{"id":4160,"date":"2012-11-12T15:59:07","date_gmt":"2012-11-12T23:59:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/forallevents.com\/reviews\/?p=4160"},"modified":"2012-11-12T15:59:07","modified_gmt":"2012-11-12T23:59:07","slug":"fall-2012-fringe-of-marin","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/forallevents.com\/reviews\/fall-2012-fringe-of-marin\/","title":{"rendered":"Fall 2012 Fringe of Marin"},"content":{"rendered":"

The weekend beginning Friday, November 16 through Sunday the 18th<\/sup> , the Fall Fringe of Marin presents its final weekend of two programs of new, original one act plays under the auspices of the Dominican University Players\u00a0 in Meadowlands Hall on its San Rafael campus.<\/p>\n

Program One plays on Saturday, November 17.\u00a0 \u00a0It opens with Shirley King\u2019s Hollywood Confidential<\/em>, directed by Robin Schild. It is a stylized spy spoof, complete with dark glasses and trench coats.\u00a0\u00a0 Set to a James Bond<\/em> soundtrack, Gloria (Gigi Benson), and Duckman (Monty Paulson) enter, guns drawn.\u00a0 The timing, especially in the opening choreography is spot on. Things get rocky when Duckman, believing he is a superhero out to save the day, reveals his outfit beneath his coat, dons headgear and flippers.\u00a0 His partner is not amused.<\/p>\n

Mysterious Ways<\/em> , a solo performance, follows.\u00a0 It was written by George Dykstra, who also plays a bereaved widower who cannot let his wife go.\u00a0 He celebrates their anniversary the same way every year.\u00a0 He speaks to her as though she\u2019s in the other room, and goes into long expository remembrances of things past until, tragically, he realizes, again, she\u2019s gone forever.\u00a0 A phone call from his grown daughter brings him back to reality.\u00a0 Dykstra gives a well-shaded, deep, but clich\u00e9d, insight into this common life passage.<\/p>\n

A brief scene change and we are surprised to see a man locked in a bathroom, sitting on a toilet.\u00a0 He watches through the glass pane and listens to his deluded wife in the next room rehearsing her TV meteorologist audition routine.\u00a0 This is Martin A. David\u2019s self-directed absurdist comedy, Minerva and Melrose.<\/em>\u00a0 Throughout the play, \u00a0Minerva (Lauren Arrow), \u00a0an adroit malapropist, spouts them constantly (\u201cPinochle\u201d for \u201cpinnicle\u201d, etc.) \u00a0as she ponders her career options, deciding on this one then that, each time believing she will be a instant star.\u00a0 Melrose , played by Jon Zax, exuding a kindof Harpo Marx vibe, encourages her, but utters snide comic asides as he fiddles with toilet paper.\u00a0\u00a0 She has an accident; Melrose unlocks himself from the bathroom, finally freeing himself from his indulgent, demanding wife.\u00a0 Arrow, a beautiful, big woman who moves with grace, has been seen in several Fringe plays over the years.<\/p>\n

Don Samson\u2019s The Game,<\/em> follows.\u00a0 Directed by Carol Eggers, it features a young married couple.\u00a0 Tom, played by Fringe favorite Rick Roitinger, with impeccable timing, and Marion (a believable Emily Soleil) have been invited by friends to join them at a Swingers party.\u00a0\u00a0 Tom seems willing to try it, do something different, but Emily hesitates.\u00a0 They banter, argue, and speculate about it and its eventual outcome.\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0Emily turns the tables on him which changes Tom\u2019s mind.<\/p>\n

How Salt & Pepper Got Put into Shaker<\/em> is a delightful, costumed, animated bit from playwright Annette Lust\u2019s Pantry Tales series. Directed and choreographed by Pamela Rand the play is an informative piece, narrated by the French Cook (Charles Grant in a perfect French accent).\u00a0 \u00a0Originally, salt and pepper were served in small bowls with silver spoons.\u00a0 But Salt (Terri Barker), in white, and Pepper (Cynthia Sims ), in black, argue and fight about which of them is the most important to enhance foods and please diners, scattering their grains all over the place, making a mess.\u00a0 This upsets Cook, who decides, in order to avoid this, they must be put into separate shakers.\u00a0 A nice touch was the court-jester-like jingly hats.<\/p>\n

