2012 Orlando Fringe Reviews

If you’ve been follow me on Facebook, Twitter, or read Monday’s Fringe Festival Preview, you know what Scott and I have been up to this week.

Fringing

I’m not sure if I made up the term or if I picked it up at the Orlando Fringe Festival over the past few years, but fringing and its definition is portrayed in the following photo:

Fringing: spending multiple days seeing numerous shows (often back to back for hours at a time) at the Fringe Festival.

Scott has been coming to see performances since he was in a Fringe show back in 2006.  Not many people know this, but he has been an actor in a few productions around Orlando.  He’s a jack of all traits, some say.

Ha.

This week, we’ve spent the majority of our days (and occasional nights) with a mutual friend named Surely.  It’s pronounced SER-relly, and the poor thing got picked on during an entire show last night about it.

It happens to the best of us, especially at the Screw You Revue.

While fringing, it’s fun to spend a little time on The Lawn to meet friends, discuss shows and grab food and beverages.

There is a variety of things to pick from including barbeque, Chinese, Greek and Italian.  For $5, I was pleasantly surprised with my spaghetti marinara and shrimp the other night.

Don’t even get me started on the treats… trust me, you don’t want me to go there.  Didn’t I tease you all enough last week?

While Scott’s been fringing every day, I’ve held back to a few days.  He likes to check out as many shows as he can, while I would rather spend money on the shows I really want to see.

My Reviews

We like to make it to as many shows as possible.  Fringe is only around for thirteen days a year, so we make the best of it while the acts are in Orlando.

With tickets averaging about $10 a show, this might look like a lot of money to spend on theatre.  To us, we’re getting to see ten or more shows for around $100 each.  Compare that to the price of one ticket to a show on Broadway and it seems well spent.  I know… it’s NOT Broadway, but there are usually a handful of shows worthy of being in Vegas.

Below I have listed the shows I’ve seen at this year’s Orlando Fringe.  Many of these acts travel all over the United States, so keep a look out for them.

This is the first year that I have loved every single show I’ve seen.  Really!  Some more than others, and below is a short review (in order) starting with my favorite.

I’ve also provided a brief description, pulled directly from the Orlando Fringe website.

*Please note: I genuinely enjoyed all of the shows I chose to see this year, which doesn’t usually happen.  Since Scott attended more, he has additional input on some “not so must-see” shows.  I’m thinking about having him do a guest post about The Fringe, including his reviews and opinions.

Would you all be interested in that?  Speak now or forever close your eyes and ears. 😉

Top Shows

The Screw You Revue Presents Lady Winifred For President

Bio: America’s Favorite Coma Survivor has returned to take on Obama. She’s prepared a campaign rally glittered in pomp and dripping with circumstance. “…comedy gold.” -Matthew J. Palm, Orlando Sentinel

I COULD NOT WAIT to see this show!  I’ve seen it for the past few years and each show has a different theme, and switches out characters.  While most of the story line is scripted, a good portion of the show always turns into improv comedy.  The men behind The Screw You Revue are quick, sassy, and I’m sad to hear this will be their last Orlando Fringe for a while.  They are taking their act up to New York, and next time we make a trip up we are searching high and low to find it.

Theme Park Diva: The Musical

Bio: “Favorite Fringe Show, a MUST see.” Orlando Sentinel. “Brilliant musical. Great songs, great singing.” INK19. Theme Park Diva returns for its 15th anniversary production! More songs, more fun, more DIVA!

This show was fabulous!  It takes you behind the scenes into the lives of theme park performers.  The songs were catchy and the talent was impressive.  I especially enjoyed and appreciated all of the “performer” jokes… they really nailed it.

Voice Activated (VOX Audio)

Bio: Five Voices. No Instruments. No Kidding. We’re Back.

Any The Sing Off fans out there?  This act NEEDS to audition for the show, because I’m confident they could take it far into the competition.  Formerly known as Toxic Audio, VOX Audio has serious chops and a comedic storyline to most of their songs.  I was clapping the entire time and they left me wanting more!

We Will Never Forget

Bio: A One Man Show performed by Jason Nettle, who lived in NYC, has you live the lives of seventeen New Yorkers who experienced 9/11 in very different ways.

Jason is a very talented actor who wrote the story himself back in 2001.  He portrays multiple characters affected by 9/11 and had me laughing and crying throughout its entirety.  The realness of his characters gave me goosebumps and I thoroughly enjoyed his performance.

on the nOse

Bio: You think you know clown? Think again! Onscreen interviews and onstage antics will shred your stereotypes into a bucket of confetti. From the creator of the 2011 Fringe phenomenon “onomatopoeia.”

This is a cute and funny show telling the real story behind clowning.  While teaching common misconceptions clowns portray, the characters entertained and engaged the audience.  I enjoyed the show and would recommend it to anyone.

Bouncers

Bio: 4 hilarious actors, 20 uproarious characters, 1 WILD night at Club Zero.  The critics agree: Wickedly funny, razor sharp. [Ink19] fast-paced, throbbinghumorous and tragic at the same time. [Orlando Sentinel]

Whoa!  This show had a lot going on with four actors playing twenty characters.  Going from bouncers to women getting ready for a night out, each character told the story of club nightlife from all different perspectives.  Strong language, but hysterical.

Scientist Turned Comedian

Bio: A creative blend of stand up comedy and science. Tim Lee is a comedian with a PhD who’s an internet sensation with over 4 million views of his videos.

I’ve never seen a comedian with this approach before.  Tim shows informational scientific graphs and slides with an added twist of current comedy.  Check out his website: YouTubeComedian.com. Love it!

Shows for the Weekend

There’s still a few shows Scott and I both would like to see.  We’ve already bought tickets for the first two and we are still scoping out a few others to add to the schedule.

If you’re interested in hearing about it, look out for my tweets and follow the #OrlandoFringe.

Connected

Bio: Connected is a theatrical experience that invites audience members on a journey through the use of story, movement, introspection, multimedia and interactive elements.

Little Lady

Bio: The transformation of Cirque Du Soleil, Celine Dion dancer to performer generated theater artist is mirrored in this dark, comic and grotesque fable. A world of distortion and blissful metamorphosis.

ONEymoon (A Honeymoon for One)

Bio: Canadian Comedy Award Nominee “Best One-Person Show”- A solo comedy about a woman who marries herself. “A showcase for Bartelse’s many talents and an evening of laughs and memorable moments for the audience.”

Do You Fringe?

If you have ever been to a Fringe Festival in any city, what are some of your favorites?

 Feel free to comment below and leave your own reviews.

I’ll leave my final thoughts after the weekend!