The Condensed Works of Frank Cullen at the San Francisco Fringe Festival 2000

		`The Condensed Works of Frank Cullen By Chavira, Allemann, & Follmann-Chavira; Thunderbird Theatre Company, San Francisco, Play-Comedy;` `Children over 13 could enjoy it; Mature content and strobe effects.`
		SAN FRANCISCO FRINGE FESTIVAL 2000 AUDIENCE REVIEWS
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CLICK HERE FOR A RECENT REVIEWS IN CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER CLICK ON PLAY FOR AUDIENCE REVIEWS FOR THAT 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		1play = Condensed Works Of Frank Cullen 2name = James Goode 3email = malachitin@zorien.com 4rating = 4 Stars 5review = A very funny and mind-bending romp through the early years of pulp paperback fiction; mind control, drug addiction, female orgasm, and other subjects are handled in a very nostalgic yet bizarre manner. I laughed so hard I almost wet myself! Great writing, characterization and interaction between the performers sustained my interest throughout the performance. I wish it could've gone on for another hour! 1play = 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 = 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 = Condensed Works of Frank Cullen 2name = rocky heck 3email = rocky@allfools.com 4rating = 5 Stars 5review = Brilliant. Crisp and spot-on writing. Characters well-defined and well-performed by the actors. Dance sequences were a hoot. Everything that could, (and usually does[see "Under the Kilt"]) go wrong with camp/parody is avoided by this tight, professional and creative troupe.Can't wait to see what they do next! 1play = The Condensed Works of Frank Cullen 2name = Jaina 3email = jainabee@earthlink.net 4rating = 4 Stars 5review = The Thunderbird Theatre Company are a provocative bunch. They've created a fine, subtle line between performing for and heckling at the audience. Campy, sure — but in such a friendly, inclusive way. The audience responds with enthusiastic hoots and stamping of feet. It's a wonder no one jumps onstage to join in on the fun. They're pros, for sure. The timing and physicality is thick with confidence. Each of the three stories told have their unforgettable moments. Most of them can be accredited to Jean Spinosa's choreography. Other reviews have mentioned "The Get-Away Girl's" tango with a beatnik and the Mambo madness of the housewife in "My Sin, My Lust," but the most unexpected and breathtaking moment for this reviewer happened in "The Underlying Influence." During what seemed like a typical "quick-hide-the-girl" scene, the hypnotist (played by the commanding Brice W. Harris IV) picks up the entranced girl (Spinosa) by the waist and lugs her off the stage like she's a mannequin. Even now that I've told you, you still won't believe your eyes. The weakest points were when scenes called for sexual tension. The only tension I saw was between actors who didn't feel comfortable kissing each other or getting felt up. Now that Spinosa's in the ensemble, that could change. I look forward to the future of the Thunderbird Theatre Company. 1play = condensed works of Frank Cullins 2name = trina johansen 3email = 4rating = 5 Stars 5review = a light-hearted collection of well written short plays. very entertaining. Jean Spinosa rocks. enjoyed Jason Hardings performance as well. 1play = The collected works of Frank Cullen 2name = Yolanda Petriz 3email = ypetriz@hotmail.com 4rating = 5 Stars 1play = Condensed Works of Frank Cullen 2name = brewster 3email = brewster_david@hotmail.com 4rating = 5 Stars 5review = A snappy, funny production, very well-done. Three stories of the perils of the counter-culture, 40's style. As the program states, Frank Cullen was a pulp fiction writer of the 40's and 50's, and this play gives us a feel for the world of his fiction. The roles of women (mothers, daughters, young working women) are particularly amusing and/or horrifying, as are their husbands, their ethnic neighbors, the quacks and wannabees who prey on them, and the doctors who diagnose them. Snivelly, moneyed brats and pompous bosses. And the characterization of the wimpy, scheming Beatnik is great. Whenever Frank Cullen has a theme he wants to sledgehammer home on the reader, the cast