More Fringe!

Aussie-German punks, TJ Dawe,
Cobra Christ Superstar and Baby Book

KRAUT ROCK:Die Roten Punkte

by NEIL BOYCE

No clunkers so far has made this year’s Fringe a pleasure to attend. Scratch a couple of overheated venues and you have a vintage year. A few examples:

Die Roten Punkte:
Super Musikant

Australian fringers Clare Bartholomew and Daniel Tobias (aka the Berlin brother and sister duo Die Roten Punkte) bring songs like “Straight-Edge Girl” and “Super Musikant” to a punk rock meets Eurovision performance that showcases their great shtick and studied pose.

It’s good to see an act that understands what it parodies: beyond the red lipstick/black vinyl gloss—und zee ridickooloss cherman accents—is a well-written musical comedy from actors with a knack for vaudeville. The tunes are good too. Days after the show, unsummoned, the belted out harmonies of “Die Roten Punkte! Die Roten Punkte!” echoed in my ears. (Venue 5, Just For Laughs Studio, 2109 St-Laurent)

Totem Figures

Perhaps TJ Dawe’s most spellbinding and mature work, Totem Figures explores the idea of us being the heroes in our own personal mythology, as he recounts role models who have shaped his own character, among them John Fahey, Charles Bukowski and George Carlin.

The “all true” story—the first time Dawe’s ever made that claim—is a more confessional and reflective piece, yet retains the performer’s skill of telling many stories in a fractured mosaic. He keeps track of the threads, gathering them up as he progresses.

Among the many revelations is the origin of the author’s name, ti-Jon, and the claim that Jesus was a Fringe performer—but you’ll have to see it to find out the rest. (Venue 9, Théâtre Ste-Catherine, 264 Ste-Catherine E.)

Cobra II: Cobra
Christ Superstar

Another chapter in the world of G.I. Joe’s arch nemeses is revealed with Cobra II: Cobra Christ Superstar. This time, they attempt to unify the conquered masses with the only sure-fire, controversy-free method—religion!

What impresses most, in this musical goof on comic book machos, is how well the show is put together, with lavish costumes and make-up way above Fringe standards.

Destro, the Baroness, Serpentor, and of course Cobra Commander himself, are there as the Cobra gang brings its idiocy proudly to the stage with an Austin Powers-like approach to the G.I. Joe universe, but far funnier.

In one lovely moment, a villain explains (accurately) the precepts of Scientology to Cobra Commander: an ancient alien race, exploding volcanoes, Xenu etc. The garishly costumed and hooded Commander takes a lengthy pause, and replies, “I see.”

The musical numbers are bouncy, the jokes crude, and the sight of tough guys skipping around on stage does one good. (Venue 2, Cabaret Juste Pour Rire, 2111 St-Laurent)

Barry Smith’s Baby Book

A self-written “This Is Your Life” episode, Barry Smith’s Baby Book continues the author’s strange odyssey, this time taking us back to year zero.

A gallery of Mississippians pepper the narrative, featuring dad Brownie, mom Mousie, grandad Paw-Paw and Uncle Satch—the real face of the deep South with pick-ups, snuff and trucker caps.

What began as a PowerPoint-y slideshow in earlier work is now a slick filmic collage. The technical wizardry has advanced to a Michael Moore type of confessional documentary. With a voiceover, Smith needn’t even show up at the venue. It may not have been theatre, but it was good. (Venue 3, Geordie Space, 4001 Berri)