Respondent: Rachel Hunter
Position in Company: Founder / Director
Company: Hunter Dance Project
Show Title: Agnes & Agatha
“As we had conversations about our families including retirement, care-taking, and the general joys of aging, the piece evolved into abstract storytelling in order to share elements of our own familial histories and influences.”
- Why should people see your show?
You wouldn’t want to leave two old ladies alone in the nursing home would you? Our show displays relatable material presented through comedy and satire with heartfelt moments sprinkled throughout. There’s something for everyone: music, dance, theatre, original radio programming, storytelling, site gags, and even audience participation.
- What about festivals intrigues you? And why the Atlanta Fringe?
With our work pairing non-traditional genres, festivals are a great space to explore and share these new forms that do not always fit easily elsewhere in the curated performance world. Atlanta Fringe has made a name for itself over the past decade and presents a wonderful opportunity for a project-based company like ours somewhat close to home.
- What inspired you to create this?
This work started as role-playing famous British dames drinking tea, chatting over biscuits, and gossiping about recent events. As we had conversations about our families including retirement, care-taking, and the general joys of aging, the piece evolved into abstract storytelling in order to share elements of our own familial histories and influences. Each of us built our character from our own inspirations including early sitcoms, mentors, grandmothers, and more.
- Life has been weird the last few years, to say the least. How has the “real world” affected the art you’re creating?
This project was put on hold because of the pandemic. The collaborators found themselves back in the same city, actually working in the same building, and easily fell back into the love for this project.
- What have you learned from working on your show so far?
Despite both collaborators still being quite spry and ambitious, we learned aging is not kind. We also recognize the imitations and mimicry of our personal lives that have crept into our characters and informed our performance. Subtle mannerisms of a grandmother or tone of voice and accent from a mentor have entwined into our characters. This project has deepened the use of humor as process, whether that be an intentional joke, awkward laughter, or dark humor.
- A mysterious stranger asks to meet you and your cast and crew after loving your show. In your WILDEST DREAMS, who is it? (Bonus points if your mysterious stranger is an Atlanta celeb.)
Tyler Perry, as Madea would fit right in with Agnes and Agatha!
- Fringes are the place to really push the boundaries so we gotta ask: are you inviting your family to this show are “Hey, maybe sit this one out you guys…”
Families invited, but there is some content related to alcohol, smoking, and innuendo.
- Will your show change the world?
Not yet, just wait til Tyler Perry gets ahold of us!
- AI: the death of our art form or just a new tool to create?
Can be a tool to create if used wisely. With great power comes great responsibility.
- We’re making an excellent Fringey Feelings playlist. Describe your show in two or three songs we can add to keep the jams flowing.
You’re the Cream in My Coffee performed by Annette Hanshaw
It’s a Good Day performed by Johnny Mercer and Carl Kress
Beat Me Daddy, Eight To the Bar performed by The Andrews Sisters
Sounds amazing, right? Click here to learn more and get your tickets to this show today.
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