DMV
On a late night drive in their friend's van, Daphne and Velma suddenly find themselves stranded in the countryside with a dead deer lodged under the bumper. As the night unfolds and things get weird, the girls learn that their friendship, the deer and the way home are a little more complex than they had hoped.
Take two familiar characters from the beloved Scooby-Doo universe who explore their friendship caught in an unusual predicament of being trapped in a stressful, unfamiliar environment. They explore their relationship with each other: through times of stress, reminiscing, and exploration. Two charming actresses, a clever doe, and a unique story of what two friends would do for each other.
P.s. Thanks Jacqueline for telling me about this wonderful play from the artist hallway. Great work to the directing and creative team!
DMV is something really unique. A small-cast, focused Fringe show, with some of the most impressive and show-stopping production design you will see at this festival.
The Mystery Machine, and the costuming for our recognizable heroines is amazing. I have never felt the urge to clap for a working turn signal, but this show got me there.
The script is great, and engaging, although some of the macabre twists make the sweeter moments a little jarring.
An incredible cast, an incredible team. Do not miss this show!
Most of what I will talk about are sensory things:
When you walk into the theatre, you will have the headlight on the vehicle on, which is good to find a seat but the glare could be limitedyour glare maybe. It will be on for the first bit of the show.
There are a few other things that were distracting Velma has a key chain on her belt buckle that would gangle at certain points. There is also a moment where Daphne will put on perfume. I was in the second row and could smell it. There are a few moments where Daphne will scream, otherwise I do not think the actors were michrophoned and they did a good job with projecting so that you could hear them. The show contains a puppet that will come into the first row and glow. I really enjoyed the actors and they had great comedic timing but was confused by some moments in the script. It shows that if you do not take it too seriously it can be a fun ride.
This was the very first show I saw this year and it is the epitome of fringe! Scrappy young artists with a small budget and a big dream.
There were a handful of dramaturgical/acting things that had me dropping out at times, but the EXCEPTIONAL set/props would rope me in again in a flash. I can't recall the last time I was that genuinely surprised in a theatre show. I don't want to reveal too much but there were a number of really delightful physical gags with the actor who played the deer/etc. and I would've loved to have seen more of that tone throughout the whole show as the dialogue between Velma and Daphne felt clunky and slow at times and left me waiting for the next thing. Generally the dialogue/acting was all much less big and cartoon-y than I was expecting due to the source material of those characters, but that just might not be the direction they wanted to go in.
TLDR: Definitely a new work, but a very fun premise and UNBELIEVABLY creative set/props/puppets (literally jaw-dropping).
Fast-talking, quippy script that had some good gags but didn't move me. Some scenes dragged. I wondered why we spent so long on certain moments (a cute choreographed dance, recalling multiple stories about deer, etc.) when it didn't really seem to serve the larger story for all the time it took up. I thought the set was very fun and the actors had great comedic timing and energy. Decent show, but at times I just started to wonder where this was going and when we would get there. By the end of the play, that wasn't really answered for me.
As a Scooby Doo purist, I was thoroughly satisfied and enthralled by this new work! The characters were spot on, and it was clear that the reference material was studied and it aided perfectly in building the world of the play, and filling it full of life! I appreciated the modern humour and the incredible set, costumes, and props! Over all, it was a fantastic and fun show I would definitely see again!
This show is what that new Velma series should have been, tbh...
I jest, but this felt exactly like a scooby doo episode, just with more afldult humor. Logan Stefura and his cast wove a really concise and funny story about love, loss, and intrigue in with several twists, a bad trip, and of course, scooby snacks. The only flaw i could find was that it was relatively slow to begin, but otherwise, perfect.
I will not spoil any more. Do yourself a favor and go see this wonderful show!
I watched Scooby Doo with my kids when they were little. This production had me laughing and dancing in my seat. The casting for Velma and Daphne was spot on, the two actors embodying the characters to a T, never missing a beat in the upbeat dialogue.
I loved the music. There is one scene when Velma and Daphne break into a dance. That alone is worth seeing the play a second time.
The set (Fred’s van) was brilliant, as were other references to the cartoon. (Jinkies 🤩.)
Exceptional first work by Logan Stefura and the members of the fEarless Joe Theatre company.
If you are a fan of Scooby Doo or just want a good laugh at clever dialogue and a beautiful love story, this play is for you.
Sandwich of Love and Lesbians and Freaky Roadkill
The mystery of how Velma and Daphne end up stranded and alone on the road turns out to be far more sinister, more paranormal, and more weed-induced than one would think. Two best friends with nothing but really great music and Shaggy's sketchy bong to keep them company, the girls discover things about their friends, and themselves as the night goes on. I laughed so hard, and had such a great time. All the actors in this performance had amazing onstage chemistry, the props were well thought out and witty, and the writing paid perfect homage to the original energy while maintaining a unique direction. Costuming was reminiscent but not an exact copy, the set was expertly utilized, and overall the production of this performance was seamless. I would highly recommend DMV to new viewers and fans of Mystery Inc. alike, anyone looking for a good laugh, or inspiration for a new mixtape. Put your carabiners on, get in the car (or bus!), and go find out what trouble these meddling kids run into at this Fringe’s hair-raising show, DMV.
CARLY VOS, AYTC
I went into this blind and I had a great time. There a lots of laughs to be had and the cast has wonderful chemistry. It’s over at the French BYOV site, so make a day of heading over and check out this wonderfully funny show.