Out-there vibe joins acts that were more grounded
Monday night’s Orlando Fringe Festival preview offered the first look at what we’ll see on the fest’s stages around Loch Haven Park in just a few weeks.
First thought: Some of y’all out there are aroused by very … interesting, let’s say, things. Darth Vader fetish, what?
As in years past, the Fringe preview was split into all-ages and mature-audience segments. It’s a good plan because surely no one wanted their children to hear a live reading of fan fiction detailing an erotic encounter between Darth V and Obi-Wan Kenobi, while a female burlesque dancer writhed suggestively. Come to think of it, I’m not sure I wanted that image in my head either.
The moment came courtesy of “#Headcanon,” a burlesque, pole-dancing and fan-fiction performance that’s one of the dozens of shows that will take over Loch Haven Park beginning May 19.
If “#Headcanon” epitomized the out-there vibe of the festival, other offerings were more grounded.
Opera del Sol’s “Requiem” mixes Mozart with the modern opioid crisis. In the group’s preview, a man was dressed as a demonic figure — the devil of addiction?
The show snippets only provide tidbits of what’s to come. Throughout the evening, each presenting group gets two minutes to show off its upcoming production.
Among those that piqued my interest: “Designated Debaters,” an improv show in which superheroes such as Batman and Superman debate topics suggested by the audience; “The Impossible Club,” a new, short musical about the perils of middle school; and “Josie & Grace,” a look at the friendship between Josephine Baker and Grace Kelly from the team behind Fringe hit “Josephine.”
Two solo performers caught my attention with their charisma.
In “Mrs. Bliss’s Titanic Adventure,” a plucky woman who works in a Titanic tourist attraction (sound familiar?) finds herself really on the doomed ship. In “The Sack,” a young man portrays all the characters in his tale of masked superhero “The Sack” and the villains of Mega City.
Some familiar acts will be back this year.
Gromalot Theatre Company’s “Smooch” will demonstrate the pitfalls of love through clowning and sound effects. “Hamphibian” puppet Frogpig returns with a new variety hour — Liza Minnelli (Kari Ringer) and Bette Midler (Jennica McCleary) made cameos at the preview. And a revival of the musical “Cupid and Psyche” features a new cast, including previous Fringe Critics’ Choice Award winner Sarah-Lee Dobbs.
There are still more Fringey concepts. For example, Orlando playwright Michael Wanzie’s “It Started at the Radisson Inn” is about an unusual fetish-driven relationship between two men, one gay and one straight. Can a strong cast carry the concept beyond the two minutes seen Monday night? Time will tell.
Tickets and buttons are now on sale for this year’s Fringe. A $10 button is required for seeing ticketed shows. Proceeds from ticket sales go to the artists.
Find more information at orlandofringe.org.