So many people think of the theatre in two spheres: community theatre and professional theatre. Both are held in large spaces, and feature well known plays.
Too many people pay almost no attention to experimental, or fringe theatre. This is the theatre done in small spaces, most often with less than one hundred seats. The plays are untried, the actors and playwrights are unknown, and the quality wildly vary.
But this is the theatre that feeds the other two segments. Out of today’s experiments will come tomorrow’s hits. With the fringe theatre, the professional and, by extension, community lose their vitality. Nurturing of the fringe theatre is therefore necessary.
This summer, as in recent summers, downtown Buffalo, by Lake Erie, features its annual Infringement Festival. The festival features exhibits and performances in music, theatre, dance, the visual arts and street performance.
I am happy to be taking part in the festival. Celnote Productions, my alter ego, is presenting two short plays: “Shy Interpreter” and “Uncle Sergei”. They will be shown in the American Repertory Theatre of Western New York space, located at 16 Linwood Ave. in Buffalo, on Friday, July 25th, at 7:15 p.m., and Saturday, July 26th, at 8:15 p.m., respectively.
“Shy Interpreter”, a new play by Rashon Glover, studies the tensions between a father and son after a family member’s death. On the side of levity is my comedy “Uncle Sergei”, which looks at life on a country estate in late 19th century Russia. Once people see this play, they will understand why Russia had the revolution.
But whether you like comedy or more serious stuff, come see the show. And enjoy the Infringement Festival.
Charles's space 