And what a great Fringe it was! I had a hard time picking my favorite. Burning Man Redux was just terrific – but I picked Anna the Slut and the (Almost) Chosen One.
All of the other ones I saw were interesting, challenging, funny, definitely worth encountering – – but those two were great.
Tommy Nugent of Burning Man, whose work I did not manage to catch last year, turns in a low key, funny, storytelling performance. The technique and talent are very much in the background and I simply joined him at the Burning Man Festival, which has always been on my list of things to do.
His discussion of eating three marijuana brownies so that he could still truthfully say he had never smoked dope was great. He talked himself past his own beliefs, and during the wild trip that ensued, talked himself through his own terror. Really great work. If he’s here again next year – see whatever show he creates for us in 2009.
But Anna had so many of my favorite thinking points in it, had shadow puppets, the ancient story of Inanna and her sister Erishkigal, and the modern day hunt for love / sex – plus Michael Burnham as bartender. Whether Michael is acting, directing, dramaturg-ing, reading – any piece of theater he’s involved with in any way is always going to be tops on my list.
An edgy and satisfying Fringe. Thanks to all those who worked so hard to make it happen! Next year, I’m thinking about just being on vacation, so I can do the entire 11 days in a theater daze.