Year: 2015

Fringe review: Breakneck Hamlet

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By Wendy Carson

Tim Mooney has become synonymous with the Shakespearean soliloquy and for good reason. He has memorized so many of them and can spout them off the top of his head so quickly it can make your head spin.

In “Breakneck Hamlet,” playing at the Musician’s Union Hall, he deftly breezes through the bog than can be four-plus hours of the Bard’s best, giving us a rollicking version of the classic tragedy of “Hamlet” in just under an hour.

While he does gloss over a lot of the often tedious plot, all of the great speeches therein are saved and presented with such passion and skill that you will wonder why this is not the standard presentation of the show. In fact, if all of Shakespeare’s works were taught like this in schools, I feel that students would find it much more identifiable and embrace the works delightedly.

Whether you enjoy the play or not, you must do your best to see this craftsman’s work and behold his genius. It will have you reevaluating your feelings towards this great catalog of words and hoping that Mooney will return to enthrall us with more works like this.

Fringe review: Dancing in the Mist

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By Wendy Carson

When a parent suffers from dementia, the struggle to assist and deal with them can be overwhelming to the family, especially if her only son is the one the task falls to.

In “Dancing in the Mist” by Marcel Nunis, presented by RibbitRePublic at the Musicians Union Hall, Kurt Fitzpatrick plays Mike, who catalogs the challenges faced in becoming the primary caretaker for his mother, Gillie, played by Xan Scott. There are lies that must be told, bargains that must be struck, songs to be sung, various characters to be played and a wealth of sorrow for the both of them. Still, he does what he can to make the best of it for both parties involved.

Since she so often slips into memories of the past, he gets a surprising and tender glimpse into the woman she one was. He finds out much more of her history than he bargained for, including references to the mysterious “Max.” We also get glimpses into Mike’s highly-stressed mind.

Meanwhile, Scott artistically portrays a woman struggling to live with her malady and hold onto every piece of her past and sanity that she can.

This is an expertly crafted drama with gentle humor that can help serve as a guide and warning of how to behave if or when you are faced with this challenge yourself.

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John Lyle Belden contributed to this review.

Fringe review: The Best of Indy Magic Monthly

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By John Lyle Belden and Wendy Carson

For those who have never seen one of the enjoyable offerings that comprise the Indy Magic Monthly shows, “The Best of Indy Magic Monthly” on Theatre on the Square’s second stage will offer you a taste of what you are missing and should make you a regular patron in the future.

IndyFringe regular and IMM founder and host Taylor Martin presents a different lineup of magicians from near and far each show, including illusionists who have toured internationally, played Vegas and The Magic Castle, and appeared on television shows such as “Penn & Teller’s ‘Fool Us.’”

Martin emcees as one of his magical personae, then four other magicians dazzle us with tricks including elaborate props, mentalism and close-up magic. Monday’s show included comedy (making a Triscuit “disappear”) and the exotic (a Hong Kong magician who employed Chinese masks as well as marvelous tricks). But don’t expect to see that lineup again – the remaining performances promise acts just as good, but unique to that particular hour.

There are a lot of laughs and wonder for everyone in the family. Even if you think you know how the tricks are done, seeing them played out in the eyes of a child will make it all seem new and wondrous again. And the variety not only keeps the show fresh, but will make you want to see more than one of them to have a better experience.

For those who can’t make it to this during the Fringe, Indy Magic Monthly showcases some of the best performers locally and around the world the first Tuesday of each month at Theatre on the Square.

Fringe review: Laughing Sober

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By John Lyle Belden and Wendy Carson

Rick Garrett tells us the story of the traumas of his child- and adulthood that drove him to the numbing effects of alcohol for solace in his stand-up/monologue, “Laughing Sober,” at ComedySportz.

Garrett relates his restrictive religious upbringing – “We were Amish with lightbulbs” – and how for him love was predicated on rules he couldn’t master and expectations that didn’t fulfill him.

While his tales are honest and raw, the delicate humor surrounding them prevents the subject matter from getting too somber. Garrett is an excellent storyteller as well as comic, so even when he’s not zinging the punchlines – which he often does – he still holds our attention and earns our sympathy.

This show reminds us that we are all damaged people in some way, and that the only true healing powers in the world are laughter and love, both of which you will feel before the final applause break.

Fringe review: The Mall Musical

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By Wendy Carson

For anyone who has ever worked retail or in any service industry, here is something to help you continue your dreary existence: Casey Ross Productions’ “Hell’s Fourth Ring: The Mall Musical,” playing at the Firefighter’s Union Hall. With spot-on stereotypical characters portraying the soul-sucking life of a petty wage-earner, playwright Ross (penning her first musical), with help from rock musician Davey Pelsue, has created a hilarious tribute to this woeful existence.

