The Minnesota Fringe Festival runs two more days. Bonus “Encore Fringe” (best selling) performances will take place at 8:30 p.m. Sunday in every venue. The “Encore Fringe” line-up will be announced at Fringe Central 11:00 p.m. tonight. In the meantime, there is much to sample from a wide array of final performances. Here is another to consider putting on your plate.
Prince & Pauper (Andrew Fafoutakis) A simple, sweet-hearted coming-of-age story. On stage, we see a standing microphone and a guy in a Prince t-shirt. The guy bears some physical similarity to Prince and can sing in falsetto. Fafoutakis draws a parallel between himself and the Purple One, due to his mixed-racial identity, Greek-Mexican. Like Prince, Fafoutakis aspires to something greater.
Growing up in Texas, Fafoutakis finds fitting in an extra challenge. Weight issues subject him to taunts and teasing at school. To top it all off, there is a day when he realizes he is gay. His reaction? “Oh, shit.”
Fafoutakis braves on, finding an outlet in theater and music, in particular Prince’s music. Minneapolis calls and here he lands. There are other ups and downs as Fafoutakis journeys through college, graduate school, first, second, and third loves, and the bright lights of New York City. With each step, he sheds both pounds and his insecurities.
I found this hour filled with many humorous and heartfelt moments. However, Prince is a tall, iconic order to dish up. The type of showmanship Prince serves takes total confidence. I buy Fafoutakis’ self-effacing jokes as he tells of his challenges in youth, but he has come a long way, baby. He needs only to own his karaoke self and let fully loose.
Fafoutakis seemed tethered by a corded (and somewhat hot) mic. I would have loved to have seen greater flash and sass in the Prince songs and more inspired dancing. Perhaps a disco ball or leather jacket could help Fafoutakis slip even further into Prince’s skin.
This tight little theater (Gremlin) was not really conducive to a “concert” feel, either (even if it is a pretend one). Something like Intermedia Arts would have kept the intimacy, but lent a stadium feel. I hope this performer’s confidence continues to grow. Take us there, no apologies.
The ever positive Fafoutakis has much to offer in the way of honest insights. I came away with an appreciation of that. And humming “Rasberry Beret.”
Comments