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Fringe review: The Eulogy

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By Wendy Carson

Warning: Do not drink anything during this show, as you will likely spit it out on your fellow patrons from laughing hysterically. Also, make sure you visit the restroom before the performance as you may need to avail yourself of it during the show, and the “no re-admittance” policy will break your heart.

In “The Eulogy,” at the Musicians Union, IndyFringe newcomer Michael Burgos deftly spins from one character to the next as they all give their personal eulogies at the less-than-somber occasion of the funeral of “Thomas.”

It would appear that the deceased was not only a glutton (he ate 14 friend eggs every morning) but a thoroughly despicable human being that no one is sorry to see go.

The audience becomes the various mourners at the funeral, including his lovely wife whom at least one of the eulogizers has apparently been in love with from afar. This leads to a turn of events that are straight out of a cartoon (I was honestly surprised that I was not actually watching Bugs Bunny carrying out this revenge on Elmer Fudd).

Funny is too weak a word to describe this show. In fact, there are no words to tell you how wonderful it is. I do warn you that it is entirely possible you could hurt yourself laughing at this, but your pain would be worth every second of delight you experience. This show is one that you do not want to later regret that you missed out on.

Fringe review: Drosselmeyer’s Magical Bedtime Story

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By Wendy Carson

One never knows what to expect when No Exit brings a show to the Fringe, except that it will be entertaining, to say the least. And this offering, “Drosselmeyer’s Magical Bedtime Story,” playing at the Marrott Center, does not fail to follow through on that promise.

Anyone who has seen the company’s amazing production of “The Nutcracker” will be familiar with the titular character, based on the magical toymaker in the holiday story. However, for those of you who have sadly missed the experience, suffice it to say that the word “character” cannot even begin to describe him.

His gypsy troupe enters the stage area and begins their bizarre performance in a manner reminiscent of the animal parade from “The Lion King.” Once he introduces himself and his somewhat simple-minded assistant, Sparkle, we all discover that she is now with child. Drosselmeyer has concerns about her parenting abilities, and enlists the help of various audience members to instruct her on parenting basics with the help of his new dancing troupe, The Mosquito Ladies. Needless to say, hilarity ensues.

This show is delightfully irreverent and managed to surpass my already high expectations of its content. A definite must-see for those looking for the lighter side of edgy and unique theatre.

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.

Fringe review: A Little Business at the BIG TOP

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By Wendy Carson

What can one say to describe the sheer genius of David Gaines? He manages to convey rich stories and delightful characters without uttering a word. His use of sound and mime create more elaborate drama and comedy than you would believe possible.

That talent is on brilliant display in “A Little Business at the BIG TOP,” playing on the Theatre on the Square main stage, in which he plays all the characters at a circus.

If you saw the amazing whirlwind that was his past show, “7(x1) Samurai,” or even are new to his talents, do not miss this opportunity. It truly is a delight for all ages. The two young children sitting near me at Saturday’s performance were entirely rapt by the whole thing (and they had been hesitant to see it when they found out it was a mime show).

Again, see this amazing show! You might regret missing out on the experience.

Fringe review: Whisper in My Good Ear

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By Wendy Carson

“Whisper in My Good Ear,” by Vintage Players at the IndyFringe Basile Theatre, is the story of two old men overwhelmed with the hardships of their lives. Charlie’s wife has been institutionalized for 34 years and shows no signs of improvement or even any recognition of who he is. Max has lived a lonely life in which he would call random phone numbers just to hear another person say, “Hello” to him.

Since their outlooks are so bleak, they have made a pact to meet in this park and end their lives together. We are therefore witnessing the final conversation of their bleak existence.

In the hands of these two brilliant actors, this drama is uplifted into a level of brilliance that supersedes the dour subject matter. Lawrence Ripp brings a tender, joviality to Charlie and his hopefulness even in the face of his slow loss of everything that he loves in his life. Patrick O’Brian’s introspective take on Max and the unadulterated loneliness of his life makes his character’s sorrow even more poignant.

