May 11-17, 2016

May 11-17, 2016 / Vol. 32 / No. 21

Fringe Review: ‘Keith Brown: A Magic Show’

Amid the growing mob of magicians at the Orlando Fringe, Keith Brown stands out for having the show with the most straightforward concept: no dark personas, tortured storylines or attractive musicians; just a skillful performer and his astounding tricks. If you saw Brown’s previous Fringe appearance, you’ve already seen his showstopping needle-swallowing stunt, but this…

Fringe Review: ‘Blonde Poison’

One-person Fringe shows are often a gamble, especially when you know little about the actor and show beforehand. But Blonde Poison, in which charismatic Oregon actress Carol Adams portrays Jewish Nazi-collaborator Stella Goldschlag, is a gamble worth taking. Blonde Poison Play On! Productions – Silverton, OR 4 DATES THROUGH MAY 27, 2016 Venue: Pink Length:…

Fringe Review: ‘Juggler & Mime: A Tale of Two …’

Joshua ‘Mime’ Palmer is a drab hobo clown with Frank N. Furter eyeshadow; Benjamin ‘Juggler’ Domask is a glam-rock harlequin in a Tom Baker Dr. Who scarf. Together, the pair presents an hour of circus stunts and silent skits in an effort to one-up each other’s showmanship, as the frenemies fling Doritos, flop on the floor,…

Fringe Review: ‘Inescapable’

Have you ever gotten stuck in one of those circular arguments, where the conversation spirals around and around until your déjà vu has déjà vu? Playwright-performer Martin Dockery’s Inescapable takes that familiar feeling and spins it into a tense, brain-twisting two-man drama. Dockery’s unnamed character is already feeling depressed and suspicious over his wife’s waning…

Fringe Review: ‘Toiley T. Paper: Roll Model’

Toiley T. Paper is a superstar celebrity, at least in his own two-ply mind, so Orlando Fringe audiences should feel honored that this anthropomorphic bathroom accessory has agreed to entertain at our low-budget festival. Highly absorbent and deeply self-absorbed, Toiley regales us with tales of his showbiz career, from playing Baby Jesus in a living…

A Florida police chief gave himself a ticket for this terrible parking job

Last week a Florida police chief shamefully fined himself after being called out on social media for a seriously crappy parking job. The power of a viral social media post called attention to Groveland Police Chief Melvin Tennyson’s parking violation on May 10.  The Facebook-wielding vigilante, David Bires, posted photos of the egregious parking job,…

Florida alligator caught stealing watermelon from field in Hendry County

So far this year, we’ve learned that Florida alligators love swimming in other people’s pools, pulling off alleged burglars’ arms and now these greedy reptiles also love other’s people’s fruit, specifically watermelon.   The above photo was shot at a farm in Hendry County, Florida and posted to the Florida Agricultural Crimes Intelligence Unit Facebook page,…

In ‘The Meddler,’ Susan Sarandon gives her best performance since ‘Dead Man Walking’ — yes, really

With a trite title and an overused premise, writer-director Lorene Scafaria’s second film could have been both literally and figuratively sophomoric. But thanks to some unexpected maturity and sweetness, and three good performances, The Meddler is the filmmaker’s sophomore project in chronology only. Susan Sarandon (in perhaps her best performance since 1995’s Dead Man Walking)…

Locally founded Andretti Go-Karting plans massive new complex on Universal Blvd

Building on the success of the popular I-Drive NASCAR Indoor Go-Karting attraction on North International Drive, a new go-kart concept is now in the works for the tourist district. Andretti Karting will be building a brand new $30 million indoor go-kart facility on Universal Boulevard near the convention center. The new facility will feature electronic…

Fringe Review: ‘Breakneck Hamlet’

Actor-educator Timothy Mooney has been an Orlando Fringe fixture for years with his one-man productions of classic texts, and this year’s Breakneck Hamlet finds his disposition at its most entertainingly antic. Mooney cleverly condenses the Bard’s best and longest tragedy down to an airtight 60 minutes, narrating the action scene by scene with a bit…

