The Fourth Wall

IndyFringe: Fallen from the Toy Box

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This show is part of the 15th Annual Indianapolis Theatre Fringe Festival, a/k/a IndyFringe, Aug. 15-25, 2019 on Mass Ave downtown. Info, etc., at www.IndyFringe.org.

By Wendy Carson

It’s been four years since The Fourth Wall have been at IndyFringe and once you see their latest show, you will want to convince them to not wait so long to come back and entertain us.

This show is full of entirely new content and spectacularly shows off their virtuosity as performers. Hillary Abigana is a master flautist; C. Neil Parsons brings loads of personality and spunk to the Bass Trombone; and Greg Jukes’ percussion abilities prove that there is not a thing that he cannot bring a pleasing tune from. Plus, they are all accomplished dancers and can utilize their bodies’ movements in ways that will astonish you.

We begin with a touching number with a toy soldier trying to woo a wind-up ballerina but other forces are working to keep them apart.

We are then encouraged to embrace the wonder of childhood as various games with balloons occur. They each balance a balloon of their head, try to keep one from falling by passing it among themselves and even move around holding balloons in place with various part so their body. Oh yeah, did I mention that they are all playing instruments during these feats?

They then present us with three different pieces of artwork that they have choreographed a piece for, each picture created by a child under the age of seven.

There is even a game of Hide and Go Seek played throughout the space with flashlights.

I don’t want to spoil the rest of the surprises they have in store for you. At one point in the show a young child spontaneously shouted out “Yay!” I can’t think of a better compliment to bestow on this group.

Remaining performances are Friday and Saturday nights (Aug. 23-24) at The District Theater (former TOTS location), 627 Massachusetts Ave.

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.