Fringe: Day Four

[barondave]

Two strange and compelling pieces
Great Hymn of Thanksgiving/Conversation Storm Do you have the tv on as background while eating? Do you think John Cage talked too much? Is your favorite Beatles song "Revolution 9"? If so, you will appreciate the ambient sounds of Great Hymn of Thanksgiving, stunningly choreographed into visual theater as well as an aural melange. Conversation Storm is one conversation split into a series of ethical and moral dilemmas revolving around asking for water and the conditions under which torture is acceptable. An introspective, recursive, highly charged short play. The two add up to a compelling hour. Four and a half stars ( I had these three on Shockwave; two of them are The Prince Myshkins.)

An experiment that needs more work
Body Bazaar. The melding of body into dance isn't new, though they try some unorthodox body convulsions. Mostly, it doesn't work, at least for me. The ensemble dancing didn't gel until the second to last piece. Coin-Operated Boy was good. Two Stars.

Butterfield 8 From Outer Space
The Secret Life of Kitty Wells Campy 50s drunken actress pic collides with campy 50s sci-fi flick in this fun romp that doesn't take itself seriously. Several good laughs are generated by the cast, especially the alien. Not spectacular, but I enjoyed it. Three Stars

Comments

[hunnythistle.livejournal.com]

I was actually hoping to catch one of Great Hymn or Body Bazaar tonight, but after 17 shows in 3 days and no dinner tonight, fringe fatigue finally overwhelmed me.

But tomorrow's another day! My current plan is to see Mittens for Fat Kids, the Depth of the Ocean and maybe Borderlines tomorrow (Tues).

Did you make it to 1926 Pleasant?

--Mel

[barondave.livejournal.com]

17 shows in three days! Yikes! My rule of thumb is No More Than Four Shows In A Day (and three is best). So far, I've seen 15 shows in five days, counting Monday. See Day Five reviews, including 1926 Pleasant. I'm well ahead of last year's 24 Fringe shows.

I'm also amused that the STrib is finally twigging to something I've complained about to the Fringe folk: family/friends loading five star reviews of mediocre/bad shows. I wanted them to give Official Reviewers (such as me) a star by our name, or somesuch.

[hunnythistle.livejournal.com]

I've started posting to my LJ short reviews of the shows I've seen, partly for Karen's benefit. I haven't yet posted any reviews on the fringe page. I think very few shows should get fives, although this year I've seen a lot of good 4 star shows. I'm also baffled why Corncobs, Hotdogs, and Other Dirty Little Secrets got an early 1/2 star review. Even if you don't like the content, the acting, staging, and scripting were well done technically so I'd give it 2 1/2 or 3 stars for that. My friends and I liked the content, as did Sharon Kahn, so I think we were giving it 4 stars. Sharon gave it 5.

[barondave.livejournal.com]

I didn't Friend you right away since you hadn't posted since October, so naturally you sneak in a few posts behind my back.

I'm a tough reviewer, and haven't given more than one Five Star review in any year... but this year I'm already at three. Partly, it's the two Reviews, wherein I had seen three-minute excerpts of 52 shows. I knew where to head first. I keep meeting people who agree that the overall quality this year is higher than usual.

[hunnythistle.livejournal.com]

Right, I know. I rarely post, but since Karen is missing the fringe, and I have an ultra pass, I thought I'd go ahead and post fringe stuff. I, myself, just finally got around to friending you and dreamshark prompted by your fringing reviews. I'd been meaning to look up your trip to the Antarctic for some time now.

Next year, I'll definitely have to attend the pre-view shows.