CLICK HERE FOR A RECENT REVIEWS IN CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER CLICK ON PLAY FOR AUDIENCE REVIEWS FOR THAT PLAY
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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: Uncle Jacque's Symphony
Reviewer: Lizza
Reviewer Email: Ubgeli@earthlink.net
Rating: 5 Stars
Of the five shows I saw at Fringe - the was the
best. Polished. Character work that made my
jaw drop. I have never seen a man play female
characters so effectively. He plays a range of
sexes - races - ages - types - and he does it all with
perfection. Everyone will enjoy this show - it
speaks to everybody. But if you are an actor - go
and see it for sure because you will love watching
this actor's work!
Play: Spray
Reviewer: Lizza
Reviewer Email: ubgeli@earthlink.net
Rating: 4 Stars
Very well performed. Funky, quirky characters.
Fun to watch. Funny. A lot of what I think the
Fringe should be.
Play: Getting It Wrong
Reviewer: Lizza
Reviewer Email: ubgeli@earthlink.net
Rating: 4 Stars
Charming performer. Excellent storyteller. She
managed to blend cows and live-in non-boyfriends into
a great tale. Very real. For a good part of the show,
I felt like she was telling this story for the first time.
She's just so damn likeable that you can't not like this
performance. Go and see it!
Play: Something You Might Want
Reviewer: Lizza
Reviewer Email: ubgeli@earthlink.net
Rating: 3 Stars
45 minutes? Ha! Maybe 25. Some good acting.
Very stiff blocking. I like to watch a story and
root for the good guy. All three characters were
pretty much assholes. Didn't like any of them.
Didn't care what happened to them. Just kind of
watched.
Play: Clockbusters
Reviewer: Lizza
Reviewer Email: ubgeli@earthlink.net
Rating: 2 Stars
Well - I don't know this for sure - but it seems like
some folks took a class together and then said - "Hey - let's
put on a play!" And I don't know this for sure - but
I don't think they had a lot of time to rehearse. And I don't know
this for sure - but it seems like they started to write a play
about a woman's biological clock going off - but then there were
some sketches that they thought were funny and they decided to
stick them in there anyway. The play lacked a theme or a "common thread"
The transitions really needed work.
The cast seemed to be having a lot of fun. The problem was - they
didn't seem to care much if the audiece was doing the same. (Psssst. No
need to spend all that time in the wings putting your hair into a
different style. We still knew who you were and the "hurried"
look of
the style was just distracting.) Some good performances - especially from
the short woman with the dark hair. You never know what you're going to
get at
the fring. Some great stuff - some not so great stuff. This show
rounded out my fringe experience.
Play: Smashing Icons
Reviewer: Jonathan
Reviewer Email:
Rating: 2 Stars
The writing has potential, yet here was a piece seriously in need of some
direction. The so-called "natural" style of delivery some people
have praised read to me more as a lack of energy or commitment. The story
was very hard to follow, as characters seemed to blend in and out with similar
vocal and physical styles. Also-FIND YOUR LIGHT!!!! Again, a cleverly written
piece that, alas, falls in the trap that too many solo pieces fall into:
that of sloppy-I'll-just-talk-and-ramble-on-and-on-like-a guest at a party
who won't leave, without technique, or a consideration of an audience's
need to hear a story TOLD well.
Play: Something You Might Want
Reviewer: Bruce McKay
Reviewer Email: geograph@earthlink.net
Rating: 5 Stars
Rave! This is the first opportunity I've had to witness Jim's involvement
with the theater, being familiar with his writings over the years. SYMW
demonstrates his arrival as a stand-up playwright. The characters all rang
true; the set-up was revealed through the course of the play, reflecting
a carefully crafted effort. Kudos and bravos to all involved! Gimme more!!
Play: My Son The Mummy
Reviewer: Boris Karloff
Reviewer Email: monster@frankenstein.com
Rating: 5 Stars
I laughed, I cried, I thought I died. He sings, he croons, he makes all
the little girl monsters swoon. I've seen it once, I'll see it twice, and
if I can I'll see it thrice.
Bravo!
Play: My Son the Mummy
Reviewer: pamela wallach
Reviewer Email: pamela00@jps.net
Rating: 5 Stars
Deserves Pi times Infinity stars... I saw episode III all those years ago,
and this was just as wacky, even more hilarious, and way more accesible.
