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American Appetite: Tales of Dirty Young Boys & Spry Old Men, The
An Evening At Home
Anablep and Other Oddities
Back to Kroenig
Beckett's Last Dance
Beneath Sita's Belly
Black Box Confessions
Blue Sofa
Candistan
Caught Sleeping
Cleopatra!-And Antony
ClockBusters
Death Blow - The Show
Devouring Time
Engineer and The Artist, The
Enronicles
Exit Laughing!
F--king Handicapped Guy
Fred Anderson -Professional Goofball!
Full Spectrum Improvisation
George Bush's Nuts
Getting It Wrong
Guano dell' Amore - ("Birdshit of Love")
Gulag Ha Ha
Interactive Solo Performer Daniel Packard
Ken and Andy Show, The
Lillie, A Musical
Looking, Then Pointing
Mad Adventures of Chaos For Hire, The
Me Laugh You Long Time
Menopause and Desire: Or Why Must I Be Middle Aged and In Love?
Microclimates: A Crime Against Gravity or The Burrito From Sausalito
My Son, the Mummy: Episode Pi
nEO-sURREALIST sYSTEMS pRESENTS: HOE- DOWN!!!!!
Objects In Mirror (May Be Closer Than They Appear)
OUTTAKES: Monologues, Stories, and Social Commentary
Rise And Fall of The US/them Empire, The
Smashing Icons
Something You Might Want
Song in Your Blood, The
Spray
Stranger In Woodstock
Surfing Toasters
Survival of the Fit Enough/ Fern
Talking To Myself
Tangled
Uncle Jacques' Symphony
Underground Movement Theatre
Upper Canada Cougar Movement, The
Valentine's Play Time
Way Light Strikes Filled Mason Jars, The
Winterkill
Woods For The Trees
Zucchini: The Forbidden Dance!
Play: Cleopatra! --and Antony
Reviewer: Frank Wolfe
Reviewer Email:
Rating: 3 Stars
After seeing reviews on this show range from Ms. Chopp’s four-star
to the anonymous one-star, I felt I had to put in a few words of my own.
Since “One-Star” was clearly not enjoying him- or herself during
the first act, it would be pointless to express regrets that he or she hadn’t
lingered for the second act, which set the tone by leading off with its
intentionally silly and wonderfully tacky ships-on-sticks battle of Actium.
I don’t know which performances the others saw; I went to the last
one. I thought there was a good deal of talent displayed in this show besides
the three players mentioned in the other reviews, though there’s no
question that Lola/Cleopatra made two very arresting and dynamic characters,
Professor Scrumbly at the piano was a charmer (I’ve seen him in other
shows too), and the hulking, simple-minded janitor/guard/messenger was
a real scene-stealer. But the blowhard Antony held his own with all of them,
breathing fire and bile, and by golly actually chew!
ing the scenery! His suicide by parasol brought down the house.
Cleo was assisted by two very unhandy handmaidens: her Charmian is
evidently the producer’s girlfriend, and a more perfect portrayal
of a ditsy bimbo would be hard to find; in the role of Iras, Lola’s
maid is clearly in over her head and takes to the bottle. Together, they
beard Antony, kill the messenger (way cute), and conduct a snake-a-rama
finale never imagined by Shakespeare— or any other Cleopatra enactor
till now. Caesar was the soul of rational efficiency, and kept a dignified
disregard of the repeated intrusions of the recurring Arabian bird (a running
gag), while the patrician Octavia had a kind of Olive Oyl loopiness that
I found appealing.
“One-Star” complained of a character carrying a script, which
I agree isn’t appropriate in a running show, but of course there may
have been circumstances we couldn’t know about— say, if this was
a last-minute replacement for someone who’d just been rushed to the
hospital. This was the Mr. Baker/Soothsayer character, and I thought he
carried it off rather well, and added texture by an endless wrestling with
his voluminous headgear, which may or may not have been planned.
I gave this show three stars, because I know it can be much better.
Though this was readily apparent at the performance, the audience seemed
to thoroughly enjoy it, and you have to say of “Cleo” that it
was anything but predictable. A show doesn’t necessarily need a high
degree of polish to be appreciated by a Fringe audience, after all; we know
we’ll see everything from raw through half-baked to well-done. With
a bit of rewrite, a bit more rehearsal and a bit more production work, the
Excelsior Company can turn “Cleopatra! –and Antony” into
a completely delightful experience for even the most exacting of audiences.
