Fringe Files February 15
One week down, and we're still here!
Fringe 08 is one week into it and the city is Fringe everywhere. That's the cool thing about Fringe, it really does paint the pavements with cultural colour.
You've got site-specific theatre leading audiences around all the favourite inner city haunts (Familiar Strangers), international touring musicians busking the streets on Valentine's Day just for the fun of it (Aindrias de Staic's Around the World on 80 Quid) and 'secret' circus spectaculars in the most public of places.
It's been a busy week for us at Fringe Central, we've got our fabbo Fringe HQ all set up and humming along, offering all the info, cheap tickets and entertainment you can shake a crooked stick at.
Media-wise, we've had a lot of fun this week. The Dominion Post, Capital Times, Wellingtonian and Radio Active 89FM have been great, filling their pages and the airwaves with Fringe. The biggie for us was Radio NZ's Nine to Noon, who interviewed Aindrias de Staic about his show Around the World on 80 Quid – he managed to easily fill a half hour and it looks like a great show, running until this Sunday February 17 at Kitty O'Shea's. In the interview Aindrias called for an old tea chest to use during his musical / comedy / malarkey performance as a bass drum – lo and behold, a 71 year-old from Pukerua Bay came to the rescue and had not one but two to offer. Big thanks to Helen, what a gem!
Curious changes
Curious, the play about sex and lesbians, is now on February 18 to 23, still at the Gryphon Theatre.
Fricnic and Chalk the Walk
It's a big day on the water front tomorrow, with Fricnic and Chalk the Walk spearheading a day full of activities. Wanting perhaps to cash in on the lush family vibes and big crowds these two Fringe favourites always bring, Te Papa are holding their tenth birthday party, there's the Pacific Arts Festival, the Bowl-a-Rama International Skating Competition and all sorts of Waterfront madness on Saturday. Lets hope the weather holds up!
Oh, and watch the skies at 2.30 near Te Papa for one of the coolest Fringe shows in 2008.
Eight of the best, handpicked by Lili
Our Festival Coordinator (and jack of all trades) Lili has the onerous task of revealing her eight picks for the week ahead. Here's her handpicked brilliance:
Babycakes A wedding reception with old call centre buddies is a ghastly prospect, and one that's probably quite damn funny! Starts this Sunday Feb 17 to Wednesday Feb 20, all at 6.30pm at BATS
Sensible Susan and the Queen's Merkin You can't go wrong with the Minge of the Fringe. Theatre Militia's new work skewers the perils of materialism and mediocrity, as well as exposing the Queen's dirty pubic wig! What's extra cool is the special show for hearing impaired on Tuesday night, with sign language. Monday Feb 18 to Friday Feb 22, BATS Theatre, 9.30pm
Guy Capper is Singing with Animals Anyone who has met Guy at a bar will know that he sings with aliens, gods and anything he damn well pleases. Now it's animals! Claymation comedy from one of New Zealand's funniest dudes. It's at the San Francisco Bathhouse, February 17, 18, 20, 24, 25 at 8pm, with an 11pm late show on Feb 28.
Dark Tourists The controversial dance show will be an absolute rip-snorter. Choreographer Malia Johnston is noted for her physically-demanding works and this is no different. Feb 21-24 at Te Whaea, 6.30pm
Ghosts Soiree A ghoulish party thrown at the Mighty Mighty – a hypnotic hootenanny! Feb 20,21, 23, 27, 28 and March 1 from 8pm
Step Up Darlings Sexy circus like your momma would've loved! The Step Up Darlings, led by the lovely Magenta Diamond (from Heavenly Burlesque) are set for one of the Fringe's sexiest productions. February 20 to 23, BATS Theatre from 8pm
Engaged Theatre set in the ladies toilets at the Michael Fowler Centre. What, they couldn't afford the auditorium? Broaden your perspectives on sexuality and join the Bathroom Club. You know the venue, here's the dates: February 20 @ 6pm, Thursday Feb 21 @ 1.30pm and 6pm, Friday Feb 22 @ 1pm and 6pm
What We Walk By Dra McKay has chronicled Wellington's street art, some of it the same stuff the government wants to crack down on with it's anti-tagging crusade. Is it art or vandalism? You decide!