If you head out to see anything at the 2016 FringeNYC Festival, you’re likely going to run into a ton of crazy, catchy titles for the shows being offered. One that caught my eye was The Curse of the Babywoman! because of my penchant for horror—and this promised to be a fun, campy, theatrical romp.
And it kept its promise.
Michael Paul Wirsh‘s script is zany enough to keep you laughing, while layered in allegory that keeps your mind engaged saying, “wait, what?” And when you leave the theater and start to unravel the wild tapestry painted for you by director Olivia Hartle and the delightful cast, including the fabulous Sarah Misch as Philomena, you begin to develop a real appreciation for the levels in this show.
Listen in as Mike, Olivia, and Sarah discuss finding humor and leaning into your rehearsal mistakes, denying the obvious, embracing simplicity, mob mentality, how to put baby horses onstage, and finding social relevance in a play about a giant baby.
“If you’re going to convince people to change their minds and their hearts, you have to do it subversively, and that’s ultimately what I hope this does. And if not, it’s a good time, so that’s important, too.”
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BIG Theatre presents
The Curse of the Babywoman!
written by Michael Paul Wirsch
directed by Olivia Hartle
part of FringeNYC 2016
performances:
SAT 8/13 @ 7:00 PM
WED 8/17 @ 2:00 PM
SAT 8/20 @ 2:45 PM
TUE 8/23 @ 9:45 PM
FRI 8/26 @ 9:45 PM
venue:
Teatro SEA
Clemente Soto Velez
107 Suffolk Street
Manhattan
tickets: $13-$18, available via BIG Theatre’s website
photos by Hunter Pedane