I don’t know that a festival is their best bet as a setting for this
diamond-in-the-very-rough, but I’m sure that it’ll be turning
up again somewhere, and I for one will be interested to see how it’s
come along.
Play: Song in Your Blood
Reviewer: Ariel N.
Reviewer Email:
Rating: 3 Stars
Great attempt considering this wasn't a typical fringe show. Loved the mood
at the beginning with the slide show. Liked the family atmosphere with the
parents and kids singing at the beginning, that was cute, had an almost
Broadway feel to it.
I don't think the actors fit the style of the writing, but once I got past
that I fell into the story. The lead guy and the aunt didn't have a huge
range of emotions; he seemed angry the whole time and she annoyed. He was
boisterously loud even during the tender moments. She sighed after every
line, even between scenes which grated on my nerves a bit. I really wanted
her to play up her manipulative side more, especially when she was trying
to blame the son for the death of his brother. I don't think she understood
that's what the scene was about. However, I was impressed with their level
of commitment. I really felt the dynamics of the brother/sister relationship.
They both touched me on an emotional level, and ultimately that's what counts
in my opinion, because despite the rough spots I did believe them.
I especially enjoyed the mother and son. I was very touched by their relationship,
and I have to admit I sniffled (a lot) once things went utterly, insanely
downhill. I liked the boy because he was having fun with his character.
He had genuine reactions and facial expressions, and for such a young guy
he really understood what was going on. The mother, though she seemed slightly
uncomfortable with some of her lines in the beginning, really grew on me.
I liked how she transitioned from happy mother, to letting on she had a
bratty/manipulative side, to utter insanity. I had an aunt who suffered
from schizophrenia, and it sent chills down my back how she captured that
authentic wild look in her eyes. My favorite scene from the whole play was
when she was going to the market and she cleverly manipulated the sister-in
law into letting her go without helping with the house work, she was rediculous
and funny; I felt the essence of her character was captured in that scene.
The only thing I didn't believe with this play was that they were Irish.
I would re-cast everybody if it were going into full production with people
who are actually Irish to capture the (challenging) style of the writing.
But over-all, I walked out of the theater happy with what I experienced;
I always like a production that makes me laugh and cry.
Play: Gulag Ha Ha
Reviewer: Sara
Reviewer Email:
Rating: 2 Stars
wha? huh? Sigh. I hate experimental theater. How did this make it to the
Best of Fringe? Ok, obviously the actors have talent, but all that energy
was wasted on such a self-indulgent, silly play. I felt everybody tried
too hard to have their "deep moments", that is when you could
understand all their garble underneath all THAT CONSTANT YELLING. I understand
the music/sound effects was supposed to be disturbing, but it was so irritatingly
loud. I found myself dying for it to be over after the first 10 minutes,
becuase I could already tell the rest of the play would be just more of
the same, and it was. One woman walked out in the middle of the noisy chaos,
and I longed to be brave enough to follow her. This play was painful for
me to watch, my eyes glazed over. Why were the characters there? Why were
they wearing diapers? This was the longest hour of my life. This show felt
really pretensious to me, but that's why I don't like experimental theater.
Obviously many people liked i!
t because most of the reviews are good, and again I do have to give the
actors a break because I could never have been able to go up there and do
what they did, but this just wasn't my cup of tea at all.
Play: Song In Your Blood
Reviewer: Mr.E
Reviewer Email: nobody@nothing.com
Rating: 3 Stars
An interesting story with shaky delivery. Seems like the writing was there,
but most of the actors weren't up to the challenge. The father was too heavy-handed
with his performance, as if each line was delivered with a tone that screamed
(literally) "HEY LOOK AT ME, I AM ACTING!"
The mother was well-written, but again the actress wasn't up to snuff. She over did it. I understand this is stage, but there were probably 35 people tops in the audience---I think we would have picked up on subtelty. She was a tad more tolerable than the father, but not by much. Maybe these two went to the same acting school? I suggest they play it down a bit more next time.
The strongest acting came via the aunt character, who practically stole the show. She delivered her lines in a believable and even tone, and she felt the most comfortable on stage. While her performance was by far the more superior and refreshing, it was a bit jarring to see her interact with the other over-dramatic players on stage. Let's not even talk about her "love interest" that the lines just fall out of his mouth with absolutely no conviction.
