Anarchy's the answer for this fest
BILL BROWNSTEIN, The Gazette
Published:
Thursday, May 18, 2006
The Infringement is different
from almost every other festival in town. For starters, it gets no subsidies
from any level of government - nor does it ask for any. The fest, running from
June 15 to 25, doesn't charge its artists a fee for the right to perform and it
is open to all who wish to sing, dance and make merry theatre, regardless of
bizarro bent.
Its volunteer board of organizers
likes to think of Infringement as the anarchist's answer to the Fringe, which
is viewed by some as too structured, too expensive (in that the Fringe charges
its artists fees to perform) and too exclusive. Yet playing by its own rules
and with scant cash, the Infringement is set to celebrate - against all odds -
its third anniversary with more venues and acts than ever.
And unlike just about any other
festival in town, the Infringement eschews organized news conferences. The
event's unorthodox promo person, Media Baronette, prefers the more personal,
one-on-one approach, over shots of vodka and beer chasers, to get the word out.
And in the interests of fair play, she insists we make the rounds at several
Infringement venues on the Main.
So we start at Barfly, saunter
over to Miami Bar, then on to Bar Bifteck and the rest is pretty much a blur.
Same, too, for my notes, which appear to have absorbed remnants from beer
pitchers and shot glasses, from one end of the Main to the other.
However, forever imbedded in this
aching mind is the message that Media Baronette and the rest of the
Infringement gang seek to impart. It is the old Emma Goldman adage: "If I
can't dance, I don't want to be part of your revolution." Works for me.
On the subject of hoofin', Ms.
Baronette is proud to report this year's fest will feature Four One-Legged Men,
an acclaimed one-man play. Written and performed by New York native Gary
Corbin, who lost a leg to bone cancer, the play deals with the delusions of an
amputee who refuses to give up his dreams of becoming a professional dancer.
"You'll laugh. You'll cry. You'll be absolutely astonished when this gay,
black, one-legged Vietnam vet starts dancing," Baronette pledges.
More astonishment beckons with
the Los Angeles act Comedy Jesus or George W. Bush on Sodium Pentothal. This is
the brainchild of improv thesp and stand-up comic Troy Conrad, who fields
questions about life from the audience. Apparently, Conrad's Dubya has to be
seen to be believed. But no word yet whether or not Conrad's other persona will
be attempting to walk on the St. Lawrence River.
Also making his Infringement bow
will be Montrealer Schmelvis, the Jewish Elvis who will be spreading his
message of peace and love, pomade and potato knishes. Other musical acts
include the anarcho-feminist-franco rock of Genr'radical, the funk of Dead
Messenger and Trip the Off, and the gosh-knows-what of Anno Dano and
Pamplemousse Explosion.
Back again is the unending epic
that is Car Stories, but without creator Donovan King. Instead, King's Optative
Theatrical Laboratories company will be presenting Sinking Neptune, the
deconstruction of a play first produced in Montreal in 1606. (Still scouring
for reviews of the original.)
And, in what will be viewed with
great relief by many (OK, maybe just me), there will be no mimes at this year's
Infringement. "But that's not an artistic decision," Media Baronette
says. "We keep calling 'em, but they never pick up the bloody phone."
The third Infringement Festival
runs June 15 to 25. For more information, call (514) 515-3378 or go to the
website www.infringementfestival.com.
bbrownst@thegazette.canwest.com
© The
Gazette (Montreal) 2006
http://www.canada.com/montrealgazette/columnists/story.html?id=b4ed334e-0052-4811-9897-f5951b6567eb
--------------------------------
Cheers!
We’d like to add to the booze-soaked notes:
Mr. Corbin’s play consists of four vignettes that depict four distinct characters from different backgrounds, seasons and eras. The play is their story and not necessarily Mr. Corbin’s.
The Theatre of Neptune in
And Donovan King will, of course, be making guest appearances in Car Stories this summer.