Even the somewhat-'normal' people in the audience enjoyed it, but everyone
else was raving madly! A must-see.
Play: Black Box Confessions
Reviewer: Trish
Reviewer Email:
Rating: 5 Stars
These women rock! They are hot, they are funny, they are sweet and sad and
smart and solid.
Play: The American Appetite
Reviewer: C Baty
Reviewer Email:
Rating: 4 Stars
Somehow Pierre Stroud manages to pull off the impossible in this one-man
production, deftly mixing wry observations about American culture with a
riveting and deeply personal narrative about his own grandfather.
At times gut-bustingly funny and heart-breakingly sad, The American Appetite
has been the sleeper hit of the festival for me so far this year. See it
if you get the chance.
Play: F***ing Handicapped Guy
Reviewer: Ron
Reviewer Email:
Rating: 4 Stars
I totally enjoyed this one-man play. It helped me look past the wheelchair
so I could see the person sitting in it and understand something of the
frustration and pain he experiences in the most everyday situations (as
well as the humor). Mr. Parks used different voices to show me the different
people who have influenced him along the way, and made it easy for me to
see those characters. This show is well worth seeing.
Play: American Appetite, Old men
Reviewer: Duke S
Reviewer Email:
Rating: 5 Stars
Not to miss. Last time to see it tonite a 10. A must see.
Play: Mad Adventures of Chaos for Hire
Reviewer: Elizabeth
Reviewer Email: efmcleod@hotmail.com
Rating: 5 Stars
Fun, wacky entertainment with something for everyone....This is a great
show, not to be missed. I can't decide what my favorite part was.. It's
a tie between Bucket Boy and his arch nemesis Incontinent Man, The fabulous
swing dance routine that shows off Andrea Terry's incredibly versatile talents
(she can sing, she can dance, she can juggle...) or the original music throughout....
Undoubtedly the best and most fun theater I've seen in a long while!!! A
must for the "Best of Fringe."
Play: Chaos
Reviewer: Andy Dillman
Reviewer Email: dillmans@northbay.com
Rating: 5 Stars
Excellent music well corrdinated with action especially fem.voice. Very
good comedy, esp.Bucket Boy, Spectacular juggling esp.with threesome near
end.Should be a sure Best Of Fringe
Play: The American Appetite
Reviewer: Randy Edwards
Reviewer Email: randyed2@yahoo.com
Rating: 4 Stars
great show! this guy has the most energy of any performer i have seen in
a long long time. his first act - about being a seventh grade teacher -
KILLED me! so funny... you gotta check out this show!
Play: Death blow
Reviewer: jes'fine
Reviewer Email:
Rating: 1 Star
Unfortunately there were more laughs generated inappropriately at Gulag
Ha Ha than were coaxed from the audience by a show that was supposed to
be funny the night we saw this. The first fifty minutes were played to almost
total silence. Not even a snicker or a weak giggle. Was painful as they
worked extremely hard but even as much as many ofus wanted to laugh it just
wasn't there. A couple of funny bits right at the end but not worth the
time. Maybe God has other plans for these two energetic guys?
Play: guanno dell amore
Reviewer: sophia
Reviewer Email:
Rating: 4 Stars
great show, laugh out loud slap stick originality. the cast is full of talent,
especially stephanie's performance -- outstanding and memorable.
Play: Anablep & Other Odities
Reviewer: S.M.S.
Reviewer Email:
Rating: 4 Stars
I might have rated 3 stars but for the opening piece which was definitely
a 5! The opening number was quite fresh and innovative, combining stilt
and ball work with quirky, clever costume to create an image to amuse the
eye and mind. After that, the show consisted primarily of solo works, several
of which were moving and / or very funny. Namely, the plunger falicy bit
with a male observer's rambling inner perspective of the whole thing. The
performers were very strong movers technically but watching a show of loosely
strung solos can get a little old to this viewer. Actually, I should say
that the first piece started me off with such awe and excitement, I wanted
more of the same or similar. It would be great to see these performers produce
some more ensemble work to share each other's wonderful dynamics. Oh, and
love the adventure of the "Menue" to choose the pieces!
Play: Devouring Time
Reviewer: Mary
Reviewer Email:
Rating: 5 Stars
Congratulations to Candice Milan, Jonathan Gonzalez and Gene Mocsy on their
creativity and incredible talent!
