IndyFringe Theatre Festival in Review: Part Three

Missing

California based writer and actor Jessica Ferris brings whimsy to the Theatre on the Square second stage in Missing: The Fantastical and True Story of My Father's Disappearance and What I Found When I Looked for Him. No bones about it, I loved this show! Imaginative and heartfelt, Ferris creates a multi-faceted journey through family history, her female role model's poor choices about men and the definition of what it means to be, or rather be born of, a sociopath. Though the show's themes about feeling helpless, swindled and the search for sincerity and her father (antonyms in her book), Ferris' incorporation of physicality, clowning, inventive puppetry and an awareness of herself on stage keeps it light. Thoroughly enjoyable, Ferris creates an illuminating climax through the use of simple objects and language. DO NOT MISS THIS ONE!

Missing at Theatre on the Square's Second Stage:
Wednesday, August 25 at 7:30 pm
Saturday, August 28 at 7:30 pm
Sunday, August 29 at 6:00 pm

Swan Balloon

Dan Bernitt of New York creates a magical world where balloons and swans can fall in and out of love at the Phoenix Theatre. In a cute burst of storytelling, Bernitt offers an beautifully written story. However, he lacks the charisma to truly hold the attentions of children, his target audience. Though he uses engaging props dialects to illustrate various characters, he sits reading from a music stand for the majority of the show. This creative story is robbed of its full potential with lackluster staging. Yet, as a writer, Bernitt's language is both vivid and accessible. Moralistically, his childrens story is a parable about surmounting one's fears and staying true to oneself. Worth a glimpse if you are in the mood for something sweet and simple.

See Swan Balloon at the Phoneix Theatre:
Tuesday, August 24 at 7:30 pm
Wednesday, August 25 at 9:00 pm
Thursday, August 26 at 6:00 pm
Saturday, August 28 at 1:30 pm

The Tale of Mephisto

A deconstructed offering of The Tragical History of Dr. Faustus from the International Theatre Laboratorium takes the main stage of Theatre on the Square. Thinking too hard while watching this piece is not advised. Though the surreal structure creates a very intellectual production, the real meat stems from the emotional quality of movement with text as "soundscape." As the sole actor on stage, Natsume Sugiyama works with masks, puppets and odd props as the production ruminates on the idea of damnation. Fans of John Green's work at Butler Theatre and around the city will enjoy the perspective of director Antony Sandoval. Though their viewpoints are vastly different, the avant garde genre is the same.

See The Tale of Mephisto on Theatre on the Square's Main Stage:
Monday, August 23 at 9:00 pm
Friday, August 27 at 6:00 pm
Saturday, August 28 at 9:00 pm
Sunday, August 29 at 1:30 pm 

IndyFringe Theatre Festival in Review: Part One

People lined the streets of Mass Ave this weekend, milling around before they head into the next theatre. Music from street performers fill the air, as various companies thrust postcards into unsuspecting hands in an attempt to fill their venue with a live crowd. In short thirty minute spurts, Mass Ave is filled with chatter and laughter as the crowd swells from one place to the next. In its sixth year, the IndyFringe Theatre Festival has proven itself a force to reckon with, garnering larger crowds each day and bringing commerce to Indianapolis' Theatre and Arts district. Commendable for the high standard of work this year, the IndyFringe Festival has taken on a life of its own. Acts from across the Midwest, New York, California and around the globe brighten the stages on Mass Ave. The Hoosier Heartland welcomes this burst of culture with open arms, and here is my humble take on the shows I caught Friday at the Fringe Festival.


Boy in the Basement

Wisdom Tooth Theatre presents an homage to the romance novel genre in a funny and foul spoof of steamy literature. Over the top in every way, this show is acutely aware of what is accomplishes, which is a raucous journey through one novelist's sex slave fantasy. With a keen yet predictable sense of comedy, playwright Katherine Heller creates larger than life characters that fit neatly into their stereotypes: the virgin, the sexpot, the hippie, the dominatrix and the sex slave. As the story unravels, Heller's script with direction from Callie Burk digs for both humor and sentimentality. With nearly constant commentary in acting, directing and writing choices, the show's send up of the romance genre manages a balancing act between outrageously lusty comedy and believable plot devices that create an interesting story to follow. 

Over the top is the running theme in this show, a choice necessary for its content. A cast of eight push their comedic limits, playfully creating an environment where anything goes. With expanded boundaries, Boy in the Basement offers heavy humor with a dash of beautiful women and a sprinkle of awareness. Not for the faint of heart or children, this is a must see comedy in the 2010 IndyFringe Festival. 

