Fringe Shows to See – Whole Theatre

Dirty Barbie: Happy Preview Day One

Ray says… Good day one preview.

Well, we were working the Royal Mile, papering the house a bit, when we got a phone call from the Press Office that the Scotsman (the top newspaper in Scotland) wanted to send a reviewer today. Dee and I thought we should say yes, even though we hadn’t had time for a run in tech (long repair on damaged projector — damn you Air France.)

At bottom of page, another delightful surprise. (fringe top tips)

And the show when great. Dee Dee was a pro from day one. And we were just over half full, including a man who graduated from UVA some 25 years ago (and his family). So here’s a bit of the excitement after a successful, out of the gates running, first preview:

Oh, so and then, someone on the street tells us that Dirty Barbie was a top pick of the Daily Record — maybe the top pick. Read the article here:

So, see it was a good day.

Five More Shows: Theatre at Traverse

Well, we just wrapped the Charlottesville shows – and each one was Sold Out.

Dee Dee, Chris Baumer, and I spent Sunday morning cleaning out the theatre, reception room, and rooftop patio at Live Art where last night we hosted a very special night — made even lovelier by Kathy Doby and all her wonderful catering vision. If you missed it, you missed it.

Any way….

The next chance to see Dirty Barbie before Scotland is in NYC at the 59E59 East to Edinburgh festival.

This is part of a festival that only features show that are confirmed to go to Edinburgh.

DIRTY BARBIE AND OTHER GIRLHOOD TALES
$15 (59E59 MEMBERS $10.50)
July 10, 11, 12, 14 at 9

Now, let’s take a look a what The Traverse Theatre has on in August in Edinburgh. Why focus on one theatre. Well, the Traverse Theatre, a permanent Edinburgh theatre, has proven over the years to be the best collection of Theatre. See, there are many categories of performance at the Fringe: Theatre, Comedy, Physical Theatre, Musical, Solo, Verbatim, etc. And for really good theatre, a great place to start is The Traverse Theatre:

BLINK

This is the tale of Jonah, Sophie, and a fox called Scruffilitis. It’s a love story. A dysfunctional, voyeuristic and darkly funny love story, but a love story all the same. A new play by Bruntwood Playwriting Prize winner Phil Porter, Blink is an exciting collaboration between Soho Theatre – London’s most vibrant venue for new writing, comedy and cabaret – and internationally acclaimed, Fringe First winners Nabokov.

As of 1.52pm GMT on Friday April 27th 2012, This Show Has No Title.

Another Show by Daniel Kitson? I know, you know, but he’s just a lovely story teller/performer/comedian, so maybe I have a little crush, but I bet the show will be worth putting on your list.

BULLET CATCH

A stunt so dangerous Houdini refused to attempt it, the Bullet Catch has claimed the lives of at least 12 illusionists, assistants and spectators since its conception in 1613. Now, with a little help from his audience, modern-day marvel William Wonder presents a unique theatrical magic show featuring storytelling, mind reading, levitation, games of chance and, if you’re brave enough to stay for it, the most notorious finale in show business. ‘Profound … hugely entertaining.’ **** (Herald). **** (Scotsman).

MORNING

One of the great things about the Fringe is the overwhelming abundance of World Premieres.Here’s one from Lyric in London:The end of summer. Two friends about to go their separate ways. But they will always share that one moment. A moment changed them forever.

The world premier of a dark new coming of age play by acclaimed playwright Simon Stephens (Pornography, Sea Wall, Punk Rock); Lyric Hammersmith Artistic Director Sean Holmes (the Olivier award winning Blasted, Saved, Ghost Stories) and performed by the Lyric Young Company.

ALL THAT IS WRONG

Good title, nice image and the description of this show from Belgium contains a reference to “Barbies.”

In Once And For All, she burned Barbie dolls and analysed what others were thinking. In Teenage Riot she gave tips to become like a bag of bones and looked at adults as caged animals. Koba Ryckewaert is now eighteen and she knows all sorts of things are wrong in the world. She just needs to get a grip on them. She’s better at writing than at talking, so she draws. On the floor. Starting with herself. No lover, so: Lonely. Loneliness brings boredom. Being bored can be solved with money, e.g. for a better computer. But the money’s not there: mother unemployed, due to: economic crisis. And what could she do to resolve it? Neither everything, nor nothing. In All That Is Wrong, Koba faces things alone. But she makes choices. Only to stick to them.

Wellllll….. there’s 5 more to see at the Festival. But the best thing to do is go to the site, go grab a Fringe Guide, page through and take a chance on something that to you looks good.

