Claes Oldenburg musical 'Enormous Things' debuts at Hollywood Fringe

The Hollywood Fringe Festival presents 'Enormous Things: The Musical,' a 90-minute exploration of Pop artist Claes Oldenburg, running through June 28 at Second Place Studios on Hollywood Boulevard. This production, crafted by actor-writer Chris Gale, who also plays Oldenburg, alongside Sarah Lew, features oversized cardboard costumes inspired by Oldenburg's famous works such as 'Saw, Sawing' (1996) and 'Plantoir' (1991). The narrative centers on Oldenburg grappling with a creative block after the disappearance of his muse, Claramonde, a giant. The musical critiques the art industry's labor practices and the marginalization of collaborators, notably Oldenburg's wife, Coosje van Bruggen, embodied by Claramonde. The antagonist, Jeff Koons, is portrayed in drag by balloon artist Molly Balloons. Oldenburg's time-traveling adventure includes encounters with Michelangelo, Yayoi Kusama, and Alexander Calder, while Rodin's The Thinker (Ryan Hailey) serves as the narrator, with clever nods to artist statement jargon. Gale and Lew aim to take the show to New York or Minneapolis.