Writer and director, Michael Ferguson\u2019s thoughtful, though didactic at times, Sharp Edges<\/em> tells the story of a budding relationship between a subdued Melanie (Jennifer Cedar-Kraft ) and an insistent Daniel (David Louis Klein).\u00a0 Though they seemed to have a lot in common, they\u2019ve parted ways.\u00a0 When they run into each other during an intermission at a symphony concert, they discuss their differences.\u00a0\u00a0 Daniel is honest about his sexual needs and how he sees women, while Melanie, who\u2019s had a troubled life and suffered rape, wants understanding and companionship.<\/p>\n

Program One ends with the fast-paced, funny, Sunday Sundays<\/em> written and skillfully directed by Peter Hsieh, about a group of friends who play croquet together every Sunday.\u00a0\u00a0 But, this time, someone forgot to bring the balls.\u00a0 The piece opens with the four Archie (Jason Hurtado), Nate (Michael Lee Lund), Wade (Everado Leon), and Krista (Elizabeth Curtis), frozen in various croquet playing positions, mallets raised at odd angles.\u00a0 Angry over the missing balls, they begin to fight, advancing downstage swinging mallets, arguing and blaming, in Shakespearean English.\u00a0 The scene is rewound, back to frozen statues, starting over.\u00a0 This happens several times, each time the players advance and speak various dialects: Southern, then hyper-tragic drama.\u00a0 The funniest were the robot and zombie croquet player zombies.\u00a0 Excellent choreography.<\/p>\n

Some Mime Troupe and Clown Conservatory regulars opened Program Two with the slap-stick, clown piece, Get a Date Show,<\/em> written by Stacy Lapin & Pamela Rand, with the collaboration of Joan Mankin, and directed by Clown Conservatory founder Paoli Lacy.\u00a0 Based on popular TV date shows of the \u201870s,- except that this one appears intended for single seniors- \u00a0it features an Emcee, Johnny J. Johnson (an acrobatic Ross Travis); contestants, Joan \u201cThe Champ\u201d Longjump (Joan Mankin), Gladys Ruffelshire (Pamela Rand); and the lucky date Arthur\u00a0 (Pickle Family Circus alum Randy Craig).\u00a0 White-haired Arthur is wheelchair-bound, assisted by his comely attendant, Kay (Tristan Cunningham).\u00a0 Background music is provided by the Ukulele Musician, Myron Seth Isaacs.\u00a0 Contestant questions trended towards elder-sex, and contestants judged by physical prowess.\u00a0 Who won a date with Arthur?\u00a0 The play was enhanced with a slide show by Rachel Cohen.<\/p>\n

Second on the program is On With the Wind<\/em> in which seniors at a elder facility gather to watch a video of \u201cGone With the Wind\u201d (the \u201cG\u201d on the cover was missing, hence the reference to \u201cOn-\u201c).\u00a0 It was written and directed by Carol Sheldon, with a lively cast: Loreen (Kathy Holly), Twyla (Roberta Maloy), Lawrence (Michael Collins), Beverly (Donna Andrews); and Floramae (Floralynn Isaacson), dressed as a character in the film.\u00a0 As they watch, they\u00a0 talk about the film, its characters, plot, and quote from it; they discuss each others\u2019 outfits, past relationships, embarrassing issues of growing older, and elder sex.\u00a0 However it never gets maudlin and is quite funny.\u00a0\u00a0 Twlya\u2019s droll remarks keeps the repartee from getting smarmy and piteous.<\/p>\n

Arrangements<\/em>\u00a0 by Clare J. Baker, directed by Gina Pandiani is a comedy about making after-death arrangements.\u00a0 It takes place in the funeral director Mr. Ashley\u2019s office (reliable Charles Grant).\u00a0 He can\u2019t decide if his saucy, exotic client, \u00a0Reddi Witherspoon, played by \u00a0spunky Terri Barker, is flirting with him or what.\u00a0 She appears to be rolling in dough and wants to be cremated.\u00a0 There are many allusions to ashes- including \u00a0his name- and puns throughout.<\/p>\n

