“I think what makes Fringe so great is that everyone is very supportive of one another. There is so much ‘out of the box’ thinking and risk-taking with these shows. It’s very inspiring as an artist.”
WHO: Giselle Fischman
WHAT: “Donut Dollies is a story about the women who volunteered with the Red Cross in WWII. This play follows three of those women, Marnie the feisty girl from Jersey, Elnora the wide eyed small town girl from Oregon, and Louise the cosmopolitan General’s daughter from Washington D.C. They could not be more different, but throughout their time volunteering as Doughnut Dollies these women forge a bond that will last a lifetime, as they navigate love, loss and the power of kindness in the face of adversity and tragedy.”
WHERE: Greenside @ Infirmary Street – Ivy Studio (Venue 236)
WHEN: 11:25 (50 min)
MORE: Click Here!
Is this your first time to Edinburgh?
This is actually my 3rd time participating in Edfringe. I first came to Edinburgh for the 2018 Fringe with an original play. We only had a small taste with two performances that year, but I was completely blown away by the energy and creativity at the festival. I think what makes Fringe so great is that everyone is very supportive of one another. There is so much ‘out of the box’ thinking and risk-taking with these shows. It’s very inspiring as an artist. When I put my producer hat on, I think of all the little things that go into bringing a show to life. It’s a huge learning curve for me, as I would love to just be able to act, but it’s given me a huge respect for producers and all of the thoughtful details that go into producing a show at any size.
What are the big things you’ve learned since 2022 and have you absorbed any of the lessons yet?
One of the things I’ve learned is that you can’t spend your time waiting for the opportunities you want. You have to take a step forward and create your own opportunities, and see where that leads. It can be incredible to see how the net just seems to appear right on time, if you’re willing to take the leap!
Tell us about your show.
It’s crazy to reflect and realize that this play has now been in development for over a year! I started to plant the seeds of this story with my castmate and co-writer, Francesca Reggio, in August of 2022. I said ‘I wanted to write this play and take it to Edinburgh Fringe’, and she was on board from there! The idea came to me over time, as I have always loved historical dramas, and took a special interest in the stories set around WWII. When I learned about the Red Cross efforts and the Donut Dollies, at first I thought it would actually make an amazing drama series on TV. The truth is there are so many stories and experiences from these women, and no one really knows about them! But I decided to develop the idea further as a play, and dig into the lives of our three protagonists on stage. Which brings us here now!
Our play explores the experience of the American Red Cross volunteers during WWII known as the “Donut Dollies”. Most of us know that during WWII, while many of the men were sent off to Europe with the Allied Forces, the women were left behind to support the war effort however they could from home. But one piece of the story that is rarely told is about the US women who trained with the American Red Cross to become “Clubmobile” crewmembers.
These women drove converted buses (Clubmobiles) throughout Great Britain, France, Belgium, Luxembourg, and Germany, visiting military camps along the way. Each clubmobile carried 3 women and were outfitted with ovens and kitchen equipment so they could make fresh donuts and coffee for the soldiers. Why donuts? Well, at that time, the donut was an American staple and was meant to be a taste of home. This earned them the endearing title of, “Donut Dollies.”
The Washington Star once wrote, “The Red Cross Girl was the sweetheart of WW2.” But the donuts weren’t their only responsibility. These women were trained thoroughly to be able to talk about sports, play cards, dance, and ultimately keep the soldiers’ morale up and spirits lifted. And while the dollies were popular among the troops, they were also highly respected and a welcomed light in the darkness of the front lines.
We have just completed a preview run in Los Angeles and are now premiering the show at EdFringe. It’s been an honor to share the dollies’ story with our audience, and we are excited to see what comes next. In the meantime, we hope this story inspires kindness and hope to all who hear it.
What should your audience see at the festivals after they’ve seen your show?
We have so much to recommend! The Fringe wouldn’t be as incredible as it is without the partnership and collaboration between all of the creatives. Several friends are performing in shows this year, which we will be supporting and would love to promote.
But first, I would be remiss not to mention In Loyal Company. I saw it in 2019 and it really inspired me to produce Donut Dollies! If you haven’t seen it yet, you must get a ticket and witness the brilliance of David William Bryan!
Next, you can see Second Chancers for a great laugh and spoof on reality dating shows (and it’s Free Fringe!). That will run Aug. 3-10 at the Laughing Horse. This show’s co-creator, Maria Hemming, is an old LAMDA classmate of one of our dollies, so we are thrilled to support her work!
Additionally, we’ll be seeing crackers at The Royal Scots Club, which explores how society struggles to recognize and manage mental illness. We have another classmate/friend in this one: Anna Davies, who is an incredibly talented young actress!
Another show we’re excited to see is from a fellow LA creative, Katherine Bourne Taylor. Her show, Grown Up Orphan Annie, is a dark comedy that revisits the classic character as an adult at the Gilded Balloon Patter Hoose – Coorie. It’s another Fringe premier and has already won Hollywood Fringe’s Pick of the Fringe award. We can’t wait to see it!
And last but not least, we have to share Pressure Cooker (a Keep It Fringe recipient) by the incredibly talented playwright and director, Jessie Millson, which runs Aug. 14-26 at Space 1 at the Space on the Mile.
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