This past Saturday night, I missed Kevin J. Thornton’s 10:45 show, Strange Dreamz, by a scant three minutes. The gate was shut and they wouldn’t let me in. No amount of beseeching managed to move the door lady -- they run a very tight ship at this year’s Fringe. OK, I thought, it’s been a long day; maybe I should just go home.
So, big deal -- this year I wouldn’t get to see Thornton’s profane, bawdy and overtly sexual stand-up comedy routine. (Thornton doesn’t like the moniker "stand-up" -- he prefers to think of himself as a storyteller.) Anyway, I caught his act, I Love You (We’re F*#ked) at last year’s Fringe, so it’s not the end of the world. Besides, the next edition of Strange Dreamz would be Monday night at 10 pm. Theater on Monday night? At 10? No friggin’ way!
At 10 pm Monday night there I was, sitting with about two dozen others listening to Thornton’s rude, lewd and semi-nude musings in Strange Dreamz. Couldn’t stay away. Am I glad I went? Absolutely. Thornton is a funny guy and a consummate performer. Not only does he know how to tell a droll tale, he’s figured out how to get two or three laughs per punch line, just by standing still and waiting. Shades of Jack Benny. Of course Benny played a bad violin -- Thornton strums a credible electric guitar. Also, Benny would have blushed at Thornton’s every other word. We just laughed ourselves silly. -- Al Krulick
Strange Dreamz with Kevin J. Thornton
55BC - Nashville, Tennessee
Thursday 17 May; at 12:00am in the Brown
Saturday 19 May; at 10:45pm in the Brown
Sunday 20 May; at 4:20pm in the Brown
Monday 21 May; at 10:00pm in the Brown
Thursday 24 May; at 7:30pm in the Brown
Saturday 26 May; at 8:00pm in the Brown
Sunday 27 May; at 9:00pm in the Brown
Price: $11 + Fringe Button (good for entire Fringe)
Discount(s): Students|Military|Seniors
Length: 60
Rating: Mature