music

Big opening weekend

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There is a lot happening around Indy this weekend, especially on stages.

Theatre on the Square opens “Enter Love” a new musical with book by local talents Kenny Shepard, Don Seybold and Ty Stover. First curtain is 8 p.m. Friday.

The Center for the Performing Arts in downtown Carmel sees two openings: “Little Women: The Musical” at the Booth Tarkington Civic Theatre on The Tarkington stage, of course, and “The Fantasticks” presented by Actors Theatre of Indiana at The Studio Theater next door.

Meanwhile, the classic “The Odd Couple” opens the Mud Creek Players season in the Mud Creek Barn on east 86th Street near Geist.

For two shows only, Friday and Saturday, Indiana Performing Arts Centre presents “A Night on the Town With the ‘Rat Pack'” at the Athenaeum, 401 E. Michigan St. in downtown Indy.

See you in the audience!

IndyFringe 2015 Wrap-Up

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We had a great time at this year’s IndyFringe. Though we didn’t see all the shows, we saw quite a few, so, here in one place are the links to all our reviews, for anyone wanting to look one up:

“4.48 Psychosis” by Savage at Last

“4Square” by AV Productions

“Acting My Age” by Matt Holt

“The Adventures of Les Kurkendaal” by Les Kurkendaal

“Auditioning for Swan Lake” by Lou Ann Homan

“The Best of Indy Magic Monthly” by Magic Taylor’d for You (Taylor Martin)

“Breakneck Hamlet” by Tim Mooney

“Bromance” by Farewell Tour Productions

“Cabaret of Puppetry” by Peewinkle Studios

“Ca-Ching” by Nomads Collective

“Camp Summer Camp” by Defiance Comedy

“Cocooned in Kazan” by Royal Kung Foolery

“The Comedy Magic of Oscar Munoz” by Oscar Munoz

“Dancing in the Mist” by RibbetRepublic

“Drosselmeyer’s Magical Bedtime Story” by No Exit Performance

“The Eulogy” by Michael Burgos

“Fruit Flies Like a Banana” by Fourth Wall

“Ghost Story” by Peter-John Byrnes

“Growing Up All Over Myself” by Mat Alanso-Martin

“Hannibal: LIAR!” by Chris Hannibal

“Hell’s Fourth Ring: The Mall Musical” by Casey Ross Productions

“Home Grown Originals” by Band O’ Leers

“An Indian Comedian: How Not To Fit In” by Krish Mohan

“I’m Not Gay” by Submatter Press

“Interrupting the Sermon” by First Hand Theatrical

“The Invisible Man” by What’s in a Name? Company

“Jason Adams is a God Damn Mind Reader” by Jason Adams

“Kill the Column” by MamaProductions

“Laughing Sober” by Rick Garrett

“A Little Business at the BIG TOP” by David Gaines

“Men’s Room” by MayDay Productions

“Mom?” by Box of Clowns

“Mr. Boniface, the Wise” by KT Peterson

“My Sister Diane” by Jim May

“Not My Baby!” by Dreadmelon Productions

“The Not So Secret Origin of Captain Ambivalent” by Captain Ambivalent

“ODDyssey” by Blair Godshall

“Orange is the New Black Keys” by ComedySportz Indianapolis

“Sarge” by Clifton Performance Theatre

“The Secret Book of Jesus” by Maximum Verbosity

“Shakespeare’s Ear” by Early Music in Motion

“The Shout” by In the Mix

“The Sibling Staircase” by Sally Perkins

“Speedthru” by Eclectic Pond

“Threads” by Tonya Jone Miller

“Tipped and Tipsy” by Jill Vice

“Top Shelf: Our Last American Tour – Again” by Betty Rage

“The Traveling Tap Dance Super Show” by TapMan Productions with Circle City Tap Company

“Ulysses Grant: A Fluxkit Opera” by Stephen Rush

“Up Yours, Indianapolis” by The Fleece Academy

“VELOUR” by Schedule C Productions

“Whisper in My Good Ear” by Vintage Players

“Who Run The World: A Madwomen’s Cabaret” by Main Street Artists

“The Wizer of Odd” by Gift of Gab

“Working Titles” by Jeremy Schaefer

“The Yellow Wallpaper” by Earlham Theatre Department

Fringe review: Home Grown Original

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By John Lyle Belden

Let us simplify your expectations. Ironically, “Home Grown Originals,” at the IndyFringe Basile Theatre, stretches the concept of a “Fringe show” by not being edgy or avant garde or having some odd agenda. It’s straightforward: a group of eight friends playing some really good Hoosier-made music.

Alex “Tunesmith” Murphy recently wrote a bunch of songs, then recorded them with his ensemble, the Band O’Leers. Now he presents these rockabilly-country-blues tunes on the IndyFringe Basile stage, featuring vocals by Murphy, Tim Spradlin and Lori Ecker.

