storytelling

Fringe review: Auditioning for Swan Lake

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By John Lyle Belden

In “Auditioning for Swan Lake” at the IndyFringe Indy Eleven Theatre, storyteller Lou Ann Homan starts us off with an Estonian fairy tale, which alone is nearly worth the price of admission, and helps set the theme of this story of stories about dance.

Homan always wanted to be a dancer, but she grew up Baptist. When an AARP bulletin says that the three ways to preserve memory as you age are learning a new language (took that in high school), learn an instrument (piano, got that covered) and learn to dance (oops!), she seeks to express her inner ballerina. She finds an adult class, and after a few months has the desire to try out for a local production of “Swan Lake.” Where lack of raw talent or actual ability might fail her, she’s sure to persevere with her knack for telling stories – right?

No matter what her ballet judges thought, Homan wins us over with her true tales of how she “almost danced” on skates, how a Saturday night dance helped save her son’s life, and how sometimes what you need isn’t in the flash cards. If you’re in the mood for stories spun with heart and humor, this is definitely a show to check out. Wearing a tutu is optional, but she’ll have hers on.

Fringe review: Hannibal: “LIAR!”

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By Wendy Carson

“Hannibal: ‘LIAR!’” at the IndyFringe Indy Eleven Theatre was the most “grown-up” magic show of the Fringe, so the fact that there were some younger children in attendance causing him to partially censor himself actually made it much funnier, in my opinion.

His tricks are presented as a story of his childhood and the delight that he experienced whenever his grandfather would entertain him with even the simplest of illusions. While there are a few points in which the audience participates, the amazement delivered is abundant. Especially when one of the other Fringe performers reacted to some impressive card predictions with, “He’s the Devil!”

If you get a chance to see Chris Hannibal, AKA #CardMonkey, do. It’s a charming hour of fun and tricks that will make you glad that you came.

Fringe review: The Adventures of Les Kurkendaal

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By Wendy Carson

Many of you may remember Les Kurkendaal from his past IndyFringe performances. His storytelling abilities are well known on the Fringe circuit, and in this year’s presentation, which played at the IndyFringe Indy Eleven Theatre, he admirably upped his game.

It seems that his boyfriend, Mike, has made the list of “Top 100 People from Bakersfield” due to co-producing the film, “Thank You for Smoking,” but has also decided that Les should accompany him to his 20-year class reunion.

While Les is hesitant, not only due to their being gay, but also as he wonders how Mike’s classmates will react to his being black as well. Mike reassures him that he had a single black classmate, George, and that nobody will really notice.

Les’ jealousy at seeing Mike living out his own dreams of success is a struggle, but he does make the best of it. There are plenty of laughs here, many coming from the fact that everyone in attendance thinks he is the aforementioned George.

This show is definitely the best one that Kurkendaal has brought to IndyFringe. I was delightfully impressed by how his charm and skill have developed and greatly look forward to his next visit.

Fringe review: Threads

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By John Lyle Belden

Tonya Jone Miller presents “Threads,” the story of her mother, Donna Jean Miller, whose life took her from Indiana to Vietnam in the 1960s and ’70s.

Donna married a sailor, which meant traveling, including to Hawaii, where she studied at the University to become a teacher in the Far East. While her marriage collapsed, she found love with a fellow student, a Vietnamese man. This leads to a teaching job in Saigon in 1968.

While the war raged elsewhere, the effects were often felt in the South Vietnamese capital. She deals with teaching while shells crash outside the building, and helping care for orphans who have little hope of survival. Years after her return to the States, with the fall of Saigon imminent, she goes back to make a desperate attempt to go help her boyfriend’s family, in spite of being nine months pregnant (with Tonya).

Miller tells of the threads, figurative and literal, that bind people and lives together, and how we affect one another. We get a fascinating look into a war-torn city, and through Donna’s brother, a glimpse of how war changes those who fight it. The story is non-linear, but easy to follow, as we trace the threads of time back and forth across two decades. Every tale is well told, fascinating and revelatory. We feel through Miller the love for her mother and what she went through and gratitude for the little events that led up to her own creation.

