- CLICK ON PLAY BELOW FOR AUDIENCE REVIEWS FOR THAT SPECIFIC
PLAY
- An Evening With Olaf
- Angry Jellow Bubbles
Anything Show
Avalanche
Beatrice And Virgil In Paradise
Benefit Of Doubt
Breton's Dream
Chain Reactions
Chasing Rabbits
Condensed Works Of Frank Cullen
Counting The Ways (A Vaudeville)
Crazy Lady
Devil, Doctor Faustus And …
Disengaged
Don't Tap On The Glass
Double Counterpoint
Dr. Constance Cumming …
First Woman Plural
Floating Bone
From Shit Grows The Roses
Gretl
Happy Endings Are Overrated
Hold Me!
Imbecillus
It Came From Beneath The Kilt!
Jack The Ripper Slept Here …
Kiwi Standup Experience
Male Diva
Ma-Ma-Mamalia
My Penis In And Out Of Trouble
Myth Of Sisyphus
Neo Surrealists
Number 2
Opium
Regular Show
Run Jenny
Seeds Of Longing…
Slam, Bam, Thank You Ma'am
Sole Searching
State Of The Empire Address
Stew!
Ten
That Dorothy Parker
Theatre/Plague
Thicker Than Water
Tim's Magic Lantern Show
Tragical History Of Dr. Faustus
Trailer Trash Tabloid!
Treachery
Withering Glances
Woven
Zewski's Folly
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- Here's reviews that have come in to the fringe website on SF Fringe
Festival 2000 performances ... from their fan club, from their enemies,
from you (?) ... maybe from their mother.
- 1play = Counting the Ways
2name = June Stoddart
3email = Mjoons@aol.com
4rating = 4 Stars
5review = A rare theatre event in the Fringe - and in the Bay Area - a
superior script, well and conservatively acted, evenly directed, satisfying
and illuminating to its audience.Among a wide selection of "sexpliciter
than thou" plays, it is delicious. Should have been Best of Fringe.Albee's
script is both wonderfully absurd and strangely true . Danielle Thys'
comic delivery reveals unusual appeal, and Leo Lawthorne is a model of
fine "less is more" acting. The entire production reflects a
balanced, thoughtful approach by director Mike Ward.
- 1play = Counting The Ways
2name = Alicia
3email = abjamn@mindspring.com
4rating = 5 Stars
5review = Leo Lawhorn and Danielle Thys were stupendous.
A simply awesome play and performance.
- 1play = Woven
2name = Kevin Colis
3email =
4rating = 4 Stars
5review = This show is a brilliant concept! It is funny and very entertaining!
Check it out!
- 1play = The Kiwi Experience
2name = david l. levine M.D.
3email = dllevine@yahoo.com
4rating = 5 Stars
5review = (I wish I could add a sixth star - these guys were great!). Clever,
inciteful. Reminiscent of the "beyond the fringe" brand of theater
of the l960's. INVITE THEM BACK!
- 1play = Chasing Rabbits
2name = david l. levine M.D.
3email = dllevine@yahoo.com
4rating = 5 Stars
5review = What a powerful piece of theater. The suspense slowly built to
an unexpected and horrifying climax.
- 1play = Dorothy Parker
2name = david l. levine M.D.
3email = dllevine@yahoo.com
4rating = 5 Stars
5review = This was a meticulously written and very well acted portrayal
of a fascinating woman of American letters. It deserves a wide audience.
- 1play = Myth of Sisyphus
2name = Vince Vitale
3email = WorldGazer@aol.com
4rating = 2 Stars
5review = Myth of Sisyphus
With the exception of the "prop" of Sisyphus -- a fellow pushing
a boulder up the aisle several times, there is nothing about Sisyphus,
myth or otherwise, in this production. The beginning is a jumble of what
we can loosely call "multimedia events" where the director obviously
told the participants to do whatever they wanted to do at the Fringe, because
there is nothing tying them together thematically. The central performance
is actually taken from Shaw's Don Juan in Hell. It smacks of high school/first
year college theater project throughout. Albert Camus was obviously on
vacation when his name was used! This was a major disappointment for me
at the Fringe festival, so enthralled was I with what I was led to believe
was the subject matter. P.S.: For those who came to the theater to do a
group sing of "The Itsy Bitsy Spider" song, my prayers are with
you for a speedy recovery.
- 1play = Number 2
2name = Bandit
3email =
4rating = 5 Stars
5review = This was my favorite play of the seven I attended at the Fringe
festival. In fact, my favorite last year was the one done by the same group.
