Relationship signs of the times
Today’s Orlando Fringe Festival reviews, all based on previews, include “1,001 Red Flags,” “Bullock & the Bandits: Back in the Saddle,” “Private Parts: The Secrets We Keep,” “Rap-unzel: An Original Rap Musical” and “Ultimate Robin Williams Tribute.”
Shereen Kassam blends comedy with cautionary tale with her one-woman show “1,001 Red Flags” (Renaissance Theatre, 55 minutes). It’s a roundup of dating in Orlando, particularly one long-term relationship that started, against better judgment, with a game show broadcast live on the radio. Whip out Red Flag No. 1.
“Red Flags” is more storytelling camp than stand-up, especially when she shares truths we don’t want to be true about her experiences as a Muslim comedian, meeting the parents and “flying while brown.” But the audience was on her side: “I get you, girl,” a woman cried out.
There’s a beginning, middle and perhaps-predictable end (see all those flags), but she makes points using her obsession with Jordans and gets laughs with jokes about both Boston and St. Cloud.
Canadian (and first-time Orlando Fringe participant) Joanna Rannelli shares a slew of secrets in her new “Private Parts: The Secrets We Keep,” (Red venue, 60 minutes) starting with a hidden marriage to an Orlando acrobat.
It’s a family thing, these secret habits, with daddy issues, mother issues and stepmother issues, not to mention health issues and a stash of cigarettes.
It’s not very healthy, Rannelli will tell you. But she can laugh about it … some. The show is listed as both comedy and drama but be prepared for tears.
Folks in the theater gasped when Roger Kabler came on stage. Not because of his rainbow suspenders, but because of his resemblance to the famous name in the title of “The Ultimate Robin Williams Tribute Experience” (Gold venue, 75 minutes). “It’s not just a show — it’s a séance,” Kabler eventually explained.
The first stretch is a lightning round of Williams’ characters tied together with Mrs. Doubtfire. There may be old material in there (Tonya Harding?), but there also were modern references pitting Gov. DeSantis against Donald Duck.
Once Kabler completely gets out of character, the crowd learns how he has sensed Williams’ presence since the actor died in 2014.
The preview was capped with Kabler’s original material and, yep, rapidfire impressions of famous folks, including an audience-pleasing series called “Overactors Anonymous.”
The humor is more low-key in “Bullock & the Bandits: Back in the
Saddle,” (Renaissance Theater, 60 minutes), an extension of last year’s musically driven production. It centers on intense and wry creator/director David Lee, but all members of the eight-piece ensemble
get spotlight time. It’s up-tempo and prompts the audience into head-bobbing.
We’re back in the cowboy mode with songs such as “Riders on the Storm” and “Take the Money and
Run” (I won’t spoil which Paul McCartney song is included). The theme rings throughout with place-setting details such as Pam’s Purple Door Brothel and Fairmont Saloon.
Haunting me this year are special guest star Kristie Jane, who shows stylistic range with her vocals, and mandolin work by Randall Scandal. The tone gets deathly dark for a while near the end, but there was an upbeat encore for the road.
A young cast takes on the wordy “Rap-unzel: An Original Rap Musical” (Pink venue, 55 minutes). The rap is family-friendly, and despite the punny title, the rhymes didn’t cause much eye-rolling.
There are songs and dialogue plus sly meta moments from the three narrators, including Edwin Vazquez, who raps with enthusiasm. It’s a modern
take on the classic Rapunzel story. Played by Christina Claudio, she is more than just her hair these days.
The show is a production of Running Man Theater Group, which creates inclusive works “for actors of all abilities,” its website notes. The kids were well-prepared and plowed forward in the preview despite technical hiccups and a lack of air-conditioning in the venue that day.
ORLANDO FRINGE FESTIVAL
Where: Shows at Loch Haven Park are in colorcoded venues; off-campus locations are identified by name.
When: Through May 29 Cost: $10 button required for ticketed shows, then individual performance tickets are no more than $15 Schedule, tickets and more info: OrlandoFringe.org