Abby DeVuyst and Kerry Young are on from the moment they step out of their tent in their dresses, aprons and ridiculous wigs, welcoming guests to their “Bushwhacked Backyard BBQ” in measured, Southern drawls that are sweeter than sweet tea. The invitation to their cooking show (being filmed with “hidden cameras,” of course) is the pretense for their outlandish demos, which involve wieners, knitting needles, and Cheez Wow. For the first demo, their Japanese “Iron Chef” attempts to make sushi out of hot dogs, American cheese and a bun (flattened with a rolling pin), before he retires to the grill to cook up the audiences’ dinner, delicately moving each hot dog around with giant chop sticks. “BEEF WIENERS!” we all squeal in unison before erupting into giggles.
DeVuyst and Young showed off their improv chops (both are also members of Unleashed! Improv), rolling with the punches as two audience members showed up late. They bounce jokes off one another that mostly landed; when it’s a dud, they moved on quickly. Occasionally the background noise of the Spiegelgarden overwhelmed the performers, but for the most part, they play along. In their words, they “Tim Gun the shit out of this,” by making it work — and it does. I can’t say the meal was gourmet — we washed down our wieners with a frozen corn spritzer, beans decorated with cookie-cutter shaped American cheese slices and hollowed-out bananas with whipped cream — but it was entertaining to watch them guide us through dinner and a show.
Bushwhacked Backyard BBQ is sold out for the remainder of the Fringe Festival.

- PHOTO BY JOSH SAUNDERS
- Massaoke at Parcel 5 on Friday, September 14.
After a bit of an uneven start, the band started picking up on the types of songs the crowd liked (or was at least willing to sing). Classic “anthems” — Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin’” and “Take On Me” by Aha! — revved up the crowd, while others like “Teenage Dirtbag” and “Iris” didn’t quite do it. At times, the band let the crowd pick between a few songs (including a vote on the last song of the night – “Bohemian Rhapsody”), which is when things really got cookin’.

- PHOTO BY JOSH SAUNDERS
- Massaoke at Parcel 5 on Friday, September 14.
Massaoke will take place again on Saturday, September 15, at 8:30 p.m. at Parcel 5. Free and appropriate for all ages.
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