Watching these two seasoned actors bring this story to life is a delight that should really not be missed.

Fringe review: Orange is the New Black Keys

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By Wendy Carson

From the group that brought you last year’s “Shame of Thrones,” this year’s offering, “Orange is the New Black Keys” by host ComedySportz Indianapolis, is a zany send-up of a certain Netflix sensation.

However, since the actors are taking their cues from and utilizing lines provided by the audience, this show is exactly as funny as you make it. If you’re planning on going, start thinking up outrageous things for them to say. Some of the highlights from my show were, “Kiss me like I’m Greg Brady and you’re Florence Henderson,” and a soulful ballad about Jon Benet Ramsey. Also, it would seem that at least one of the cast has no idea of how to perform an Irish accent, much to the delight of everyone in attendance.

Whether you are a fan of the parodied series or not, the show will have you laughing hysterically the entire time. The show is a welcome respite from some of the darker offerings available and highly recommended as a “palate cleanser” to keep you going throughout the week.

Fringe review: Bromance

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By Wendy Carson

“Bromance,” by Farewell Tour Productions at Theatre on the Square Stage Two, is the story of how Kurt Fitzpatrick and Tommy (Reverend) Nugent came together to make this show. Apparently their main goal is to sell-out and/or win an award at the Orlando Fringe Festival. While Nugent is wanting to quit acting and considering a career change in Truck Driving School.

Self-depreciation, crappy Photoshop, video parodies, A literary dissection of the book “Eat, Pray, Love” are merely the tip of the iceberg. Plus, since Kurt has a microscopic scene in “Law & Order: SVU”, expect to see those 2 seconds replayed, ad infinitum.

While all of the above might sound like the show is skip-able, it’s absolutely hilarious. The laughs are nonstop and their chemistry is sheer perfection. For a solid hour of laughs and silliness, check out these guys and revel in their infamy.

Fringe review: 4.48 Psychosis

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By Wendy Carson

“4.48 Psychosis,” by Savage at Last at Theatre on the Square Stage Two, is one of those edgy, artistic shows that makes the Fringe what it is. The performance is created to give you an insight to the constant suffering of psychotics. Aparently the 4.48 of the title is a reference to the 1 hour and 12 minutes of clarity that she experiences.

My best take on the production was, What if William Shakespeare wrote “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest”?

While the show’s disjointed narrative is necessary to drive whatever story that exists here, difficult and challenging are the best descriptors I can come up with. Plus, it has the strangest, most awkward ending I’ve ever experienced.

This show is not for everyone, but it is a powerful experience for anyone who attends. If you do add this to your schedule, I strongly suggest that you schedule a light comedy afterwards to keep our brain from being overwhelmed.

GenCon wrap-up

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By Wendy C. Carson

Here’s a look back at GenCon:

WEDNESDAY, JULY 29

John went downtown to take part in some of the Trade Day panels and picked up his event tickets. Trade Day events were mainly for educators, librarians and games retailers.

After picking me up from work in the afternoon, we made our way back to the Indiana Convention Center so that I could pick up my event tickets. However, the line stretched the length of the building about three-wide and was moving extremely slowly, so I decided to try and get my tickets on Thursday.

THURSDAY, JULY 30

We got up early to get into the Press line and get our badges before going to a 9 a.m. writing seminar. While John held my place in line, I sauntered up to Will Call and got my tickets in a matter of minutes. We usually go straight to the Exhibit Hall, but since we decided to do things differently this year (and were both interested in the panel), we gave back our early entry tickets so someone else could take our places. Judging by the long line at the Press room, it really looked like they were going to run out or early passes this year.

The seminar was about the business of writing, and how to navigate through the obstacles and pitfalls that can befall a budding writer. We met some great people and were glad that we attended. We also went to a networking panel later that day. As with past networking panels we’d attended, they all really boil down to: “Don’t be a dick to other people.”