I thought the world created was beautifully strange and surreal, and the
lead characters had complexity. Never a dull moment. Lots of uneasiness.
Great. Hope to see some more of your stuff down the road.
- 1play = Imbecilus
2name = Bandit
3email =
4rating = 3 Stars
5review = Fun and entertaining in parts. A little dry in others. Strongist
parts were in the more physical routines. Brave to open the fourth wall
with the audience, but wasn't taken far enough. It got a little preachy
toward the end in what appeared to be a futile attempt to give the piece
some kind of meaning. Yes, it's good to be a clown in life, but don't tell
us, show us.
- 1play = Double Counterpoint
2name = Bandit
3email =
4rating = 3 Stars
5review = Fun and entertaining. The acting was good. The plot was a little
predictable for a mystery. I liked the cold noir style of the whole thing,
and the old San Francisco setting. I commend it for dwelling into serious
drama and not falling back on light, fluffy comedy, like so many other
Fringe plays. Saxaphone added a nice touch.
- 1play = Trailer Trash Tabloid
2name = Bandit
3email =
4rating = 3 Stars
5review = Funny and entertaining. The acting was great. The characters
were hillarious. The quick costume changes were brilliant. The story kind
of fell apart with an overabundance of names and subplots. I enjoyed it
when the actors started fumbling and trying to one up each other. A funny
comedy routine, but little too much fluff and not enough stuff.
- 1play = Breton's Dream
2name = Bandit
3email =
4rating = 3 Stars
5review = Fun and entertaining. The acting was good. The world was strange
and interesting. I thought it failed at dwelling into any depth. I think
surrealism sometimes works better when you don't explain to the audience
what's going on. There wasn't enough mystery. Things were weird, but nothing
really fucked with your head, like a good surrealist play should.
- 1play = Seeds of Longing
2name = Bandit
3email =
4rating = 1 Star
5review = Way too preachy. The acted out moments were stronger than the
musical numbers. The music numbers were distracting and unnecessary to
the plot.
- 1lay = Condensed Works of Frank Cullen
2name = Bandit
3email =
4rating = 3 Stars
5review = Entertaining and funny. Sketches were cute. The acting was a
bit dry. It really failed at taking any risks or dwelling into any depth.
- 1play = Chasing Rabbits
2name = Denise Dee
3email = unionofopposites@hotmail.com
4rating = 4 Stars
5review = Like that amusement park ride "mousetrap" where just
after you drop and your stomach lurches, and you think you've fallen as
far as you can go. There's another drop. He had me every minute, even when
I wished he didn't.
- 1play = Ma Ma Mamalia
2name = Denise Dee
3email = unionofopposites@hotmail.com
4rating = 5 Stars
5review = From the moment we started down and the first path, the sense
of the journey drew us all together. And then surprise! Like Alice in Wonderland
our eyes saw differently than they did crossed over. I thought this was
magnificent. Other wordly, transporting, awe inspiring. Like a moving prayer.
- 1play = Imbecillus
2name = karwoski
3email = karwoski@hotmail
4rating = 5 Stars
5review = Roblin outdid himself this year. A simply fun show. The 'journey'
the clowns make visually reminded me of a Terry Gilliam film. The physical
movements were seamless. Roblin's monologue'what would you have me do'
,a rant about artist selling out, spoke directly to the plight of the artist
in San Francisco. I hope the show makes best of the Fringe and that he
returns next year.
- 1play = imbecillus
2name = eric
3email = mandiblemex@hotmail.com
4rating = 4 Stars
5review = i loved it, stark, wierd, funny costumes, good bits, but uneven.
i hated the males monologue about what would you have me do, grovel for
funding, connive and backstab. i felt like that took me out of the clown
world into the artist's insecurities and thats not at all what i came to
see. the bag lady clown was strong, the man strong and obviously skilled,
but the other woman seemed a bit lost and uncertain. great lights, i loved
the marshmallow images. too much ukelele playing and the old trunk in the
middle of the stage seems tired to me. i loved it though and i would come
again to see them.
- 1play = woven
2name = eric
3email = maniblemex@hotmail.com
4rating = 3 Stars
5review = great energy, loud, captivating in a way, but i was left with
a strange vacuum...what's it all about? full of sound and fury, yet signifying
nothing. they're young and talented, that is clear, having a good time,
yes, but is this a play? what does the title woven mean? i wanted something
else...something more substantial besides clever quips and sappy poignancy.
- 1play = chasing rabbits
2name = eric
3email = mandiblemex@hotmail.com
4rating = None
5review = this one got buried by accident and a lot of people didnt get
to see a really high quality piece of work. intense, intensely acted, cut
to the bone at thirty five minutes. this guy really knows what he's doing
and delivers the goods.
