The Garden of Unearthly Delights

March 6th

I’m currently sitting in The Garden of Unearthly Delights. As much as I really (reallyreally) wish I were speaking figuratively, The Garden of Unearthly Delights is an actual physical location, part of the fringe set up in Adelaide.
Essentially, it’s a park-turned-carnival: half a dozen venues, buskers, a (lame) freak show, a few rides, wares, booze, and general debauchery. Opened the week before the Fringe proper gets going, it is the place to go.
Every night, all month.

Thinking back, it’s nearly impossible to believe it’s only been about a week. Despite its size, Adelaide’s fringe feels considerably slower-paced and more formal than other fringe festivals I’ve been to.
That said, “fringe time” appears to be in full effect. When calling it a night at 2:30am on a Tuesday is quitting early.

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I’ve seen a good number of shows and, as is expected with fringe, they span the fantastic to the horrendous. But that’s part of the fun.
And I behave myself pretty well, only going on one serious tirade and a couple mini-rants about performance and the responsibilities of performing artists.
At least I’m passionate, if perhaps slightly slightly overzealous.

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I also managed to get access to a pass for the first few hours of WOMADelaide, an immense world music and dance festival going on this weekend. Didn’t get to see much – a few musical groups and Strange Fruit, a mesmerizing aerial/circus group – but the opening of the festival with song, dance, and blessing by the Aboriginals of the area was well worth it.

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And the back to The Garden. Sitting under a tree full of fairy-lights, waiting for “Tarnished,” the last fringe show I’ll see here, and watching the circus.