After the networking panel, our stomachs were growling so we went out to the food truck area on Georgia Street for some grub. I got an amazing grilled cheese sandwich (barbequed meat, two kinds of cheese and caramelized onions) while John got a combo platter at the Jamaican truck. We shared our meals and then had a doughnut sandwich for dessert. This was one of the most delicious and decadent things I’ve ever eaten. It had a large scoop of Nutella gelato sandwiched between two halves of a chocolate yeast doughnut. Mmmmm…

We decided to tackle the Exhibit Hall by starting at the furthest end (row 3000) at “Entrepreneur’s Avenue,” which we were most interested in checking out. Not only is it nice to support new games and creators, but some of our favorite games have come from there. This year once again did not fail to impress. Watch for our reviews of the new hot games that everyone’s going to want to play.

There was one small drawback overall. Many companies throughout the room were advertising and demonstrating some amazing games, but they were merely prototypes to be Kickstarted or produced later. In fact, we had a major, “Shut Up and Take My Money” moment when we played World Champion Russian Roulette and weren’t able to buy it. We tried to get one of their demo copies, but to no avail. We did talk to them and they should send us a copy as soon as we can have one but we will still do a quickie write-up of it soon.

We then attended a seminar on researching for writers. It was quite helpful. I am slowly working on a story whose main character shares a life story very similar to an existing person, and I got advice on how to approach her, as well as friends and family, for interviews.

Anyway, after that, we hurried off to get ready for the Miskatonic University Graduation Ceremony. (We volunteer to be part of the Chaosium Games official H.P. Lovecraft-inspired event each year.) I was to be the “Dean of Women” but ended up being more of the “Mistress of Discipline.” The event was wonderful. Each year, not only do more and more people attend, but they come up with the most amazing material to add to the storyline that we really don’t have to do much besides give them a topic and let them go. Our Valedictorian won by “sacrificing” himself (almost literally). When he fell down, his head whacked a steel beam in the room with a resounding THUD. Once he assured us he was OK, another person said he “Majored in Necromancy” and brought him back from the dead. I really can’t wait to see next year’s “Cthulhu for President” rally. It’s going to be amazing.

FRIDAY, JULY 31

I had tickets to the 10 a.m. puppetry panel with guest of honor Trace Beaulieu, so we arrived around 9:15 or so because I expected a huge crowd. It turns out that there wasn’t, but being early allowed me to talk to Trace on and off for a bit and that was quite fun. He’s got a lot of great stories and is very easy to talk to. Since the staff seemed short-handed and were busy getting everything set up, I ended up organizing and controlling the line for the event, as well as the one next door which was also very popular.

There was some confusion over when the panel ended, so John ducked out around 11 to make it to the Gaymers (LTBTQ gamers) panel and I joined later after reminding those in charge that this was scheduled to be a 1 hour panel, not a 2 hour one like was occurring. The Gaymer panel was a nice discussion and it was good for us to be reassured that we are not alone in facing similar challenges.

Afterward, we headed off to the dealers room to play some Mayfair games to earn the “Knight of Catan” ribbon & the half-price coupon that goes with it. Frankly, the coupon is the only way we can afford to buy some of their games at all. I managed to get mine partly by running several demo games of Catan Dice, since they were short-handed and we own the game. John had to run off and attend a panel on podcasting during this time.

We then met up again and tried some more games. I had tickets to the 4 p.m. autograph session with Terry Brooks, but when I made it to the line there were about 40 people from the 3 p.m. line in addition to the hundred or so in the 4 p.m. line. Since I really don’t like his writing and was only there for the autograph in principle, I gave my tickets to someone else.

We eventually left at 6 p.m. when the Exhibit Hall closed and grabbed a quick bitr from Der Pretzel Wagon. While food-truck food can be a bit pricey – even though it’s often unique and a real treat — this place is a great bargain. You get a large sandwich, chips, drink and a huge pretzel for $11 (which is a pretty great deal compared to other trucks).