member turns directly to the audience and yells it at us. The opening image was exciting - a ticking clock, a robotic-faced woman in a bra and skirt, a desperate man in underwear giving hypnotic suggestion. There are several great and hilarious dance numbers that steal the show, particularly ! the Dance of the Beatnik and the Debutante. And get ready to hiss at the final, SF-unfriendly line! Standout performances from Jean Spinosa (everything), Sang Kim (Ace the Beatnik), Heidi Hernandez (Wanda de Vaca Lopez), Bryce Alleman (the woe-is-me husband), Zach Jordan (great variety of characters), and Katya Hixxx (Mambo-obsessed housewife). Also, Brice Harris IV looked just like Liev Schreiber, but then he didn't anymore. And I loved Sang Kim's program notes. Let's all adopt a starving actor child, today...Your spare change can feed the mind of one suffering child for an entire year! 1play = "The Condensed Works of Frank Cullen" 2name = Ron Walker 3email = ronw_sf@hotmail.com 4rating = 5 Stars 5review = One of the main reasons I decided to buy a Fringe Festival pass this year was because the Thunderbird Theater Company was going to be in it. I was fortunate to see their last show, “The Nite Lites,” a spoof of 1970’s culture, and was really happy that they had something at the Fringe. “The Condensed Works of Frank Cullen” is the funniest play I’ve seen at the Fringe (and I’ve been going for three years now). The whole audience was in uproarious laughter Sunday night. The Thunderbird has taken the fears and desires of 1950’s America to a new height, and then holds it up for us to laugh at the innocence of that odd decade so long gone. Particularly comic were all of the dances sewn into the plots …and the tight cast was excellent. They kept the whole show moving at an excellent pace that had the whole audience wondering what would happen next. What could possibly happen, I wondered, to top the events that had us falling out of our seats a moment before. They never fai! led. On a side note; I never knew that Nymphomania could result from listening to Mambo Music! -Ron Walker 1play = The Condensed Works of Frank Cullen 2name = Denise Dee 3email = unionofopposites@hotmail.com 4rating = 4 Stars 5review = This was hysterical and perfect. I loved the writing. Not one unnecessary word. The actors were great. Deadpan and hilarious. Body movements conveyed the era before they even opened their mouths. I usually am not a "comedy" fan, but this had me amazed even while i was laughing, at who on earth could have thought this up and done it so well? 1play = Condensed Works of Frank Cullen 2name = Jason Ulibarri 3email = jasonu@organic.com 4rating = 4 Stars 5review = A hilarious warning on the evils of mambo music, beat poetry, lesbo halitosis, and hypnosis. You will shudder as the dubutante samples the evil Indian tobacco. You will cringe as the evil professor mezmorizes the innocent girls from Long Island. You will melt as the the beautiful Spaniard's wife seduces the housewife with "Du hue like de Latin Beat? The erotic dance scenes will leave you daydreaming for many blissful days. 1play = Condensed Works of Frank Cullen 2name = lawrence 3email = ehour@sirius.com 4rating = 5 Stars 5review = Hands down wonderful! Crisp delivery with ultra enthusiasm makes this camp send up of pulp cautionary tales a must see for the 2000 fringe. I'd see it again. Thunderbirds, please put me on your mailing list. 1play = The Condensed Works of Frank Cullen 2name = Vince Vitale 3email = WorldGazer@aol.com 4rating = 5 Stars 5review = The Condensed Works of Frank Cullen "Frank Cullen" walks the fine edge between 50s kitschie drama and hilarious social commentary. Think of this as Night of The Living Stereotypes. The acting is appropriately billboard, the timing is great. This is a great satire of 50s B-movie-style mindsets and their corresponding novellas. Don't miss it. 1play = The Condensed Works of Frank Cullen 2name = Vonn Scott Bair 3email = vsbair@sirius.com 4rating = 4 Stars 5review = Hilarious spoof of pulp fiction dime novels. Three short plays about hypnotism, deliquent teenagers, and nymphomaniacs. Kathy Hixxx and the teamof Bryce and Brice are great in multiple roles.
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