Disney shakes up numerous meet-and-greet locations

All of the recent changes at Disney’s Hollywood Studios have now caused their most famous meet-and-greet duo to move. Mickey and Minnie both now have fancy new digs to meet guests. The famous mouse couple moved into the former American Idol audition rooms along with Olaf. Minnie has new digs themed to Old Hollywood with…

Fringe Review: ‘Master of the Rack’

Chess might be, as playwright Ayal Wolf claims, where the “crazies” are, but Scrabble is a close second in inspiring a competitive sprit that borders on insanity. Grumpy tile maven Ted (John Moughan) runs a professional Scrabble players’ association out of a dilapidated building that’s in danger of being dominated by Pomeroy (Mark Davids), the…

Fringe Review: ‘Angelina Sings!’

Part pop cabaret, part psychological intervention, Angelina Sings introduces playwright/actress Nicole Antonia Carro’s newest creation, a Pinot Grigio-guzzling chanteuse who holds court in a suburban New Yawk Knights of Columbus hall since being legally barred from her family’s ristorante after a brawl with her ex-husband’s baby momma. With her disheveled 60s up-do, a kazoo tucked…

Fringe Review: ‘Decades Rewind’

Decades Rewind is part concert, part musical, part multimedia presentation and, unfortunately, only partly successful. Decades Rewind Decades Rewind – Riverview, FL 7 DATES THROUGH MAY 29, 2016 Venue: Orange Length: 75 Min Price: $11 (Disc: FA | FV | MIL | STU | SR) Rating: 7 & Up Buy Tickets Musically, the production is…

Fringe Review: ‘An Evening With Sarah Pettyfer’

An Evening With Sarah Pettyfer is an odd title for this even odder piece, for two reasons. First, at just 45 minutes, the production is more a brief chat. And second, the character of Sarah exists more as a framing device for a story that has little to do with her. An Evening with Sarah…

Fringe Review: Stewart Huff: ‘Sense Ain’t Common’

Stand-up comic Stewart Huff had recent Fringe audiences rolling in the aisles with his hilarious monologues Donating Sperm to My Sister’s Wife and Darwin vs. Rednecks, but his latest work will make you stretch your brain as well as bust a gut. Sense Ain’t Common, which Huff previewed in Orlando back in March, is a…

Fringe Review: ‘So You Say You Want a Revolution’

If you remember the 1960s (or have at least done hallucinogens and pretended you were there) the music and message of So You Say You Want a Revolution will likely provoke powerful nostalgia for a time when it seemed like a song could change the world. In today’s more cynical age, it may sound ludicrous…

Fringe Review: ‘Simpleton: The Legend of President Trump’

Embracing a new musical genre, the “Trumparody,” Simpleton: The Legend of President Trump will undoubtedly be YUGE at this year’s Fringe. Simpleton: The Legend of President Trump Acting Passionate Presents – Lakeland, FL 7 DATES THROUGH MAY 29, 2016 Venue: Gold Length: 50 Min Price: $11 (Disc: FA | FV) Rating: 13 & Up –…

5 new helipads are expected to open within the next year on I-Drive

I-Drive has been going through a major renaissance lately, but it’s not just new hotels and restaurants. The latest trend in the tourist district is all about helicopter touring companies.  Local helicopter tour company Leading Edge is behind the new, single-pad heliport. Leading Edge is known for its $15 tours and they currently have locations in Kissimmee…

Universal Orlando releases first glimpse of animatronic Kong

This morning Universal Orlando revealed a first glimpse of the giant animatronic Kong featured in the 3D ride Skull Island: Reign of Kong. According to Universal, Kong is approximately three stories tall with a head larger than an automobile. Guests will come so close to the iconic ape that they “will feel his breathe sweep…

Fringe Review: ‘In Close Quarters’

If the only thing you know of longtime Fringe Festival favorite Michael Wanzie is his campy comedies and outrageous parody musicals, brace yourself for a shock – his In Close Quarters is one of the most serious, searing dramas I’ve ever seen on the Silver Venue stage. Originally staged more than 20 years ago at…

Fringe Review: ‘Magic, Music and a Little Mayhem’

