VILE (at Cannonball, in the Philadelphia Fringe Festival)

Francesca Montanile Lyons brings you a kaleidoscopic solo performance that rides the line between pleasure and disgust, where clown and buffon hold a funhouse mirror to the artist’s self. Here, the laughter is tinged with nausea, and the nausea is tinged with relief. If you’ve ever hated yourself and/or everyone in the world, welcome.

Vile is composed of highly physical performance states that are deeply pleasurable to perform in part because they are born from the most unpleasant parts of the artist. Lightly inspired by modern interpretations of the seven deadly sins, ingredients include: the decay of late stage capitalism, a skewering of rape culture, the hilarity of depression, plus greasy toes, a balloon penis, and extra cheese. Maybe a dash of sincerity.

Francesca creates work that is personal and intimate in an effort to reveal broader truths and reckonings, and create connection through vulnerability. She makes invitations to herself and audiences to laugh themselves out of rigidity, to marvel at how simultaneously silly and tragic and stunning it is to be alive and have a body, so we can remember we are not alone and try to accept ourselves and each other with compassion.

She aspires for Vile to be as pleasurable as it is terrifying- both to make and to witness.

More info & tickets: https://phillyfringe.org/events/vile/

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