Play: Looking, then Pointing
Reviewer: Kenneth Smith
Reviewer Email: crowlandin@aol.com
Rating: 5 Stars
Being someone who has done stage, and some radio work with Acting in my
past life,I found that the term "Admiration" best fit my feelings,as
the short,quick,and to the point version. This was a fine piece of well
formed
writing,and deliverance on the part of Dan's acting. My over all thoughts
would have to make mention of just how well Dan had put together his story
of being behind the curtain,so to speak,of an acter when going for a performing
part a Movie. Dan did a great job of convaying the part of himself looking
back,as well as in prest times looking at what the whole experiance was
like. His many personality changes this 'Self Character' went through had
been share with us in warm,lite heartedness. It had required an acter's
abilities to make it smooth flowing,and undistractive in it's movements
of part to part,scene,to scene,of which came to gift us all lucKy enough
to have been there to catch this "work in progress". Dan has the
very soul of his craft downto the core,as is well documented to a full house
of a captive admirers being drawn into his story line,his well timed jesters,and
deliverance of both word,and tones. Pure Stage Majic was built there before
our very eyes,that was k!
ept in motion right on through to deliverance of his conclutive line. Entertainment,left
in the capable hands of this diversive,and skilled Acter,will not let you
down. Dan delivers a well written,fun,and fasinating performance in this
one man/multi personality stage journy through a bit of his life,and it's
experiances. Should I have missed "Looking,then Pointing",I would
missed a memorable afternoon that was filled with Laughter,and his personal,thought
provoking walk into Dan's Wonderful World of Entertainment.
K. Alan Smith
========================
{Token Madman,in Motion}
{crowlandin@aol.com}
====================
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==
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Play: something that you might want
Reviewer: denise dee
Reviewer Email: hiareth@hotmail.com
Rating: 3 Stars
very good dialogue about the twists and turns, shifts from love to hate,
bigness to pettiness, that occur in relationships. the 3 actors were all
quite good with wonderful comedic timing and priceless gestures and expressions.
i laughed sometimes even when they weren't speaking.
lay: smashing icons
Reviewer: denise dee
Reviewer Email: hiareth@hotmail.com
Rating: 4 Stars
when christina calls up her father to relay some terrible news he says "Do
you want me to get out the violins?" and one minute later he's screaming
his mantra "you're a survivor" at her. I could feel her conflict
to keep moving on one hand, and to examine her life on the other.
She relayed material involving spirituality, over eating, body image, schizophrenia,
and beauty in a way that made me laugh so the insights penetrated even deeper.
Play: Guano Dell'Amore
Reviewer: Vince Vitale
Reviewer Email: WorldGazer@aol.com
Rating: 5 Stars
Nothing could have prepared me for this, my first commedia dell-arte theater
experience. Dug up from the 16th century, commedia dell'arte is described
in the program as "an unscripted theatrical form featuring stock characters
who improvise around a set scenario." In other words, early improv.
The combination of classical Italian masks and costume, improv modern and
classical dialogue and bawdy, often x-rated humor, mixed with some extreme
cartoonish movement, kept me in awe. Stephanie Sanchez is a marvel of improv
dialogue and comedic timing.
Play: Lillie, a Musical
Reviewer: Vince Vitale
Reviewer Email: WorldGazer@aol.com
Rating: 3 Stars
This very artfully sung one-woman show by Karen Melander-Magoon tells the
story of Lillie Langtry, English performer and later on California vintner,
although most know her as an intimate of King Edward VII of England, amongst
others, many others. The fact that the performer, writer, director is also
the current co-owner of the Langtry vineyard made me question how self-serving
this production is. For some reason unbeknownst to me, it begins and ends
with the god Hercules singing to his favorite "Lillie." The piano
arrangements of Frank Fanning aspire to Rogers & Hammerstein, but suffer
from a lack of variant texture which makes it all feel more like an evening's
entertainment for a church fund-raiser. Melander-Magoon would have done
well to have someone else write the story. Langtry had one of the juicier
personal lives of her era, and it all came across as being milk toast.
Play: Tangled
Reviewer: Vince Vitale
Reviewer Email: WorldGazer@aol.com
Rating: 5 Stars
Noni Bousfield gives us a well-acted portrayal of a woman who wakes up to
find out she's killed a child in a street demonstration and sent into hiding
in the Australian outback by two male friends. We are led through her captivity
in a dugout, following her eroding fraying mind in the diminishing hope
that she will be rescued from her fate. Let's just say the fate which befalls
her is not what she expected. This is a well-crafted story, a sleeper Fringe
hit, with a contemporary climax which will keep you thinking for days about
what modern humanity has become.