All-in-all, a very well-written play with some shaky acting with a bright
spot in the aunt character. Take notice of this actress!
Play: Woods for the Trees
Reviewer: aaron j. schmookler
Reviewer Email: schmookler@earthlink.net
Rating: None
Last week, my friend suggested that I accompany her to see WOODS FOR
THE TREES, and I am ever so glad that she did. I enjoyed the show immensely.
I appreciated the compelling physicality, in
elegantly composed phrases. I thought the multimedia use was unusually
well integrated. I generally find it to be distracting -- in this
case, not so. I personally am a big fan of adaptation of familiar
stories, so the allusions to Hansel and Grettle were exciting to me in and
of themselves, but I further felt the use of that story was very well done.
Most impressive to me was the show's economy. In my own work, a place
where I have trouble is in trusting the audience to connect the dots.
And you've got to let them. If you fill in everything, then the audience
gets bored by not having any work to do. I think Sara and Ed
did a fantastic job of conveying a whole lot, while saying little... trusting
the audience to flesh it out. Lately, I've seen a lot of art that I feel
leaves too much room, leaving the audience confused, and not knowing where
to put their own flesh... Woods for the Trees struck a good and difficult
to find balance.
Play: The Way Light Srikes Filled Mason Jars
Reviewer: Kelly Sandlin
Reviewer Email: ksandlin@attbi.com
Rating: 4 Stars
As we sat in the tiny theatre to watch this play, I began to think about
space and limitation. I thought about the same thing at the end.
Joe Besecker has used a limited time (1 hour) and a minimal space, to show
the limitless territory of the writer's imagination.
Danielle Thys displays considerable talent in the supple manner with which
she switches from one famously fucked up literata to the next. Her deftness
with accent is punctuated with understated movement. This prevents the performance
from taking on the overwrought quality of multicharacter portrayals.
Christopher Slater, as the haunted and grieving playwright, does not serve
as a mere backdrop. His smooth, cynical, Tennesee Williams showed just the
right glimmers of underlying pain and anger.
This play was intelligent and emotional, a combination not easily forgotten.
Play: Getting It Wrong
Reviewer: Arthur Young
Reviewer Email:
Rating: 5 Stars
Witty, prescient, well-written, charming portrayals (all 6 or 7 characters),
fast-paced, wonderfully personal.
Play: Caught Sleeping
Reviewer: Ken Nicht
Reviewer Email:
Rating: 2 Stars
The play was entirely misdirected. I am certain the actors are higly capable:
their performances would have benefitted from a director who didn't wield
a battering ram for a credential.
Play: the mummy
Reviewer: stubaby
Reviewer Email: stubaby100@hotmail.com
Rating: 4 Stars
funny yummy see the mummy.
Play: My Son the Mummy
Reviewer: Alex
Reviewer Email:
Rating: 4 Stars
Definitely the most unusual theater I've ever seen. Gilbert & Sullivan
are rolling over in their graves...as they jump to their feet to applaud
the unique creative expression of this lonely mummy, his fabulous band,
and a masterfully orchestrated visual experience that—while sometimes
left me thinking, "what…?"— definitely left me appreciating
the expression of the troupe. The best entertainment dollars I’ve spent
in some time.
Play: My Son the Mummy: Episode Pi
Reviewer: Auburn Andel
Reviewer Email: auburnandel@yahoo.com
Rating: 5 Stars
The creator of this performance has the ability to go places in his mind
that so few of us ever explore. He shares an underground of entertaining
whackiness through comedy, song, spoken word, and movement, allowung us
to be part of something other-wordly. The musicians are skillfully amazing,
and the Mummy blesses us with absurd dialogue and skits that assures you
of being normal but hip to understand. Go and lose yourself!
Play: Me Laugh You Long Time
Reviewer: Cheryl Wade
Reviewer Email: Gnarlybone@aol.com
Rating: 3 Stars
This is a very talented troupe of performers. As with most sketch comedy
the range is from Hilarious to Huh? I'd recommend the show because at their
best, they're superb.
