Program Two gets off with a bang, a great piece of broad ensemble comedy,\u201dHere\u2019s Your Life (A Tribute to Sid Caesar)\u201d. Great lines (Stacy Lapin and Pamela Rand), great timing, great physical comedy, just what you\u2019d expect from the title, all delivered under the firm and driving hand of director Jerry Ambinder. The mood changes abruptly with Deanna Anderson\u2019s touching and thoughtful reading of Longfellow\u2019s \u201cThe Wreck\u201d (of the Hesperus), interwoven with adult memories of a turbulent childhood. \u201cThe Freeons\u201d (written and directed by Rachel Cohen) take us to an unusual dining experience near an elegant restaurant, and helps to challenge a young lady\u2019s and our own preconceptions about the meaning and value of food. Right before the intermission Steve North takes us on another wild ride through his psyche and his life experience. His piece is full of laughs and insights where \u201cSomething\u2019s Not Wright\u201d but neither he nor we quite know what or why as he veers between seemingly unscripted moments. All a part of the stagecraft of this consummate professional.<\/p>\n
Terri Barker in her directorial debut gives us the maturing friendship between a young student aspiring to art, an older man whose muse has left him staring out at the horizon In Peter Hseih\u2019s \u201cLauren and the Ocean.\u201d In an art of a different kind, Michael Belitsos returns to the stage with a spellbinding mix\u2014\u201cAdmissions in the Dark\u201d\u2014of illusionism, stage hypnosis, and a paean to monster and \u201cGhost\u201d films from Hollywood\u2019s glory days in the genre. The evening closes with a Gina Pandiani\u2019s wry update of Chekhov\u2019s \u201cA Marriage Proposal (2013)\u201d with the battle this time between the Tea Party conservative Ivan and his intended, the Knee-Jerk liberal Natalia, with a surprise ending that Chekhov would never considered.<\/p>\n
All in all, a great 31st season, strong line-ups in all departments, for both programs. Special thanks to Pamela Rand and Gina Pandiani for their heroic work in carrying on the noble tradition of the Fringe of Marin started 31 seasons ago by Annette Lust. Also to light + sound wizard Jeremy Block, and the behind the scenes stagehands who help to make it all happen. The spirit continues! Long live the Fringe!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Program Two gets off with a bang, a great piece of broad ensemble comedy,\u201dHere\u2019s Your Life (A Tribute to Sid Caesar)\u201d. Great lines (Stacy Lapin and Pamela Rand), great timing,…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":50,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"yasr_overall_rating":0,"yasr_post_is_review":"","yasr_auto_insert_disabled":"","yasr_review_type":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[80],"tags":[716,155,375,60,190,376,371],"class_list":{"0":"post-5830","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-david-hirzel","7":"tag-david-hirzel","8":"tag-fringe-of-marin","9":"tag-fringe-of-marin-review","10":"tag-juliette-binoche","11":"tag-marin-fringe-festival","12":"tag-one-act-plays-marin","13":"tag-steve-north"},"yasr_visitor_votes":{"stars_attributes":{"read_only":true,"span_bottom":"