Catch it at the Phoenix Theatre:
Tuesday, August 24 at 9:00 pm
Thursday, August 26 at 7:30 pm
Saturday, August 28 at 9:00 pm
Sunday, August 29 at 3:00 pm


Not A Peep

ShadowApe takes over Theatre on the Square's main stage with their Charlie Chaplain inspired commentary on American society. The show's opening offers a rhythmic expression of the monotonous life of office workers. Repetitive beats created entirely from office supplies begins to make one questions (as in real life): "How long can this go on?" Yet, as Constance Macy, Ben Tebbe and Jennifer Koharchik build on their silent relationships, it isn't long before all hell breaks loose in this farcical world. With a central focus on one co-workers ritualistic devouring of sugar coated peeps throughout the day, the trio builds to a hilarious climax in the riveting "First Act" of their show.


Yet as the company continues into second and third "acts", the magic of their technique begins to fade. Though the show's transition into the actor's inner monologues as they cope with a consumer driven society remained entertaining, the company's divulgence into their social agenda felt brow beaten. While their message was solid and important, and their execution flawless, its amazing that a show where no one speaks could be so preachy. 

Catch it at Theatre on the Square:
Tuesday, August 24 at 6:00 pm
Thursday, August 26 at 9:00 pm
Sunday, August 29 at 6:00 pm

Sandcastles in the Sky

Bloomington based company, Theatre of the People, present a confusing piece about being neighborly at the IndyFringe Building. The absence of exposition in the script coupled with unclear symbols in a very abstract script left the whole room searching for anything to grasp on to. A singular moment of laughter erupted as the central character exclaimed, "I don't have any idea what's happening." Neither did we. The use of a live baby on stage offers the only real point of interest with this one. With clunky staging and scattered acting choices this is definitely one to skip.


At the IndyFringe Building:
Thursday, August 26 at 6:00 pm
Saturday, August 28 at 1:30 pm
Sunday, August 29 at 6:00 pm


They Touch in Flood

PaperStrangers Performance Group offers an experimental dance piece at Theatre on the Square's second stage. Director Michael Burke and choreographer Tommy Lewey explore sex in four parts: courtship, coupling, copulation and consequence. Jammed into the tiny second stage of Theatre on the Square, the piece suffers from obvious spacing issues throughout. However, the content is riveting. The audience, as a sea of uncomfortable laughter leaning forward so as not to miss a word or movement, reflects Burke's triumph to push his viewers beyond their boundaries. Lewey's scantily clad dancers capture every nuance of sex as they throw their bodies into each other. Smokers will definitely want a cigarette after this sexually charged experience that will leave you wanting more.


See it at Theatre on the Square's Second Stage:
Tuesday, August 24 at 6:00 pm
Wednesday, August 25 at 9:00 pm
Saturday, August 28 at 3:00 pm
Sunday, August 29 at 10:30 pm


You Never Know

Out of townerwatch. Her story may not be your story, but it will feel that way, a true testament to the talent of this writer and actor. 


Don't miss her at Marian Underground:
Wednesday, August 25 at 9:00 pm
Thursday, August 26 at 6:00 pm
Friday, August 27 at 7:30 pm
Sunday, August 29 at 10:30 pm

Welcome

Dear Friends and Fellow Art Enthusiasts,

I'd be lying to you if I didn't say, I'm starting this blog for selfish reasons. After an incredible year long tenure with an Indianapolis based website as their arts writer and theatre critic, my life has taken a new direction, but my need to see everything in town has not. However, my motives are not entirely egocentric. I truly believe in the arts scene in Indianapolis. With exciting theatre, innovative visual art and beautiful dance productions through the year, the community of Hoosier artists creating for you and me never fails to astonish.

In this blog, Bravo Indianapolis, I hope to support these companies as well as to promote their growth. Encouraging audiences to get out and see the human to human connections being made in Indianapolis theatre, dance and art events is my first goal. Not far behind, I hope this blog will be an open forum to discuss both the successes and failures of artistic endeavors across the Circle City. Honesty about my perceptions of artist's work is intended only to help as they begin new pursuits. All art is a local event, created for and by the people of a particular community. A dialogue between the creators and the receivers is, in my mind, the best way to foster artistic growth for the entire community

With these rather lofty ideas, I contribute a my small portion from a West side corner of Indianapolis. I love this city, and I love the art being produced here. Though I may not always agree with it, nor it with me, I promise never to be malicious or cruel, but always to be honest.

Bravo Indianapolis! And keep creating.