NOW THAT'S ENTHUSIASM

 

An expensive car seen outside of one of the main venues of the St. Lou Fringe.                      

LAST FROM THE ST. LOU FRINGE - MONKEY IN A COCONUT

My memory of the details of show after show fades with time, so I'll let the players' own description suffice here: 

Abby Bentley’s Monkey in a Coconut is a musical comedy solo show about the true story of a second-grade student, a coconut implanted with a monkey embryo, and a search for the truth. The show grapples with big questions: “Can I trust authority?” “Is evolution real?” “Will this coconut hatch?”

Time to get back out on the streets of The Lou. 

 

AT THE ST. LOU FRINGE - WINDING DOWN

Not much more to go, since I shot barely 20 of 40 shows. These are two of the last from Sunday. First, Henchmen, about executioners, literally headsmen, in Tudor-ish England. The man on the left in the second picture looks the role to me but the one on the right seems more like he is wearing traditional Italian priest's garb (think Father Guido Sarducci on SNL, https://youtu.be/lWBhsiBMOIo?si=xhgNPkbXp29mEMam). I can't remember what the woman was about. Toward the end, the man in black tells the man in white that it is his turn to be executed. No reason was given that I could tell.

Then we have Improvsburg, done by two women from a small city in Indiana. Hey, it's got its own improv company! Improv often leans into audience participation and the group was sadly small on a Sunday morning. However, St. Louis' peripatetic theater critic, Tina Farmer, volunteered and got the job done. 

 

AT THE ST. LOU FRINGE - MAGIC SYNAPSES WITH JAMES HIGHGROUND

When I spoke to James Highground before the show, he said he would describe himself (at least in this presentation) as mentalist rather than a magician. Not sure what that means. The act involved manipulation of numbers, words, images and sensory perception. I have shot a lot of magic shows at The Fringe over the years and I have yet to capture how any of them do it.

                          

AT THE ST. LOU FRINGE - KING JOHN

Powerful stuff. Matthew Windham presents a solo condensed version of Shakespeare's King John. It's one of his least produced plays, but seeing this makes you wonder why. Windham cleverly switches roles with the simplest of props - white and black chess kings for the contestants to the English throne; a pawn for the ordinary people caught in between; and ornate fan for Lady Constance; and a small teddy bear for Prince Arthur, who threatens John's claim to the  throne. Abuse of power comes as no surprise.

           

           

AT THE ST, LOU FRINGE - DEAR EVAN HANSEN

Dear Evan Hansen is  a musical that ran on Broadway for almost six years. I won't summarize the story here; you can find out at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dear_Evan_Hansen . It was performed by a group of top-of-the line local theater kids. The production, acting and singing was terrific. I didn't like the show itself at all (and I may be seriously in the minority about this). I thought the plot was, well, awkward, and the music completely forgettable. - and where did the title character get that awful wig? By contrast, we saw a professional production of Guys And Dolls a couple of days ago, and the brilliance of the music blew me away. Each to their own taste.

 

                    

AT THE ST. LOU FRINGE - THE DOCTOR SHOW

Something different. Jared Schwartz is a real licensed physician. He finds it convenient to wear two stethoscopes over his lab coat, over his scrubs. The premise is a game show hosted by St. Louis Magazine executive editor Sarah Fenske. Odd medical questions were projected on the back wall. Dr. Schwartz would comment on them and state whether, in his opinion, the premise was true or false. A panel of two comics and Fringe executive director Matthew Kerns discussed the matter and voted on whether the doctor was right or wrong. The question on the wall behind the first photo shows the tone.

AT THE ST. LOU FRINGE - THE CONFLUENCERS

For us, the confluence refers to the junction of the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers. I assume that the name of this very funny comedy group is a play on the modern horde of online influencers. The premise was that a wire over the stage held cards numbered 1 to 20. Each corresponded to a mini skit. The audience was given a slip of paper with the numbers and a short title. People called out a numbers while the group attempted to perform all 20 in an hour.

These are four examples. First, a sacrilegious version of the central Catholic ceremony, using Oreos and milk for the sacrament. Next, the very flamboyant professional wrestler Macho Man Randy Savage leading a meditation session. Third, a variation on charades where a game contestant places wet spaghetti on a board, while the others try to guess the subject. Last, two sisters billed as international classical music stars go onstage with cheap plastic recorders and play Hot Cross Buns.     

              

      

AT THE ST. LOU FRINGE - WOMEN IN COMEDY

Mollie Amburgey, seen first, put together a show with four women who are veterans of the local comedy club circuit.  I didn't bring a notebook and I regret that I didn't get the names of the other three. If someone can help me I'll modify the text.

The lighting was hard to work with and the acts were on the raunchy side. Since I am well into the old coot phase of my life it's no wonder that some of the stuff got by me. The younger members of the audience thought it was hilarious.       

           

AT THE ST. LOU FRINGE - MORE OZ(ES)

 A few final pictures from The Wizard of Oz(es) at The Fringe. Since I am out of touch with popular culture, I'm sure there were many references I didn't get. Towards the end of the show there were three Dorothys on stage, although I never understood her purpose of the last one. At the very end, there was a cameo by Dorothy Parker, which I thought was terribly witty. You have to be of a certain age and literary bent to notice.

 

AT THE ST. LOU FRINGE - THE WIZARD OF OZ(ES)

Didn't get a post done yesterday. I photographed 20 of 40 shows in six days and this old body runs low on gas sooner than it used to. Anyway, this was my favorite show of The Fringe, The Wizard Of Oz(es), a mash up of all the movies and stage shows on the theme. I've only seen the original Judy Garland film so I'm sure I missed references. Eight pictures is enough for one post. I'll probaably have more tomorrow.                    

 

 

AT THE ST. LOU FRINGE - THE MOVEMENT(S)

 

Dance, drama and a bit of comedy. That Untitled Project spoke to friendship, community organizing, standing up for your needs against political indifference and just having fun.