Fringe Festival: Bargain Basement Game Show

Are you a sucker for Trivia Night at your local bar? You might find yourself drawn to Bargain Basement Game Show, playing the Warehouse Next Door as part of the Fringe Festival.

As an activity with friends, the show's a pleasant diversion. Thirty questions are asked on a variety of topics each performance -- on Sunday, viewers were tested on everything from their Civil War battle knowledge to their recollection of ancient wonders of the world. Prizes are plentiful, and audience participation is a constant component, whether it be just in the answering of the questions or involvement in the skits themselves.

The show's less satisfying, though, on a dramatic level, as each trivia query is interspersed with weak banter between the show's two hosts. Rob Perkins and Katie Wanschura both seem like affable individuals, but watching them sweat their way through wince-worthy puns and repetitive gags (how many times can a joke revolve around fan mail sent to a game show studio? More than you'd think) can get tiresome -- particularly as the show stretches toward 90 minutes. A riff on The Twilight Zone offers the most laughs of the night, but doesn't make up for outdated references (LiveJournal? Really?) and acting that looks way too much like hard work.

Bargain Basement Game Show has three more performances during the Fringe Festival; check out its schedule online.