Fringe Report: Weekend One
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Philly Fringe 2005: The Toilet Tricycle Race,
originally uploaded by Philanthropoid.
Here’s the first of what should be a few reports on my experiences with 2005’s Philly Fringe–er, Live Arts–festival. Live Arts! Live Arts! If I say it often enough, I might learn the new name.
We began the experience by dropping by the box office to pick up all our event tix and spy some of the art installations. Matt marvelled at the indoor lawn, while I got myself photographed listening in on the sex-kitten voice of Jody Sweitzer’s Booth. (I could almost feel the roaming photographer’s antennae zoom in as I shut myself into the phone booth: girl on girl listening action! That’s a shot I want!)
Then it was up to ESP for the performance of Fidelio being held in that one-of-akind atmosphere. Leonora was not in the best voice–and if you know anything about the opera, you’ll understand what a shame that detail to be. However, the rest of the cast was quite solid, and I was quite impressed by Peter Campbell as Pizarro and Obed Floan as Florestan. And there is nothing that can top the atmosphere the setting lent to this performance. Nothing. I feel as if I saw a once-in-a-lifetime interpretation.
Music & Motion Dance Productions’ performance of The Elements was Saturday night’s entertainment. This was another performance in an interesting venue: a theater-in-the-round space within the Constitution Center. Alas, the performance itself functioned as if designed for a proscenium stage. (I mean: why have such a great performance space if you’re not going to use it?!?) I have more quibbles with the piece, but I think it all boils down to this: the event felt too much like a high school dance recital, which considering the age of the girls and the mission of the company, is not all that far off the mark. Oh well. I found it a little empty and beauty pageant in the smiling plasticness of the performances. Matt thought it was fun and energetic and that the girls were honestly enjoying themselves and the opportunity to dance. Who’s to say which of us is right?
Next weekend: Shakesploitation.
Then, on later dates: Vox Lumiere’s Hunchback, Dirty Diamond, Planetary Enzyme Blues, and Quinnopolis vs. Hamlet.
I’ll keep y’all posted.
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I also attended the performance at the National Constitution Center and beg to differ. This group never posed to be a professional dance company but they ar definately a cut way above any dance school or high school/pagent group. If you read the program the girls 14-18 all got togther and created every piece presented. Some of the choreography was really quite sophisticated. The performance as Matt recognized it - was one of energy and a sheer joy of dance. It was impossible not to get caught up in their enthusiasm and love of what they were trying to accomplish on stage. Bravo to them and thumbs down to you a much jaded Sherri W. At least Matt got the idea!
Well, discuss art (of any type), and you’re likely to uncover passionate opinions! So I’ll limit myself to 3 quick observations:
1. Philosophical: To each her own. Artistic tastes are DEEPLY individual, and what moves Heather may leave Holly cold. No harm, no foul, that’s just the glory of human variety.
2. Etiquette: Accepting the individuality of artistic taste and response, I believe it to be, well, tacky, to make negative judgements about someone (”jaded,” “thumbs down”) whose tastes differ from yours.
3. A small nit to pick: Obviously, it WAS indeed possible “not to get caught up” in these dancer’s enthusiasm. Since I did not get caught up, that must have been a possible occurence: zat’s just logic. (Yeah, I used to teach SAT: beware those universal statemnts, they’re too easy to disprove…)
My retort and observation…the only thing you seem to be caught up with is yourself or perhaps your own fascination with being a pseudo journalist/critic on a blog and having your own pitiful diatribe actually published somewhere. But then that explains your self-proclaimed credentials in your own bio…