Indy Theatre Habit

For the last time slot (10:30) of the first Sunday night of the 2008 Indianapolis Fringe Festival, I had circled the “Potpourri Potluck Kitchen Sink Meatloaf” show by Shantz Theatre Company out of Chicago.  I enjoyed their “Burying Mom” show at last year’s Fringe (pre-blog.)

However, that particular performance was cancelled, so I dashed down Mass Ave to the ComedySportz Arena to catch one of the ”Cool Table” shows. They are a sketch comedy group, also out of Chicago.  I reviewed their Indy Fringe show last year for IndianaAuditions.com.

I enjoyed the show I saw this year, too, but it seemed very short.  

I sat with Croft Vaughn, aka “Sinclair” in the “Stinky Flowers” show.   (And by the way, he is as gentle and precise in person as he is in his show.  A lot calmer than “Sinclair,” but equally endearing.  It was an unexpected treat to get to hang out with him a bit and hear more about his midwestern upbringing and his current life and work in New York.)

After the “Cool Table” show, Croft walked me slowly back down the street and we stood talking for a while.  When I finally got into my car, the clock said only “11:20.”  So I think the “Cool Table” people cut their 10:30 show off early Sunday night.

But, as I say, I enjoyed it.

It helped that ”Cool Table” is at the ComedySports Arena.  This theatre is rapidly becoming one of my favorite places simply because it is the only Fringe theatre that serves cheeseburgers.  Twice so far this festival, those microwaved cheeseburgers have kept this busy reviewer from passing out (and/or from wolfing down a whole container of ice cream when she got home.)

“Cool Table” is a group of (the night I saw them) five good-looking men and one wholesomely pretty girl.  They work together year-round to improvise funny scenes, also known as “comedy sketches.”  Their Fringe show is a sampling of their most popular sketches.

I loved the sketches about “The B-Squad” – gifted geeks turned superheroes with unexpected super powers.  I also loved a separate sketch about “The Incredible Sulk.”

The sketch about the ex-girlfriend heckler was a hoot, too.

But then suddenly the whole ensemble was on stage and they were saying goodbye.  It was as if they had started to think too much about the long drive back to Chicago or something.

‘Speaking of which, I have a long drive back downtown to see three more Fringe shows tonight.  I’d better sign off and go take a shower.  (And yes, I have just spent another day in my sweats at my computer.)

9/2/08 – I wish I could tell you the name of the artist who did the cool drawing to go with this post, but I could not find a credit anywhere.  If I find out later, I will add it. HB

Hope Baugh – www.IndyTheatreHabit.com.