"Meet the Chinese Parents" and "Wossop!" are terrific
pieces, incredibly funny with dead-on performances and some heart guiding
the humor,
and "Her Quest" was a wonderful mimed departure from all the barbed
humor of the rest of the show. "Company Man" and "The O Word"
were one note jokes. They went on too long for so little payoff. Even though
I didn't think all their material was topnotch, I appreciate the talent
here and hope to see more of them.
Play: The Song in Your Blood
Reviewer: Jerry
Reviewer Email:
Rating: 3 Stars
All in all it was a decent production. The writing lacked clarity, flow
and structure. Although an interesting story of the life of an Irish American
family in the late 20's, I really wasn't sure what the point was. Was this
an autobiography of sorts~something written to release family skeltons?
Who's point of view was this told in? What was the depth of the relatonship
between Eamon and Katie? These are the things that need to be worked out
before the production can be presented in a full lenght forum. I can see
that Denise Dee has a lot of writing depth and ability, I'm just not sure
how well of a playwrite she is at this moment. It was pretty well acted
for what the actors had to work with. I heard also in passing, that the
lead role of Finn Sr. had been recast at the last minute. Considering this
on the actor and the rest of the cast, I think a great job was done by all!
Play: Mad Adventures of Chaos for Hire
Reviewer: Erich von Ibsch
Reviewer Email: erichvi@hotmail.com
Rating: 4 Stars
Very exciting - not your average juggling acts.. Trippy visuals and excellent
live music!!
Play: carnival of chaos
Reviewer: Analise Elliot
Reviewer Email: analisee@hotmail.com
Rating: 5 Stars
Insane talent. Wicked funny. Groovy music. The complete package. Who would've
thought plastic buckets could be so entertaining!?!?! Rocker chick rocks.
I can't wait to see it again!
Play: carnival of chaos
Reviewer: Tom Hruschka
Reviewer Email: tommy@socrates.berkeley.edu
Rating: 5 Stars
The show was a riot. Excellent mix of comedy and psycho juggling. I almost
crapped my pants several times during the show from laughter.
lay: getting it wrong
Reviewer: Neil & Carol Adelman
Reviewer Email:
Rating: 5 Stars
loved the play. A jewish farmgirl in marin...and it's a true story. I loved
that it was about being a jewish farmgirl, yet not a jewish play at all!
Her delivery & honesty was refreshing & animated. I even heard her
family was in the audience & you'd think that would not help, yet it
was fantastic.
BEST OF FRINGE by far
Play: Cleopatra!-- And Antony
Reviewer:
Reviewer Email:
Rating: 1 Star
Very, very disappointed that the ONLY play I chose to/got to attend for
the run of the Fringe ended up being a drag. All I have to say to the cast
is: REHEARSALS, people!! You knew you were doing this play since, what?
Spring? Early summer? And some of you are still reading off a script/having
to carry a script with you during the performances? For shame!! If you are
lucky enough to get a slot in the Fringe, at least have the decency to put
up a fully-mounted show and honor the audience's time/attention/attendance.
The whole thing was messily staged and clumsily done, smacking of badly
done community theatre. And not all of that was in the nature of the script/production
(the play-within-a-play/behind-the-scenes thing). I left at the end of Act
One. I had had high hopes for this one and was excited to see it -- and
left disappointed in such dreck. I'm sure you've all been great in what
you do at the Renaissance Faire and Dickens Faire, but does that translate
to a !
fully staged production in a professional venue? Not in this instance. Very
disappointing, overall. The only talented ones in the cast appeared to be
the woman playing Cleopatra --and the piano player.
lay: ClockBusters
Reviewer: Vince Vitale
Reviewer Email: WorldGazer@aol.com
Rating: 4 Stars
ClockBusters offers us some fun skits on adult topics. But the most memorable
parts for me were the folk-style songs delivered by Reannie Roads.
Play: Uncle Jacques' Symphony
Reviewer: Vince Vitale
Reviewer Email: WorldGazer@aol.com
Rating: 5 Stars
This series of brilliant monologues by Dominic Hoffman is consistently compelling
and engaging. He takes us into the lives and mindsets of a sex-savvy black
dude, a Puerto Rican girl, an older black mother, and a white bookie. We
are invited into the experience of their lives so perfectly that the transitions
surprise us. This is a must-see performance.
