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A look at 5 provocative shows in the fourth annual iNDYfRINGE
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Explore the edges of entertainment during 10 days of theatrical experiences
The word "fringe" makes us think of decorative borders, of stray threads divorcing the edge of a fine tapestry. It is the outer edge, the margin, the border between what is and what is not.
But this week, the fringe -- the fourth annual iNDYfRINGE -- is that which rides the line between theater and art. It is a woman in a body suit, led on a leash by a farmer. It is a magician in drag. It is a new outdoor stage on weekends, where buskers will create their own street theater experiences, from mime to music.
The iNDYfRINGE is 10 days and nights of theatrical performance -- dance, drama, comedy and conversation -- designed to provoke and inform and most of all entertain. For a backstage look at some of the performers, read on.
Go, already
What: 10 days and 270 performances of wacked-out theater, put on by 53 acts from 13 states and three foreign countries on six stages.
When: Various times, Aug. 22-Aug. 31.
Where: Six venues on or around Mass Ave.: Phoenix Theatre, ComedySportz Theatre and two stages each at American Cabaret Theatre and Theatre on the Square.
Tickets: $10 for adults, $7 students, $5 ages 11 and younger. One-time $3 "Backer Button" required.
Info: (317) 223-8585 or www.indyfringe.org
Of orifices and angels
Venue: Theatre on the Square -- Main Stage, 627 Massachusetts Ave.
Schedule: 10:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 22; 1:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 23; 9 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 26; 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 28; 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 30; and 4:30 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 31.
Kate Irwin, 33, and Diane Kondrat (not giving her age, other than 12) are InterAction Theater Inc.
Their show, "A------s and Aureoles" -- or at least the title -- is a blatant attempt to lure a puerile audience by taking advantage of foul language and sex in search of the almighty buck. (But the show is actually a good deal more complex than that. For instance, it deals with domestic violence and rape, in a funny way. Really!)
Diane: "Our last scene is called the N-word, and it is about the N-word, and we're just pretty much ..."
Karen: "Well, it's not about the N-word."
Diane: "Well, it's about inappropriate language."
Karen: "Right."
Diane: "The N-word, and the C-word ..."
Karen: "... And the B-word. There is an a------ reference in the show."
Diane: "There's no aureole reference in the show."
Karen: "No. But we are the aureoles, the halo, the glory, that's us. And we needed a show that began with an 'A', so it would go near the front of the list."
Diane: "Uh huh. There's the aureoles surrounding us -- the radiance surrounding the head or body -- which was a surprise to me because I only knew the nipple one. But there is another one, a holy one, which is the antithesis of a------."
Karen: "Look, it's not a porno, OK? Just rest assured, it's not porn!"
Diane: "We're bizarre and disconcerting."
Karen: "You'll feel guilty for laughing the next day."
- Konrad Marshall
Married 2 Magic
Venue: Theatre on the Square -- Main Stage, 627 Massachusetts Ave.
Schedule: 6 p.m. Friday, Aug. 22; 9 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 23; 3 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 24; 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 27; 6 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 30; and 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 31.
Christian Painter, 49, and Katalina Absolon, 40, are "Christian & Katalina."
Their show, "Mental Shock," is a family-friendly "psychological twisting of the mind that leaves one wondering where reality ends and fantasy begins" ... otherwise known as a magic show.
Christian: "I'm from Indianapolis originally."
Katalina: "I'm from Michigan."
Christian: "I started doing magic in college."
Katalina: "You actually started doing comedy in high school, though."
Christian: "Then I was in the Army for 20 years, and the Army used to send me places to do shows. "
Katalina: "Yeah, we met in the Army."
Christian: "She was a captain, so I actually had to salute her. I had to salute my wife. I was a first sergeant, and it's hard to explain what that is."
Katalina: "So he retired from the Army, and I left with him."
Christian: "That's a way different world. Everything in the Army -- you gotta be on time, gotta have your stuff ready, yada, yada. When you go into this world, it's a world of artists, a world of performers, and these people have no concept of time, or business, or..."
Katalina: "... or organization."
Christian: "There's only two conceptions of the magician. The birthday party magician, pulling a rabbit out of a hat, or David Copperfield."
Katalina: "It's interesting because this act can evoke two responses. One is, 'I have to figure out what it is, because it's going to bother me if I don't.' Very analytic people think that way. Or, they say, 'Wow, this is really fun. I don't know how they're doing it, but we like the two of you, and we're having a good time.'."
Christian: "It's the two extremes. It gets a little weird."
- Konrad Marshall
Off with your silly head
Venue: Phoenix Theatre, 749 N. Park Ave.
Schedule: 6 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 23; 9 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 24; 6 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 26; 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 27; 3 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 30; 7:30 p.m., Sunday Aug. 31.
Taylor Martin, 55, is Andrea Merlyn. And Madame Esmerelda Fallendo. The magician makes his fourth Fringe appearance with "Andrea Merlyn's Magic Show: Glamour Redux."
Yes, Martin dresses in drag -- in costumes his wife sewed -- and yes, it's family-friendly.
"There's one dirty word in the whole thing," he said. Martin will perform about a dozen tricks, both serious and silly.
On Madame Esmerelda:
"So, she's a Gypsy. She has a guillotine and she's searching for the proper person to use it on."
*On drag queens as societal barometers: *
"As far as I'm concerned, there's nothing different from me being in a dress than someone dressing up as a purple dinosaur. It's only adults who will suddenly muddy up the water with these things they're concerned about. One out of 10 men in America have cross-dressed at least once. The healthier your society is, the more drag queens you have out there."
