Frigid New York: The Hefner Monologues

By Le-Anne

5 POINTS OR LESS
one-man show • based on true stories • anecdotal • clever writing

BOTTOM LINE: A one-man show about the life of a black sheep trying to discover who he is.

Upon looking at the title The Hefner Monologues one might expect to hear the charismatic tales of a modern-day Casanova, or perhaps true stories inspired by the infamous namesake. Well, the above is partly true. While the original Playboy does have an influence on our subject, (they are related to each other, albeit somewhat estranged), this comedy is focused on anything but a “playboy.” Playwright and performer, John Hefner, spins endearing tales and laugh-out-loud anecdotes of his very un-Hef-like life in this one man show of strife, first loves, and coming of age, in the shadow of this notable name. Hefner’s performance is endearing as he fumbles through his amusing and awkward history. The use of specificity in his writing provides for instant camaraderie with the audience. A particular “X-Files” reference was greeted with guffaws from the house. One may identify with a job at Bennigan’s, a trip to JoAnn Fabrics, or that life-changing experience during a trip abroad. His description of his first encounter with the elusive alcoholic elixir, absinthe, is entertaining, modern-day poetry. The Hefner Monologues is making a tour of festivals all over North America. Check out the website www.TheHefner.com for more information.

(The Hefner Monologues is at The Red Room, 85 E. 4th St., NYC. Thurs., Mar. 05 @ 10:30pm, Fri., Mar. 06 @ 7:30pm, Sun., Mar. 08 at 1pm. Tickets are $12 available by calling Smarttix at 212-868-4444 or online at www.FRIGIDnewyork.info)

Frigid New York: habeas corpus

By Le-Anne

5 POINTS OR LESS
in the style of a “happening” • contact physical improv • philosophical • interactive-ish • you get a little surprise gift at the end!

BOTTOM LINE: True performance art.

This year Frigid presents, habeas corpus, a performance art piece driven by the question “What would you like to be rid of?” This experience, produced by “the real kim harmon,” not only asks audience members to contribute by writing something they would like to be rid of on a blue card and depositing them in a case minutes before the show begins but also by inviting people to submit responses to therealkimharmon.com to be incorporated into the current production. Various responses, presumably from said online submissions, as well as past mailings, voicemails, and e-mails from the original conception of this project a year ago, are projected on the back wall. Things such as “The dress I lost my virginity in,” “unnecessary speechification,” and “rape” flash by.

Meanwhile, the three actors, (Kim Harmon, Laureen Briggs, Denzil Meyers), and guitar player and musician, (Wilson Novitzki), use repetition of action, such as the smashing of various gifts, aggressive contact improv, talking over one-another simultaneously, and direct audience address to encourage the act of acceptance. Meyers reads the blue cards aloud, giving these “things you would like to be rid of” back to the audience members, either by guessing who wrote what, or just random assignment. Novitzki takes a break from his guitar and assists Meyers in this project. Both men show a sense of humor and provide some welcome laughter with this part of the show. During all of this Meyers is wrapped by the other actors in a symbolic clear barrier of saran wrap, saying that the very things we attempt to get rid of are the same things that are always there, so rather than trying to rid ourselves of them, we ought to embrace them. One blue card said, “box of old toys;” Meyers asked if he could have them.

The artists involved in “the real kim harmon performance collective” proudly present habeas corpus as an ever-evolving work in progress. More like a living art exhibit than a play, this theatre piece is sure to get you thinking.

(habeas corpus is performed at Under St. Marks Theater, 94 St. Marks Place btwn 1st Ave and Ave A., on Tues. March 03 at 7:30pm, Wed. March 04 at 6pm, and Sun. March 08 at 2:30pm. Tickets are $13 -- bring an object you want to get rid of and get a $3 discount! Call Smarttix at 212-868-4444 or online at FRIGIDnewyork.info.)

Frigid New York: Are We Freaks?

By Le-Anne

5 POINTS OR LESS
slap-stick style humor • four short stories sharing a theme • has an “and the moral is” kind of feel • science fiction-y

BOTTOM LINE: Unusual people experience some not so unusual feelings. The question is proposed, “what is a freak?” both literally and figuratively through side-show freaks and more.

The title of Bricken Sparacino’s new play, presented in this year’s Frigid Festival, asks Are We Freaks? According to Webster’s New World College Dictionary, Fourth Ed., a freak is “a sudden fancy; odd notion; whim, b: an odd or unusual happening.” So based on this definition then, no. No real freak occurrences happen to anybody in Are We Freaks?

Sure, the Wonder-ful Twins (Sparacino and Jennie Inchausti) can’t be separated so they walk around holding each other, fashioning their own “Siamese twin” posture, but they justify their actions by explaining that they don’t like to be without each other. Nothing whimsical there. A bit codependent, but not whimsical. Two friends and coworkers, Caitlin the Cat (Melanie Wehrmacher) and Leslie the Lobster Girl (Kara M. Tyler), are trapped in a trailer after a big storm. Not too unusual. Unpleasant? Yes. Unusual? Not really. Then three sorority sisters have a falling out because two of the girls, Pam (Hannah Wolfe) and Devon (Annalyse McCoy), are bad-mouthing their friend, Abby (Joy Gabriel). Being terribly hurt, Abby lashes out and takes revenge on her mean-spirited sisters. While immature and certainly not the best way to handle the situation, sadly this is not an unusual response at all. Lastly, best friends Annabelle (Sparacino), and Lizz (Uma Incrocci) wish that they could find a man that they liked as well as each other. Annabelle buys a magic mask and wishes for a man who is exactly like Lizz. In “Freaky Friday” fashion, her wish comes true. This is maybe a stretch of the imagination but freakish? No, not according to the above. She asked for something, she got it. Fantastical, sure. Technically speaking though, not odd.