We then headed over to Union Station to check out the Gaymer gathering, which was supposed to be a sort of a mixer. However, even though the event sold out online, only a few people showed up. We did meet a few cool people, and won a copy of Cards against Humanity. We probably should have left early and gone to the Crossplay contest as I had signed up to compete. However, when I signed up, I wasn’t sure what my costume lineup for the weekend would be and was hoping to showcase my Minion outfit. Still, I was dressed as a female version of The Doctor, so I thought that might work but we just didn’t have the energy to schlep all the way over to the hotel where the event was being held.

Feeling totally wiped out, we went home to get some rest. Remember, we’re not as young as we used to be and the schedule is starting to catch up to us. Still, we had a great time that day and even more the rest of the weekend.

SATURDAY, AUG. 1

We took it easy in the morning and had a nice breakfast before heading downtown. We hit the Exhibit Hall as it opened and John and I both played games to get him his Knights of Catan ribbon. Then we used our discounts and bought some fun games that we will review later on (after the official reviews are exhausted). I did notice that this year Mayfair made the “Wood” ribbon games much more time intensive. I’m not sure why.

After this we ran off to the “Cthulhu All-Stars” panel which promised a séance to contact H.P. Lovecraft as part of the event. The discussion of Lovecraft’s works and their endurance prior to the ceremony were quite interesting — and who could have predicted the outcome of the séance? NOTE: I shot video of this and it should be posted here soon.

We then returned to the Exhibit Hall (yes, we do spend most of our time there but it is HUGE and since our main objective is searching out new games to review and promote, it makes sense to be there most of the con).

I spent the day in my Minion outfit and it was a big hit. Sadly, the booth selling official Minion games sold out as soon as the room opened, so I couldn’t get my planned pic with that.

After the hall closed, we had gotten tickets for a few cosplay events but there was a Gaymer’s picnic at Greg’s (one of the local gay bars) that promised food and drink, so we swung by. While there was some food (yummy burgers and hot dogs), the event never really happened. If it hadn’t been for a sweet young “Drag Princess” coming by and talking to us, we might as well have been invisible. Plus, I was the only female (cis or trans) in the place.

We had hoped to make it to the Talbot Street drag show that evening (a special GenCon event) but we were so exhausted we just went home and crashed.

SUNDAY, AUG. 2

So there we were on the last day of the con. Unfortunately, we were not able to sleep in, because when we got home on Saturday night, I looked over our event tickets and realized that I had signed us up for an 8 a.m. game slot playtesting a new game. So, we somehow got out of bed and made it to the event.

Being a Sunday morning slot, many of those signed up to play as well as demo the games did not show. There was a wide variety of games available but only around half of them were actually available. John and I both picked different games to play (neither of us got our first choice and I ended up with my third one). However, I really enjoyed the game I chose. It was a gangster themed game in which each player tries to build up their resources and allies in order to be the top mob in town. You’ll hear more about it in a later post as I was given a preview copy to review. and it will be on Kickstarter soon.

Even though the playtesting slot was two hours and most if not all of the boardgames took an hour or less to play, they officially would not allow anyone to sign up for and play a second game, However, prior to my game ending. another game designer showed up and watched us play. After we were done, he sat and talked to one of the designers of the game I had played and the three of us ended up playing his card game and it was also very fun. I also ended up getting a copy of his game, too, and again, it will be reviewed in conjunction with his Kickstarter as well.

When we were done, we tackled the Exhibit Hall and gathered up all of the review copies of games we could. Adding in the games we bought not strictly for reviewing, we ended up with more than 30 new games to review. Plus, I got a new copy of Telestrations to replace my old dying first-edition set.

There are also about a dozen other games that sold out during the con that we should be getting mailed to us. So even though we do a lot of theater reviews here, expect a lot of game reviews to be in the mix, especially once the Fringe Festival ends.

