Here are reviews of “MuckShrek: The Comedy of Ogres,” “Miss Bellas,” “Queer,” “Sorolicide,” and “Unconditional: The Ultimate Pop Divas Celebration Starring Kayla Fischl,” which screened at the Orlando Fringe Festival.
“Mac Shrek”
Screenwriter Justin M.G. Hughes has combined two Scottish icons into one show, “Muck Shrek: The Comedy of Ogres” (yellow, 60 minutes). Yes, everyone’s favorite ogre meets Shakespeare’s Macbeth in this animated retelling of the lovable swamp creature.
This show delivers solid laughs, both verbal and physical. The scene in which a character climbs out of a window is particularly memorable. It also includes songs with pop culture allusions, such as “Wicked,” “Toto,” and “A Charlie Brown Christmas.”
“Macbeth” is mainly expressed through the appearance of the witches, which was very interesting and made me wish there were more references to Scottish theater. Other Shakespearean names and metaphors appear, but they are not integrated as cleverly as they could be. Still, it’s a nice lark.
“Miss Bellas”
Gisele Bellas pursues high concept and high style in “Miss Bellas” (Renaissance Theatre, 60 minutes) with compelling results that serve as a warning against creating an us-versus-them divide in society. Bellas wrote, directed and stars in the musical, set in a near-future authoritarian state where a wall increasingly separates the haves from the have-nots. Entertainment icon Miss Bellas is definitely part of the wealthy class and hosts charity events for the poor, but is she actually helping?
The message this show conveys is intriguing, especially when it’s directed against the artists themselves. Miss Bellas raises her arms in supplication like Evita on the balcony and sings, oblivious to the crumbling world around her, like Sally Bowles in pre-war Germany. And she believes that “art is essential,” but at what cost? Has she forgotten her heritage? Have you forgotten your humanity?
Director Andres López-Alicia keeps the action moving. Bellas is an excellent performer with an equally strong singing voice, and co-stars AJ Morales, who as a conflicted assistant has a convincing yin to the yang. His character gives rise to another thought: is it better to lead the revolution from within or from without?
The original music by Bellas, Francisco Valentín Ocasio, and Adam Tilzer perfectly fits the mood of the production and is captivating. Pat Christodoulidis created a striking design with the help of Kylie Taylor’s decadent-enhancing lighting and a striking headdress by Nicole Laperouse.
One video segment was so artistically and sonically distorted that it was confusing, but that’s a small mistake. “Miss Bellas” is sure to be one of the most talked about shows at the festival.
“Strange!”
LGBTQ+ Central Florida residents are definitely drawn to “queer.” (Silver, 70 minutes) But I would also like to see it for open-minded straight theatergoers. “Queer!” sponsored by Decolonizalte Teatro is a work that depicts from a humane perspective what it is like to discover same-sex attraction.
These five performers are neither “them” nor “other people.” In director Nadia Garzon’s candid story, they are us, our neighbors, our friends, our family. Mimi Batista, Leandra “Slim” Diaz, John Jimenez, Natalia Soler, and Alejandro “Nico Speed” Montano share their personal memories of their journey to self-acceptance with artistry and emotional honesty.
Movement, singing, drawing, mime, and vocal echoes all enhance storytelling. Some may wish for a broader emotional range, such as a bit more humor or pathos in some of the anecdotes. But this one is heartfelt and a nice combination of artistic and authentic.
“Sororicide”
When the president of a Delta Nu sorority branch is murdered, the sisters get to the bottom of the case in “Sororicide” (Green, 60 minutes).
Writer-directors Leanne Walton and Savana Petranoff use a solid cast of stock characters to create a laugh-packed plot. The sisters all do a great job playing with their stereotypes, but Jan Martinez and John Murray are especially appropriate as the dim-witted frat band couple.
There’s some fun here–the poorly written verse interludes are especially silly–though the pace feels off in places. This kind of nonsense needs to go on without a break. I wish the author had studied Agatha Christie to make the solution to the mystery partially determined by the audience more convincing, but this is entertaining.
“Unconditionally”
Finally, on “Unconditionally,” Kayla Fischl leads “the ultimate pop diva extravaganza.” Fischl is upfront about developing this show for cruise ships, and that’s the feel of it. She belts out a medley of hits from Lady Gaga, Adele and Katy Perry with great energy.
The costume changes break up the flow and feel unnecessary, and some of the recorded medley tracks could have made for smoother transitions between songs. And while the inflatable beach ball production is fun, the audience is left wondering how long they should keep hitting the beach ball.
But could you imagine this on a cruise ship someday? It definitely needs some improvement.
mpalm@orlandosentinel.com
orlando fringe festival
• Location: Lock Haven Park shows are held in color-coded venues. Off-campus locations are identified by name.
• Dates: May 12-25.
• Price: A $10 button is required to purchase tickets to the show. In that case, tickets for individual performances will be $15 or less.
• Schedule, tickets and more information: OrlandoFringe.org
• More reviews: OrlandoSentinel.com/fringe
