What to watch for this week
Expect to see familiar faces in the coming days as Orlando Fringe’s online alternative to its annual festival kicks into high gear. “Fringe Today,” an online series of shows, interviews and other theatrical events, will stream on Orlando Fringe’s Facebook page through May 25.
Here are just some of the upcoming highlights.
Blue Star’s VarieTease troupe gets the ball rolling on Wednesday with a 2 p.m. performance by the artful dance troupe. At 5 p.m. musician Cesar de la Rosa — the leader of the house band at last year’s late-night Fringe talk show — takes the stage.
Bridging the gap between music and theater, “Brit Takes Broadway” is an intriguing entry from the Viera Studio in Brevard County. Described as a “campy musical-theater homage,” the 7 p.m. show follows undead souls that rise from the grave and sing the hits of Britney Spears to deliver their ghoulish message.
I’m not sure how to follow that, but at 8 p.m. you can see the tables get turned on Orlando Weekly columnist Seth Kubersky and myself as we are interviewed by festival producer Lindsay Taylor. The Fringe’s description promises “added surprises” and — a bit worrying for me — notes “parental discretion advised.” What are they going to ask?
Wednesday night finishes up at 10 p.m. with “Baker’s Dozen: 12 Angry Puppets,” named best specialty show in the 2017 Critics’ Choice awards. Here’s what I said that year in my review: “Using just one puppet and switching its eyes, lips and other features, Adam Francis Proulx single-handedly paints a comically scathing picture of a jury debating the murder of a baker … an energetic performer, strong physical work, a nifty concept and a winning presentation add up to a whole lot of fun.”
On Thursday, Eric Gutman, also an award-winner — best solo musical show in 2016 — will present stories and songs from
the theater world at 5 p.m. in “From Broadway to Obscurity 2:
More Obscure.” You can follow that up at 6 p.m. with the 2018 winner of that same award as virtuoso trombonist Elias Faingersh (“A Solo from the Pit”) performs a comical, musical story in
“Trombone Magic.”
At 7 p.m., play a trivia game (and hear
some more music) with Opera del Sol, while at 8 p.m. Fringe bartenders will teach viewers how to whip up some
snazzy cocktails.
Winnipeg-based comedian Adam Schwartz ends the evening at 10 p.m. with
“Aspergers: A Tale of a Social Misfit.”
Schwartz, who is on the autism spectrum and overcame a speech impediment, wants people to know that “they are more capable than they may think.” Parental guidance is suggested.
There’s no charge to watch the “Fringe Today” offerings, but tipping the performers — many of whom haven’t been able to work for weeks — is strongly suggested. Remember, the complete schedule is at OrlandoFringe.org/ Fringe Today, and shows stream at Facebook.com/orlandofringe.
Find me on Twitter @matt_on_arts or email me at mpalm@orlandosentinel.com. Want more news of theater and other arts? Go to OrlandoSentinel.com/arts