Yes, It's finally here! That is to say, Orlando Fringe is here. I would like to present the following list in no particular order, even though it says "top 5". This is also based on my experience of day 1, not of everything about the day.

• ONEymoon - $11 - Brown - starring the hilarious (and tap-dancing) Canadian Christel Bartelse, following her alter ego Caroline on her dating escapades and her honeymoon of one to the Islands after making a commitment to... herself. The premise of this show was not exciting to me, but the execution is top-notch, and this one will draw some fans.
• Medicine - $11 - Yellow - TJ Dawe, whose shows are always based on real life, where he talks about self-discovery on a Peruvian tea, complete with Shamans. This would have been even more awesome if he had not run over time. That's what I get for attending opening night. The Fringe runs on time. Remember that there is no late entry, no refunds or exchanges, and no re-entry once the doors have closed.
• Sangria Soda - $2 - sold by the pizza vendor in the corner of the Green Lawn of Fabulousness
• Wood Fired Pizza - $10 - several varieties available, though I don't remember seeing any with meat. We tried the Margherita and the Four Cheese Pesto. Each pizza is a 10-12 inch thin personal pizza. This is one of 4 such mobile wood-burning ovens in the state, and I'm told.
• Fried Peanut Butter and Jelly "Clouds" - $5 - from Peg and Pete's food truck. If you are a Cloud Virgin, you are in for a treat. This basket of 5 fluffy-crispy-gooey confections is possible to share, but not easy once you've taken the first bite. Also, something called a Cloud has got to be light on the calories, right? ;-)

You'll notice that both shows I saw are from out of town (out of the US, in fact). Here's a tip: go to see any National or International act on the opening weekend of the festival, (that is, people who are not from Florida or the US). The great ones will all sell out next week, as word of mouth spreads. You can be ahead of the curve by taking a chance on an out-of-towner!

Taken from Facebook, local public radio personality, and author of Any Cool Music? has written a blog post on Facebook about several Fringe shows that "require no introduction".

'The Habit' opens on September 26 and 27, 2009 at the
Catherine Hickman Theatre in Gulfport, St. Petersburg at 3 PM. See address below please.

As usual, I'd love to see you in the audience. Tickets are available by calling at 727-656-8053. I will gladly send you tickets (in advance, seniors and students at $13 each) by mail. The price is $15 at the door. Let me know if you want them by mail ASAP. Drop me a line or call.

In a daring look at a religious woman facing the crossroads of her life, The Habit guides its audience from the familiar images of docile convent life to a path sprinkled with hints of a more profane one. Meeting a charming young man—more of the scoundrel type—at the hospital where she works as a nurse, she keeps hearing him telling his enchanting and magical stories. Suddenly, in a do-or-die move, she accepts his offer of eloping with him. However, as the play moves on, the audience is not really quite sure if HE is a figment of her imagination, or if SHE is a figment of his. Through music, dance, mime—following Loria’s idea of what theater should be—The Habit portrays, most importantly, a human being’s moment of truth, as everyone in the audience may have experienced at least once in their own lives.

Here's the link to the description of the show:
http://www.wilsonloria.com/Habit.htm
http://www.wilsonloria.com/habito_port.htm
www.wilsonloria.com

See you at the theater.
Thank YOU!!!
Wilson

Hear a Blogging Fringe interview with Wilson Loria, Jeremy Seghers, and Brandon Haydon

Download VoiceMail Review 02
fringe_2009_voice_02_yowdance.mp3
Length: 1:42

Accolades and Graces
Silver Venue
5/16 SAT 2:40PM, 5/17 SUN 4:20PM, 5/18 MON 8:55PM, 5/19 TUE 8:55PM, 5/22 FRI 8:10PM, 5/23 SAT 2:10PM

Yow Dance and some Fringe veteran dancers, with a little help from some live musicians, bring a different kind of dance show to the 2009 Orlando Fringe.