It’s the rare Fringe show that is actually edgy. The name of the festivals, popular in our capital city and across the world, suggest the unconventional or on the periphery. Yet so many of the offerings are earnest attempts at traditional one-act comedies or dramas, storytelling, cabaret, and improv. They’re a showcase for the little guys, amateurs, and semi-pros that otherwise would have difficulty finding a stage. It’s rare to walk out of something saying to yourself, “that was so Fringey!”

Persephone, conceived by Eames Armstrong and her organization Aether Art Projects, stands out as a piece of captivating, out-there performance art. It is thoughtful, abstract expressionism that exists in the art world but not in any places your average theater goer, or even Fringe patron, is likely to encounter. What you might expect to encounter when going to Fringe, but almost never do.

Armstrong collaborates with a different artist for each night’s performance, another element that sets this show apart. Each show draws inspiration from the mythology surrounding the Greek goddess of the underworld to a varying degree and is spun in a new direction from a different guest artist, who influences the way Armstrong reacts.

There’s been one encore so far. A late call out from the scheduled collaborator on Thursday brought back Kunj Patel for a repeat performance. Patel had created much buzz by going without pants at the festival preview and was the guest artist on Saturday. There was a palpable seriousness and sensuality in the non-verbal, hour long back and forth between him and Armstrong, a push and pull that touches on the notes of this play’s description of worship, sex, autonomy, violation, cycle, loss and return.

While the wrapping and ripping off of packing tape may have stung a little, I was a little more worried about the fast and loose use of a box cutter. Its razor’s edge is used to puncture a bag of grape juice-looking blood taped to Patel’s stomach and one stuck down Armstrong’s shorts, bisect the tape as it binds them together, and cut off a little lock of Armstrong’s hair. Well, more than a little hair. Maybe cool it with the hair?

I’ve returned to Fringe shows in previous years, going with guests to something I wanted to share and wouldn’t mind seeing again. They’ve never been as exciting the second time around. Persephone is well worth a trip and begs a return or two to see what the next collaboration brings.

Persephone is playing at the Bedroom at Fort Fringe. Remaining performances are:
Sunday, July 20 at 4:30 p.m.
Thursday, July 24 at 8:15 p.m.
Sunday, July 27 at 7 p.m.