Fearlessly Cracking Open the Antidepressant Festival

Had a real fun time seeing my first Antidepressant Festival show (that wasn’t my own, obviously) last night: Ten Directions’ ...and the fear cracked open, a funny and creepy dark comedy about a young couple in Minnesota finding their relationship on rocky ground due to petty and abstract fears. The show, created by Lynn Berg and Audrey Crabtree, uses multiple styles and methods (puppets, abstract dance, videos, and mask work) that range from the sublime to the ridiculous.

Speaking of mask work, there's one brilliant sequence that conveys some crucial information about the couple in a way that's so disturbing and hypnotic it could be worth the price of admission alone.

What’s fun about this show, which features the very watchable and delightful Gavin Starr Kendall and Becky Byers as the couple, is that is deals with a subject everyone can relate to (the cold feet and anxieties inherent to a long-term relationship) in a unique and fresh way. Everyone knows this story, but I don’t think anyone has seen it told this way.

Anyway, I plan to check out a few more shows at the festival now that I have the time off. I don’t think I can make it to all of them, but hopefully most of them.

...and the fear cracked open is playing a few more times at the Brick Theater as part of the Antidepressant Festival: June 18, 21 & 27. Get your tickets here.

Wondering if Fear Bag is available for parties,

James "Shitty Party Host" Comtois