(**Note from Jessi: If you haven’t ever been to one of our Fringe shows, featuring our amazing acting interns, this is something not to be missed.  Only two performances, though, August 17 & 24 — all tickets $14!)

I’m Kirsten Brandt, the director of this year’s Fringe Show, La Ronde.  I first read the play my freshman year in college (no, I’m not telling when exactly that was), and have wanted to direct it ever since.  As a producer, La Ronde has been on my short list every single time I selected a season, but something always came up that kept me from being able to present it.  This is a classic that is sexy and surprisingly fun and poignant. Although the play is over 100 years old, it retains relevance to long standing social conventions about relationships, love and sex. It magnifies the intimate in a way that is familiar and yet completely taboo.

I adore the intern company.  They are phenomenal.  I have spent most of my career working with and creating ensembles who support and encourage each other, but are willing to set ego aside for the betterment of the production.  This is a fantastic group of passionate young artists that have thrown themselves into the ensemble mentality.  They are in it together – committed and enthusiastic. Although each actor has a moment to shine individually in this play, they know that it is about the team.

Oh, and they are cliff divers.  They are game for just about anything and willing to push themselves to try it.  They are constantly looking for ways to improve.  There is nothing I adore more than seeing an actor standing in a corner working on their part, walking thru their blocking, and scribbling actions into their scripts.   It’s beautiful to watch them encouraging each other.

La Ronde was written to be performed indoors.  Schnitzler notates that a sexual act has taken place with “* * *.”  Usually, this is done with a  blackout or an interpretive dance.  Well, since the first half hour of our production is performed when the sun is up – the first option is not available to us.  When I told the cast that I didn’t want to do a traditional dance either – I was met with cries of joy.  So, we have created abstract ways of depicting the “coupling” of each duo.  The actors helped select the sound and physical style in which the moment is performed.  It’s been an exciting part of our process.

As I write this we are four days from opening.   We are reveling in the creative energies that come from the final push of putting on a show: fine tuning intentions, tweaking staging and combining all the technical elements.   We even got to enjoy a light summer rain (and winter temperatures) in the Festival Glen as we teched the show.   We are all eager to get this show in front of an audience.

Hope to see you there!
–Kirsten Brandt, Director