto as Ward develops the new character. New catchphrases are likely to form, too — it takes time to see what gets an audience reaction. As long as P. Sparkle retains the peculiar mix of innocent friendliness, good-hearted teasing — and lightning-quick yet matter-of-fact filthy mind — that made Pepe so lovable, he’ll be fine.

You can catch P. Sparkle next at SAK Comedy Lab hosting a truth-or-dare comic improvisation show at 9:30 p.m. April 29. Find tickets and information at sakcomedylab.com/calendar.

Other tidbits from Monday night’s Fringe preview extravaganza:

The theme of the May festival, which marks 30 years of Orlando Fringe, is a straightforward one.

“We decided to keep it simple this year,” said executive director Alauna Friskics. “We’re going to celebrate.” So “Celebrate,” it is then.

The 30th festival will have a familiar corporate name attached to it. The presenting sponsor will be City Beverages of Orlando, which Friskics said had played a part in every festival since Orlando Fringe began in 1992. The festival, by the way, is the oldest Fringe in the U.S.

If you want to Fringe in style — and make social distancing more fun — you can for the first time reserve a “party pod” in Loch Haven Park, where the festival takes place.

Each canopy-shaded pod comes with a table and chairs, four cans of beer or seltzer and a Fringe-themed beer pitcher. Cocktail delivery is offered. The price? $149 for a weekday evening; $249 on weekends. Go to orlandofringe.org/ party-pods.