The Madness Begins: Capital Fringe Festival

| Print Post This | Like (0) | Comments (1)

IT'S BACK! Capital Fringe Festival 2009 starts tonight, and with it the endless rounds of pondering, "But what should I go see?"

To us, part of the beauty of the Fringe is that it's nearly impossible to tell beforehand if the play you're ponying up for will be sublime or eye-gougingly awful. But hey, at least tickets are only $15. You totally spent that much on "Transformers 2: Revenge of Megan Fox's Nose Job" last week, although that did turn out to be a brilliant art film.

But you're not here for straight talk, you're here for recommendations. And we think it's sweet that you trust so. So, without further ado, our picks for what to see at the Fringe this weekend:

» "4.48 Psychosis," the final work of lyrical playwright Sarah Kane, is endurance theater. Kane's work is brutal and difficult, and if you choose this one you should expect an intense, demanding and rewarding experience. It's going to be extremely depressing. The play mostly dispenses with plot and character, and seems to be an expression of a psychotic mind.
» The Bodega at the Trading Post, 1013 7th St. NW; Thu., July 9, 7:30 p.m.; Fri., July 10, 7:30 p.m.; Sat., July 11, 4:15 p.m.; Sun., July 12, 7:30 p.m.; Wed., July 15, 8 p.m.

» "Titus X" takes Shakespeare's most gruesome play, ("Titus Andronicus," written 1584, body count 1 million) and turns it into a punk-rock musical inspired by D.C.'s underground music scene. It was only a matter of time.
» Warehouse Mainstage, 1021 7th St. NW; Thu., July 9, 5 p.m.; Fri., July 10, 9 p.m.; Sat., July 11, 10:45 p.m.; Sun., July 12, 2 p.m.; Thu., July 16, 9:30 p.m.

» "Irish Authors Held Hostage" tells what would have happened if great Irish authors — Yeats, Wilde, Joyce, all the big ones — had been taken prisoner by terrorists. STREAM OF CONSCIOUSNESS YOUR WAY OUT OF THAT, JAMES JOYCE! No, but really, this is one of the weirdest ideas at the Fringe, and one that truly pays off in laughs. You'll probably be better off if you have some knowledge of Irish literature, but don't worry if you never finished "Ulysses." It'll still be funny.
» The Bodega at the Trading Post, 1013 7th St. NW; Fri., July 10, 5 p.m.; Sun., July 12, 5 p.m.; Thu., July 16, 7 p.m.; Sat., July 25, 11 p.m.; Sun., July 26, 2:15 p.m.

» "Headscarf and the Angry Bitch" is a monologue with songs — you know, the old lady-stands-with-a-guitar-and-either-sings-or-talks-at-your-depending-on-her-mood gag. But it's witty, and it's about growing up as a Muslim woman in America.
» Warehouse Next Door, 1021 7th St. NW; Thu., July 9, 7:30 p.m.; Sun., July 12, 2:30 p.m.; Wed., July 15, 6 p.m.; Fri., July 17, 8:30 p.m.; Sat., July 18, 3:30 p.m.

» "The Tempest: A Musical" uses Celtic ballads to enhance Shakespeare's greatest romance. You know, cause one Shakespeare adaptation on this list wasn't enough.
» Warehouse Mainstage, 1021 7th St. NW; Sat., July 11, 3:30 p.m.; Fri., July 17, 5:15 p.m.; Sun., July 19, noon; Sat., July 25, 6 p.m.

Photo from "Irish Authors Held Hostage" courtesy Capital Fringe Festival; photo from "Titus X" courtesy C. Stanley Photography