“Threads” unspools at the IndyFringe Basile Theatre.

Fringe review: The Sibling Staircase

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By John Lyle Belden

If you are the youngest of multiple siblings, perhaps the others feel they have boosted your spoiled self up from their positions in the family, but from your perspective, you might see yourself like storyteller Sally Perkins, at the very bottom of “The Sibling Staircase.”

In her talk at the IndyFringe Indy Eleven Theatre, Perkins, the youngest of three sisters, explains how she saw her eldest, Judy, as a perfect goddess, and the middle sister, Nancy, as a smart and entertaining knight – with herself as “Sally the Squire,” following in her footsteps. She takes comfort in the fact that in fairy tales, the youngest of three is often the hero, even when she doesn’t feel heroic herself. And she relates how her sisters helped her find her own talent, as when Nancy’s Sunday school tutoring helped spark Sally’s talent for storytelling.

But is she ready to step up on her own with a prestigious scholarship on the line?

Perkins charms as she relates these stories and more, in an entertaining performance for all ages and all positions within the family stairwell – even if you’re an “only” child.

Fringe review: Interrupting the Sermon

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By John Lyle Belden

“Interrupting the Sermon,” presented by First Hand Theatrical at Musician’s Union Hall, commemorates the late Wayne C. Olson, a minister who had congregations in New York state and Indianapolis, portrayed by his son Kevin Olson as well as John Kohan and Perry Hunt.

The show combines poetry, true stories and a sermon, all written by the elder Olson. The message, “My Bible: Then and Now,” is set up with “interruptions” of recollections from his life or verses of his poems. He tells of being awed by a dying girl’s enthusiasm for her faith, and appalled by the treatment others give an AIDS patient who seeks his help. And he relates how his dealings with others always have lessons for him, especially in how he relates to the scriptures on which, as a minister, he is expected to be an expert.

“Sometimes there is more grace and forgiveness outside the church than within it,” Olson muses, as he grapples with what that means in the bigger picture of his sacred mission.

This celebration of life and faith inspires and challenges us – as a good sermon should. Yet it’s not too “preachy” – no fire-and-brimstone or altar call. Kevin Olson does his father proud, and Kohan and Hunt smoothly stitch the show together into a satisfying whole.

Fringe review: The Secret Book of Jesus

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By John Lyle Belden

The apocryphal gospels that didn’t make the cut for the canonical Bible can still intrigue and enlighten, as Maximum Verbosity’s “The Secret Book of Jesus” at the IndyFringe Indy Eleven Theatre shows.

Phillip Low presents, without comment, readings from little-known sources including the Protoevangalium of James, Infancy Gospel of Thomas, History of Joseph the Carpenter, Gospel of Nicodemus, Gospel of Peter, Apocryphon of James, Gospel of Judas and The Questions of Bartholomew, as well as Robert de Boron’s Joseph d’Arimathea (which ties into a certain British legend).

Low’s delivery is crisp and entertaining, and contains no judgment of the texts. With virgin birth and Christ’s miracles accepted as truth, why balk at the infant Jesus confronting a dragon? Especially intriguing is the story of little boy Jesus learning the consequences of losing his temper.

For anyone who is interested in these ancient works, whether you regard them as heresy or just intriguing tales, this is definitely a show to include on your Fringe schedule.

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: 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: Ghost Story

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By Wendy Carson

Stand-up comic Peter-John Byrnes presents a “Ghost Story” at ComedySportz.

But don’t expect to hear your typical scary yarns such as are told around campfires. This reminiscence of a journey to visit the grave of an ex-girlfriend who committed suicide is tender, funny and will make you reconsider the ghosts of your own past.

It is a delightful storytelling offering, that will leave you thinking as well as entertained.