Sting. Stung.

Do you think there are some people who have to bring you down when you are up? I am having a truly wonderful week. This Fringe experience has exceeded my expectations. It is not accidental - we have worked hard and although I did not dare dream we would do as well as we did, I am proud of what we have created. I can own that. After 25+ years of doing theatre I do not think it is a fluke or an accident. However, there are always people out there (some of whom you think are your friends) who have to find a way to suggest that you perhaps don't deserve the success. I am working on shaking off this feeling. I am, at the very least, going to wait and think about it after Fringe is done. It may, however, affect whether I ever go see any of those people's shows again - no matter how good they are. If a friend can't be happy for me when I do well, then why should I support them?

Ah, well... I guess it happens.

What a Day Yesterday Was!

Well, first of all, it was Mark and my 15th Wedding Anniversary - holy moley 15 years!!! We actually got to go out to dinner, too! Thanks to Grandma for babysitting! And then we went to the SOLD OUT show of Pieces. I was very glad I had purchased tickets so we could actually see it. Very exciting to have a Sold Out show. Right now sales for the remaining 3 shows are very good and it makes me happy. I feel like this Fringe has been a real gift to me... everything is going so well. I felt we had a strong show, but it is nice to get external confirmation. I also got to see friends that had moved away and were back in town for weddings. So nice to see them.

Today I saw 2 very fun Fringe shows. I saw Cowboy: A Cowboy Story. My biggest laughs this Fringe. I think it's Sold Out - but check with the Box Office. It is so funny. I also saw and really liked Our Balzac is Showing based on the stories of Honore de Balzac. I loved the structure of this piece (strangely similar to the structure I used in Zachary and the Storytelling Stones, but the subject matter was definitely not kid friendly!). It's raunchy and unapologetically so and so much fun. If you can't handle raunch - don't go. If you can - go and laugh heartily! The three actors are really good and committed and work as a nice ensemble in this lusty piece!

I hope you can get to Pieces. Right now tickets are flying fast. I am shocked (in a good way)! I am also hoping I have to sit in the lobby for the remaining 3 shows because of Sell Outs... If we are lucky...

Fringe - hiatus - further reflection...

Saw a couple more shows yesterday and today. Still walking on a cloud and apparently smiling ridiculously all the time. It's a good feeling - I won't lie. This has been a great fringe for me and it is only a 1/3 over. My choosing from the Program and instinct has panned out alright. I did see one show today that I felt I should recommend highly.

This afternoon the weather gods that I had been praying to gave us a nice overcast afternoon for the 2 hour and 10 minute production of BARE that was playing at 12 noon at the Catalyst theatre. Thus, the hot box was merely warm. The talent onstage, however, was sizzling! What. A. Good. Show. Those of you who know me, know that I am tough on musicals. Because I can do them well, I expect other people to do them well. This group did this show very, very, very well. Gorgeous voices. Wonderful emotional commitment. Everyone knew their journey. Great band. It was well directed and despite multiple settings, the scene changes were quick and never stopped the flow. I spent the last 45 minutes bawling. No one warned me about needing Kleenex. I am warning you. I hope that I can work with some of these terrific people some day (in fact I am wondering why I haven't worked with more of them!!!). Jeff Rivet, Matthew Lindholm, Sarah Horsman, Kayla Gorman, Eric Wigston and all the rest... you blew me away today.

Fringe - hiatus - reflection...

First two shows of Pieces are done - first two reviews are in and they are extremely satisfying (4.5 Stars in the Journal!!). I now have a break until Tuesday night so I thought I would take some time to reflect on my Fringe experience as an audience member. I have seen 6 shows other than my own. The shows I have seen have run the gamut. The two most memorable and resonant (for very different reasons) were The Tudor Queens (Send in the Girls) and (Real) Gone (Girl) (Cowardly Kiss).

Tudor Queens was my first show. I saw it opening night of the Fringe. A great pick to kick off the fringe, and kick it does. Although not really a burlesque aficionado I am big into the whole Tudor thing thanks to Phillipa Gregory and the TV series. Going in I wasn't sure how with was going to work, mixing the history with satirical dance, however, it was a really nice fit. Each of the Queen had their own solo number which totally worked to underscore their journey. Lots of artistic licence with the history, but all the women attacked what they were given. It's funny. It's saucy. And the 'strip' does not make you feel uncomfortable because they commit so completely. I do not know how you could go to this show and not enjoy yourself.