Most magicians use music as background for their routines, but James and Joshua Songster of Magic and Mayhem put the Fretless Rock trio (Michelle Jones, Elizabeth Chaconas, Yamilet Trujillo) front and center for their Fringe production, which is equal parts concert and illusion show. A sister troupe to Violectric, Jones and company play electrified orchestral…

35 Years Later: Teena Marie – ‘It Must Be Magic’

In early 1981, Teena Marie was the most successful white act to have ever recorded for Motown, with all three of her solo albums to that point having broken into the R&B Top 20 charts and two singles – “I’m a Sucker for Your Love” and “I Need Your Lovin'” – making it into the…

Fringe Review: ‘Dino World: A Shave-a-saurus Rex’

In a world where mashup musicals spoofing ’80s films have spread across the Fringe, Dino World: A Shave-a-saurus Rex is … yet another one. Little Timmy Bucket (Ulsan Kazenas), bullied for his obsession with uncool dinosaurs, finds a golden ticket in a can of Barbasol and wins a trip to Dino World, where Col. Hammond…

Fringe Review: ‘The Unavailable Man Magnet’

As a published author, I can attest that no real-life book signing has ever been as provocative as the one depicted in writer-director Amanda Scheirer’s original play, The Unavailable Man Magnet. Lauren Ashleigh Morrison plays Nessa Reilly, a semi-autobiographical stand-in for the playwright whose roman à clef dishes on her sex life (or lack thereof)…

Fringe Review: ’21 Chump Street’

Based on a true story originally broadcast on public radio’s This American Life, 21 Chump Street tells the tale of Justin (Matthew Roman), a straight-A high-school senior entrapped into dealing weed by Naomi (Alexia Correa), an attractive undercover cop. This mini-musical by Broadway’s current golden boy, Lin-Manuel Miranda, packs more memorable hooks into its 15 brief…

Fringe Review: ‘A Long Time Ago: The Eighties Strike Back’

A Long Time Ago: The Eighties Strike Back starts with a rollerskating R2-D2 (Melina Smart) and a Madonna-esque C-3PO (Lauren Anne Andersson) in a golden Gaultier corset, singing “Video of the Killer Death Star” to the tune of the Buggles’ “Video Killed the Radio Star.” If the thought of that – or references to NES…

Fringe Review: Living Room Theater

Living Room Theater was started five months ago by Tisse Mallon, Banks Helfrich and Jack Graham. In that time, the trio has performed more than 55 shows in homes across the Central Florida region. Now they’ve brought their act to the living room of Fringe super-supporters Gail and Al Pergande, with an hour of loosely…

Fringe Review: ‘Prestigious Insanity’

His previous prestidigitating partner, Tim Hoffman, may have vanished this year, but in Prestigious Insanity Spencer Hojdila proves he has what it takes to carry a magic show all on his own. The production begins with Hojdila, dressed in the white scrubs of an asylum inmate, attempting to free himself from handcuffs while monologuing on…

Fringe Review: ‘Thomas Jefferson: My Master, My Slave, My Friend’

Alexander Hamilton might have all the Broadway buzz today, but as a fellow alumni of the College of William and Mary I’ve always found Thomas Jefferson to be the more fascinating founding father. Actor-playwright J.D. Sutton (who has been portraying the third President for more than two decades) brings the Declaration of Independence author to…

Fringe Review: The Well-Seasoned Players

The Catskills resorts that I vacationed at as a child have long since been boarded up, but the Borscht Belt humor they birthed is still alive and kicking in Brevard County, thanks to the Well-Seasoned Players. This troupe of retired performers — Barb Bayley, Jim Crews, Elaine Hoffman, and Mark and Pam Mankowski — from…

Florida man wakes from 48-day coma, requests Taco Bell

This Week in Taco Bell, which is a thing that exists (“the internet’s foremost source of aggregated Taco Bell content”) picked up from Reddit the story of Jake Booth, a Collier County sheriff’s deputy who wound up in a coma in a Tampa hospital after complications from pneumonia. He was out for 48 days*. When…

Dozens rescued from Busch Gardens Tampa Bay roller coaster

Dozens of people were stuck for over two hours on a roller coaster at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay Thursday afternoon.  According to FOX 13, 64 people were stuck on the Sheikra roller coaster for about an hour before being evacuation procedures began.  The ride stopped just before the first initial 200ft drop. “It was pretty scary. I…

