[Now in its second year, the New York International Fringe Festival takes over Manhattan's Lower East Side Aug. 19-30. More than 144 productions hailing from across the country and around the world will take part in the Fest, which occupies nearly every viable theatre space in the vicinity. As a way to keep up with the onslaught of offerings, in the days preceding the Fest, Playbill On-Line hopes to spotlight several unique or intriguing productions.]
Dirty Laundry at Surf Reality, Aug. 19-29
Three may be a charm for solo performer Marcy Lovitch, whose Dirty Laundry will be featured in the second annual New York International Fringe Festival, running around and about the East Village and Lower East Side Aug. 19-30. Lovitch's Fringe appearance marks the third time she's aired her Laundry in Gotham.
The piece, which was suggested to her by an HBO producer, was first unveiled in 1996 at the Womankind Festival, an annual fest of one-woman shows. Lovitch then remounted the show at HERE. With each production, the Laundry piled up, growing from a ten-minute sketch to its current 90-minute form; new characters have been added and the storyline expanded.
In Dirty Laundry, Lovitch plays seven different characters, all denizens of a seemingly normal New Jersey shore town. Behind the facade, however, are tales of drug addiction, divorce and show tune obsessions. Among the characters the actress portrays are an evil stepmother to give Cinderella a run for her money; Commander Ron, a former Marine who now shapes up troubled teens in a mock boot camp; and 15-year-old Alicia Rosen, the central figure around whom everything turns. Rosen was based on Lovitch's own sister. Dirty Laundry will be performed at Surf Reality, on 172 Allen St. between Houston and Stanton Streets. The performance schedule is Aug. 19 at 8 PM; Aug. 22 at 11 PM; Aug. 23 at 1 PM; Aug. 26 at 4:15; Aug. 27 at 5:30 PM; Aug. 28 at 10 PM; and Aug. 29 at 1:45 PM.
For information, call (888) FRINGENYC or check out Dirty Laundry's website at www.angelfire.com/ny/dirtylaundry.
-- By Robert Simonson
