Want to see every show at Fringe, but don’t have the time? You can see it all at Fringeprov, an improv game show where two teams perform their takes on Fringe shows based solely on the show’s description. Conceived by long-time Fringe producer Bryan Colley, Fringeprov offers a twist on the improv format, and a chance to binge the Fringe in only one hour. Just watch out for The Critic!
Highlights from Fringeprov at the Kansas City Fringe Festival, where we improvised other Fringe shows based on their show description. Shows include Spooky and Gay Cabaret, KC's Oldest Living Comedian, Connections, Breakneck Comedy of Errors, Leland Loves Bigfoot, Little Orphan Annie, 3 by Beckett, Becoming Magic Mike, The Glass Combat Reboot, Process Inevitable, Regression, Escape, Chaos Ensues, and a surprise ending!
Premiere performance July 22-30, 2022 at the Kansas City Fringe Festival. Starring Rita Hanch, Hilari Holt, Cody Lindenberger, Irene Manning, Gabriela Sá Teles, and Sadie Teel. Produced by Jill Gillisepie, hosted by Bryan Colley, with Tara Varney as The Critic.
The Best of Fringeprov premiered August 15-September 15, 2022 at the Kansas City Virtual Fringe Festival.
REVIEWS
“Fringeprov” is an improv show that gives members of the group Plan B Productions the opportunity to react to shows currently running at the Festival. Show titles are pulled from a bag, the descriptions read, and the team is given 3 minutes to create a show. Neither the audience nor the cast know which shows will be picked but that doesn't matter very much. This reviewer had seen none of the shows picked on Friday night but it was still well-worth seeing, It was hard to imagine that some of the actual shows are better than the improv versions!
“An Awkward Little Man” was particularly funny, as the three members of the Green Team all knelt on stage and delivered monologues including all—or most—of the topics covered in the original show. The humor derived from the cast members attempt to make their monologues sound coherent while including topics such as daddy issues, depression, the 2nd amendment, the secret ingredient in Ezekiel bread and having a gay kid--all in 3 minutes! The Blue Team hit a home run with “Naked and Uncensored on the Radio”, in which one of the cast confidently portrayed a nudist, while fending off increasingly hostile questions from a team of radio hosts seeking to unsettle her.
“Fingerprov” works well for all Fringe aficionados, whether familiar with the shows picked, or not. Fringe veterans Bryan Colley and Tara Varney have assembled a skilled group of improv performers and delivered yet another crowd-pleasing Fringe romp.
OTHER COMMENTS
If you don't have time to catch 7 shows. Catch this one and you'll see 7. Great performers. Very funny show.
Such a clever concept for a show. A festival within a festival! So much fun.
How fun. These talented performers take on the entire Fringe Festival with their clever improvised send-ups of their fellow Fringe shows. We were treated to mini-versions of Little Orphan Annie, 3 by Beckett, 40.4.40, Becoming Magic Mike, Delusions of Grandeur, My Left Boob. I hope the other shows get wind of this one and come see the improved version.