One Time at the Zoo<\/em>, a lively romp, written & directed by William O. Chessman III with choreography by Susan Amacker, is the perfect apr\u00e9-intermission play.\u00a0 The Beasleys- Pamela (Susan Amacker), and Gerald ( Michael A. O\u2019Brien), \u00a0and daughter Victoria (wonderful 7th<\/sup> grade actor Melissa Schepers)- visit the zoo.\u00a0 \u00a0Victoria teases and taunts the chimp (Ken Sollazzo, thankfully not in a gorilla suit).\u00a0\u00a0 Mom and Dad try to give her a lesson in evolution; how close a relation chimps are to humans.\u00a0 She isn\u2019t listening.\u00a0 When Dad gets too close to the cage, the chimp goes to work on him and somehow they change places.\u00a0 \u00a0Amacker\u2019s choreography works to both Sollazzo\u2019s and O\u2019Brien\u2019s advantage.\u00a0 To see Dad\u2019s melt-down from a staid, composed man is priceless.<\/p>\n

G. Randy Kasten wrote and directed Supplementing,<\/em> a drama dealing with infidelity.\u00a0 \u00a0Husband and wife actors Diane and David Rodrigues play married couple Mindy and Pete.\u00a0 When Mindy keeps arriving home from work later and later each night, Pete has his suspicions.\u00a0 Mindy is concerned with her looks, and aging, afraid she\u2019s losing her attractiveness.\u00a0 The short play is seen in several separate scenes.\u00a0 In each, the actors wear different clothes to depict the passage of time.\u00a0 And Pete is always on the couch drinking.\u00a0 \u00a0It is difficult to portray a drunk. Even tippler Richard Burton said he had to get sober before he could play one.\u00a0 In the final scene, Pete delivers a believable drunken monologue to himself in the mirror.<\/p>\n

Shaw,<\/em> written and directed by Ollie Mae Trost Welch, has Shaw (Kevin Copps as G.B Shaw) walking haltingly with a cane, talking to himself about \u00a0God.\u00a0 This is a well-known Shavian trope.\u00a0 Shaw was an admitted and proud atheist.\u00a0 However, after his death at 93, people specfulated about what he would say if he met God, and plays have been written about it.\u00a0 In this one,\u00a0 Shaw and God (played by Jerrund Bojeste) debate His existence and, where, exactly is Shaw now? Heaven?\u00a0 Hell? Purgatory? Shaw asks God to prove his existence by making him (Shaw), the age he felt happiest.\u00a0 It\u2019s difficult for anyone to emulate G.B. Shaw, but Copps pulls it off, even with a slight Irish accent.\u00a0 How does one play God? He could be anything, or anyone, even a she. \u00a0With his matter-of-fact delivery, Bojeste in his pony-tail, beard, embroidered vest, slacks, and loafers?\u00a0 Sure he could be God.\u00a0 Why not?<\/p>\n

This thought-provoking play is followed by the hilarious mystery farce, The Trouble at Table 23<\/em>, written by Charley Lerrigo and directed by Amy Crumpacker.\u00a0 \u00a0Bill (Manik Bahl) wants milk for his coffee.\u00a0 He\u2019s staying in a hotel, visits the dining room and asks the receptionist, known only as \u201cActor\u201d played dead-pan by Jean Davis, who gives him trouble, but no milk; then a waitress, again played by Actor, this time in an ill-fitting wig, also gives him a hard time, but no milk.\u00a0 She disappears.\u00a0 A body turns up.\u00a0\u00a0 It\u2019s discovered he\u2019s a thief (John Ferreira).\u00a0 Then, of course, a trench-coated detective, again played by Actor, who pins the murder on Bill.\u00a0 Man!\u00a0 All the dude wanted was milk for his coffee!\u00a0 The audience laughed throughout at the absurdity of it all.\u00a0 Poor Bill.<\/p>\n

She Has a Plan,<\/em> by George Freek, directed by Jim Colgan, ends Program Two.\u00a0 A married couple played by Ayelette Robinson as Martina Hoople, and George Doerr as Henry Hoople, visit a marriage counselor, Ms. Pennyworth (Cynthia Sims).\u00a0\u00a0 Martina wants Henry, who really appears to be a weak, ineffectual man- much credit to Doerr\u2019s acting- to be more manly, stand up for himself, and not be such a wimp. \u00a0\u00a0Marina and Pennyworth have devised a plan, unknown to Henry, which involves Bert, Martina\u2019s big, beefy ex-, \u00a0perfectly rendered by Simon Patton.<\/p>\n

Visit www.Fringofmarin<\/a> for directions and information.<\/p>\n

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