What’s black and black and black all over? Who wrote the book of love? And where can you purchase the end of the world? The answers to these and other pressing questions of our time may be found – and found only – at the 2004 FronteraFest Long Fringe. This year’s batch of longer works in the annual performance festival is, as usual, an unlikely mix of short plays, character sketches, and dances, and is just as likely to explore ideas – What is the essence of “black”? What do we talk about when we talk about love? – as emotional conflicts within and between characters. Last week, the Chronicle Arts team hit the Long Fringe to discover what 40 one-minute dances look like, how Little Egypt teaches belly dancing to curious wives, and what number to call to get a line on Judgment Day. While they weren’t able to cover all the Long Fringe performances for this roundup – our apologies to those artists whose shows we missed – their glimpses of six of them are surely enough to prod you into making at least one trip to the Blue this week.
All Long Fringe performances are at the Blue Theater, 916 Springdale. Dates and times for remaining performances for each show follow the review. Ticket prices vary. To make reservations, call 479-PLAY (7529). For more info, visit www.hydeparktheatre.org.
This article appears in January 30 • 2004.