Play: Microclimates
Reviewer: Vince Vitale
Reviewer Email: WorldGazer@aol.com
Rating: 4 Stars
Great energetic performances by Coby Fisher, Gwendolyn Rooker, Matt Roberts
and Zuzka Sabata hold Microclimates together, under Zeb West's direction.
Constantly moveable walls are a brilliant set feature, perfect for the Fringe's
best Keystone Comedy chase scene in years. Ditch the name, or at least disregard
it. It should have been something like "Corporata: The Perils of Brenda."
There was no reason to deceive the potential audience into thinking this
was going to be something to do with the Bay Area by giving the title local
appeal.
Play: Surfing Toasters
Reviewer: Vince Vitale
Reviewer Email: WorldGazer@aol.com
Rating: 3 Stars
Two vagrant thieves inadvertently summon an angel in this somewhat lopsided
investigation of the meaningfulness of "things," as well as a
somewhat sketchily drawn conflict between good and evil. Elizabeth Benedict's
play didn't work for me, although I enjoyed the performances.
Play: Candistan
Reviewer: Vince Vitale
Reviewer Email: WorldGazer@aol.com
Rating: 2 Stars
Jay Martin's one-man-show gives us a conversation with a candy magnate power-broker
interested in capitalizing on the 911 disaster. Cynicism is welcome here.
Martin has already received a nomination for best choreography from the
Beckett Foundation for breaking new ground in minimalist movement. Complicated
costume changes were made after the first act. Set design left nothing to
be desired. The highs and lows of the performance consistently met in the
middle. Chocolates were given out to anyone who stayed until the end.
lay: Anablep & Other Oddities
Reviewer: Vince Vitale
Reviewer Email: WorldGazer@aol.com
Rating: 5 Stars
Taking a cue from Webster's, dancers Karen Krolak, Nicole Harris and Amelia
O'Dowd take archaic and little-known words from the dictionary to build
dance performances on the concepts and definitions. Audience members choose
from a "menu" of words. Because the opening is comedic, I expected
the dance to be also. But no. Nicole Harris' "Lachrymatory" is
soft and lyrical movement. "Ataxic" and "Pygalgia" likewise
built movement upon the meanings of the words, which I don't have to define
for you, because you of course are intimately familiar with their meanings.
(!!!????!!) Thank God the audience didn't choose "Drouken" or
"Firk!" Although I was curious about "Spiss." The Monkeyhouse
dancers literally give "meaningfulness" to dance.
Play: Something You Might Want
Reviewer: Vince Vitale
Reviewer Email: WorldGazer@aol.com
Rating: 3 Stars
Three unlikeable characters never quite involve the audience to care about
any one of them in this competitive triangle. A woman has a new lover confront
the one she is leaving for him. Splitsville has reached a new low when a
major point of contention is who gets the coffee table. The idea of two
men "competing" for the love of a woman is feudal. Jim Stope's
play is something you may want, but then again, maybe not.
Play: Wood for the Trees
Reviewer: Thomas Goetz
Reviewer Email: brainismostlyfat@yahoo.com
Rating: 5 Stars
a gem in the varied world of modern theatre...i'd love to get lost again.
and again. and again. it's quite simple.
so we think !
Play: My Son The Mummy
Reviewer: Karen Wallin
Reviewer Email: Karenfirechick@hotmail.com
Rating: 5 Stars
Wow, what a unique and fun show. Tom Byrne is someone to watch out for!!
His flair as a longe singer/comedian mixed with his kitchy horror icon,
the mummy, is the most creative display of talent I've seen in a while.
Play: The Ken and Andy Show
Reviewer: Whitney Lourdes
Reviewer Email: whitney1@hotmail.com
Rating: 5 Stars
I really loved this show! The writing is fantastic. Original, funny, mind-expanding.
The acting is great. Ken and Andy are both charming and funny (not to mention
very attractive). And the supporting cast is wonderful. If you can see only
one show, see the Ken and Andy show. If you can see only two shows, see
the Ken and Andy show twice. Seriously, it's great. I couldn't recommend
it any higher.
Play: The Ken and Andy Show
Reviewer: Arnold Greenberg
Reviewer Email: mgreenberg71@hotmail.com
Rating: 5 Stars
First of all, Andy is really hot and he wears next to nothing for much of
the show. Delicious! Furthermore, Andy is hilarious, as is Ken (who, by
the way, is also fine, though in more of a straight way). Overall, I say
sit back and enjoy the show. It's laugh out loud funny. And for two hot
men, Ken and Andy have come up with a show that will blow your mind. If
there was any justice in the world, Ken and Andy would get millions from
Congress to bring their show to the world and the military would have to
hold a bakesale. Or however that saying goes. Whatever... Just see the show.
