FringeNYC Preview: PUPPET GOVERNMENT

You have to admire any anti-Bush political theater that comes out of Texas. Small Appliance Puppet Theater is based in Austin, Texas and “is dedicated to shining the light of truth on today’s political leaders – while creating an opportunity to laugh.” Puppet Government dares to ask: If President George W. Bush was an appliance, what would he be? The Appliance-in-Chief and his friends sing and dance in musical numbers, deliver bizarre press conferences, and start an exciting war. Puppet Government is written by Steve Barney and directed by Chris Humphrey who also composed and arranged the music, and designed the puppets.

For more info: www.chrishumphrey.org/puppetgov and www.fringenyc.org/

FringeNYC Preview: THE PENGUIN TANGO

Gay Penguins! The Penguin Tango is inspired by actual events at the Bremerhaven, Brooklyn, and Central Park Zoos. In this "ripped from the headlines" comedy about gay penguins, Roy and Silo's relationship is tested when the zookeepers introduce a Swedish temptress penguin and electro-shock therapy into the habitat to force Roy to turn straight and reproduce. But, the Penguin community joins forces to rescue Roy and Silo and take a stand for penguins everywhere. The Penguin Tango explores, stretches, defies, and pokes fun at customary definitions of sexuality and gender. In the world of the play -- the world of the Humboldt penguin -- there is no social norm for sexuality or gender. Homosexual couples and heterosexual couples exist equally. It is only when human zookeepers try to impose their traditional definitions of love, gender and mating that the penguins become confused and conflicted and comic chaos ensues. Woody Allen always jokes that penguins are like Catholics - they mate for life. I wonder what he'd think of this...Written and drected byStephen Svoboda, the production stars Steve Hayes from the movie Trick.

For Info: http://www.frescotheater.com/ and http://www.fringenyc.org/

FringeNYC Preview: WALMARTOPIA

It’s probably a safe bet to say that the musical “hit” of the Fringe will be Walmartopia. The show originated in, of all places, Madison, Wisconsin, and is having its NYC premiere at the Fringe. According to the press release, Walmartopia tells the story of “Vicki Latrell, a single mom who speaks out against her company’s working conditions and finds herself jettisoned to 2036, into a future where Wal-Mart dominates the entire world. Yes, the musical features the singing head of Wal-Mart founder Sam Walton.” (Emphasis in the original!) You probably should get tickets quickly as this satire of big business should do big business at the box office.

For Info: http://www.walmartopia.com/ or http://www.fringenyc.org/

FringeNYC Preview: THE PROSTITUTE OF REVERIE VALLEY

One Armed Man and Adam Klasfeld (author of last year’s Good Faces Make Good Neighbors) hit the Fringe for a second year in a row with The Prostitute of Reverie Valley. From the press release “this newest work takes place in a mysterious dreamscape. An unnamed prostitute decides to leave her life behind, and one of her most faithful johns tries to stop her. But before the night is over, she’ll find out shocking secrets about the mysterious town and herself. Who were her parents? How did she get there? Why are certain urges forbidden for her? Why is everybody so secretive? And most importantly, how does she get out?” Maybe an alternate title could be “Waiting For Good 'Ho”? Sherri Kronfeld directs.

For Info: http://www.onearmedman.org/ and http://www.fringenyc.org/

FringeNYC Preview: DANNY BOY

I'll keep this short...Marc Goldsmith’s Danny Boy is the story of Danny Bloch, whose search for romance is complicated by his stature--he stands about four-feet tall. From the press release "Danny Boy takes us through Danny's collisions and conciliations with friends, family, lovers and body issues on his dark, funny and poignant quest for love and self-esteem in present day New York.” Christopher Goodrich directs.

For Info: http://www.dannyboytheplay.com/ and www.fringenyc.org

FringeNYC Preview: ONLY A LAD

A musical based on the songs of the 80’s rock band Oingo Boingo. Cool! Oingo Boingo was another one of those 80’s bands that almost “made it.” The band’s front man, Danny Elfman has since certainly “made it” as one of the more creative film composers. The band was part of the LA punk scene, but they were different; for one thing they had a horn section! And they were smart, funny, ironic and highly subversive. I’m not sure how well and show can be when created from a catalogue of songs by a specific band, but I’m willing to give this one a try. Only a Lad is the story of Johnny, a punk teenager living in 1984 America. He lives in a world of black, white and wild imagination. When Johnny is accused of murder, he must prove his innocence.

For Info: www.onlyaladthemusical.com or www.fringenyc.org

FringeNYC Preview: THE FARTISTE

THE FARTISTE sounds like the ultimate Fringe show. It has a catchy title, a loopy plot and it’s a musical. According to the press release, it’s the “strange but very true, story of Joseph Pujol…an ordinary French baker with a case of ambition and an unusual and ass-tonishing talent—the ability to manipulate a limitless supply of odorless gas from his rectum - fashioning an amazing assortment of musical numbers, imitations, and ass- tounding tricks." It’s directed by John Gould Rubin, a member of LAByrinth Theater Company, for which he created and directed Dreaming in Tongues; and directed the premieres of Stopless; The Trail of Her Inner Thigh by Erin Cressida Wilson – all of which were excellent productions.

For Info: www.thefartiste.com or www.fringenyc.org.