Hell’s Gate Mall is a dreary place, where the only thing worse than working there is getting “terminated.” Can even love survive?

The story is silly but very, very funny and the songs are quite well crafted. The actors are up for all of the zaniness encompassed in their roles. They include Pelsue, Logan Moore, Heather Ownes, Adam Tran, Kait Burch (who also did the choreography), Taylor Cox, David Molloy, and the voice of Zoe Molloy. The show was directed by Ross’s partner, “Fedora Dave” Matthews.

While I must admit that Casey is a personal friend of mine, setting my expectations high, I was still blown away by the overall quality of the show. While some of the costumes and dialogue are painfully cheesy, it adds to the charm of the entire package.

I did wish that one or two of the performers possessed stronger singing voices, but I’m hoping that Ross will flesh this out into a full-length show and can better fill the roles.

In all, this show is a riotously good time and one of those unexpected gems that the Fringe can provide.

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John Lyle Belden contributed to this review.

Fringe review: Working Titles

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By Wendy Carson

“Working Titles,” by Jeremy Schaefer at ComedySportz, is a look at one man’s trail of strange, menial day jobs necessary to keep his dream of being a comic storyteller afloat. Bursting with humor, the show does bring up several important life issues and will make you think as well as laugh.

This is another show that works as an excellent “palate cleanser” to keep you going after seeing one of the more heavy, dramatic offerings.

For those of you who now me, you now I have a large and mighty laugh. It was solidly on display all through this show and I feel that you might do the same.

Fringe review: Up Yours

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By Wendy Carson

In “Up Yours, Indianapolis,” by The Fleece Academy at the Marrott Center, Muppet-style puppetry and improv comedy are blended together in an uneven mix.

The group’s members are all talented puppeteers, and the various interactions with the crowd before the show were entertaining. However, their long-form improv skills are not as well-honed.

Various parts of the show were downright hilarious, but overall it felt a bit weak. I think if they had just presented us with crowd interaction and a few skits, it would have been a more enjoyable show. Also, the sound quality of the space made it difficult for the back portion of the audience to hear much of the performance.

While I was disappointed in this show, I do feel that with a bit more polish this could be one of the hits of a future Fringe festival.

Fringe review: Ulysses Grant

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By Wendy Carson

In “Ulysses Grant: A Fluxkit Opera,” by Stephen Rush at Theatre on the Square, fact and fiction regarding the titular character are thrown into a blender along with a rewriting of lyrics set to authentic Civil war songs to provide this interestingly comical version of history.

Members of the audience are recruited to fight for both armies and, while only sparingly called upon to participate, have a great time doing so. I strongly suggest you accept your place in the battle as it will increase your enjoyment of this show.

Not as stuffy as either an opera or a history lesson can be, this is a fun show for all ages and a good opportunity to expose younger ones to a new musical form.

Fringe review: Top Shelf

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By Wendy Carson

If you like the Comedy Central show, “Broad City,” or popular female comedians like Amy Schumer, then “Top Shelf: Our Last American Tour Again” (by Indy-based Betty Rage employing British accents) at ComedySportz is the show for you. It can best be described as resembling a punk rock tribute to the hard-drinking, zany characters of “Absolutely Fabulous.”

The band is playing a rocking concert and constantly berating their poor roadie, Cooter. Their characters are fun and typical of what you’d expect. However, their songs are not only hilariously funny, but rather catchy. You will likely find yourself humming bits of them later on in the day.

In fact, my biggest criticism is that they had not recorded a CD of the songs as I would really have liked to have purchased it not only enjoy again and again, but also to introduce others to the fun they missed.

Fringe review: The Shout

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By Wendy Carson

In “The Shout,” presented by In the Mix at the Marrott Center, two female activists are all who remain of a major protest. They have committed to stay, and shout every 15 minutes at the house of a cop who shot an unarmed young man, but are beginning to wonder if their efforts are still worth anything.

Meanwhile, a rookie officer has been watching them for them past few weeks to ensure they are operating within the law. Since he is considered by his law enforcement to be “too nice,” he has been told that if he can’t get rid of them and stop their protesting that he will be fired.

Both sides here are trying to do what they believe in and it seems that one of the women has developed feelings for him, while he is more interested in the other one.

However, when one protester finds out that he might just be acting nice to prevent them from following through, she pulls out all of the stops. What happens next shows everyone for who they truly are within themselves.

The show is a movingly insightful glance into the base nature of each person, and what they are willing to do for their beliefs.