Trust me.
Play: The Ken and Andy Show
Reviewer: Craig Cooperman
Reviewer Email: whitney@yahoo.com
Rating: 5 Stars
Loved it. Love it, loved it, loved it. It's whacky, it's funny, it's got
a bitch monkey. Incredibly creative. I hope this show serves as a shot in
the arm to the whole theater community. Ken and Andy are originals and I
hope their vision spreads.
Play: ClockBusters
Reviewer: Dave
Reviewer Email: dave@forvoiceover.com
Rating: 5 Stars
Great, twisted, original sketch comedy! The frenetic pace and unpredictability
of the material kept it fun and fresh, and it could have gone on for double
or triple its length without losing the audience -- though that much concentrated
laughter would've required health warnings on the program (which in itself
was pretty dang funny!). Reannie's songs were entertaining enough to deserve
a backing band, and the recurring answering machine messages during set
changes were a great device! Bravo!
Play: Uncle Jaques Symphony
Reviewer: Danielle
Reviewer Email:
Rating: 5 Stars
Polished, professional, perceptive and powerful. Dominic Hoffman's exceptional
performance left be breathless. He is an extraordinarily talented actor
and writer with a keen sense of pathos for the robust characters he's created.
That he could not join us for Best Of Fringe is truly our loss. I understand
he plans to take the show to NY. Spread the word. It's worth the flight.
This show is not to be missed. I anxiously look forward to his future work.
Bravo! Encore!
Play: The Ken and Andy Show
Reviewer: Tom Stoppard
Reviewer Email: gildenstern@hotmail.com
Rating: 5 Stars
I didn't know what to expect of this show, but I have to say it made me
laugh... hard. The acting is first rate, as is the writing. And the performances
are hilarious. I highly recommend this play.
Play: Anablep & Other Oddities
Reviewer: StephMDSC
Reviewer Email:
Rating: 4 Stars
Interesting and very amusing at points, although not everything worked for
me ... I particularly liked the opening piece, especially the interaction
between the "together" dancer and the one who was trying to hard
to be just the same. I wanted to see more of the unusual prop-work, stilts
and roller skates and all ... liked some of the funnier pieces (the gal
trying to flirt the 'right' way, the dance with the male audience voiceover)
but mostly wished they had been shorter. Most frustrating was how much of
the night was performed downstage, on the floor, which meant if you weren't
in the front row you couldn't see much of anything. And BOY does Exit on
Taylor get hot. But overall I was glad I saw this one, bright and entertaining
stuff.
Play: Something You Might Want
Reviewer: Skokie
Reviewer Email:
Rating: 5 Stars
I loved this play. TJ Metz rocks. He should be on the big screen, for sure.
The cast really made me believe the story. Added plus was that it was only
30 minutes long!
Play: My Son, the Mummy: Episode Pi
Reviewer: Noona of the Nile
Reviewer Email: pyramidpower@hotmail.com
Rating: 5 Stars
This show was SOOOO stupid, I couldn't help but love it. The band is smokin'
and the Mummy----well, what can I say, citizens of Las Vegas...get ready
for the next Sammy Davis, Jr.
Play: The American Appetite
Reviewer: Brian Baldi
Reviewer Email: hulajulep@hotmail.com
Rating: 5 Stars
The first half is a peach, the second half is a plum, and Pierre Stroud
is fantastic throughout. This dude has the energy of all the bulls at Pamplona,
but is much funnier than your average stampede. Nice work.
lay: woods for the trees
Reviewer: denise dee
Reviewer Email: hiareth@hotmail.com
Rating: 3 Stars
i went in expecting to love this as i was a huge fan of "Midair"
Sara's 2001 fringe piece , but alas i came out feeling empty, and i don't
think in the way they intended.
I wanted to see more vulnerabilty on stage esp. considering the theme/premise,
but they never did seem lost.
some very beautiful moments, like the masking tape, the foraging scenes,
sara's singing, the running dancing, but it seemed too self-conscious, or
self-aware, or whatever that phrase is.
i guess that is the problem when someone does a brillant piece of work,
you have raised expectations.
everyone around me seemed to be loving 'woods' so maybe it was just me.
