Show: 23
Category: Something Different
By: The Fourth Wall
Created by: The Fourth Wall
Location: Theatre in the Round
Summary: Three classically trained musicians perform short pieces of classical music combined with unique movement, dance, and acrobatics.
Highlights: The Fourth Wall Ensemble, aka C. Neil Parsons (trombone), Greg Jukes (vibraphone and other percussion), and Hilary Abigana (flute), is back at the Minnesota Fringe Festival for the third year in a row. Every year it's the same basic premise - a series of short songs performed with inventive movement. This year the performances are structured around a "world tour" theme, with 14 pieces inspired by various places around the world or written by residents of these places. This trio is so creative (and they use the in-the-round space really well), I have literally never seen anyone do what they do, and that alone is reason to see them and why we need fringe festivals. But it's also an extremely fun and entertaining show that flies by (proving their theme - "time flies like an arrow, fruit flies like a banana"), while also educating and exposing the audience to various composers and music styles past and present. The pieces are arranged in random order chosen by the audience, and the Antarctica piece was the perfect finale when I saw the show; it's truly beautiful and haunting with some awesome movement on curved boat-like structures. Indescribable. I played the clarinet in high school and let's face it - the band kids are the nerds in the strict social structure that is high school. But these cats make playing instruments cool. My favorite fringe moments are those "how do they even think of doing that?!" kind of moments, and this show is chock full of them. Whether you've never seen Fruit Flies Like a Banana, or seen it dozens of times, this show is always a must see!
Read all of my Fringe mini-reviews here.
Read all of my Fringe mini-reviews here.