Fothing

Action/Adventure Theatre
Link to web series: Fothing
Debuts October 15, 2009

Summary:

Fothing is a new comedy web series from the creators and producers of the hit Portland, Oregon serialized theater show Fall of the House that follows the super-fictionalized creative team of Action/Adventure Theatre as they struggle and try to produce another season of their less-so-but-still-pretty-fictional stage hit.

Inspired By: A Celebration of Art-Inspired Art

Action/Adventure Theatre
August 30, 2009

Summary:

It started with a call for submissions of flash fiction - stories of 100 words or less. Next, artists of every ilk chose one of those submissions to adapt or interpret through their particular medium. The evening will feature readings of original flash fiction and performances by Action/Adventure and many others.

Fall of the House: Season Five

Action/Adventure Theatre
June 5 - 28, 2009

Review by peanutduck

Episode 3:

Pluses: Best opening dance break so far; fresh-faced David Saffert, a gem addition. FotH’s ability to portray our mundane, self-centered lives as high-stakes drama grasped at straws tonight (e.g., invasion of micro-suede couch); light on onstage action, heavy on exposition of drama yet to come. Anticipating future no-pants house meetings.

Episode 4:

Lots of growing up – self-realizations and confrontations; bodes well for dramatic changes next season. Given their messy personal history, I’m continually pondering what keeps these friends together – maybe it’s beer and pot, or maybe it’s that rare loyalty of friendship. Julie, my hero, keeps getting her ass kicked – Enough already!

Fall of the House: Season 4

Action/Adventure
January 29 - February 22, 2009

Review by peanutduck - Episode 4

Loneliest of episodes I’ve seen with two why-can’t-you-be-my-one-and-only breakups, the pain of loving a self-destructive; vulnerable raw emotion a FotH strength (kinda over-indulged this time). Sam and Betsey’s reunion contrived, though consistent with episode’s (unintentional?) pro-monogamy theme. Gotta love the raucous fanclub – booing baddie Maya, cheering her smack-down by Julie.

Fall of the House - Episodes 1 - 4

Action/Adventure Theater
October 30 - November 23, 2008

Review by peanutduck

Episode 1:
Heirloom gourds + beer + friendship + shorty-shorts aerobicizing = season premiere of scrumptious tossed improv salad of VERY Portland FotH. Witty cynicism, cozy cast sprinting with ridiculous mouth-fumbles. Not (yet) side-splitting as last season, but establishes characters, sets up future conflicts, whets appetite; exactly what a premiere should do.

Episode 2:
If semi-relieved by giggle-inducing moments integral to improv, episode veered uncomfortably close to self-absorbed reality television territory. I did welcome Sam’s (Amanda Jensen) frantic return and am increasingly attached to sweetly pained Julie (Aubrey Jessen) and her noir fantasy; just wanting more through line diversity from standard 20/30-something searching-for-myself fare.

Episode 3:
Raw, poignant prelude-to-a-date scene is why I tough-love FotH - genuine, open beats of heart-strung reality that hush audience, or, conversely, crack them up, frequently overdone or sentimentalized in film and theatre. A/A should harvest Sam’s (Jensen) freneticism, thereby solving energy crisis. Olivia’s (Thompson) absence welcome. Eagerly awaiting unicorn’s import.

Episode 4:
No one beats FotH for timeliness, detail: continual stuffs of twentysomething and, honestly, all generations – fluid sexuality, dashing from and chasing love, loneliness and comfort … jumbled with Tetris championships (what shape tattoo would you get?), slutty evenings. Neatly wrapped cliffhangers left me curious, if dramatically wanting higher stakes, surprises.

Inspired By

Action/Adventure Theatre **Photo credit: Yolanda Suarez**
July 22, 2008

Summary:

It started with a call for submissions of short stories of 100 words or less by local authors and playwrights. Next, artists of every ilk chose a submission to adapt or interpret through their particular medium. The results will be displayed, performed, and in some cases, created before your eyes.