Editor's Note: Kristin Gates is a member of the young pro's group,"The Club" at Lyric Arts Theater in Anoka. She was recently the music director of "All Shook Up" at Lyric Arts and is a music educator.
Synopsis: "The Damn Audition" takes place in LA at a casting for the show "What's Up, Satan?" Three men are auditioning for the part of Lucifer and each has their own battle to face. Hugh Johnson (Randy Reyes) is new to fresh LA from Minnesota, Dirk W. Foxman (John Middleton) is a wholesome child star gone bad and Thomas Alan Wayne (David Mann) is a struggling actor who has yet to land a big role. Through an absurd casting process led by the artistic man "with a vision" (Joseph Scrimshaw) and the snarky office assistant (Maggie Chestovich), they discover evil is not only reserved for Nazis and super villains, but is much closer to their hearts than they think.
Production Value: Scrimshaw and company put on a terrific show that was extremely well acted with characters that are fleshed out to the max in their short 60-minute time span. Reyes' portrayal of the "Minnesota-nice" Hugh Johnson was spot on and contributed so much to the final revelation about everyday evils. The set and staging were simple and completely appropriate for a show based on characters and content.
What To Expect: From start to finish, the 350+ audience members were in stitches from Scrimshaw's zingy one-liners and the completely crazy audition process most actors will relate to. But it wasn't just the about the laughs. Scrimshaw addresses deeper issues about religion, everyday evils and the desperate deeds people will do to follow their dreams. Little did I know that a one hour production could not only send me to the floor laughing, but also get me thinking about the evil that isn't as far away as we wish it to be.
The "X" Factor: Getting more than what you expected is what I believe is at the heart of a festival like Fringe and it's what makes shows like "The Damn Audition" so compelling. Audiences want to be entertained, true, but when a show can both entertain AND leave us with a head full of ideas about life, love, and self-awareness, it becomes more than just a fun night out; it truly becomes a unique experience which is something all the Fringe participants are hoping to impart on their audiences.
Bottom Line: Please, go see "The Damn Audition." The depth of Scrimshaw's characters are expertly shown through incredible acting, the crazy one-liners will keep you laughing and you might just learn a bit about yourself. And if you can, get to some more Fringe events! Each show is completely unique and all of the performers and writers are gearing up to give you an experience you won't soon forget!
Add a comment
Please log in to comment