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Orlando Fringe Festival reviews: Fathers, sons and mysterious thongs

By Matthew J. Palm, Orlando Sentinel The Tribune Content Agency

Updated May 15, 2026 6:11 PM

Here are Orlando Fringe Festival reviews of "Basic Training," "Becoming Magic Mike 2: Stranger Thongs," "Double Play," "An Improvised City Council Meeting" and "Tod Kimbro: Happy Human Song Machine."

‘Basic Training'

It's a rarity - perhaps unprecedented - to have a show arrive at the Orlando Fringe Festival with a New York Times Critic's Pick designation, but such is the case with Kahlil Ashanti's "Basic Training" (Green, 60 minutes), which ran off-Broadway in 2008. It's plain to see why.

Ashanti tells the autobiographical story of his time in the U.S. Air Force, which provides an escape from an abusive childhood but also begins the investigation into a long-buried family secret. It's a compelling story, elevated by Ashanti's performance as multiple memorable characters - his cruel father, his bullying superior officer, a fellow airman with Tourette Syndrome, a fey leader of the Air Force's entertainment troupe Tops in Blue.

Ashanti has the gift of making these characters spring to life vividly, through voice and facial expressions. His story is well-paced, funnier than you'd expect, but emotional, too. This is the real deal. Don't miss it.

‘Becoming Magic Mike 2'

Fringe vet and funny guy DK Reinemer returns to a character he introduced at the 2018 Fringe Festival, albeit with a slight name change. Mike, the stripper-cop, is now Mark "due to legal reasons," Reinemer mutters. He's also changed careers: He's now an adjunct faculty member at Cockins Community College ("Go, cocks!"), and there are some weird things going on - including the disappearance of a student.

The plot, which parodies "Stranger Things" references, is secondary to the shenanigans, many of which involve puns or illustrations suggesting male genitalia (see the college name above) and provide opportunities for Reinemer to disrobe.

Reinemer, who does excellent crowd work, seemingly specializes in staging shows that appear to be going off the rails; is the chaotic presentation deliberate or planned? Who cares: Reinemer is funniest when he's barely holding things together.

‘Double Play'

"Double Play" (Blue, 60 minutes) is an amiable tale about a stay-at-home gay dad who realizes he needs more - and finds joy in a softball league.

Randy Borek wrote the story, directs and stars as Randy, husband to the always-traveling Steven, father to twin teens and friends with a couple of PTA moms. If the story, about finding personal time and fulfillment when raising kids, seems familiar, it's because it's often explored as part of motherhood. Turns out, the feelings are the same whether you're a woman or a man putting family before career. Imagine that.

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Borek gives a relatable performance, and Jan Martinez does nice work as a younger gay teammate providing counterpoint.

The script has some flaws: The teens don't always talk like teens; for that matter, the adults don't always act like adults. And in Randy's monologues, he often reiterates what we just saw play out, as if Borek doesn't trust that his message came through in the previous scene.

But on the whole, this is a pleasant diversion and a welcome spin on the Fringe message of "be true to yourself."

‘An Improvised City Council Meeting'

The fearless leaders of Notlando - official motto: "The City Attractive" - are putting democracy into action in "An Improvised City Council Meeting" (The LGBTQ+ Center, 60 minutes). The show comes from Fringe vet Bruce Ryan Costella, who leads the proceedings as Deputy Mayor Phillips.

He's joined by other commissioners, who will vary at each show. My viewing included characters played by mullet-sporting DK Reinemer, who sought to bring healing to the city; Isaac Kessler, as a muppet-voiced alligator hunter; and Gordon Neill, as a lobbyist for the Florida Orange Juice Commission.

Within minutes, the commissioners' discussion devolved into procedural questions before turning to a discussion on parking. The first public comment had nothing to do with the issue at hand, and neither did a commissioner's response. So there is some definite accuracy in this parody.

It's improv, with rotating performers, so it would be hard to add more structure to the show. But it needs it. There's so much rich material in the workings of government to mine that it feels like opportunities are missed in the show's free-form approach.

Still, a willing audience and talented performers ensured consistent laughter. And, who knows, maybe a good civic idea will arise from the show. One suggestion on opening night: "Throw Buddy Dyer into a volcano to lower rents."

‘Tod Kimbro'

Composer-musician Tod Kimbro, who fled Orlando for the cooler climes of Seattle - you decide if I'm talking about the weather - is back and telling us what makes him happy.

In "Tod Kimbro: Happy Human Song Machine" (Savoy, 60 minutes), the talented musical man sings songs that inspire happiness, from Queen to Mika to Prince to the Muppets. He sounds as good as ever, charms the audience as much as ever, and, well, continues to make people happy.

Kimbro takes a few requests, as well - at my performance, successfully mashing up Britney Spears' "Toxic" with Carly Simon's "Let the River Run." And in the moment of happiness I didn't know I needed, someone requested the theme to "The Golden Girls," which Kimbro delivered with flair. Thank you for being a friend, indeed.

mpalm@orlandosentinel.com