My day job (at Penn) cranks up just as the FringeArts begins, so I usually have to miss all or most of it.  Bummer – but maybe it’s OK: I’m an old guy, and I like comfortable theater seats, usually not a priority at Fringe.  But here’s what I’d be seeing if I could go…

An Obviously Faggot (Poison Apple Initiative)

I love the title and the source of the quote (from a web conversation with David Thorne).  Plus I like to support my people — which means queer theatre.

The Sincerity Project (2016) (Team Sunshine Performance Corporation)

Sincerity and Sunshine aren’t generally high on a list for Fringe qualities, so why not take in a little optimism?

The Gas Heart (Once More Theatre)

A local company resurrect Tristan Tzara’s legendary dada-ist play— what’s more “fringe” than this?

Notes of a Native Song (Stew and Heidi Rodewald)

This tribute to James Baldwin, presented at the Wilma, has lots of classy pedigree.

Feed (Applied Mechanics)

Another show with pedigree, including the wonderful Mary Tuomanen, who in Bitter Homes and Gardens proved herself a great actress and a good farmer.

A Streetcar Named Desire (Deep Blue Theatre Collective)

Much of Fringe involves devised theater, and I’m all for it—but I also love to see a classic play reimagined.

Drowning Ophelia (Ensemble Atria and EagerRisk Theater)
Let’s Fuck Around with Hamlet (John Schultz)
Shakespeare@theBar: The Taming of the Shrew (Margo Jones Syndicate)
Bedlam: Shakespeare in Rehab (Manayunk Theatre Company)

Do I sense a theme? Let’s take these four together—I’m all four a harmonic convergence between the greatest playwright in the English language, and a wee bit of anarchy.

For more information on these shows and more, visit the FringeArts website.