More Fringe than Elvis

If you're in the mood to be entertained but can't figure out what it is you want to do, the St. Lou Fringe is here to make all of your half-formed dreams come true. Back once again in Grand Center, the Fringe offers dozens of performance choices spread over four days. The basic details are easy: Fringe runs from Thursday through Sunday (June 19 through 22); you need to buy a Fringe badge ($5) and then tickets for each show you want to see, and all tickets are priced at $12 or less. You can buy badges, and tickets and pick up a schedule/make friends at Fringe Central Station in Strauss Park (3534 Washington Boulevard; 314-643-7853 or www.stlfringe.com). And that's it, other than picking your show, which is apparently a problem for you. For Friday night, we recommend Siobhan O'Loughlin's Natural Novice, which is one woman's exploration of the depilatory practices of women and what effect shaving -- or not -- has on the larger world (7:30 p.m. Friday, 1 p.m Saturday and 2:30 p.m. Sunday at Duet Gallery; 3526 Washington Avenue, suite 300). If you're a fan of those caped-crusader summer blockbusters, check out The Adventures of Tapman, a super-heroic spoof about a scientist who gains extraordinary tap-dancing prowess and then uses it to fight crime (8 p.m. Friday, 6:30 p.m. Saturday and 2:30 p.m. Sunday at the Stage at KDHX; 3524 Washington Avenue). And if you want to get in on the action, your best bet might be the Spotty Truth, in which an audience member tells the group his or her life story, and then the Spotty Truth troupe performs an improvised comedic biography of that life as the evening's show -- with some improvements or errors introduced if it makes a better story (6:30 p.m. Friday, and 5 and 8 p.m. Saturday at the Stage at KDHX; 3524 Washington Avenue).
Fri., June 20, 7:30 p.m., 2014