Eric Weiner, the writer and performer of My Life is a Sonnet, comes to the Edinburgh Fringe this August. The Emmy-nominated writer is well known as co-creator for the international children’s television character Dora the Explorer. I have caught up with Eric to find out more.

When did you first step on the stage as a performer?

In day camp, when I was six years old, the drama counsellor cast me as the lead in a play about an animal (a lion?) whose tail keeps getting shorter. As soon as I entered, I pulled too hard on the string inside my bathrobe, and my tail fell off. I ran into the wings where my counsellor, laughing, sewed the whole thing back together. It’s her kind, happy laughter that I remember.

Who or what inspired you to take to the stage?

I have a vivid memory of watching an old Charlie Chaplin movie on TV when I was eleven. The bad guys chased Charlie into a bathroom where he hid in a stall. Suddenly the stall door bangs open and out pops Charlie in a leotard, dancing ballet. I had an uncanny experience watching this scene. I thought, “Whoa! That’s me!”

What was the inspiration for your show?

My show started as an exercise in Rob McCaskill’s NYC acting class: he has you pick a Shakespeare sonnet and invent a five-minute story that would lead you to speak such elevated language. I loved the exercise so much that after Covid I contacted Rob about developing an hourlong version. Using Sonnet #73, I came up with a story about a boy in prep school who takes a seminar on Shakespeare’s sonnets. He hates the poetry, but he falls madly in love with a girl in the class. 

Have you performed at any other Fringe Festivals before embarking on Edinburgh? 

I did five performances of my show at this year’s Hollywood Fringe Festival. My venue had no backstage, so I had to wait on the street with the audience until they opened the house. One night, for an eleven o’clock show, I arrived too early, so my wife, Natalie, suggested we go hang out at a nearby food truck in a Mobil gas station parking lot. Two young performers came by, all excited from having just done their show, and when they heard I was performing soon, they immediately said, “We’ll come!” They were so enthusiastic afterward. I was touched. I haven’t felt that level of support and enthusiasm from my fellow performers since high school. It reminded me of what made me want to get involved in theatre in the first place.

Are you planning on seeing any shows this year? If so, do you have any recommendations?

I saw Couplet: Folk, Marry, Kill and like everyone else in the sold-out house, I jumped to my feet at the end in happy appreciation. They’re charming, witty, smart, honest, and great musicians to boot.

When and where are you performing at the Fringe this year? 

I’m performing nightly at 20:20 at the Space on the Mile, Space 2, the corner stage. I hope to see you there!

https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/my-life-is-a-sonnet