We listened in as Allison Malcomstogle sat down with Robert Kittredge, author of 33 1/3 Chorus Girls, talked about the upcoming festival. Some of what we heard was barely believable.
Malcomstogle: How did you get involved in the creative end of a theatrical production?
Kittredge: Having grown up in Des Moines, I was always a bit restless, you know. I lived in movies. For a while I considered running for office, because I was so bored. And then, when I was eighteen, I went on the road and starting doing shows.
Malcomstogle: What sort of shows?
Kittredge: Comedy, magic, impersonations, juggling, crying on cue.
Malcomstogle: Your Fringe show is very “meta”. Why do a show “about” a show?
Kittredge: It’s the most natural thing in the world. Look at all the plays, musicals, and movies that are about show business.
Malcomstogle: Like . . . like what?
Kittredge: Like “Saving Private Ryan.”
Malcomstogle: “Saving Private Ryan” is about war.
Kittredge: I didn’t see it. Here’s one: “A Star is Born” with Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga. Secretly everyone wants to be in show business.
Malcomstogle: I don’t want to be in show business.
Kittredge: That’s because you’re in show business.
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Malcomstogle: What made you decide on the name 33 1/3 Chorus Girls?
Kittredge: I thought it sounded better than 33.333333333333 Chorus Girls.
Malcomstogle: Your show is actually seven comic sketches. What’s different about these sketches as opposed to sketches in other shows?
Kittredge: They’re probably less topical overall.
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Malcomstogle: Isn’t it risky to do sketch comedy that doesn’t center on hot-button issues, politics, or today’s celebrities? What’s the audience draw?
Kittredge: We believe in android actors in the future; big-band era movie stars using romance as PR; finding out the correct way to handle hecklers; and a version of Romeo and Juliet where the leads survive will be naturally compelling. FYI: Shakespeare is always well-represented at Fringe.
Malcomstogle: You’ve been slapped with the “all ages” rating by Fringe. Do think that will hurt ticket sales?
Kittredge: We were forced to remove several hours of adults only content to get the show’s running time under seventy-five minutes. In retrospect, I’m not sure if some of that content wasn’t gratuitous.
Robert Kittredge was born in Ottawa, Canada but spent most of his childhood in Des Moines, Iowa. He has written several novels but has yet to read one.
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