Review: Fringe Festival 2019 Exhibits Creative Student Works

The annual Fringe Festival premiered on February 22 and 23 in the Studio Theatre of the Noel Fine Arts Center.

Helmed by the UW-Stevens Point Players Student Artistic Alliance, this year’s edition of Fringe probed the concept of the “death of innocence.” The production featured nine eclectic pieces; a mix of student-written, directed, choreographed, and performed work that showcased the talent in UWSP’s Theatre and Dance Department.

Fringe 2019 was unique in its presentation this year; each piece was followed by Nocturnes, brief vignettes featuring evocative movement-based choreography. All Nocturnes were directed by BA drama major Meghan Gobler and choreographed by dance major Alissa Laufenberg. These creative and interminable scenes provided the audience a new way to experience the year’s theme.

The show was packed with memorable pieces. “Fireworks,” written by BA drama major Michaela Kraft and directed by BA drama major Sarah Sartell, showcased a heart-warming story of a budding romance cursed by a series of charming mishaps.

“Frizzle,” written by BA drama major Josiah Turner, crafted a hilariously dark take on the children’s book series and cartoon “The Magic School Bus.” BA drama major Jeremy Kremser, and BFA acting major Kendra James, as Arnold and Keesha respectively, gave committed and sharp performances. Kraft’s portrayal of Miss Frizzle was spot-on, and her creepy subversion on the character’s iconic phrases will no doubt permeate every sunny image of Miss Frizzle your childhood can remember.

Meta-defying “The Karen Scenarios,” written by acting major Seth Barnes and directed by BA drama major Dana Qualy, follows the potential scenarios of explanation surrounding an enigmatic jug of milk with the name “Karen” scrawled on it and an accompanying “metric ***-load of cigarettes.”

“The Boy with Crossed Arms,” a piece written by BFA acting major Alex Friedemann and directed by BA drama major Sophie McIntosh, examines a man seeking death and a woman’s peculiar inspiration for her macabre artwork. BFA acting major Lily Brenner and musical theatre majors Laura Paruzynski and Dylan Ford bring Friedemann’s vision to life.

BFA musical theatre major Randy Kessenich’s piece “Straying Minds,” presents an intriguing question: If you had the choice to get a do-over for a failed relationship, would you take it? The protagonist and a personified version of his subconsciousness nicknamed “Q,” explore relationships and toxicity in this cogent piece.

In the Gobler-written and Qualy-directed play “Sugar Daddy, Not Like the Candy,” two roommates grapple with a perceptively dead sugar daddy in their apartment, and the absurd chaos that ensues afterwards!

Written by McIntosh and directed by BFA musical theatre major Christof Krumenacker, “Ipswich” follows two sisters on the shore of a beach, with one seeking to overcome her aquaphobia. BFA musical theatre majors Madison Eddy and Amanda Spencer provide emotional performances that led to an intense conclusion.

Additionally, “Life After Forever,” and “Return to the Garden,” choreographed by dance majors Jacqueline Gnatkowski and Elena Hausmann respectively, were stunning works that manifested the theme “death of innocence.”  

This year was yet another admirable effort in student-created work at UWSP! Congratulations to the cast and crew for their hard work and stellar commitment.

Cam Cieszki

Arts and Entertainment Editor

ccies594@uwsp.edu

About Cameron Cieszki

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