Show: 19
Title: BE NOT AFRAID
Category: Comedy / Drama / Horror / Mystery / Original Music / Physical Theater / Storytelling
By: Third Space Theater
Created by: Mariabella Sorini & Alex Church
Location: Southern Theatre
Summary: A struggling North Dakota farm family is threatened by the construction of nearby oil rigs, as they're visited by angels and devils.
Highlights: This is the only dramatic play I've seen at Fringe so far, and feels much more like a one-act play than a Fringe show, not surprising for Third Space Theater. It's an original play written by Mariabella Sorini (who also stars in it) and Alex Church (who also directs, with Stephanie Kahle), and everything about is thoughtful and polished and gorgeous. The story is centered around Micah (Mariabella) and Jordan (Ben Qualley), living on and trying to save his father's farm despite the nearby fracking and the usual environmental issues. Jordan's cousin and his friend are crashing on air mattresses in their living room, Peter (Logan Lang) trying to work and make money for his daughter, Mason (Sebastian Grim) only out for momentary "fun." Neighbor Sam (Tamira Rashid) is desperate after her horses are lost, and beset by strange occurrences that are killing livestock. There's a sense of familiarity among this group of people, like they've known each other forever and we're just getting a peek into their lives. Once Micah is visited by a scary angel (Em Adam Rosenberg) she starts to prepare for a fire and/or some other catastrophe, removing pesticides and gas for the generator despite Jordan's insistence that they're needed. The catastrophe does eventually come, and it tests everyone. The Southern is the perfect backdrop for this story, with its weathered brick walls full of history. A couple of ladders, sawhorses, wooden poles, and lines of laundry hung between them create the stark farm landscape. Lighting changes from full blackout to a red glow to bright lights, and the sound design is haunting, with music and effects. All of this helps to tell this earthy and otherworldly story about a community, the land, and the dangers of industrialization. The movement and physical theater pieces are beautiful, particularly the silent wounded deer (embodies by Mary Lofreddo), perhaps representing our wounded earth. This is definitely one of the most polished and professional shows you'll see at Fringe.