- 1play = it came from beneath the kilt
2name = eric
3email = mandiblemex@hotmail.com
4rating = 5 Stars
5review = these people work really hard and deliver a great romp of a play,
careening through a riotous collection of scenes and characters, expertly
delivered. some powerful acting that really grabs the house and goes for
it. thanks.
- 1play = number two
2name = eric
3email = mandiblemex@hotmail.com
4rating = None
5review = this is the play i will reccommend that my friends to come and
see at the best of fringe. it is daring, dangerous, dark, and funny as
hell. these are real clowns, committed, empowered, visionary. more, more,
more!
- 1play = tim's magic lantern show
2name = eric
3email = mandiblemex@hotmail.com
4rating = 4 Stars
5review = he sings, shows films, does puppets and bizzarre monologues.
i was moved to tears twice, when the films were repeating symbols and carefully
chosen natural images and he sang accompaniment. but then he would turn
the lights on and talk about how hollywood didn't make him feel good, that
we shouldn't use drugs, that the economy is bad and that we should all
do more art, like him. please.i say cut the fifteen minutes of preachy
crap and give us the art. i don't care why you have to do art, i came to
see the goods. his voice is magic, the images lovely, the love story a
bit unneccessary...
- 1play = "Counting the Ways"
2name = FirstTimeFringer
3email =
4rating = 5 Stars
5review = WOW! I laughed so hard in one "scene" and then was
sobered up to near tears in the next. A truly beautiful piece of theater
which was VERY well acted and staged in a straight forward and still very
imaginitive way. I LOVED this show. I only wish I had a chance to take
my friends to see it. Beautifully and artfull done by all involved. BRAVO!
- 1play = Beatrice and Virgil in Paradise
2name = catullus
3email =
4rating = 5 Stars
5review = Perhaps one of the most profound theatrical statements on male/female
relationships and the nature of romantic love since the oft misunderstood
and misconstrued Romeo and Juliet. In fact this play brilliantly deconstructs
the latter, peeling away layers of Shakespeare's text in a dream like fashion
only to reveal the nightmarish subtext which lurks beneath all playfull
and loving encounters. Nothing is held sacred in this world, not even wistful
childen's melodies, (row, row, row your boat...or london bridge is falling
down, falling down) which sound more ominous with each passing repetition.
But perhaps the most remarkable aspect of the play is that it celebrates
or at least displays the disfunction without any judgment and without taking
sides...the male and female are a part of the same neurotic (gender-bending)
continuum and who really wins in this love/war dichotomy is anybody's guess.
Humorous, sad, poetic, pathetic, but never tragic Beatrice and Virgil is
a hi!
ghly entertaining and original piece of work...a must see!
- 1play = Counting The Ways
2name = Cathy
3email = chatticat@mindspring.com
4rating = 5 Stars
5review = This was a great play,very well done. Danielle Thys and Leo Lawhorn
were well suited to the parts, both talented performers. Smooth and very
good under the direction of Michael Ward. A 5 star performance!
- 01name = Jim Peterson
08email = jpeters24@aol.com
comments = Counting The Ways was a tremendous treat. I was surprised
at how enjoyable I found it to be. Cleverly written, well directed, superb-ly
performed and nicely staged. It is one of those rare performances which
I enjoyed at many levels and will continue to enjoy for some time to come
while reliving it. Thank you for including it in the Fringe
- 1play = Frank Cullen
2name = jason halley
3email = jasonh@ninthhouse.com
4rating = 5 Stars
5review = I gotta tell you, it was incredible the performance that was
given by this troop. Once again "The Thunderbird Theatre Company"
pulls off a hilarious theatrical stage presence. I attend everyone of their
performances and so should you.
- 1play = Regular Show
2name = Tim Ereneta
3email = tim.ereneta@eudoramail.com
4rating = 2 Stars
5review = This enthusiastic ensemble, in a variety format of sketches and
monologues, though directed well enough, could have used an editor.
Sketches, while clever at times, lacked strong interaction between characters
(and it one case, compelling puppetry, or a satire thereof).
Monologues, while showcasing each of the writer's strengths as performers,
tended to lose focus.
Arwen Anderson is a delightful storyteller, but a stronger focus on its
central themes and some judicious editing would have made the piece more
than a wacky family anecdote.
Andrea Kulchewski (a terrific stage presence whose talent matches that
of SNL's Molly Shannon and Ana Gasteyer) shines in a solo piece earning
a cupcake-- a welcome change from her commentator and narrator roles in
other sketches. And in what I presume are her own sketches,
Randy Sterns shows off both her acting and writing talents exploring the
emotions of communicating in two memorable sketches, one set in the Video
Cafe and another in bed (the latter also hysterically funny).