Did I fail to mention that Caitlin the Cat really is part human and part cat, complete with excess fur and long tail, or that Leslie the Lobster Girl has red claws for hands? Did I forget to tell you that Abby harnesses telekinetic powers and is able to curse Pam and Devon so that Pam is grossly disfigured, literally showing her insides on her outsides, and that Devon has no control over saying her inner thoughts out loud? Also, small detail, the Wonder-ful twins never, ever, let go of each other in any -- that’s right -- any, situation. This is perhaps on the abnormal side. Webster’s continues to say a freak is, “any abnormal animal, person, or plant; monstrosity.” All right ladies, I hate to break it to you but yes, technically speaking, you are freaks. No worries, since a freak is also “a devotee or buff,” anyone who reads this is now a freak definition freak.

See Are We Freaks? if you are interested in seeing “freaks” experience some not so freaky emotions. The play shows us that, in life, we are all freaks but that none of us are alone or experiencing abnormal lives. Unless, by chance, you happen to be “a postage stamp with an error that occurred in the printing or perforation process,” because that would be freaky.

(Are We Freaks? performs at The Kraine Theater Wed. March 04 at 10:30pm, Sat. March 07 at 7pm and Sun. March 08 at 2:30pm. It is 45 min. with no intermission. Tickets are $15 and available at smarttix.com. Or go to frigidnewyork.info for more.)

Frigid New York: Recess

By Le-Anne

5 POINTS OR LESS:
one woman show • uses multi-media • a bare-bones production

BOTTOM LINE: Recess is a raw look at life through the eyes of seven-year-old NYC public school children as told by one young woman.

Hats off to the New York Frigid Festival. The Horse Trade Theatre Group in association with Exit Theatre (the theatre company that runs the San Francisco Fringe Festival) and CAFF (The Canadian association of Fringe Festivals) have created a festival that stands out from the crowd. Unlike it’s popular counterparts, the New York Musical Theatre Festival (NYMF), the Midtown Theatre Festival, and the popular summertime Fringe Festival, this wintertime version strives to stay true to the grassroots experiment. The Frigid gives 100% of the box office sales back the artists. They also do not take any royalties from future productions. Because they are not focused on the commercial success of each production the Frigid is a real hot bed for creativity, experimental theatre, and freedom of expression. This also means that they are able to keep their ticket prices down...way down, shows are only $8-$16 or you can purchase a Festival Pass and see three shows for $30. At $10 a pop, that’s cheaper than a movie! Another uniquely Frigid thing is that they rotate the over one-hundred-fifty performances among Horse Trade’s three intimate theatre spaces in the East Village, (Under St. Mark’s, Kraine, and The Red Room). So while other festivals have gone quite mainstream and bougie, Frigid has a very proletariat feel. You can make a day of it, enjoying the eclectic ambiance of the East Village you pound the pavement trucking between shows, maybe even grabbing a quick bite from one of the great hole-in-the-wall eateries or cafes that the Village has to offer, filling your day with art, theatre, and the spirit of community.

Recess, by Keep it Movin’ Productions, is one of the thirty productions being presented at Frigid. This one-woman show is written and performed by Asian-American actress, Una Aya Osato and directed by Moises Belizario. In this fiercely honest piece Osato explores the youth of the NYC public school system, in particular the students of a second grade class in the Bronx. Through an innovative use of mixing live performance with projected video performance, Osato is able to interact with herself as she portrays a wide range of characters. Through the eyes of these children, we see a heartbreaking range of potential and lack thereof. Osato humorously portrays one young boy who has no idea that he has any sort of potential and juxtaposes him with another character, Sherita, a young girl who knows her potential but doesn’t believe she has any way to achieve it. This character was the spring board for Recess, inspired by the 5-year-old daughter of one of Osato’s best friends. The little girl announced at her mother’s wake, “It’s ok to cry everyone, crying’s ok, but it’s not gonna change nothing, it’s not gonna bring my mommy back.” A direct quote, Osato delivered this line in her play, and you could almost feel the eerie sadness mixed with a desire to create change and hope for our youth spread through the audience.

(Recess performs at The Kraine Theater/ 85 East 4th St., New York, NY 10003. It runs 1 hour with no intermission. Sun., March 01 @ 4pm, Thurs., March 05 @ 7:30pm, Sat., March 07 @ 1pm. Tickets are $15, $12 for students and seniors and are available by calling Smarttix at 212-868-4444 or online at www.FRIGIDnewyork.info.)

Frigid Festival

The Frigid Festival is underway...check out new works off-off-Broadway with the festival's 2009 offerings. Summer theatre festivals abound in this city, but Frigid proffers their line-up months earlier. And why not check out some new plays now? With recession-friendly pricing and the weather still feeling...well...frigid...take yourself downtown for some entertainment. Le-Anne is! She will provide coverage of the 2009 Frigid Festival for Theatre Is Easy. Performances run through March 8th so check back for her reviews. And for the full Frigid Festival schedule visit frigidnewyork.info.

Here's what Le-Anne has to say about the Frigid Festival...

BOTTOM LINE: The Frigid festival is a great grassroots, minimalist, no-restrictions, freedom-for-the-artist event. It's not mainstream or commercial.

If you get the chance, you should definitely check out the Frigid Festival. Make an all-day excursion out of it, or just catch a quick show, (every show in the festival is an hour or shorter). Whatever you choose to do, show your support and have some fun in a uniquely, downtown, New York kind of way.