Play: beckett's last dance
Reviewer: denise dee
Reviewer Email: hiareth@hotmail.com
Rating: 5 Stars
alright, so a couple people around me flashed me dirty looks when i laughed
at
a wheelchair being pulled out from under a character, so what?
i thought this piece was brillant, beckett is hysterical and they brought
that to life, through movement and sparse use of text.
i loved the pathos brought forward by the mometary use of lack of movement,
and how they played lines against facial expressions and gestures
very multi-layered and all the more disturbing for it.
wish i had seen it earlier, so i could have sent people.
Play: THE WAY LIGHT STRIKES FILLED MASON JARS
Reviewer: Diana Orgain
Reviewer Email: diana_o@pacbell.net
Rating: 5 Stars
A wonderful play by Joe Beseker! The script is exciting and complex. The
audience is pushed to re-evaluate it's perception about writers, artists,
and the creative process. Great perfomances by Christopher Slater and Danielle
Thys. Voted best of the fringe - You have a few more opportunities to see
it next week - Don't miss it!!!
Play: george bush's nuts
Reviewer: rox
Reviewer Email: rmgentile@yahoo.com
Rating: 4 Stars
I'm posting this after the Fringe Festival closed, but in the event people
refer to these reviews later...
I saw this purely by chance and out of convenience as I headed home from
the Fringe Festival on Sunday. And I was so glad I decided to see it! Brandon
is really a talented performer, his characters are well thought, thoroughly
entertaining, and incisive, and he's hysterically funny. In his last bit,
he simply sits and recounts experiences as himself, and could rivet the
audience doing that for an hour easily. He's alternately intellectual, dishy,
campy, and riveting, and is always right on the spot with his commitment
and energy. He also manages to present his notions about where our government
and the world is going without being pedantic or tiresome. Thanks for a
great show.
Play: Valentine's Play Time: face divided
Reviewer: Jim Strope
Reviewer Email: jims@sfsalvo.com
Rating: 4 Stars
Sorry, I don't know the blonde actress's name, but she could run hot and
cold within a second. She could be sweet and loving one moment and murderous
in another. Given her role of loving-but-abusive mother, her duplicity was
very useful and effective, providing very visible ironic contrast.
The other characters were very supportive and skeptical receivers of her dissemblence.
The script's leisurely revelation of the facts was effective, especially in how it revealed the other side of the actress's personality.
OF the five plays I saw at the Fringe, I will probably remember this
one most.
Play: Winterkill
Reviewer: Jim Strope
Reviewer Email: jims@sfsalvo.com
Rating: 4 Stars
The script featured very sharp contrasts between the three characters. Denise
Fleming played a middle-aged business woman (relatively aristocratic), herself
as a young child, and her own mother, a coarse and sometimes brutal prostitute.
The central theme, for me, is that there is plenty of evil in the world but it becomes most apparent when it is visited on a child.
The contrast portrayed between the idealistic child and the all-too-realistic mother was disturbing, which is to say effective.
The juxtaposition of the three personalities within one actor eventually sharpened the ironic themes. The backstory was exposed carefully and slowly, especially in the voice of the child whose experiences drove the action of the play.
The acting was very well done. She made the personalities clear distinct
and from one another with her voice and body language.
Play: Spray
Reviewer: Susan
Reviewer Email: suzmax99@sbcglobal.net
Rating: 4 Stars
Mike Albo is a funny guy. I loved his energy, and I like this show because
it really does represent Fringe, you know? That edgy, off-the-wall stuff
that you hope you get to see at Fringe - very "off-Bdway." There
was only one or two moments when I felt a bit lost, but I attribute that
to being a straight, middle-aged female! Not because of the performance!
Play: Getting It Wrong
Reviewer: Susan
Reviewer Email: suzmax99@sbcglobal.net
Rating: 4 Stars
Vivian definitely got it right while "Getting It Wrong." You're
definitely not going to keep her down on the farm, that's for sure. What
a fabulous story-teller. It was very entertaining, I loved her character
work, as well as her ability to make me feel that she was talking right
to me. If this show makes "Best of SFF," as it should, then go
see it next weekend!
