2008 Minnesota Fringe Festival Day 2
Aug. 1st, 2008 11:18 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
barondaveA pacing day, where I only saw three Fringes (!), ending with one that didn't fit in its time slot very well. Spent the day editing audio and catching up on sleep. Meanwhile:
BULL "An American Story of Bullheadedness" **
"You Have To Fight For Happiness"
Occasionally amusing with well-drawn characters but only an okay adaptation (of Rhinoceros). The kids were good in the beginning but needed to be tighter throughout to pull it off. I saw the first show, so maybe they will.
Kafka's Disgusting Tale of Transformation, A Buffoon's Metamorphosis ***
"He's Fine, He's Just Sick"
Bizarrely unpleasant to the point of likability. Almost. The characters were cartoonishly disgusting and played for pathos. Really three and a half stars, rounded down for being only 35 minutes.
Deviants *****
The Dark Side of Dysfunctional Families
Deviants is everything a Fringe show should be. The structure is superbly conceived and developed. The versatile actors make the choreography seem like natural movement. The unique Soap Factory space is used to great effect. The story is subject to much interpretation; that is, I didn't understand all of it but the goings on made quite an impact. Not for kids, nor for the faint of heart. A bit longer than an hour, so be careful scheduling the next Fringe slot.
I hadn't really planned it this way, but these three overlap personnel, as the two kids shows were directed by alumni from Please Don't Blow Up Mr. Boban.
Tomorrow I'm scheduled for five shows, plus I want to get a podcast up. We'll see if I make it.
BULL "An American Story of Bullheadedness" **
"You Have To Fight For Happiness"
Occasionally amusing with well-drawn characters but only an okay adaptation (of Rhinoceros). The kids were good in the beginning but needed to be tighter throughout to pull it off. I saw the first show, so maybe they will.
Kafka's Disgusting Tale of Transformation, A Buffoon's Metamorphosis ***
"He's Fine, He's Just Sick"
Bizarrely unpleasant to the point of likability. Almost. The characters were cartoonishly disgusting and played for pathos. Really three and a half stars, rounded down for being only 35 minutes.
Deviants *****
The Dark Side of Dysfunctional Families
Deviants is everything a Fringe show should be. The structure is superbly conceived and developed. The versatile actors make the choreography seem like natural movement. The unique Soap Factory space is used to great effect. The story is subject to much interpretation; that is, I didn't understand all of it but the goings on made quite an impact. Not for kids, nor for the faint of heart. A bit longer than an hour, so be careful scheduling the next Fringe slot.
I hadn't really planned it this way, but these three overlap personnel, as the two kids shows were directed by alumni from Please Don't Blow Up Mr. Boban.
Tomorrow I'm scheduled for five shows, plus I want to get a podcast up. We'll see if I make it.