Soapdish Recommends: Bubbles on the Fringe

Hey ho folks, the second week is still going strong for this week’s Fringe Festival. As such, I’m going to put my, um, soap where my mouth is and throw out a couple of suggestions and observations on some possible highlights for next week.  Reader’s note of caution:  there is no shortage of in-depth info and recommendations on the interwebs, in the daily news-pamphlet as well as other assorted publications about town.  Also, see the Fringe Festival website for more info on shows and times.

First of all The Terrorism of Everyday Life.  If you didn't see it, well you missed it, as it’s not showing this week.  Too bad for you.

Moving on…

April Fools: Thursday, Friday and Saturday at the Know Theater.
These funny guys are from Minneapolis, a pretty cool city which has reached heights to which Cincinnati should aspire.  Also, the Replacements and Husker Du are from Minneapolis. Nuff said.

The Gayer Show:  66 Years of Faggotry:  At Below Zero, Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. 
Two guys from opposite coasts (WeHo and NYC) meet somewhere in the middle of their generation gap and yuk it up with observational humor.  Hijinks and hilarity ensure.  I’m not sure, but something tells me there’s a gay angle here as well.  Go see for yourself.

Jacques Brel Lonesome Loser of the Nights:  Ground floor of Duveneck Flats Wednesday and Saturday.
 Jacues Brel is cool, therefore you too could be cool (provided you attend this show).  Bring the beret, dust off the black turtleneck and stop by the smoke shop for some Gitanes.  Rumor has it that Melt and a burger place are possibly moving into the Duveneck in the near future, so consider this a one-time only super-exclusive theater space.  Who knows, maybe you’ll end up buying a condo in the Gateway Quarter like everyone else.

Kaz/m:  New Stage Collective, Wednesday and Friday.
What’s a Fringe Festival show without some non-linear kind of meta fiction, suicide, overlapping narratives and avant whatnot?  Kaz/m, presented by the Performance Gallery, has all of that and much much more.  You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, it’s the feel good hit of the summer.  Okay… maybe not so much the laugh/cry/feel good stuff, what with the suicides and all, but you will see an excellent production, a soupcon of ironic humor and interesting storytelling.  By the way, Performance Gallery is the only six-time Fringe participant, which apparently qualifies them for the Unofficial First Ever Soapdish Six-Time Performer Merit of Honor/French Legion of Honour Award. …kinda like Jerry Lewis, but, like, way better!

The Edge: Thursday and Friday at Ensemble Theater.
Not to be confused with the forgettable Anthony Hopkins/Alec Baldwin wilder-epic film of the same name, this piece is set on the edge… of a cliff… overlooking the Mediterranean.  There’s poetry and dance, comedy and drama.  If they can find a way to work in Elle McPherson and a grizzly bear into the mix then somebody get Rick Steiner on the blower, but pronto. Until then, audiences should run, not walk, to this excellent show featuring some well-known theater scene names (I will not disclose them, thereby compelling you to actually look this one up and read what it’s really about).

So there you have it, folks.  Soapdish’s Highly Random and Possibly…  Irrelevant Fringe Picks for the second week.  Grab some of the uninitiated and head down to the festival.  While you’re grabbing, also be sure and grab a few refreshments before and/or after at the Know Theater underground bar, where the “In-Fringe” scene goes to hang (oxymorons ahoy!).  Please consult the Fringe site for more information.