On wearing out his shoes:
"If people complain after this that there's nothing to see in Indianapolis, they need to get off their butts and see the festival. I usually have to buy a new pair of shoes when I go to the Fringe because I wear them down walking up Mass Ave."
-- Amy Bartner
Sweet dreams to nightmares
Venue: American Cabaret Theatre
Schedule: 6 p.m. Friday, Aug. 22; 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 24; 9 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 26; 7:30 p.m, Aug. 28.; 9 p.m., Aug. 30; 3 p.m. Aug. 31.
About a dozen of Indianapolis' Motus Dance Theatre performers channel the subconscious in "Wicked Dreams/Pleasant Nightmares." Debra Silveus, 27, is one of the choreographers.
"Dreams don't necessarily make a lot of sense from one to another, so dance lends itself to portray that through movement," she says. "Most everyone has experienced a dream like ones we're portraying. There's something baseline about it that everyone understands innately.
"There's not really a plot. It's basically just a progression from dreams to nightmares. It's a progression from light to dark. We just took those specific dreams like (being) nude in public. I actually would prefer to take more of a common thing like a dream so you have the freedom to abstract it."
- Amy Bartner
Call it a 'period' piece
Venue: Phoenix Theatre, 749 N. Park Ave.
Schedule: 6 p.m. Friday, Aug. 22; 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 23; 1:30 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 24; 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 28; 9 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 30; and 3 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 31.
Kate Ayers, 43, (right) and Sara Locker, 36, are "On The Rag." Their IndyFringe show, "Heavy Flow," is a PG-13 sketch comedy set featuring around 10 skits, including one starring Raylene and her pit bull Marshmellow.
Starting out
Kate: "I think my mother wanted to get me out of the house, and I started taking acting classes as a kid. And here I am, at the height of everything."
Sara: "I think probably I've always been way too obnoxious for everyday life, so theater was just an outlet. I started in college."
Going with the flow
Sara: "I've always wanted to have a sketch comedy troupe of women called On The Rag, and Kate was like, 'Let's just do it'. And it burgeoned from there, because I finally found someone who was as bold as I thought I was."
Kate: Sketch comedy often has something important to say. Sometimes it's a sight gag, but there's something deeper in there. But it's just out of what happens as we go through and do our lives."
Hear us roar
Kate: "I would say Sara -- and not just because she's sitting here next to me and is bigger and stronger than me -- is one of the most talented actresses in the city, and she's smart. I like performing with her, because I know she's going to be there, and she will literally catch me if something happens."
Sara: "Kate is an absolute visionary. Incredibly intelligent, and strong as hell. We roar. We both are wildly different people, but we complement one another well. And we have a blast."
-- Konrad Marshall
Greeattt...so this Fringe thing is nothing but girl power shows and f*#&in magic acts?
I thought there were alot more things going on at Fringe beyond the 5 shows one of your editors liked the most or had buddies in, so why didn't Indy.com post the whole Fringe line-up?
There are actually 53 shows from 13 states and three foreign countries. Most are covered here on indy.com -- though admittedly in different places. This story gives a few highlights. Another story provides highlights of five others. Plus, we have videos and calendar lists.
That said, it does seem there are lots of 2008 IndyFringe shows of interest to women. But do check out "Dr. Goddard and Mr. Angst," about angry young men; "Meet the Rock," about artist Norman Rockwell and "The Babbling Banshee," about two guys from County Cork, Ireland.
I know of one show that is of interest to all people, men and women alike: "Peace on Terror" from Theatre of the People, a nonprofit theatre company from Bloomington, Indiana.
We too were tired of "provocative" shows that we felt "guilty" about seeing, so we saw this show last night and wow, what an act. There is no other show like this at the Fringe, and we can only hope that more shows will rise to thier level of intensity and entertainment in a thought-provoking way in future years. But, as is, "Peace on Terror" is a must see for any one interested in genuine dramatic action, meaningful dialogue, and an ensemble of talented actors.
According to the show's program, "Peace on Terror" is by the people and for the people as Theatre of the People does art for everyone's sake.
Now Playing: Theatre on the Square - Stage 2 Saturday, August 23 @ 9pm Sunday, August 24 @ 1:30pm Wednesday, August 27 @ 7:30pm Saturday, August 30 @ 7:30pm Sunday, August 31 @ 6pm
ok. So I'm a 46 year old hospital exec from Carmel.
Two Questions:
So far, nothing I've seen is even worthy of WNDY after 11 pm or Comedy Central.
Fringe does not require that shows be "outrageous". The festival is not juried so any performer or group who wants to participate can send in their application, and the first ones received are accepted until all the venues are filled. So it is always a potluck. There are usually some fairly traditional dramas along with people new to performing and veterans who make their living by applying to festivals and appealing to enough people to sell seats to their shows. I think anyone, of any demographic profile or philosophic bent, should be able to find at least three shows that are worth $10 to them. Put down the remote. Read the descriptions and reviews and choose accordingly. You will be entertained.
Simpleton... What have you "seen"? What are you using to make your judgments? What floats your particular "central Indiana Dude" boat. Perhaps I and guide you in the right direction. One of the dangers of Finge-ing as well is that one that is unfamiliar with the waters may jump into a pool that is not the right depth or temp for their tastes for a first time Fringer. The term Fringe is used to mean, "not from center"..."from the edge"... So, not JOSEPH or another version of GODSPELL or a Neil Simon play. But, that does not mean offensive for the sake of being offensive...well not in most cases. Like I said, something for everyone.