Fringe Schmooze
⊆ July 25th, 2006 by courtney | ˜By: Joel Markowitz
On The Fringe-How I Spent My Weekend Hidden In A Warehouse And A Lounge, Had A Great Lunch, Was Influenced By A Funny Cowboy, Became Naked Where I Divulged A Special Secret, Learned How To Hear Clearly, And Had Something FROZTY On Those Sweltering Days.
I’m on the fringe after seeing 8 shows during the first 4 days of the Capitol Fringe Festival. I’m pooped, but very invigorated.
THE CREAM THAT RISES TO THE TOP-HERE’S THE SCOOP:
THE EDDIE LOUNGE SHOW: I WANT MORE!!
I like this guy. There’s allot of me in Ed Spitzberg-we both love to schmooze (have you noticed?) and we love to lounge around and talk to everyone that passes us. He’s a walking PR firm. He’s affable, hard working, funny and talented.
Everywhere you looked the past few weeks, you saw The Eddie Lounge Show.
Ed Spitzberg is an expert PR man. He’s learned how to develop a show because he is the development director at Arena Stage. Last Friday his smiling face was one of the fringe “acts” that graced the front cover of the weekend section of the Post. For the last month, Ed’s ads were everywhere. His glossy cards were in bars and bookstores. They were so effective, that I woke up on Saturday morning and I swear I saw him in my house lounging around. Ed Spitzberg has personality, and so does his show. He is such a maven at getting noticed, that he came up to me after the show and asked me how I was, and the next day he found me again and asked me how I was again-and, well you get the message.
And what about the show? It’s funny! It’s silly, extremely silly, but I like extremely silly.
From his paisley jacket to his sparkly vest to his over emoting singing style, Ed has brought new life to the term “over the top.” His band-The Cosmos-are great musicians and he even has his brother Dave pounds on the drums for him (Ed how did snare your own brother into this lunacy?) I don’t want to give it all away-because I want you to lounge over to his show and enjoy the craziness.
The final performance of The Eddie Lounge Show is on Saturday, July 29th at 10:15 PM in The Warehouse Next Door.
JAY ZIMMERMAN’S DEAF MUSICAL-WE HEAR WHAT THE MAN HAS TO SAY LOUD AND CLEAR!!
Jay Zimmerman is a story teller. He has a lot to say, and he speaks it clearly and assertively:
“Sign me on.
Never Silent.
Always Tuned Into Life.”
How lucky I was to be sitting in The Canadian Embassy’s beautiful, squeaky-clean and comfortable red auditorium, in those plush seats, (after sitting on those ancient seats at The Warehouse) and being mesmerized by a hearing impaired man who spoke volumes to his audience about his life, his work, his love for his family, and his travails as a deaf man just trying to “fit in.”
Jay Zimmerman writes great one-liners:
“In NYC, Zimmerman means Jewish. In the Midwest, it means Methodist.”
“I can take up mime, so I can experience paralysis”
“Silence is my canvass.”
And his songs teach us how a hearing impaired person must adapt and laugh at the world around him/her, and how we all (hearing impaired and hearing ) experience similar events in our lives:
“Beethoven Rides the Subway”
“Say The Word”
“Building A Life”
“Press Play”
“My Break-Up”
And how we must embrace the joys and triumphs of life in
“Dance In Your Heart”
By the end of the show the audience and the critics who attended the show were on their feet applauding. The hearing-impaired audience members waved their hands in the air to show their approval and appreciation for this magical time in the theatre.
I sat there overwhelmed and grateful that I witnessed this great portrait being created out of silence. Come view this life-affirming show. It speaks volumes.
I’VE GOT A SECRET, SO COME TO THE CABARET OLD CHUMS, AND BARE YOUR SOULS
What can you say about a show that has a cast with tremendous voices and stage presence-Steve Cupo, Judy Simmons, Emily Leatha Everson, and Lonny Smith, performing songs by John Bucchino (Temporary), David Shire and Richard Maltby (I’ll Get Up Tomorrow) and Harold Arlen and Ira Gershwin (The Man That Got Away), and Jeff Blumenkrantz (I Won’t Mind and Toll)?
I say fantastic, and entertaining, and I have to go back and see it again.
