Victoria Montalbano

IndyFringe: Timey Wimey Stuff

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This is part of the annual Indianapolis Theatre Fringe Festival, a/k/a IndyFringe 2026, held Aug. 13-23 in venues around downtown Massachusetts Ave. Information at indyfringe.org.

By Wendy Carson

After four years, Victoria Montalbano returns to Indy with another Sci-Fi-based story of her life. This time she turns to the Doctor Who universe, specifically with the character of River Song as her avatar. NOTE: While knowledge of the source material is helpful, it is not required to follow the story.

“Timey Wimey Stuff: The Mid Life Crisis of a Time Travelling Space Archeologist” centers mostly around the mind-numbing drudgery she endures to support her ambitions for a successful acting career. This gives her the chance to daydream of a more adventurous life among the stars, chasing The Doctor. We see how her choices have led her to her current and past states of being as well as the possibilities that might have been, had her circumstances changed even minutely. She constantly strives to be the best person she can and overcome the small, dark voice of pettiness that is ever present in the background.

Always a supreme storytelling talent, this offering even includes an original song. Here’s hoping an opportunity will once again arise for you to catch this exciting, rollicking adventure in storytelling.

IndyFringe: The Princess Strikes Back

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

By Wendy Carson

Victoria Montalbano had an awkward childhood, growing up as a theater nerd with very little romantic experience. Suddenly her life is changed forever when the “Star Wars Trilogy” is rereleased and plays in her local theater. Since there is only one woman in the entire movie, she naturally identifies herself as Princess Leia and falls madly for the “scruffy nerf-herder” of a rogue, Han Solo.

After college she moves to Chicago to become the next Tina Fey. Her exceptional improv skills aside, few acting opportunities provide themselves for her. Still, she remains ever hopeful that her leading man will find her, and she will eventually star in the story of her dreams.

As one might conclude from the show’s full title, “The Princess Strikes Back: One Woman’s Search for the Space Cowboy of her Dreams,” her co-star has yet to be cast. Still, the tales she tells of her personal and professional ups and downs are delightful to hear. Besides, if you don’t attend, you won’t learn the correlation between virginity and pumpkin pie.

The Force compels you to attend 7:15 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 25 and/or noon Saturday, Aug. 27, at the District Theatre.