By Eric George Tauber
SAN DIEGO — The Seventh Annual Fringe Festival held a brief opening ceremony in Balboa Park on Thursday morning, June 6. We heard from Jonathan Glus of the Commission for Arts & Culture and a man from California Assemblyman Todd Gloria’s office presented an official Certificate of Recognition from the California State Assembly, giving the festival some welcome credibility. We were then treated to some old Rat Pack swing tunes from the dapper and talented Las Vegas Three. Finally, we cut a big purple ribbon with small children’s safety scissors.
If you’re not familiar with “fringe” theatre, it can take many forms. Many are small shows that travel light. Some are works in progress. They can include music, dance, puppetry, acrobatics, magic and aerial acts. They can be light and funny, deadly serious, deeply personal and even a bit naughty. But they must be kept to one hour and broken down quickly so that the next act can set up.
This year’s festival is taking place mostly in Balboa Park, which seems like an ideal location. It’s popular and close to public transit with ample parking. But the organizers have learned just how “challenging” park politics can be. They likened it to “going on a camping trip” combining the excitement of actually going with the angst of wondering whether your needs will really be met.
The venues are on the Presidio Plaza, or “ugly step-sister” side of the park, mainly the Marie Hitchcock Puppet Theatre, The World Beat Cultural Center and the Centro Cultura de la Raza. In this way, the Fringe Festival can go on without disturbing the already busy venues like The Old Globe and Del Prado theatres.
The ceremony opened to a very light crowd at the entrance to the old Starlight Bowl. Long time theatre-goers may well remember the show-stopping red light that would pause musical productions as planes flew overhead. Once a concert venue for the Rolling Stones, Mormon Tabernacle Choir and home to the Civic Light Opera, the neglected Starlight Bowl is now given over to weeds. A group called Save Starlight is trying to bring it back, but it will take a lot of elbow grease to get it there.
This year’s fringe is much smaller than in previous years. There aren’t nearly as many venues. For a few years, we boasted of being the only bi-national fringe with venues in Tijuana. That’s not the case this year. I spoke to organizers Shaun Davis and Kevin Charles Patterson who said this smaller fringe was “strategic.” They used to be based downtown in the Spreckels Theatre, the owner of which was an enthusiastic supporter of the festival. With her passing, they lost a key supporter and are now in search of a new home.
I hope they get back on their feet soon. It was nice to have too many choices. I also think it should be scheduled in August like it was originally. Right now, they are competing with the Jewish Arts Festival, graduation ceremonies and the siren call of the beach after weeks of rain. Nonetheless, I’ll take in what I can and get back to you.
For a full line up of shows, go to www.sdfringe.org. Individual tickets are reasonably priced and a festival pass gives you access to everything.
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Tauber is a freelance writer who specializes in coverage of the arts. He may be contacted via eric.tauber@sdjewishworld.com