And OK, the audience has a chance to bare a dark, deep, deep, deep, secret. It’s silly but you wouldn’t believe what people divulged. One person admitted having a crush on her brother. One admitted he lied about his weight and height on his gym treadmill, (shame on me and him) and one person divulged that he helped nail Pete Rose (who could that be?-OK I confess)
But it’s the performances, the professionalism and those beautiful voices that make this show so wonderful. Yep, I’m going back. Hey Judy and Steve, any tickets left?
The final performance is Thursday, July 27th at 6 PM in the Warehouse Next Door.
ALLS WELL THAT ENDS WELL WHEN THIS COWBOY RUSTLES YOU INTO HIS WORLD….
We’ve seen him in Much Ado About Nothing at Folger Theatre and in Headsman’s Holiday at Theater Alliance, and now James Beard is roping in SRO audiences for his funny one man show, Mamas Don’t Let Your Cowboys Grow Up To Be Actors, at the National Building Museum Auditorium.
If you were fortunate to see the show, you know that James was born on a cattle ranch in the tiny town of Glennville, California. His mane concern was that he knew that he needed to steer his career in the right direction-he longed for the spotlight instead of horses.
Thank G-d he decided to leave the horses at home, because James Beard has written a hilarious show, that includes many wacky characters, including his Brother Bennett, who can never really find a way to fit in, Leslie Wilson, his high school sweetheart, and Oompa Loopa, who gives him his best advice-to always go where you are accepted.
There are so many funny lines in the show including:
“I’d trust Rodney, but I’ve seen him play darts.”
When his father reminds him that his brother Ben is not afraid of horses, he reminds his father:
“Yes Dad, and he’s been in prison.”
And on his high school crush:
“If she was born with punctuation, she’d be a ?
I’d be a run-on sentence.”
I am so glad that I was rodeoed into the show by my fellow DC Theatre Reviewers. The audience and I had a great time. It was an udder delight.
LUNCH-SAVE ROOM FOR THIS SPECIAL MEAL
I was hungry for a good, tasty, new musical, so I saved up my Weight Watchers’ points and hurried over to see the musical Lunch, and to dine on Shawn Northrip’s funny and biting musical at the Pepco’s Edison Gallery. (Shawn’s Titus, the Musical had a successful run at Source Theatre in fall 2003.) What a tasty dish it was! What a smorgasbord of talent!! It’s a rock musical that works - clever lyrics, characters that are funny and sad and cute and silly-just like were in eighth grade. Remember those days when Clearasil was our Oil of Olay?
Lunch is served in the Benjamin Franklin Middle School cafetorium. Students experience their first kisses and first crushes. A best friend becomes insanely jealous of a girlfriend, and a riot breaks out when the “sure winner” bitch fails to be elected ‘Queen of the Dance.” It’s Carrie meets grilled cheese, and it’s tasty. You can really dig your teeth into this production.
Special kudos to the band that did not drown out the cast. What a pleasure to hear a rock musical where you could understand all the lyrics.
A special mention to Kelly Tighe for her wonderful Britney, who dances up a storm on top of a table, takes so much abuse from the girlfriends, and who deserves to and does get the nice guy in the end, and to Tim Olson whose sweet Ben sings like a lark, and makes you want to give him a big hug. The young cast plays multiple roles with gusto. Bravo!!
I predict that Lunch has bigger meals down the road in bigger theatres. Don’t be surprised if it plays in The Big Apple in the very near future, People are hungry for this kind of show. So, feed me this Lunch.
I’VE LIVED THIS BEFORE-AND YOU MAY HAVE, TOO…BUT MAYBE IT WILL INFLUENCE OTHERS TO …
There’s anger in Edward Daniels’ “let’s hit you over the head” play/semi-musical Thinking Under The Influence that is packing them in at The Warehouse Theatre Gallery Second Floor. Audiences seem to love it! I loved the cast.
The show is jam packed with homophobia, racism, borrowing money, bad parenting, customer service, dating, politics, emails, ignorance, religion and bad drivers. Not much good happening in this well written and performed show.
There is great truth in what the show is forcing us to face. Homophobia still prevails. People still back stab each other and gossip too much. We still need to make more effort in order for our relationships/friendships to succeed. The “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy still causes hatred and the innocent murders of gays in the military. “Coming Out” is still difficult, and families still can’t communicate and resolve their issues.
