Have geeks inherited the Fringe Festival?
Categories: Theater
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| Image courtesy the MInnesota Fringe Festival |
| Macbeth: The Video Game Remix |
"I think you won't be able to swing a prop lightsaber without hitting a Fringe fan who is also interested in geek material."
Sage words there from Joseph Scrimshaw, who knows a bit about the Minnesota Fringe Festival and geek culture. After all, he took a break from preparing his new piece for the festival, Brain Fighters, to head out west for the San Diego Comic-Con (he's doing writing for MST3K follow-up Rifftrax and working with Dork Tower/Dr. Blink mastermind John Kovalic on a possible film/TV project -- a nerd double shot!) in July.
And it definitely seems that the geeks have, if not inherited the earth, certainly made their presence felt at the 18th annual Fringe Festival. There will be multiple Shakespeare mash-ups (including Tempests, which tells the story of the Bard's final play through the lens of James Cameron's Aliens), shows with comic-book and video-game origins, and works that bring a bit of terror to life in the Twin Cities.
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| Image courtesy Minnesota Fringe Festival |
| Scientist-turned-stand-up Tim Lee. |
"I think the local theater and geek communities overlap more and more every year. And, yes, I think this year's Fringe is very geek friendly," Scrimshaw says.
Matthew Foster, head of Fringe PR and one half of Theater Arlo, which is responsible for Macbeth: The Video Game Remix, sees this as a natural extension of the festival's mission.
The Fringe has always been a home for people with an idea for a show who dream of putting it onstage. Those interested in H.P. Lovecraft short stories fit that bill just as much as those interested in knitting, notes Foster.
Tim Lee may have the most impressive bona fides of anyone: He's a real-life scientist turned standup comic.
"I had made the mistake of agreeing to do research that I had no interest in simply because it was funded. My adviser told me it was the right thing to do for my career. I quickly reached the point where I didn't want to write or read anymore papers. I felt trapped," says Lee about his first career.
Comedy was a release, even though he didn't have any performing experience. "I decided I would try to write some jokes and test them out. When I showed up at an open mic at a laundromat in San Francisco I was nervous and hopeful, but I didn't realize it would change my life."
Since then, he's built a second career in comedy, performing around the country. His Fringe show relies heavily on science-based humor, which draws a like-minded audience.
"The audience that shows up is smart. It keeps me on my toes. The thing that seems to bind the audience together is an interest in science. As a result, there is a large age range -- from 13 on up -- and a wide range of occupations," Lee says.
Which is a good point to make about geek/nerd/whatever culture. The old cliché of living in your parents' basement, while always an exaggeration, doesn't hold water anymore. Video games, Star Trek, Harry Potter, and endless comic-book movies have broadened the audience and wiped away much of the "shame" in these pursuits.
You can see it throughout the year on local stages, with companies like Walking Shadow diving head first into science fiction and horror. Meanwhile, the Fringe is a perfect setting for these kinds of shows. Audiences aren't expecting Michael-Bay level effects, just a bit of creativity and a ready and willing imagination.
These audiences are also tailor-made for the Fringe, as they are often willing to proclaim their love for something from the highest rooftop -- or at least in multiple online forums -- which helps to fuel the word-of-mouth many festival shows need to thrive, Foster says.
The Fringe Festival starts this Thursday.
The Fringe Festival starts this Thursday.
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