[FRINGE] that wasn't a prop, was it richard

...said John hoarsely as he poured himself another three fingers. This evening's entertainment was Sound & Fury's production of Private Dick, the story of Richard Travaganza, a Los Angeles shaman shamus gumshoe in the late 40's (or early 50's). In 58 minutes, Richard, Shelby, and John (Vinnie having apparently either been run off with some dame to New Orleans, been eaten by John after leaving a fortuitous email recommending him to his comrades, or is buried in an unmarked grave in the bush of NSW and replaced by a clever imposter), bring to us the noir world of the classic detective story, with all the wordplay, puns, detours, and triple entendres one can expect from these perennial Fringe favourites. Needless to say, it may not always quite go according to plan. And that's where it gets extremely fun. If you do want to see this show, and I heartily suggest you do, and you want to see it on a popular night (such as Friday or Saturday), make sure you get your tickets early as the tickets sold out well before curtain and many people were turned away in disappointment.

[FRINGE] emily of the grace

This evening was spent with the first of Brillig's three free Fringe shows at the Grace Emily on Sundays at 7:30pm. Which is both the spiritual and literal home of the band, I believe. The show is Til Death Do Us Part and is a collection of the group's own death-related songs as well as a number of covers with a similarly morbid theme, played in a nicely put together graveyard (and when you consider how small the performance area of the Grace is you will appreciate that all the more). The only problem is that the Grace is not a dance venue, but rather a wallflower venue, and some of the songs really need to be danced to (in a formal pavane or waltz style, naturally). Every time I go to one of their gigs I wish I had someone with whom I could dance with (and not for the fact of having another person, either oh you so cynical Internets), because I think it would be fun and they'd get a kick out of it. [It's not as if dancing is strange at Brillig gigs. Every time they play an afternoon gig in public the "dance floor" rapidly becomes crowded. Unfortunately the average age of the dancers is 4 (and before you ask, I'm afraid of stepping on them), hence they have become known locally as The Gothic Wiggles.] Anyway the music was fun and I'll probably be at the next two of their gigs. Incidentally, they are also the ship's band for the Fringe Steampunk LARP/Ball at Carclew (being put on by Yoyodyne I believe), so I hope that someone takes advantage of their music to dance in a formal style there. [It's tempting to go to the Ball but I'd have to put together an appropriate costume, and since I've been planning on getting a round tuit for the last decade or so, I can't see myself succeeding in time, especially as my not especially hectic Fringe schedule already has me somewhat wrecked, as you can tell by the rapidly descending quality and meandering nature of this so-called review. Time to stop thinking ... now.]