After the convention ended, we headed out and grabbed some dinner then ran back to Mass Avenue to catch a special GenCon themed edition of Lou Harry’s “Going, Going, Gone”. This edition did not disappoint in the least. The actors were hilarious and the items up for bid were the usual eclectic mix. In fact, we ended up exhausting much of our hoard of leftover play money from the past editions and brought home a rather full box of fun items.

Once again, exhausted but elated, we packed it in and crawled back home to spend some time with our oft-neglected friend that we call bed. I hope you liked my little tale of our adventure and will look forward to all of the many game reviews coming your way soon.

—

Note: GenCon returns to the Indiana Convention Center Aug. 3-7, 2016.

Wendy’s GenCon update

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Trace Beaulieu, popular for playing Dr. Forrester and Crow T. Robot on "Mystery Science Theater 3000" as well as appearing on shows including "Freaks and Geeks", was Puppetry Guest of Honor at GenCon 2015. His next project has him again playing a mad scientist on the web series "Vermin." -- photo provided
Trace Beaulieu, popular for playing Dr. Forrester and Crow T. Robot on “Mystery Science Theater 3000” as well as appearing on shows including “Freaks and Geeks”, was Puppetry Guest of Honor at GenCon 2015. His next project has him again playing a mad scientist on the web series “Vermin.” — photo provided

By Wendy Carson

I am still alive (somehow). I had an amazing amount of fun at GenCon this last weekend in downtown Indy. We brought home a ton of awesome games to review (see John’s post below). Overall, it was wonderful.

This year’s convention was very different for us from the ones in the past. First of all, I didn’t make it to Trade Day on Wednesday because I had to work. I could have taken that day off, but felt that just having Thursday and Friday off was sufficient (plus, I didn’t want to push my luck at the new job).

The biggest difference, though, was that rather than just playing games, we attended several panels throughout the weekend — I don’t think we’ve done that in years (at least not since the convention moved to Indy). Our first panel — a writers’ workshop — was at 9 a.m. Thursday, so we skipped out on getting early entry to the exhibit hall, but we were glad we did.

The whole feeling of this year’s con was more laid-back overall but still very hectic. We took our time working through the vast exhibit hall. We didn’t finish seeing all of the game booths until most of the way through Saturday. Since almost all of the clothing and whatnot dealers together seemed to be grouped in the center of the hall, we just scanned those aisles and skipped portions of them. We also didn’t get to see much of the artists’ area. I was only there for a second to find one we knew and update her on my efforts to promote her work by getting her promotional bookmarks to all of the cons in the area. I never even got to check out the Autograph area or the entertainment booths (except for a quick second at Trace Beaulieu’s booth to get his autograph). I had secured a ticket to get Terry Brooks’ autograph, but the line was entirely too long for me to deal with (two-plus hour wait) so I gave my ticket to someone else. Besides, I don’t actually like his books, so it’s no big loss.

I did get to see Trace (Dr. Forrester and “Crow” of MST3K) several times throughout the con, and he was absolutely charming and funny. If any of you out there get a chance to see him, please do — you won’t be disappointed.

Since John was researching an article on “Gaymers,” [coming soon either in print or online with The Word — John] we attended a few of their gathering and panels. Some were sparsely attended, but on the upside, we did end up winning a “Cards Against Humanity” game (which we didn’t have yet).

The Miskatonic University Graduation Ceremony Thursday night went amazingly well. John and I volunteer to assist with the official Chaosium event each year which has a Lovecraftian theme, most notably the “Cthulhu for President” rally on election years (next year!). We had a solid turnout, with attendees unbelievably into the whole event even more than in the past few years. One even hit his head on a steel beam when he fell to “sacrifice” himself (he was OK, and another person used his “Necromancy Degree” to resurrect him). My Dean of Women (more of a “Mistress” of Students) went over amazingly well.

While we didn’t get to do everything we wanted, we did enjoy everything we could get to.