The one problem with Fringe Festivals, like the one that will be hitting Salt Lake Acting Company this weekend, is that there’s too much good stuff in two short a time. For people who don’t have six hours to devote to exploring everything, how do you know which one will be the show you’re still raving about two days later? Hopefully, this “Taste of SLAC Fringe Festival” guide might be able to help.
Stephen Brown’s “Yoga Confidential” is a language-packed in-joke that stretches (pardon the pun) beyond it’s built-in yoga-ite audience to offer an understanding chuckle for anyone who’s been with a life philosophy as long as they have a spouse (or longer). Those of us without a detailed knowledge of yoga history will miss a few of the jokes, but if you’ve ever tried to search for enlightenment then laughed at yourself later, you’ll get all the ones that matter. There’s also a definite naughty streak, but nothing more than you’d find in an unbleeped basic cable show. (“Yoga Confidential” will be performed Aug. 27 and 28 at 7 p.m.)
Sam Wessels’ “sam i was” is the musical about cancer the world had no idea it was waiting for. It’s touching, offbeat, heartbreaking and funny all at the same time, and my definite vote for the one show you should see if you’re confining yourself to a single ticket (though don’t confine yourself if you don’t have to – theater is as poppable as Pringles, without having to worry about fat and calories). The festival offers two chances to watch it in the staged reading-with-the-works format, but I’m already dreaming of the cast CD I’m hoping will one day be released. (“sam i was” will be performed Aug. 27 at 9 p.m. and Aug. 28 at 2 p.m.)
Julie Jensen’s “The Harvey Girls” is a one-day only reading rather than a staged production, and from the summary suggests the classic structure of a group of “good” girls getting shaken up by the introduction of someone more wild and crazy. Jensen’s previous work shows that she has a good touch with characterization and depth, and there’s even a little historical grounding in Fred Harvey’s pioneering chain of Harvey House’s back in the crazy days of the American West. (The reading will be Aug. 29 at 1 p.m.)
Comments