I hope this work helps other to understand that acceptance and change is within our grasp, and all we have to do is make the time to learn to understand. Audiences so far have embraced the show’s message.
In his introductory Note From The Director, Edward Daniels writes:
I would like to thank my parents who still do not support my artistic interests. I thank them for providing material for tonight’s performance. Material that they will never see but will hopefully someday learn to understand.”
Edward - even if your parents do not yet support your artistic interests (and I know they will). It takes time. Don’t give up trying. Keep writing.
Performances continue on Thursday, July 27th at 9:00 PM, Friday, July 28th at 7:30 PM, and Saturday, July 29th at 10:00 PM in the Warehouse Second Floor & Screening Room..
I GOT HIT BY A SNOWBALL AT FROZTY-THE ICEMAN COMETH AND I FLEEITH.
Some of the audience liked it, some shouted-mostly-”Dick Cheney,” which was the magic word of the day-remember You Bet Your Life with Groucho Marx?
Some danced to the over amplified band, that was comprised of very good musicians. Wish I could have heard the funny lyrics. It just wasn’t my cup of ice.
Performances continue on Thursday, July 27th at 9:30 PM, Friday, July 28th at 7:00 PM, and Sunday, July 30th at 6:00 PM in the Woolly Mammoth Rehearsal Hall-641 D Street.
HIDDEN PAGES-JUST DIDN’T GET THE HIDDEN MEANING-LET ME KNOW WHEN THE PLAY IS FINISHED -I’LL COME BACK
Sounds interesting-huh?
“The fallen capitol of the great Oldmen’s empire stands in ruin. Two hostile forces barricade the city to keep a graffiti street prophet within its limits. Revolution is in the air as the two forces vie for power through diplomacy. Only one woman can find the prophet and avert total war.”
I was expecting an epic on the stage, with great costumes and powerful. What I got was a staged reading, which had moments of beautiful writing. And, I know it’s a work in progress, but so are the majority of the shows in this festival. I wanted more, so when the play is finished, and the graffiti is cleaned up, please let me know, and I’ll run to see the finished product. Hail Oldmen!
Performances continue on Thursday, July 27th at 10:00 PM, Friday, July 28th at 8:15 PM and Saturday, July 29th at 4:00 PM.
SO FAR SO GOOD…LET’S ALL FRINGE!!
I’ve seen some great works and some I wish to forget. That’s show biz.
Congrats to all of you who have contributed to the success of the first week-actors, directors, playwrights, administrators, box office people and volunteers.
Break a leg, but please be careful. We need you there for what looks to be an exciting second week.
Happy Theatre Fringe Going.
July 26th, 2006 at 4:54 am
But what didn’t you like about The Iceman Cometh at Frozty?
July 26th, 2006 at 7:59 am
It left me cold. Joel
July 26th, 2006 at 9:20 am
Naked Cabaret was really wonderful with a talented cast and a terrific slate of funny and poignant songs.
July 26th, 2006 at 10:02 am
Dear Joel! Thanks for the great comments on our show: NAKED CABARET! We have a blast singing and revealing all those great secrets! I’d like to give a special thanks to our wonderful music director George Fulginit-Shakar who performs brilliantly during the entire show! And, HUGE KUDOS to our producer and fellow NAKED CABARET performer Terri Allen. Having the DC Cabaret Network get a show into the Fringe Festival was Terri’s idea and she did most of the work making it happen. BIG LOVE to all and MANY THANKS. Everybody get a little naked (emotionally, that is!)
July 26th, 2006 at 10:11 am
Emily: Thanks for your nice comments. George is an incredible music director. I’ve know him for a long time and he makes beautiful music, and now we know he can really sing!! I forgot to mention him in my article and I apologize for that. I’m looking forward to hearing his orchestra at Arena Stage’s production of Cabaret. It’s no secret that I loved the show, and it’s so nice to see such incredible talent on the stage, and in this case a very small stage. I urge all of you who have not experienced this joy, to run and get tickets for the remaining perofrmances of Naked Cabaret. Joel
July 29th, 2006 at 11:14 am
Joel, you hit it right on with the review of Mamas don’t let your cowboys. The show was one of the funniest performances I have seen. This should have a long life in another venue. James is a fine actor and a gifted stand up comedian.