This was either the worst show I have ever seen, or the best. Professor VindleVoss (who grew up in a failing circus) has captured, tamed, and adopted a Zombie named Edvard. But in order for Edvard to prove he is truly reformed (having traded brains for broccoli) he must pass a series of tests. The final test of humanity is Circus.

Karim Muasher (Edvard) and Carrie Brown (Professor VindleVoss) put on a show that is all the crazy, rough and tumble fun that Fringe should be. There is popcorn, and glow sticks, and puppets and clowning and balloons.

Oh, and very very little plot. We only get the most barren of plot and character descriptions, and the miniature “circus” acts only occasionally relate to either of those things.

Muasher and Brown make up for what they lack in plot with laugh-out-loud physical comedy, impeccable comic timing, and a heaping portion of pure silliness. It is the ability of this kind of show to exist, to have people see it and call it theater, that makes Fringe so special.

The show is not so much rough around the edges as frayed to its very core. The scene transitions are overly long (something Karim acknowledged in character at the performance I attended) and the production could have benefited from some underscoring during more of the circus acts.

Those members of the audience attempting to follow the plot will be frequently lost, but Edvard and the Professor are such wacky, lovable characters, it almost doesn’t matter.

The VindleVoss Family Circus Spectacular! has 3 more performances at the Baldacchino Gypsy Tent of Fort Fringe, 607 New York Avenue, Washington, DC.
Tickets

Jessica rates this 3 out of 5
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