SD Fringe: Recommendations for final days

The San Diego International Festival closes this Sunday, July 3. Ninety-four acts (one canceled) will have performed five shows each by then. And some of the best, like Le Moana’s unforgettable 1918, about the influenza pandemic in Samoa, InnerMission’s Disappearing Act, and Bons Tempos’ Qaddafi’s Cook have already completed their runs.

Here are some recommendations for the remaining shows. They’re from Reader reviewers and word-of-mouth. The list is by no means complete, and often comes from personal tastes: if you like X, check out Y.

Two asides first:

My favorite pre-show announcement: [Company’s Name Here]’s Ozombie Bin Laden: in 3d! at Diversionary: “Sure there are exits. Find them for yourself. You’re adults.”

Favorite overheard comment: “Will there be nude puppetry?”

Highly recommended

Bella Culpa

“Acrobatic, off-beat comedy ‘like Downton Abbey meets the Three Stooges.’” Lyceum Theatre, 79 Horton Plaza, downtown. Friday July 1, at 6:00 p.m., Saturday, July 2, at 2:30 p.m.

Bin Laden: The One Man Show

“The story of the world’s most notorious terrorist” told from a different perspective. Diversionary Theatre, Blackbox, 4545 Park Boulevard, University Heights: Friday, July 1, at 7:30 p.m., Saturday, July 2, at 11:30 a.m.

Eleanor’s Story

“A young woman grows up as an American caught in WWII Berlin.” Diversionary Mainstage, 4545 Park Boulevard, University Heights. Saturday, July 2, at 1:00 p.m.

Embers

“An acrobatic journey that explores the uncensored world of mental illness.” Lyceum Space, 79 Horton Plaza, downtown. Saturday, July 2, at 4:00 p.m.*

Josephine

A “cabaret dream play with dance” about legendary Josephine Baker. Spreckels Theatre, 923 First Avenue, downtown: Saturday at 7:30 p.m.

Witness to Gettysburg

A woman watches the battle, and her husband die, and becomes a field nurse. Diversionary Theatre, Blackbox, 4545 Park Boulevard, University Heights. Sunday, July 6 at 3:00 p.m.

Word-of-mouth

And He Became Man

“Migration, abuse, working the fields, alcoholism, rivalry, and the question of identity, from the perspective of a disabled man.” Diversionary Theatre, Blackbox, 4545 Park Boulevard, University Heights. Saturday, July 2, at 2:30 p.m.

Bedrooms and Boyfriends

“Three new 12 minute plays about love, lust, sex… and boyfriends.” Diversionary Theatre, 4545 Park Boulevard, University Heights. Friday, July 1, at 9:00 p.m. Saturday, July 2, at 6:00 p.m.

Belief No Repeat

“One life played in two parallel universes; the story of Saima/Saima Khan, whose world was forever changed after her parents committed a horrific act.” Rosewood Five Studios, 1150 Seventh Avenue (Basement), downtown. Friday, July 1, at 6:00 p.m., Sunday, July 3, at 7:30 p.m.

Prick: The Last Song of Paul Gauguin

“Musical interweaving of the dark life and incandescent painting of Paul Gauguin.” Diversionary Theatre, Mainstage, 4545 University Heights. Friday, July 1, at 4:00 p.m. Saturday, July 2, at 7:30 p.m.

A Regular Little Houdini

“Young working class boy commits himself to a life of magic but the harsh reality of working class life in Edwardian Britain gets in the way.” Spreckels Theatre, 923 First Avenue, downtown. Friday, July 1, at 10:30 p.m., Saturday, July 2, at 6:00 p.m., Sunday, July 3, at 11:30 a.m.