Play: Something You Might Want
Reviewer: Susan
Reviewer Email: suzmax99@sbcglobal.net
Rating: None
Something you might want would be your money's worth. It's not like $8 is
a lot of money for Fringe. I enjoy paying my $8 even for those shows I wouldn't
recommend. However, when the program says a show is 45 min long and it ends
in less than 25 min ... that's NOT something I want! Not when there were
about 4 others to choose from. So, while the story was fairly entertaining,
I would only recommend this show if you wanted to see what it would be like
if the S.F. Fringe had commercial breaks - like television. The actors did
a good job, except, if you want the audience to believe you're in love with
the guy you're dumping your current boyfriend for, then for God's sake don't
kiss him like he's got a herpes blister on his mouth. What was up with that?
lay: >52
Reviewer: Erik
Reviewer Email:
Rating: 4 Stars
Good, edgy original humor. You can tell from their natural performance that
their years of experience playing off eachother has really payed off.
Play: Clock Busters
Reviewer: Susan
Reviewer Email: suzmax99@sbcglobal.net
Rating: 1 Star
SO ... this was a group of friends who maybe took an improve class or two
together and decided, "Hey ... Let's do a Fringe show." The description
in the program has nothing to do with the content of this show - which in
itself was a bit annoying. While some of the songs and some of the energy
was enthusiastic, it wasn't woven together and it did not seem well rehearsed
at all. My favorite bit was the casting agent from the South who ends up
with an Asian dialect coach. Other than that, I really could have saved
my $8. Maybe next year.
Play: Getting it Wrong by Vivien Straus
Reviewer: Silas Snyder
Reviewer Email: Silas@cruzio.com
Rating: 4 Stars
She did a wonderfull job of intertwining the complexities of urban life
in San Francisco with her rural upbrining in Marshal. She was also able
to deftly bring to life her multitude of characters.
Play: Uncle Jacques' Symphony
Reviewer: Susan
Reviewer Email: suzmax99@sbcglobal.net
Rating: 5 Stars
This performance needs more than 5 stars! Don't miss it. I actually got
to see Dominic Hoffman's play by accident - the show I was standing in line
to see was sold out before I could get in. Thank God! Or I might have missed
the beautiful story-telling of "Uncle Jacques." The stories are
beautiful, the character development astonishing (right down to the mime
and movement of the performer as he cooked or shadow-boxed or shot hoops.)
I am an actor; I have been in and also gone to see a LOT of theatre. Now
and again, I leave the theater feeling privileged to have seen a particular
performance - this was one of them. Thank you, Dominic. If you don't make
"Best of Fringe," I may have to give up all hope for the SFFringe!
(And to those of you reading this, NO, I never met him before in my life;
so I'm not one of his best friends writing good things because I'm one of
his best friends. I am a stranger who was moved and entertained and transported!)
Play: Black Box Confessions
Reviewer: Cem Kilicci
Reviewer Email: cemkilicci@hotmail.com
Rating: 5 Stars
Well written and well performed. Blows the Vagina Monologues to oblivion.
Intelligent and very human.
Play: Winterkill
Reviewer: Cem Kilicci
Reviewer Email: cemkilicci@hotmail.com
Rating: 5 Stars
Best theater experience I ever had.
Never seen anything more real and gripping.
Play: Something you might want
Reviewer: Nicola Swinburne
Reviewer Email: nswinburne@aol.com
Rating: 4 Stars
I found this a thoughful commentary on relationships. It built from a few
matter-of-fact statements to become an emotional tug of war. It was amusing,
absorbing and very true to life.
Play: The Way Light Strikes Filled Mason Jars
Reviewer: Tierney Hobson
Reviewer Email: tierney@mbay.net
Rating: 5 Stars
I was completely captivated by the performances in this play.
The heartache, guilt and extreme turmoil that a friend must feel when
their mate commits suicide is so convincingly portrayed here that I was
reduced to sobs by the end. Danielle Thys's performance was stellar as she
seamlessly metamorphosed into the different characters--she really is superb.
And how she still managed to deftly dance between extreme sadness while
still gracefully interjecting moments of humour--was a wonder to behold.
I was so engrossed that when the play came to the end I'd forgotten where
I was--that to me is a true sign of success.
This is a MUST SEE! Particularly to see the brimming talent of Danielle Thys.
Five stars all around!