‘Absolute Magic,’ mixed-up music, ‘Drag Queens’ and clowns: Orlando Fringe Festival reviews

Today’s Orlando Fringe Festival reviews include: “Absolute Magic” (highly recommended), “B4,” “Dungeons and Drag Queens,” “Julian Bond … Unscripted,” “Old God” and “Spank Bank Time Machine.”

“Decisions determine our destiny,” intones magician Keith Brown dramatically at one point in his “Absolute Magic” (Savoy, 60 minutes, highly recommended). His show more than lives up to its title with more than its fair share of jaw-dropping tricks.

But what elevates Brown’s show this year is how he serves as an ambassador for the genre. He speaks simply but sincerely about how magic is the great equalizer, a unifier for humans of all races, economic classes and nationalities.

He speaks of the childlike wonder that envelops us when we see something that seems unbelievable — and then he proceeds to demonstrate as joy spreads over our faces at his latest magical feat. Amazing.

It takes a brave man to abandon his character midshow and be himself — or at least play the version of himself he wants the audience to see — but Alec Jones-Trujillo, one can tell, is no shrinking violet. His “Old God” (Purple venue, 60 minutes) crackles with vitality, all due to the performer himself.

Jones-Trujillo creates an intoxicating energy, with his throaty little laugh, tart audience interaction and affected quasi-British accent, as the words come tumbling out: Marzipan … third position … beta beetles. What is happening? 

What is happening is a buildup to a reflection on our modern age with the lines we draw and barriers we erect. Having laughed, feeling puzzled, you’ll emerge from the theater in a bit of a daze, but as an audience member said to me: “That’s what I hope all Fringe shows will be.”

“Spank Bank Time Machine” (Brown, 55 minutes) also employs unconventional storytelling. This, too is a whirlwind of a journey, delivered at breakneck pace — though full of gay sex, drugs and charismatic performer John Michael in a mankini.

This chaotic show doesn’t feel fully formed; it’s hard to follow exactly the sequence of events but a couple of things become quite clear: The entire performance is a wail of grief for friends lost: part eulogy, part pain, and a human example of the cost of the opioid epidemic.

On a much lighter note, “Dungeons and Drag Queens” (Orange venue, 60 minutes) takes its audience on a fantasy-adventure in the style of the role-playing dice game. It’s easy to root for the heroic cast, and the performers sport truly fabulous costumes. The songs are fun, and you don’t have to know much about D&D to appreciate the familiar adventure tropes: The Queen, or queens in this case, have been kidnapped and a rough-and-tumble band of adventurers must save her.

The thrust stage isn’t used as effectively as it could be, but the scenery is quite handsome. As with multiple Fringe shows this year, sound issues are the real villain — microphones going in and out, music overpowering singers — but this is a fun bit of escapism with fierce attitude.

In “B4” (Silver venue, 60 minutes), physical comedian Bert Blague arrives in a rocket capsule for some clowning around with audience members. Three of them re-enact a scene from an Old Western; a quintet participates in a sketch of bodily-function humor. The sketches don’t have much payoff in the end, though the juggling of hoops, clubs, balls and metallic-looking propeller-like objects is good for a thrill, particularly with their always-in-motion LED lights.

Finally, in “Julian Bond … Unscripted” (The Abbey, 60 minutes), the titular pianist keeps his fingers moving. The well-known local composer-musician turns his show over to the audience, and that’s not always the best idea.

When the suggestions aren’t great, the show founders. But Bond can recover quickly. A segment where an untrained person plays a piano duet with him is inspired, and given the right material to work with, a segment in which songs are played in a different style than normal is delightful: Beethoven’s Fifth, as a ragtime tune, is my new favorite song.

Bond is personable and sincere; just watch out for audience members suggesting notes like B-sharp.

Orlando Fringe Festival

• Where: Shows at Loch Haven Park are in color-coded venues; off-campus locations are identified by name.
• When: Through May 29
• Cost: $10 button required for ticketed shows, then individual performance tickets are no more than $15.
• Schedule, tickets and more info: OrlandoFringe.org
• More reviews: OrlandoSentinel.com/fringe

Email me at mpalm@orlandosentinel.com

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