PURGATORY (Gunnar Montana): 2015 Fringe review 45

Photo by Bill Hebert.
Photo by Bill Hebert.

A whimsical exploration of the influence and power of religion in modern society, Gunnar Montana’s PURGATORY examines how a seemingly beneficial system can be anything but. With satiric imagery and campy physicality, Montana effectively juxtaposes queer pride with conservative organized religion, making clever references to Pope Francis and his visit later this month, as well as the groundbreaking recent Supreme Court ruling on marriage equality.

PURGATORY jumps from vignette to vignette, as talented actors and dancers travel through the many layers of Christianity. The choreography is approachable and appealing to varied audiences. Matched with athletic and vibrant dancing to modern hits, Montana’s intricate and beautiful interactive set and props transport the audience into a haunting and tense experience of an engaging and exciting night of dance. [The Latvian Society, 531 N. 7th Street] September 9-19, 2015; fringearts.com/purgatory.

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