cryptids

Cryptid heroes return to Fringe stage

PWJW_Indy Reviews, Stage , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

By John Lyle Belden

Cryptid Entertainment engages audiences with explorations of what it would be like if fantastic mythical creatures lived among us. Such stories might be closer to the truth than we suspect – there is reliable evidence, for instance, that the being known as Theodore Roosevelt may have at one time actually existed.

In 2022, Cryptid presented its masterwork “Bigfoot Saves America” during that year’s IndyFringe festival. While a success, the company were all in agreement that sequels to plays are a terrible idea, thus inspiring playwright and director Dakota Jones to instead expand the show to a second act, with the solemn mission of, in his words, “a cheap attempt at a laugh.”

Presenting: “Bigfoot Saves the World!”

Tony Schaab returns as the super sasquatch, agent of H.A.I.R. (a Top-Secret government office that assures us it doesn’t exist). Jo Bennett is also back as the evil Mothman, who has kidnapped Mr. Foot’s ex-wife, Dr. Love Interest (reprised by Kyrsten Lyster). Aaron Henze also returns from deep freeze as the lycanthrope-infected President Teddy Roosevelt.

This time around, Kaya Dorsch and Thomas Sebald portray the gay hench-moths as well as Agents in black, joined by the expendable Charlie Rankin.

And, again, this show is sponsored by pharmaceutical miracle and crude plot device Sexadryl (“Sex-A-Drill”).

Since it worked the last time, the first-act plot – bizarre humor and all – is essentially the same as the original Fringe show (for what happens, note its title).

The sequ- I mean Second Act reveals a plot by the Soviet Union (this takes place during the Cold War, after all) which involves Robo-Stalin (Sebald), Agents Hammer and Sickle (Dorsch and his right hand), femme fatale Ras-Poontang (Lyster), a sexy yeti (Rankin), and an even more glorious Mothman.

Will Bigfoot rise to the challenge? According to the title, yes, but he may need an assist from MOLAR OF THE MOLE PEOPLE (Dorsch again – they are so versatile).

Because you can’t have too much talent in such a cheesefest, there are special appearances by Doug Powers and David Molloy, as well as the services of the world’s greatest stagehand, Lillian Eisenbraun. Brilliant costumes are by stage manager Marina Turner.

Once again, these hijinks are funny, silly, and very “Adult Swim,” including “going for the hard ‘R’” with a bit of furry burlesque. It’s self-aware and unabashed, a great time for anyone (teenage and older) who doesn’t take endangering and saving the world with mythical beasts too seriously.

Further, we are assured that there will be absolutely no third chapter (until Dakota is finished writing it).

“Bigfoot Saves the World” Thursday through Sunday, July 25-28, at the IndyFringe Basile Theatre, 719 E. St. Clair, Indianapolis. Get tickets (before they sell out) at indyfringe.org.

IndyFringe: Bigfoot Saves America

PWJW_Indy IndyFringe, Reviews, Stage , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

This is part of IndyFringe 2022, Aug. 18-Sept. 4 (individual performance times vary) in downtown Indianapolis. Details and tickets at IndyFringe.org.

By John Lyle Belden

If you see only one cryptid-centered action-adventure comedy this Fringe Festival, it was probably this.

“Bigfoot Saves America,” by Dakota Jones, tells the story the government (allegedly) doesn’t want you to see, how in 1978, agents of H.A.I.R. reactivated the being known as Bigfoot to team up with the reanimated – but lycanthropy-infected – President Theodore Roosevelt to rescue Mr. Foot’s ex-wife, top scientist and hot blonde Dr. Love Interest from the diabolical Mothman. For this reenactment, the roles are portrayed by Tony Schaab, Aaron Henze, Kyrsten Lyster, and Jo Bennett, with Matthew Walls and Taylor Cox as both Federal Agents and Gay Hench-Moths (see if you can tell the difference), as well as master stagehand Lillian Eisenbraun as needed.

Sponsorship for this episode provided by wonder-drug Sexadryl (“Sexadryl”). See show for possible side-effects.

The best description I can come up with for this is a Cartoon Network “Adult Swim” episode come to life. Absurdity, goofy go-with-it attitudes, and echoes of the self-awareness of action spoofs like “Venture Brothers” or “Bird Girl” abound, with the characters taking things just seriously enough to advance the plot. Cartoonish but for college-age kids, taken on this level “Bigfoot Saves America” is one of the funniest things you’ll see at the Fringe.

If you love America, and don’t want your genitals to explode, you’ll see this unbelievable adventure, playing Thursday evening and Sunday afternoon, Aug. 25 and 28, as well as noon and 7 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 4, at the District Theatre.