You can spend all year running around Seattle, trying to catch every local theater group in action. Or you can just give up your social life for two weeks, and catch a number of great Seattle groups performing on Capitol Hill during the annual Seattle Fringe Festival. This year's fest runs from Wednesday, Sept. 17, through Oct. 1.
Think of it as Bite of Theater, and a great way to sample what's out there for a reasonable price. Last week, we mentioned some of the out-of-town shows hitting the festival. But don't forget to save a little of your ticket money for the local shows.
One of the faves of the festival for the last four years has been Babylon Briefs, presented by Capitol Hill's Theatre Babylon. This year, six directors present six brief plays in 75 minutes about Secrets to Happiness, Homicidal Kittens, Addiction, Cheating at 'Rock-Paper-Scissors'? Samuel Beckett's telemarketing career, and Super Heroes - Do they get Super-horny?"
In short, anything and everything can happen on stage, and Babs has the chops and connections among Seattle's best fringe actors to make it a great evening. Jennifer Pratt ("Polaroid Stories" at the Capitol Hill Arts Center) and Alycia Delmore (Theater Schmeater's "The Twilight Zone") join Macha Monkey's Desiree Prewitt ("Live Girls Do Elektra") and Kristina Sutherland ("R - The Swashbuckling Tale of Anne Bonny & Mary Read") to prove that video games aren't just a male obsession. "GameGirl" gives female shooters something to shout about.
If you're looking for laughs, try the Baggy Pants production "Have You Seen My Dog?" Their previous productions "Is This Your Duck?" and "The Red Nose" turned into the biggest giggles of past Fringe Festivals. This time, Christopher Bange returns as Black Nosed Frank, seeking to save his best friend (and the world) from a mad chiropractor and his army of evil dogmen.
If you prefer disgusting, but interesting, another Capitol Hill group, D.A.M.N. (Dramatists and Actors Meeting Now), are offering a return of the All Meat Show featuring the human salad, animal rights activists, kid's show carnage, the fatal food fight, vampire Jesus and more in an "all-you-can-stand buffet."
Theater Schmeater is one of the venues used by the festival and they're also entering a one-man show. Catch "What is it Like to be Joe Boling?" written and performed by Army Colonel Joseph Boling (ret.) and directed by Schmee's Rob West. Boling tells all about his life as an obsessive theater attendee (he saw more than 400 shows last year), an internationally-known numismatist and a self-appointed community service agent.
Edge Theatre, who performed "Baby with Bathwater" in last year's Fringe, returns with the classic Greek drama "Antigone," about the consequences of senseless war and hubris. As an extra incentive to turn out for the 11 p.m. performance on Friday, Sept. 19, Edge promises a "free chocolate indulgence" on that night.
J.D. Lloyd, who has been directing festival shows since "Red Bull" in 1995 and seems to show up in every Seattle play festival during the year, is director, co-writer and actor in a new musical about being 4-F during the Vietnam era. Richard Riggins co-wrote the lyrics and book and plays in the band. The cast of "4-F, The Musical" includes Natural Israel, Dusty Lee, Douglas Willott, Eric Holmberg, Brad Cook and Lloyd.
And don't forget John Longenbaugh, who wears a lot of theatrical hats around Seattle. He's a critic and, currently, publicist for the Fringe Festival. But when he's wearing his playwright cap, he's often producing his own work under the company name of Ursa Major. This year's entry from Ursa Major is "How to Be Cool," set in 1962 America.
The Opening Night Gala for the Fringe Festival will be held on Wednesday, Sept. 17, at 7 p.m. at the Capitol Hill Arts Center, 1621 12th Ave. Seven Fringe participants currently scheduled as entertainment at the Gala include Maria Glanz, Movin' Melvin Brown, Degenerate Art Ensemble, Foque Dans la Tete Productions, The Baggy Pants, Blacken Tan Dance, and Harrington and Kaufmann.
Gala tickets will be available at the door for $20. For more information, call the Fringe at 342-9172 or check their Web site at www.seattlefringe.org. Single ticket prices for SFF shows range from $6 to $20 and discounts are available for seniors/students. There are also a number of shows offering two tickets for the price of one on Sept. 22, 23, and 24.
SFF is also offering a five-show pass for $50. Check with CHAC Fringe Box office for more information, www.seattlefringe.org, or call 322-2018. The CHAC and other fringe venues also have program guides available. Tickets are available on day of show at the venues.
Rosemary Jones covers arts and entertainment for the Capitol Hill Times. She can be reached at healingpgs@aol.com