Getting ready, getting excited,

Ray

Five More Shows to See

Hiya again, Ray here.

One of the best things about this wonderful festival we are going to in August, The Edinburgh Festival Fringe, AKA THE FRINGE, is that over 2000 shows play each and every day. The shows are from all over the world. Therefore it is a chance to take a chance on shows you’ve never seen before and likely will never have a chance to see anywhere else.

Here’s five I know nothing, or very little, about; have not seen before, but am willing to take a chance on this August.

First, as a regular beet, I’ll tell you where you can next see:

DIRTY BARBIE AND OTHER GIRLHOOD TALES — which is this week at Live Arts.

Dirty Barbie and other girlhood tales

Live Arts, Charlottesville Virginia

123 East Water Street

June 20-23: 8PM

[Click Here for more Info]

And there are still tickets available for the super, fancy pants, benefit — the way to see the show, have free drinks, have it catered, have a dance party and see for the first time, 20 minutes of new work by the creator/performer of Dirty Barbie, Dee Dee Stewart.

So, now five more to take a calculated risk on at THE FRINGE:

Hi-Kick

From Korea. But tell me this, when is the next time you get to see a comedy dance troupe from Korea? Never.

So, I’d say this by the mere fact of wow, I’ll never have another chance to see comedy dancers and football (soccer) on the same stage — and have the troupe be from Korea — that this is one thing worth the time and the pounds (dollars).

And speaking of dance/physical theatre…

Africa Calling

I didn’t get a a chance to take a chance on this troupe last year — they sold out their shows before I could get a ticket. This show says, “The grassroots are back following the success of their sell-out show at the Fringe 2011. Traditional Zimbabwean dance, music, rhythm and song – the greetings reaffirming friendship and warmth of community. In Africa everyone is almost related to someone, and meeting family is a cause for celebration! Grassroots brings a vibrant fusion of irresistible movement and beautiful melodies, giving a life-enhancing experience of the culture and exuberance of Zimbabwe. Grassroots is a theatre-for-development company from Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, specializing in using dance, drama and music for positive change, aiming to reduce poverty through education.”

So while I’m dancing….

Cadillac

From Poland. Which I have a soft spot for, having great-grandparents from the motherland, and having never seen a bad show at the Fringe that was from Poland. I don’t think this will be the first.

Read about it: “The performance is a lottery show, similar to the Wheel Of Fortune, where you can win the main prize. The rules are simple – everyone who buys a ticket and takes part in the lottery has a chance to win the Cadillac. Is this a fair game? Would you ask such questions when there is a priceless and attractive Cadillac within your grasp? Cadillac is a performance about the blind lust for wealth, love, power and other attributes associated with happiness. A work about the ‘money-grabbers’ who know how to generate this demand and use it to serve their own purposes.”

Maybe next week I’ll feature all shows from/about Poland. But for now let’s stick with dance/physical theatre….

Hang Man

I saw these cats in 2007 on the recommendation of John Gibson, a Fringe/Theatre guru. This may be my first choice for dance/physical theatre since I was blown away by their performance then.

“The legendary Do-Theatre, one of the most influential experimental theatre companies to emerge from post-Communist Russia, returns with one of the must see Fringe First winners from 2007. Hangman is a game and the personage in one. A trinity of the damned – the blind, deaf and dumb – performs a dance macabre of crime and punishment where the roles of victim and executioner are constantly swapped. It’s a fusion of theatrical and dance form, combines elements from the Theatre of the Absurd and contemporary dance. The naivety of clown farce is enriched by the charming use of Black Humour.”

Well, one last recommendation today, and that leaves dance and goes to puppetry.

Sammy J and Randy — The Inheritance.

Sammy J and Randy with the Inheritance at the Fringe

These two have become over the years, Fringe perennial favorites. Funny irreverent multi media ventriloquism.

“Now, a brand new adventure from everyone’s favourite multi award-winning, toe-tapping, song-singing, Hep-C-riddled duo! When Randy discovers he is heir to an enormous fortune, he seeks to reclaim his rightful throne. Will Sammy J stand in his way? Probably. Winners of Best Show at the Melbourne Comedy Festival. Creators of the 2011 Fringe hit Ricketts Lane. ‘The best skinny-man purple puppet double act in the world right now’ (FringeReview.co.uk). ‘Sammy J and Heath McIvor are fiendishly talented writers and performers’ (Scotsman)”

Well, that’s 5. A few chances. A few promises. Check them out. Of course after scheduling your trip to see Dirty Barbie at Assembly Hall.

More choice choices next week.

Ray