Two strong nonfiction concepts, one a performance of Craigslist postings
and the other an ad for a sleep bra, while imaginatively staged, ultimately
lack a dramatic impact. Overall, the entire show came to life when the
ensemble dropped the "ain't the real world wacky" POV and moved
into honest explorations
of relationships and family.
The intro and finale, while amusing, seemed unnecessary decoration, tacked
on to fill out an hour. While this show's material disappointed me, I fully
expect that
given a couple of years to hone their talent and this ensemble will be
as strong as any company San Francisco has produced.
- 1play = Withering Glances
2name = Vince Vitale
3email = WorldGazer@aol.com
4rating = 4 Stars
5review = Withering Glances
Withering Glances is a play by Mike McElligott and Trevor Allen based on
the compelling notion that we all have "shadow selves," disembodied
spirits which are always there in the background and interacting with other
shadows. Moreover, the effect light plays in our actions and influence
on the cosmos. A film projection annoying placed on the side of the stage
made it difficult to watch the film and keep an eye on the characters at
the same time. We have a husband and wife and the parallel universe of
their shadow selves coping with hard times in their relationship. Note:
the shadows have wills and considerations of their own. The enigma of the
resolution and whether the shadow self of the wife will effect that resolution,
gives Withering Glances a very "dark" ending. It is worth seeing
for this concept worked through, which reminded me of Jung's concepts of
the anima and the collective unconscious.
- 1play = Chain Reactions
2name = Vince Vitale
3email = WorldGazer@aol.com
4rating = 2 Stars
5review = Chain Reactions
When a performance chooses a site in a planetarium, we should have the
reasonable expectation that it will have some sort of planetarium show
associated with it. Trevor Allen's Chain Reactions does not. Oh, yes, it
may be the physicist's version of Six Degrees of Separation, ergo showing
the interconnectedness of us all like stars in the firmament (sic). But
really, don't be fooled by the high concept floating around here. Section
headings and unrelated slides are projected on the planetarium ceiling.
When this is done, the ceiling's colors shift to flat blue-gray and rob
us of the only visual pleasure we could have in this setting, the sense
of resting back under the stars. This work was previously performed as
a setting for a dance piece by the Rebecca Salzer Dance Theatre, and it
was much more appropriate as such, than as a stand-alone. Andrea Nelson's
graphic images on the program and poster are beautiful. Besides the cleverness
of the interconnected dialogue, the !
one piece of this work which held my attention with some depth was the
dialogue between Einstein and Szilard about Einstein's signing on to support
the bomb. Otherwise, in the course of watching this over-regarded work,
the two quotes from the script which summed up my experience were "God,
this chaos is so tedious!" and "Why am I here?"
- 1play = Withering Glances
2name = Vince Vitale
3email = WorldGazer@aol.com
4rating = 4 Stars
5review = Withering Glances
Withering Glances is a play by Mike McElligott and Trevor Allen based on
the compelling notion that we all have "shadow selves," disembodied
spirits which are always there in the background and interacting with other
shadows. Moreover, the effect light plays in our actions and influence
on the cosmos. A film projection annoying placed on the side of the stage
made it difficult to watch the film and keep an eye on the characters at
the same time. We have a husband and wife and the parallel universe of
their shadow selves coping with hard times in their relationship. Note:
the shadows have wills and considerations of their own. The enigma of the
resolution and whether the shadow self of the wife will effect that resolution,
gives Withering Glances a very "dark" ending. It is worth seeing
for this concept worked through, which reminded me of Jung's concept of
- 1play = Theatre/Plague
2name = Thomas Enger
3email =
4rating = None
5review = all I can say is that it was truly absurd.
- 11play = Double Counterpoint
2name = Vince Vitale
3email = WorldGazer@aol.com
4rating = 4 Stars
5review = Double Counterpoint
This classy bit of 50s detective murder mystery by Carla Hatley is set
in San Francisco and comes complete with its own original saxophone work
by Marcos Estebez. Unfortunately, it got a bit sloppy at the very end --
past the resolution -- when the narrator/columnist becomes too expository
and the murder victim returns to explain some plot points, which made it
feel a bit heavy when it already had the feeling of being over. Still,
it was very enjoyable and well performed. And another unique genre entry
for the Fringe.
