End's Eve: The Feast of 2012 - 8/11/2007

Beware of strangers carrying pork chops! End's Eve: The Feast of 2012 is one of those jaw-droppingly-bad plays about which you can only ask: What were they thinking? A group of friends gather on the night of December 20, 2012, to ring in what may be the end of the world (according to the Mayan calendar). When ridiculous news breaks announce weird occurrences (like the disappearance of Japan!), crop circles appear in the living room, and a large crystal skull turns up in the take-out – all without a hint of (intentional) humor – you know you are in for a rare evening in the theater. The proceedings are so hopelessly directed, and so amateurishly acted that I won't mention any names. But the majority of the blame goes to the play's two (!) authors – who seem earnest in their interest Mayan myth and culture (according to the program notes) and have managed to trivialize it in the form of this sci-fi silliness.

Fringe Rating: 1/10

For Tickets: www.fringenyc.org
For Info: www.feastof2012.com

Riding the Bull - 8/11/2007

A religious rodeo clown with a big head (GL) falls for the mean fat girl who happens to be an atheist (Lyza). When they have sex, she shouts out the name of the next winning bull rider. They scheme to bet on these winners and so they become rich enough to hire an Elvis impersonator to be GL's mother's companion. Playwright August Schulenburg's Riding the Bull is the kind of quirky play for which the Fringe is famous - not always a good thing, mind you. GL's monologues are sharp and funny – the dialog, less so; and the reversals that both characters undergo seem to come from nowhere. The physical production is excellent and Kelly O'Donnell's direction is fine but in the end, unfortunately, Riding the Bull doesn't amount to much.

Fringe Rating: 5/10

For tickets: www.fringenyc.org
For Info: www.fluxtheatre.org

All Aboard - 8/10/2007

Armstrong/Bergeron Dance Company's All Aboard is a multi-media dance piece about train travel. Video of footage shot aboard Amtrack, the NYC Subway, and in various train stations and interviews with passengers and crew accompany many of the dances. The choreography itself is mostly terrific and enjoyable specifically "The Luggage Car". Unfortunately, not all of the dancers are technically at the same level, which does infuse the piece with unwanted dramatic tension. The use of music by Steve Reich without comment on the political nature of the music bothered my companions and given the apolitical nature of the piece, perhaps the choice of this music should be rethought. Removing that criticism, and I do note that is a huge caveat, All Aboard is an enjoyable work.

Fringe Rating: 7/10

For Tickets: www.fringenyc.org
For Info: www.abdance.org

Days and Nights: page 121, lines 11 and 12 - 8/10/2007

Anne Frank and family performing scenes from Chekhov's The Seagull while in hiding – a simple and effective premise; it immediately adds a layer of subtext absent in most productions of Chekhov productions. Adapted and directed by Marc Stuart Weitz, Days and Nights: page 121, lines 11 and 12, is a powerful piece of theater. Weitz isn't afraid of long stretches of silence or repetition of text and the results underscore the horror of their confinement. The cast is very good with Erin Gorski (Anne) Philippe Bowgen (Peter) and Catherne Gowl (Mrs. Frank) being particularly excellent. Fair warning though, familiarity with The Seagull is a must – it may be hard to follow as actors switch roles and plot is not a focus. That said, it was nice to start off this year's Fringe Festival with such a well though-out, mature and well-done piece.

FRINGE RATING: 9/10

For Tickets: www.fringenyc.org
For Info: www.annefrankseagull.com

Alexis Soloski asks How can we improve the New York Fringe?

The Village Voice's Alexis Soloski holds a frank discussion on the state of the NY Fringe Festival with John Clancy - a founding member of the festival, Nick Stuccio - the artistic director of the Philadelphia Fringe, and Vallejo Gantner - the former artistic director of the Dublin Fringe and current artistic director of P.S.122.

A must read: http://www.villagevoice.com/theater/0732,soloski,77433,11.html

Fringe Preview: John Goldfarb Please Come Home

...a new musical comedy about love, spy planes, harem girls, and the Notre Dame football team, complete with belly dancing and a Middle Eastern score. Book by Oscar winner William Peter Blatty (The Exorcist) and music and lyrics by Michael Garin, Robert Hipkens and Erik Frandsen.

For Info & Tickets: www.johngoldfarb.com or www.fringenyc.org

New Adam Rapp Play Premiering At The Flea

A new play by the acclaimed Adam Rapp will have it's premiere at the Flea Theater. Bingo With The Indians, written and directed by Rapp, is about a disgruntled East Village theater company with more on their minds then playing Bingo descends upon a small New England town.

Bingo With The Indians will run October 25 - December 22, Tuesday - Saturday at 9pm with 7pm shows December 2, 9 & 16. The official opening night will be November 9th.

This is going to be a hot ticket.

For Tickets & Info: www.theflea.org