Theater Buff: Fringe Festival 2012

Fringe Festival chalking outside the UMC. (CU Independent File/Robert R. Denton)

This year’s Fringe Festival, the student-run annual event of plays, musicals, films and comedy, took audiences by surprise this year with edgy subject matter. Here is the CU Independent’s recap of two of the many shows offered up this weekend: “Sexting: The Musical” and “Girls! Girls! Girls!”

“Sexting: The Musical”
The name was provocative enough, and attracted both young and old to the University Theater Sunday morning. The plot revolved around high schoolers today and their obsession with technology. The play told the tale of  students dealing with sexting, cyber-bullying and more.

The play itself was a comedy and a drama with musical numbers throughout, including one named “Boner Exploder.” The actors did a fantastic job capturing the attitudes of high school students today, including their casual attitude about what they send to each other, even though sexting is a big deal. They succeeded at illustrating to the audience the consequences that come from sexting, bullying and abusing technology. They portrayed to the audience the realities of being a teenager today and that teens have to deal with issues their parents never did. Overall, this was a fantastic production that illustrated the talents of CU students.

“Girls! Girls! Girls!”
This was the show that everyone has been talking about after this weekend. It was a modern day burlesque show that was highly anticipated by all, and the waiting area was already packed 20 minutes before the show time. “Due to the sensitive nature of the show,” ushers had to card everyone to make sure they were 18 and over. After taking our seats in the theater, we were told no camera and photos were allowed but were reminded to have fun.

Two men (who were actually girls dressed up as boys) started the show by talking about the good old days of burlesque and how girls are now so covered up. They go on a mission to steal women’s clothing, leaving them all in their “under-roos.” A victim of this crime, Sweet Caroline, vows to catch the villains and stop them from stealing women’s clothes. She enlists her best friend Copper Moon, Dr. DuBois, a rock band and a librarian to help her. The story ended with the two villains being caught. It turns out they just wanted to be burlesque girls the whole time, but they were too afraid to achieve their dream. The audience never went a minute without bursting out in laughter or cheers. All the actors were fantastic and really embraced what the show was all about. It included all the elements of a burlesque show with cheeky comedy and heightened dramatic actions. There would be more to share, but what happens at the burlesque show, stays at the burlesque show.

The Fringe Festival is a great opportunity for CU students to show off their talents and entertain their fellow students and community members. If you missed this year’s Fringe Festival, put it on your calendar for next year because it is a spectacular, must-attend, event.

Contact CU Independent Staff Writer Ellie Patterson at Elizabeth.n.patterson@colorado.edu.