- play = The Anything Show
2name = Tim Ereneta
3email = tim.ereneta@eudoramail.com
4rating = 5 Stars
5review = There was one moment, early on, during the piece, "Fight
with Food," when I knew I was in the company of greatness. The sketch
was as absurd as anything from Monty Python, but added an emotional honesty
that was breathtaking: it was THE highlight of the entire Fringe for me.
Like a Lily Tomlin or Whoopi Goldberg, Abby Shachner brings to life vibrant
characters and rich, edgy ideas with confidence and a total commitment
to character. (I only wish more San Francisco performers would take their
cue from Chicago artists like Ms. Schachner, an
- 1play = Stew!
2name = Tim Ereneta
3email = tim.ereneta@eudoramail.com
4rating = 3 Stars
5review = I'm going to be favorably disposed to any show that features
a guest appearance by Noam Chomsky, and sure enough, his scene is a winner.
Cameron Galloway is a delight to watch anytime, and Cynthia Bassham as
her sister is also a delight to watch. Alas, the script, while clever,
doesn't quite make up for its serious narrative gaps:
Eustencia's main antagonist, her husband, appears only as offstage voice
and a one-dimensional bundle of anger. The action of the play stems from
an opening moment with a chicken that while emotionally rich comes too
early in the play for us to understand its implications, and it's a muddle
trying to retroactively understand it-- what brought about her epiphany?
Or if Eustencia has always treated food with compassion, why does the chicken
kissing moment escalate the stakes?
And the resolution of Eustencia's crisis takes place offstage. And while
we are left with some nice scenes with her sister and therapist, the sudden
disappearance of the main character from the action of the play makes for
a disappointing ending. Still, a talented cast brings to life
some unforgettable scenes (especially those with Chomsky, the mango, and
an ear of corn), and I'm hoping that later stagings may tighten the story.
- 1play = Stew!
2name = Tim Ereneta
3email = tim.ereneta@eudoramail.com
4rating = 3 Stars
5review = I'm going to be favorably disposed to any show that features
a guest appearance by Noam Chomsky, and sure enough, his scene is a winner.
Cameron Galloway is a delight to watch anytime, and Cynthia Bassham as
her sister is also a delight to watch. Alas, the script, while clever,
doesn't quite make up for its serious narrative gaps:
Eustencia's main antagonist, her husband, appears only as offstage voice
and a one-dimensional bundle of anger. The action of the play stems from
an opening moment with a chicken that while emotionally rich comes too
early in the play for us to understand its implications, and it's a muddle
trying to retroactively understand it-- what brought about her epiphany?
Or if Eustencia has always treated food with compassion, why does the chicken
kissing moment escalate the stakes?
And the resolution of Eustencia's crisis takes place offstage. And while
we are left with some nice scenes with her sister and therapist, the sudden
disappearance of the main character from the action of the play makes for
a disappointing ending. Still, a talented cast brings to life
some unforgettable scenes (especially those with Chomsky, the mango, and
an ear of corn), and I'm hoping that later stagings may tighten the story.
1play = Slam, Bam, Thank You Ma'am
2name = Michael
3email = michael.shaw@rhii.com
4rating = 5 Stars
5review = Fun play, great interaction between all characters, fairly witty
banter, leads were excellent, the man hating lesbian cop was the best,
made a believer out of me!! Too bad if you missed it, last show was Friday.
- 1play = The Regular Show
2name = goreski
3email =
4rating = 2 Stars
5review = Not painful, but not very funny either....
- 1play = Number 2
2name = goreski
3email =
4rating = 1 Star
5review = Again the Banana, Bag & Bodice folks return to the Fringe
with a production that has little talent and even less skill. Apparently
writing, acting, and direction are beyond these folks, and the hour plods
along slowly with very very few laughs. The acting is just above the level
you'd expect from a High School production... why some folks find this
play enjoyable is beyond me... this is something that could only find an
audience at the Fringe.... anywhere else and it would close the same day
it would open. There's no talent here at all!! Ahhh.... but isn't that
the point of the Fringe thesedays? To gather together folks without talent
or inspiration and then to fool an audience into thinking this is something
akin to "new" theater in some way or another?
- 1play = Counting the Ways
2name = BlueDevilSF
3email = BlueDevilSF@aol.com
4rating = 4 Stars
5review = I thought the performances were very tight
and dead-on...wonderful pacing. I'm not
sure I quite "got it" tho...not yet, anyway,
because this is a play that demands a certain
amount of thought and consideration from the
viewer and it stays with one afterward. It's
been 8 hours since I've seen it, and I'm still
ruminating on what I viewed. I think multiple
viewings are a great idea!
- [CLICK HERE FOR MORE AUDIENCE REVIEWS]
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