Minnesota Fringe Festival 2018: "BollyProv: NOT a Dance Drama!"

Day: 3

Show: 10

Title: BollyProv: NOT a Dance Drama!

Category: Comedy / Improv / Storytelling

By: Bollywood Dance Scene

Crated by: Bollywood Dance Scene

Location: Ritz Theater Mainstage

Summary: Fringe Fest Faves Bollywood Dance Scene returns with something different - storytelling and improv, and only a little dancing.

Highlights: I'll admit it, I was expecting the big joyous Bollywood dance numbers, and this show isn't that, although there are a few smaller dance numbers. Instead it combines a new story every night with an improvised Bollywood movie based on that story. The show I attended featured a story called "Crushed" told by Darshan Maiya, about his love of watching TV and teenage crushes. The story is charmingly (and silently) acted out by a small cast, and there are a couple of mini dance breaks. When the story ends, Madhu Bangalore and Kya Fischer take the stage to improvise a few scenes based on the story they just heard (for the first time, they tell us) and a suggestion from the audience. They do a surprisingly good job for people who are not experienced improvers (I'm assuming), and manage to construct a little story that's funny and sweet and sort of even makes sense! Everyone loves their big Bollywood shows, but it's also fun to see them stretch themselves and try something different, and the result is just as entertaining, if in a different way. And if you're still craving those big Bollywood dance numbers, you can see their new Bollywood dance drama The Land of Maaya at the upcoming MinneUtsav festival, the second annual South Asian Performing Arts Festival in Minnesota (click here for more info).

Read all of my Fringe mini-reviews here.

Fringe Festival 2016: "Bezubaan: The Voiceless"

Day: 2

Show: 5

Title: Bezubaan: The Voiceless

Category: Musical

By: Bollywood Dance Scene

Created by: Bollywood Dance Scene

Location: Rarig Center Thrust

Summary: A Bollywood-style story of an Indian man prejudiced against Muslims who learns acceptance through the power of love (and dance).

Highlights: The creators of the best-selling Fringe show of the past two years return again with another huge-cast high-energy musical. The story is a bit trite, the lesson a bit heavy-handed, but it's a wonderful message of acceptance and love winning out over hate and fear. And the cast vibrantly inhabits the characters, especially when dancing (highlights include Ranjan Dumra as the lovable curmudgeon Appu, Darshan Maiya as his identity-conflicted son Raju, Arun Velliangiri and Sophie Gori as the star-crossed lovers, and Erin McGregor as the American girl Raju falls for). Two narrators (Hetal Ascher and Madhu Bangalore) introduce the characters and scenes, commenting on the Bollywood form with clever fourth-wall-breaking charm (similar to how Jane the Virgin follows the tropes of the telenovela while also poking loving fun at it). And now for the best part - the dancing! There's something about Bollywood dance, and this company in particular, that's so joyous and free. This might be the most energetic show in the Fringe, deserving of the huge and enthiusastic crowds they draw. It's great to see that they're using their platform this year to promote cross-cultural awareness, support, and community. Wouldn't it be wonderful if all the world's wars and conflicts could be solved through dance?!