A Tale of Two Cities:
The DC and Edinburgh Fringe Festivals
Pinky Swear did something huge this year. We took our triple-award winning show to the original Fringe festival that started it all: Edinburgh. Coming off another best musical award from our beloved Capital Fringe Festival, we were excited to embark upon a journey of a lifetime. We left our dear director, Kevin Place, at home with his new baby and flew to our new home for the month.
Everything started brilliantly. We moved into our cozy houses and compared who had the best one – band house or actor house. We saw our posters all over town and marveled that it was all happening. We met our wonderful venue managers, and made ourselves at home at Greenside George Street. Our tech, helmed by our intrepid associate director, Jen Jacobs, and our super star stage manager, Caroline Johnson, was efficient and gave us confidence that the show would be as good as we hoped.
Our first preview had a small but warm audience, including some friends who came over from the states. As the first few shows went on, the audience grew and we were delighted to catch some reactions on video (link to video). We were invited to take part in a venerable EdFringe tradition, Melvyn Stutter’s Pick of the Fringe variety show, where over 200 people saw a sample of our bluegrass stylings and gave us a major ovation. Jen and Caroline told us that the other group in the dressing room stopped what they were doing and just listened. High praise.
Audiences began to grow. We had one actor out for a few days but our ultimate rockstar swing understudy, Beth Amann, was ready and able to step in. We cannot begin to tell you how much we love her.
Then, some things happen. Well, one big thing. Covid hit our group, taking out five of our team overall, from the band as well as the actors. With only one understudy, we couldn’t cover all the roles that needed it. Housing situations were shuffled in an effort to stop the ick from spreading, but it was too late. We had to cancel our shows right as we were starting to gain audience. All told, the second week of shows was canceled completely, with a brief comeback once in the final week. Then covid hit again and we had to cancel the rest.
During that same time period, your intrepid producer/writer/actor (that’s me), fell off a curb and broke bones in both feet, requiring a swift and sad return to the states.
The rest of the team made the most of it, seeing shows and doing the kinds of tourist things one looks forward to when in Scotland. Folks saw Highland cows, jumped off of rocks into the fridgid North Sea, visited islands, lochs, and and Ireland. Our Associate Director scored some gigs for the band and available singers at a venerable folk music bar. They invited them back several times. Our fiddler and mandolin player also made a few pounds busking.
Of course, everyone was disappointed, since everyone went to Edinburgh with the intention of performing. People left their lives and loved ones at home for a performing adventure – some probably for the only time they’ll be able to do it.
We thank our generous supporters for helping us achieve a dream, even if the result wasn’t precisely what we wanted. You helped us get there and we are grateful.
Pinky Swear sends heartfelt thanks to the entire team, at home and in Edinburgh. We didn’t have the Fringe we wanted, but it was an adventure nonetheless and we will remember the amazing times we had on the world’s largest Fringe stage.
Thank you Kevin, Jen, Caroline, Danny, Ashlynne, Paige, Seth A, Kenny, Justin, Zach, Bebe, Seth B, Jordan, Annie, Toni, Beth, and James. You have your intrepid producer’s (that’s me) eternal gratitude and appreciation for your talent, flexibility, and good attitudes in the face of a crazy time.
With affection to everyone reading this,
Karen Lange, Artistic Director, Pinky Swear Productions