It’s an entertaining crowd-pleasing set, featuring oughta-be-hits like “Kiss Me Like You Mean it,” “Future Ex-Wife” (feel free to sing along on the chorus) and “You’re only Human if you Try.” If guitars and a corny joke or two are your bag, head on over and give them a listen.

The CD of the songs is also available, featuring vocals by local legend Karen Irwin.

Fringe Review: Fruit Flies Like a Banana

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By Wendy Carson

Whether you are familiar with or new to the antics of The Fourth Wall, you would be delighted with the trio’s latest foray into speedy musical education, “Fruit Flies Like a Banana: Alphabetical Disorder,” which played at Theatre on the Square.

This year they attempt to make it through the alphabet with the help of random letters thrown at them from the audience. Each letter corresponds with a comedy-music bit, which the performers – being virtuoso musicians as well as masters of physical comedy – perform. With the ever-present countdown clock looming over them, they effortlessly move from piece to piece almost instantaneously.

Not only are the numbers cleverly arranged and choreographed, each one is curated to educate the listener on the history of not only the composer, style and instruments used but how and why they have chosen the material.

Their antics are a joy to behold and they make music education into a game that can be enjoyed by old and young alike.

Fringe review: Who Run the World: A Madwomen’s Cabaret

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By John Lyle Belden

In “Who Run the World: A Madwomen’s Cabaret,” by Darrin Murrell, presented by Main Street Artists at the IndyFringe Basile Theatre, Julie Lyn Barber plays all the roles (except for Murrell as Lizzy Borden, our accompanist) including a certain woman running for President next year on the Democrat ticket.

As the candidate prepares to accept her nomination, other famous and infamous female leaders from history appear to her to give encouragement and advice in song. For example, Cleopatra croons “Cry me a (Nile) River” and Queen Elizabeth I sings “Like a Virgin.” The visitors come from all over time and the globe, from Chinese empress Wu Zetian to British prime minister Margaret Thatcher.

The performances are wonderful and witty, but the show is problematic in that a bright strobe light sits center stage and flashes straight at the audience during every character transition, which happens at least a dozen times. Also, I found the voice-over introducing each character before she appears sounding distorted and hard to hear.

Aside from the flaws, this cabaret is an interesting and entertaining musical history lesson.

Fringe review: Shakespeare’s Ear

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By John Lyle Belden

Early Music in Motion presents “Shakespeare’s Ear” by William Ayot, featuring an ensemble playing Renaissance period instruments and The Fourth Wall’s C. Neil Parsons as “Will,” on the main stage at Theatre on the Square.

Our young Bard tells of his life as we are presented with some of the music that inspired and entertained him. He explains how someone so low-born as he could gain such sophistication that he could write plays about history and the lives of kings. He relates his loves, losses and triumphs, and joins the musicians for an occasional dance.

Parsons is engaging as young Shakespeare, with storytelling style that flows as easily as his virtuoso music on other stages. And the show gives us an excellent insight into the man and his era.

The musicians are excellent as well, providing both atmosphere and a visual lesson of what the “orchestra” was like in years past.

Fringe review: Cabaret of Puppetry

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By Wendy Carson

I must admit that while I do enjoy puppetry, I was unsure of how this was going to work. While the Peewinkle Puppet Studio performances I have seen in the past were entertaining, I couldn’t imagine them satisfying a Fringe audience.

However, “Cabaret of Puppetry,” playing at Firefighter’s Union Hall, is not your typical children’s puppet show. It serves as more of an overview of the history of puppetry and the various presentations are a delight to behold for young and old alike. The puppeteers’ showmanship and skill in setting the mood make you forget that they are even present after a while.

The characters run the gamut from a simple sock puppet to very delicately advanced full-body puppets. Still, the main emphasis is in marionettes. With unexpected effects and vibrant characters this simple little puppet show will have you laughing and talking about its charm for weeks to come.

So, re-embrace your inner (or outer) child and come see the best puppet show the fringe festival has to offer.

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: Captain Ambivalent

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By Wendy Carson

If “Weird” Al Yankovic were more of a storyteller than just a comedy musician, this is the show that he would write. Instead, that duty falls to Captain Ambivalent in the “Not So Secret Origin of Captain Ambivalent,” playing at the Marrott Center.

The story of this legendary character is highlighted by some amazingly funny songs, wild costumes and wonderfully cheesy props. One of my favorite offerings was inspired by his 10-year old niece: “Let’s Bury Barbie in the Back Yard.”

The show is a sheer delight and very family-friendly. However, when I went, the parents were much more entertained by it all than their children.

Make sure you bring your camera for the photo-op at the end of the show, as well as some extra cash to purchase one or both of his CDs. You will surely want to share the songs with your friends.