Florida man with unfortunate Instagram tattoo is cool with the new logo

As you may have noticed, a lot of people are pretty annoyed with the new Instagram logo change.  However, Gregorio Feliciano, a 27-year-old Dade City, Florida resident with a very unfortunate Instagram tattoo, says he’s fine with the new change.   Yep, totally doesn’t care.  “It’s a simple camera design with what most people do…

The FWC wants to remind everyone that sturgeon will knock you out, son

It’s jumping sturgeon season, son The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission released a cautionary video today aiming to remind everyone of one simple truth, sturgeons will knock you out, son.  As you can see in the video above, sturgeon are not to be trifled with and the FWC highly recommends staying out of there…

Original lineup of Misfits to reunite this year

In what may be a case of “too little, too late” the classic lineup of horror-punk godfathers the Misfits will reunite for two shows later this year. Glenn Danzig (vocals), Jerry Only (bass/vocals) and Doyle (guitars) will theoretically bury decades worth of bad blood to share the stage during both the Denver (Sep. 2) and Chicago (Sep…

Busch Gardens releases intense POV video for new Cobra Curse coaster

Busch Gardens just released a new POV video of their latest, yet-to-open attraction, the Cobra’s Curse spinning roller coaster.  As you can see in the above clip, the three-and-a-half-minute snake-themed coaster will attempt to make you spew by allowing guests to ride in the regular forward position, then backward, and, finally, ending in a free spinning barf…

Mills 50 is getting a new beer and wine bar on Virginia Drive

It’s been said that Virginia Drive will someday become the backbone of Orlando’s brew scene and it seems this vision is one step closer to reality.  A new wine and craft beer bar called Grape & The Grain will be moving into the former Angel’s Landing building, as first reported by The Bungalower. The location is…

Selections: Our picks of the week’s best events, May 11-17

Wednesday, 11 Colleen Green MUSIC In 2013, the year she released her second solo album, Colleen Green played more than 200 shows. That kind of work ethic is exceedingly rare these days, even in the indie/punk circles Green travels, but you should not assume that the L.A.-based rocker is some sort of ambitious striver trying…

Picks This Week: Tomboi, Com Truise, Oddisee and more

Mr. Pauer Jack-of-all-trades producer Mr. Pauer has created a sub-sub-genre that he’s dubbed “electropical” – state-of-the-art beats mixed with rhythms and textures taken from cumbia, salsa, dancehall – and it’s a hybrid that immediately pleases. 8 p.m. Wednesday, May 11, at the Beacham, free (must RSVP) Tomboi NE Florida’s electro-pop trio Tomboi took Orlando by…

Morimoto Asia’s street food window reopens, Restaurant ASH opens in Mills 50, Poutine Palaooza and more in local foodie news

After opening briefly during the holidays and St. Patrick’s Day, Morimoto Asia’s street food window reopens May 15 with a revamped menu. In addition to sushi and onigiri, on-the-go guests can sample bao tacos, donburi rice bowls, sticky ribs, takoyaki, taiyaki and various other snackables. NEWS/EVENTS Yours truly and Kristen Manieri of Orlando Date Night Guide, both of…

Free Will Astrology (5/11/16)

ARIES (March 21-April 19) Russian writer Anton Chekhov was renowned for the crisp, succinct style of his short stories and plays. As he evolved, his pithiness grew. “I now have a mania for shortness,” he wrote. “Whatever I read – my own work or other people’s – it all seems to me not short enough.”…

Savage Love (5/11/16)

Straight man, 48, married 14 years, three kids under age 10. Needless to say, life is busy at our house. My wife and I have stopped having sex. It was my decision. I get the obligation vibe combined with a vanilla sex life, and it just turns me off. We’ve had many conversations about it…

Gimme Shelter (5/11/16)

Are you looking for a new furry friend? Adopt Molly! Molly (A348162) is a 1-year-old dog who is looking for a new home. She is shy at first, but she’ll warm up to you and her true personality will shine through. Molly is a sweet girl, and she knows how to sit. She would do…


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