From The Washington Post – Fringe Festival: What we’ll be seeing
Speakeasy DC needs no help with publicity given that its Fringe shows routinely sell out. Yet, because last year’s “The Sin Show” was my favorite performance of the festival, I must give credit where it’s due. This year’s entry adds a dose of spectator participation, including the chance for audience members to decide whether the story they just heard is true or false.
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From MidCity DC
SpeakeasyDC Comes on Down to “The Showcase Showdown”
Local storytelling collective SpeakeasyDC has never been af raid to take on some sensitive topics — the first genera- tion immigrant experience, the pit- falls of coming out, and one’s deep- est personal fears among them. But after staging a tribute to human fail- ings at their worst with the top-sell- ing “Sin Show” at last year’s Capital Fringe Festival, the Speakeasy crew has decided to bring a little levity back to the Fringe Fest stage and they’ve settled on an unlikely piece of inspiration — “The Price is Right.” Get ready to enter “The Showcase Showdown” — Speakeasy’s story- skewed adaptation of the games made famous by Bob Barker and thousands of play-at-home house- wives nationwide. “Last year was fun and funny, but it was heavy…This is like a palate cleanser, not for the audience, but for our own process – something light, playful and game-y,” said Speakeasy Director Amy Saidman. “’The Price is Right’ just sort of emerged as a great way to get to that.”
Taking a cue from their source material, Saidman and her eight- strong cast — featuring of a mix of Speakeasy regulars, workshop grad- uates and newcomers — are making audience participation the center- piece of their full-length production. Speakeasy’s raconteurs will host eight games during the 90-minute production, including four drawing that’ll be drawing on the infamous “Contestants’ Row.”
Instead of playing for cash, how- ever, the volunteers selected will be scoring points for guessing the true story in “Flip Flop” and the real end- ing in “Plenko” to name but two of Speakeasy’s “Price is Right” reinven- tions. In all, it’s a package that Said- man says “plays with the tone and kitsch” of America’s longest running game show — even if that all-ex- penses-paid Hawaiian vacation will have to wait.
“The Showcase Showdown” hits the stage at the US Navy Memorial for just four shows at 8 p.m. on July 9, 10, 15 and 16. Tickets are $15. For information, visit SpeakeasyDC online or the Capital Fringe Festival homepage at www.capfringe.org. 701 Pennsylvania Ave. NW • www.speakeasydc.com
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