Philly Fringe

The Philadelphia Fringe festival has been really amazing so far. The actors and artists here have so much humility and fearlessness, which I guess is what happens when there isn't oppressive pressure on everything you do.

My favorite thing I've seen in the festival so far is a dance piece After Fantastic based on the poetry of Dorothea Lasky, who also performed in the show. I laughed so hard I almost choked pretty much throughout. It was the most totally original thing I have seen in a long time, but also indescribable. You couldn't do it justice.

I also saw Sea of Birds, which had a really breathtaking set, although the show itself was kind of disappointing. The set was really expansive and dreamy, with a really particular style, but the story wasn't anything special, and it didn't have much emotional weight behind it. It was worth it to see the odd little flowers standing on their roots, the dreamy skeletal puppets and the huge, arcing bamboo poles.

Where do people get the guts to do this? To haul out all their spiral notebooks, and stand in a room reading them without editing? It knocks me out.

I had no idea that New York was so inhospitable to art and artists until I left. I also didn't realize what a negative effect it has on what's being produced. It's hard to make a good painting or show or project with six inches of body armor. So much more is possible without it.