Fringe

I have always been in love with musical theatre. I started singing in the first grade in front of my class during every show and tell day—instead of bringing something like everyone else. A fact that truly gives insight as to who I would grow up to be; the obnoxious, show tune obsessed, passionate girl you know. I won’t apologize!!!! I say this because this trip, especially the musicals, have reignited the same fire that was lit inside me as such a young person. Lift, in particular, reminded me of her and how all my life I have been searching for an outlet to express all of the things in my imagination. 

To begin, I adore shows that are performed in a black box theatre. Due to their size, it automatically forces the show to be far more intimate than if they were done in a proscenium style theatre. This intimacy creates a far more captivating experience for me, which is part of the reason why I enjoyed Lift so much. I hardly knew anything about Fringe theatre or this show before we watched it, so I didn’t know what to expect. From the title, I figured it was going to be a show about people trapped on a lift, but I was terribly wrong. Lift ended up being an abstract, complicated, and beautiful interpretation of our innate need for connection. Not only this, but our instinctual tendency to use imagination as a vehicle to understand ourselves and one another. I know that the show was very complex in the way that it was written, for some it was very hard to follow. However, from the moment I connected that the entirety of the show had occurred in the lead role’s imagination through a 54 second lift ride, I was sold. I related to it so much because I have such a vivid and explorative imagination and I am constantly curious by others. I think one of the most rewarding things about being an actor is having the opportunity to learn about all different walks of life and how we’re all so different, yet there’s always something you can discover about a person that brings you together. For me, Lift was a gorgeous reminder that in a way we’re all the same. We’re all just desiring to be understood by someone, in anyway that makes that possible. Lift explored these principals and also dealt with the conflict of misunderstanding one another, grief, and lost love in a way that pulled on all my heart strings. It was a very raw example of not knowing what someone else is ever going through, but desiring to know, even if you only stood by them for 54 seconds on your way to work. It reminded me that we all have something to offer, something to gain, and something to learn about each other. 

To add to the plot of the show, the score was so pretty. Each song was layered in harmonies sung by a cast that blended so smoothly together. The music made me teary and I felt as though its composition perfectly fit each character and gave the show this sad, but hopeful tone throughout. While this was the only Fringe theatre I watched, it reminded me of all the off-broadway shows that I love so much. There’s something special about shows that don’t make it to the west end or to broadway. I believe they all have traces of humanity that are too raw to be considered just entertainment. Lift was a perfect example of this to me and I thoroughly enjoyed it.