Fringe

I should not smile and giggle when a thirty year old man with a full beard and dread locks proclaims that he “made a poopie.”

But I did. Again and again.

Succinctly stated, this show is brilliant. It’s funny, it’s dark, it’s poignant – all of the things a Fringe-goer has come to expect.

Written by award-winning New York playwright George Sapio, “Oatmeal” explores issues of exploitation, repressed memories, regression, and the power that human instinct holds over every decision we make.

I have a real love of mythology. One of my first classes at UC was a Mythology class, specifically Middle Eastern and Egyptian mythology, taught by Cynthea Smith (who still teaches it, by the way). The first thing we read was the Epic of Gilgamesh-- all tales of strength and masculinity. Eh. The second was Inanna: Queen of Heaven and Earth. Later, when I got to teach world lit, this was one of the first things I tackled. It's very "Ancient Girl Power"-- very different from the malecentric myths we, as westerners, are more familiar with.

Single vs. Married

A battle worthy of a Jet Li movie.

From a single man's perspective, this was going to be a downer. Marriage isn't high on my normal list of conversation. Oh crap, I've given away my bias. I falling along one side of the battle. I'm not against marriage. I infact want to get married someday, but not today, or this month, or likely this year.

Day two of the fringe has come to a close and we're still rolling on. Yesterday was much smoother, but the general fringe craziness was still floating in the air. ANNA THE SLUT AND THE ALMOST CHOSEN ONE was a sell out show last night and tons of other fringe patrons were out enjoying theatre.

Blog. Bloggedy blog. Blog gold. My brain is too tired to function properly. The Christian Moerlein beer is not helping with the cognitive function, but it is with other things. (OTR is Fringe-nificent).

Anyway, Fringe got three Critics Picks on CityBeat in one day. Impressive. Well done Fringe peoples. Can't wait to see what tomorrow holds.

Take care of yourself. And each other.

Adios.

PD Eric

“Body Language,” the creation of Stacy Sims’ True Body Project, takes the audience on a journey.

Literally.

It begins with a scientist in typical white lab coat and horn rimmed glasses, descending the stairs of the School for Creative and Performing Arts to share her wisdom, wit, and humor with the crowd gathered below. The entire audience is then moved upstairs and through the twisting hallways for a series of dramatic lessons in the mind/body connection.

Admittedly, I’m addicted to Coffee Emporium’s Iced Vanilla Lattes. Last year, Mindy Griffin (Know Theatre’s stage manager) and I would have our ceremonial start-of-the-evening latte. Yum!
Nothing is more refreshing than having some sweet theatre happening while sipping on a coffee drink.

You can imagine the effect of 1 to 2 lattes every day for all 12 days of Fringe can have on someone. A few days after Fringe had ended last year, I definitely felt I was missing something. A yearning for refreshment … A need to sip cool caffeine …

Before the Fringe festival starts, I pick out the shows I want to see. Most of the time I don't know what to expect, unless I've seen a previous show from the producers. Coming in, I didn’t know who Israel Horovitz was. Yea, I 'm not a theatre expert, nor a pop culture expert. Sure I know who Adam Horovitz is, but I had no idea that the father of one of Beaste Boy is such a great playwright. After the seeing the show I cetainly know who Isreal Horovitz is.

When Jason told me that Fringe would be a crazy time to move to Cincinnati, I only half-way believed him. Now that I'm here, I know exactly what he was talking about. I arrived in downtown Cincinatti at around 10:30 pm on Tuesday night. Yep, it was fringe time in the city. There was a huge kick off party happening in the Underground of The Know Theatre, and after I hastily unpacked my car, I got acquainted with the people who know and love the fringe in the biggest way.

What a day. The Festival is open!!!! Holy sh*t!

I love Karen Webb! She is one of my favorite audience members. Karen has seen almost every Fringe production for the past three years. In her infinite wisdom, she brings her camper van down to Over-the-Rhine and takes quick catnaps between productions. The cutey dog, Squirt, stays in the trailer and she also walks her between productions.

She’s passionate, enthusiastic and opinionated; Fringe Festivals are built around audience members like Karen Webb.

Jay B. Kalagayan
Executive Director
Know Theatre of Cincinnati
Cincinnati Fringe Festival
“Just Left of Off Broadway”

It’s very exciting to sit in an audience, knowing that the show you are about to see is being performed for the first time ever as it was intended. “Catch” is the labor of love of one Seth Moore, a University of Michigan student who not only wrote the piece, but co-directed it alongside Transit Five Productions Associate Artistic Director Julia Albain. It’s an effort that mostly pays off, with only minor missteps along the way.

I thought I would share with you some of our “To Do” lists for the Fringe Festival.

This will give you can idea of how we spent our holiday weekend giving you the best festival possible!

Over Memorial Day Weekend, we did the following:

+Got two dozen bagels and cream cheese for volunteers, curators, staff and venue techs.

+Loaded all nine performance venues fitting / reformatting them with technical equipment, audience seating, etc.

+Prepared housing for over forty artists staying with us throughout the festival.

Randomness: A dog on a shoulder swaying to fusion jazz-rap music - TV Cameras, interviews where I forget to mention my website!!!!

A mixed crowd, not just your typical Fringers, but some new ones, older ones, younger ones, drunker ones, and then a few people who just looked like they were in that Happy Gilmore happy place.

The staff is a combination of tense and confident. They've done this before, it's the fifth year for Christ-sake, "we don't need no stinking badges" kinda 'tude is all I could come up with on short notice.

5 Years is a long time in Fringe years, so it shouldn't be a shock that this morning my bones were a little noisy. Last night we had a stellar kick off party. Once I can collect myself, peel off the grin plastered on my face from staring the Fringe poster all night, I’ll post some rather random thoughts and random photos of the event.

For now, is anyone awake yet? For those who had to work today (like me) I’m feeling every one of those 5 years all over again inside my head.

Visual Fringe started things off last night at the Art Academy. All the usual suspects were there. There was a short Board Recognition ceremony and a performance by the Faux Frenchmen. The artwork on the first floor was fun. Sadly, I did not make it beyond that level to explore further.

Jeff Syroney, Managing Editor of Soapbox, an excellent new website supporting growth and development in Cincinnati tells us straight up that he would not live in city without a Fringe Festival. He has it right.

If you are visiting Cincinnati for the Fringe Festival, take a tour, see the sights, talk to us about how great this town is! We have a few more hills to climb, but we are a happening place, no matter what the people from Idaho say.

Twenty, twenty, twenty four hours to go....well, less actually.

The Kick Off party is tomorrow. I know a number of you are tech-ing shows, but I hope to see you after. I'm excited about the upcoming days. I think this is going to be a great Festival thanks in large part to you and your unbelievable work on your shows. I'm exhausted and giddy.

It was the night before Fringe and all through the theatre, not a creature was stirring, not even the technical director. It's time to put the cookies and milk or pizza and beer, what ever works to bring Old St. Fringe near.

The Enquirer has their take on shows that fit more of the Mainstream, which is funny, and you know, like ironic or something almost kinda the opposite, hmmm.

If you want the real Fringe experience, the Enquirer also lists out shows that will provide the Fringe feeling, as well that day 9 smell.