I saw (Real) Gone (Girl) yesterday afternoon. The task seems impossible. One actress alone onstage... she knows her movement but not her words or her story. With the use of an iPod she gets her lines a moment before she says them. Full commitment despite not knowing anything about what is coming is amazing in itself - doing it while performing a complicated movement piece is the equivalent of a marathon. It's not for everyone... more of a performance piece where you hold your breath and stay glued to her from start to finish, but for those who like to challenge themselves with something different and totally unpredictable this would be the right choice. A true "Fringe" show.

Now remember, these are my responses - they are personal - and you may have a different reaction to them... that's theatre. The audience is always right, even when they disagree.

What Do You Like to Go to?

At Fringe I like to see a real variety of things. I know some people who just want to see the funny stuff and others who go for the edgy stuff, but me, I like a nice mixed bag of shows. I am picky in that I want to see a well-constructed, prepared show. A lot of people vied for those spots and there are a lot of other shows that I could be at, so I want to know that the production has worked hard for me. In fact, it is more the quality of completeness that I require to be happy with the show. I have selected a variety so far and hope to add in more as I get my Fringe-legs under me. I can't always predict if I will be able to handle a late night so I avoid buying those tickets until the day of - hazards of aging and the fact I have to take the kids to camp in the morning.

So far here are the shows I am anxiously looking forward to seeing:

The Tudor Queens
Faith Healer
Pornstar.USA
Gone
(Real) Gone (Girl)
Going Viral
Complicateded
Cartoon in a Cartoon Graveyard
Bare
Ruminations of Maude
Teaching Shakespeare 2
Harold of Glactus
Pieces
Cowboy
Our Balzac are Showing
No Choking Matter
Little Room
Zastrozzi
The Seminar
Grim and Fischer
[title of show]

In that list there are comedies, dramas, a burlesque show, musicals, a puppet show, solo shows, ensemble casts, shows with friends in them, touring shows, local companies, you name it... I will let you know what else as the week progresses!

The Fringe a.k.a. $265.00 so far

I spent a couple hours this morning figuring out my initial Fringe Plan. This is the first one - the one that I will buy my advance tickets for which takes into account the fact that afternoon weekday shows are good for me as opposed to late night ones and which shows my friends are in and which ones I can tell I want to see based on the Program. There are many more I would go to if I didn't have to leave the site by 4:30 p.m. and not be able to return until 7:00 p.m. every weekday AND take into account that my brain can only really handle 3-4 shows a day and I am no longer good at late nights (at least not when I have to get up to take the kids to camp in the morning). In any case, I have spent $265 on tickets for 21 shows, including 2 for Pieces on the night of our anniversary for Mark and I so that we can see it and sit together guaranteed. I know, $265 sounds like a lot of cashola, but I was thinking about it... What is that? 3-4 Citadel shows? 2 Folk fest weekend passes? 8-9 shows in the regular season at the smaller theatres? It's not even 2 tickets to see Michael Buble or Josh Groban (I know, some of you are thinking Lady Gaga or U2, but hey, I am a 43 year old white woman into musical theatre - Buble and Groban are up my alley!). For $265 I get to see 20 shows - many of them new works - spread over 11 days. It is really my version of holidays. I don't get to travel very often as my ability to do so is constrained by kids and work and school. This really is my 'holiday'. So it is money well spent!

In Case This is Serious...

So today I woke up and when I got out of bed I had this sudden dizzy burst in my brain and I almost fell. I caught myself by shifting my weight towards the bed instead of the floor. It was very weird and I got up slowly after that and seemed fine. I was fine for most of the day until around 6:30 when I lay down to read and whammo it was like bed spins in my head. Since then my head feels a bit fuzzy on top and although I haven't had anymore dizzy spells, I do not feel really good in the brain. So, in case it's serious I just wanted to say I love you all. I have Tech Rehearsal for Fringe tomorrow morning first thing so I cannot be ill. That is all.