Play: The Mad Adventures of Chaos for Hire
Reviewer: Vince Vitale
Reviewer Email: WorldGazer@aol.com
Rating: 5 Stars
Take one soft rock band, add a classic silent clown and a couple of comedic
jugglers and you have Carnival of Chaos/Chaos for Hire. This is a very clever
club act. They juggle in the dark. They juggle with flames. And then there's
our low-budget superhero, Bucket Boy! No boredom here. Unfortunately, I'm
writing this after their last performance, but this local Bay Area group
will be playing in many other locations, I'm sure.
Play: Something You Might Want
Reviewer: Lawrence Guinchard
Reviewer Email: huddie27@sfsalvo.com
Rating: 4 Stars
If
a delicious middle playing two ends,
each in turn against the other
dancing around that thing
then
Something You Might Want
is for you.
Play: The Way Light Strikes Filled Mason Jars
Reviewer: Frequent Fringer
Reviewer Email:
Rating: 5 Stars
Another magnificent play by Joe Beseker! A play with perpetually significant
content performed with sensitive excellence by Christopher Slater and Danielle
Thys. Danielle Thys' performance is nothing short of amazing. It is a real
treat to partake of such a knowledgeable understanding of the role and such
a rendering of theatrical excellence.This whole play is a gem and a journey
into the intensity of relationships that had me wiping away tears intermittently
with congratulatory applause. See it.!!! One more performance on Saturday
at 1 p.m.
Play: Babes in the Wood
Reviewer: Marie
Reviewer Email: tynkerbella_1@yahoo.com
Rating: 5 Stars
A very thought provoking and depthful interpretation of the essence of human
life......daddy always leaves us, where the hell are we anyway and the constant
action of shooting ourselves in the foot.
The dream sequence was just superb, loved the touch of the red slippers!
Also the masking tape placing scene was very cleverly done.
Sara and Ed work extremely well together, and no doubt will entertain us
with many more insightful works........certainly hope to see their work
in the Best of......
Play: American Appetite
Reviewer: Bronwen Berlekamp
Reviewer Email:
Rating: 5 Stars
Pierre Stroud's over-the-top antics are beautifully balanced spot-on social
commentary. Sit in the front row for special treats.
Play: The Song in Your Blood
Reviewer: Shauna
Reviewer Email:
Rating: 4 Stars
Well written, well casted, well done! A must see for anyone interested in
great drama with an edge of comedy and an edge of tragedy. Definite moments
of laughter; definite moments of tears.
lay: Full Spectrum Improvisation
Reviewer: cynthia
Reviewer Email: cynsa@ix.netcom.com
Rating: 5 Stars
You will be the lucky dog, if you see this last performance of Full Spectrum
Improvisation directed by Joya Cory on sunday afternoon at Venue 9.
Don't miss the fun, the wit, the musicalities. We should be so lucky to
have such talents in our lives. Hurrah for the Lucky Dogs of the world.
Play: Clockbusters
Reviewer: Donna
Reviewer Email: donna@donnatrousdale.com
Rating: 5 Stars
It a major feat to write genuinely funny sketch comedy, but Rennie Roads
pulls it off with out a hitch. I was laughing the moment the lights hit
the stage. Rennie is an incredibly talented writer and performer and with
support from the rest of her excellent cast, this was truly an enjoyable
evening of theatre. Try not to miss this one! It's laugh-out-loud and intelligent
entertainment!!
Play: Valentine's Play Time
Reviewer: Joaquin
Reviewer Email:
Rating: 5 Stars
Excellent one-act play selection with a simple, effective design concept
that allows the ensemble acting to shine through. Grab your chance to see
these never-produced one act gems.
Play: The Song in Your Blood
Reviewer: Kirk
Reviewer Email:
Rating: 3 Stars
Denise Dee's writings are amazing, however unlike last year, the delivery
of the play was off. Mostly, casting hurts this production than the script.
The women were casted well, however the men, in particular Finn Sr. &
Jr., were not up to par with the script. I would like to see this play in
full production, but with the cast now, it will only hurt a piece of Denise's
more.
Play: Black Box Confessionals
Reviewer:
Reviewer Email: rhinocar@hotmail.com
Rating: 5 Stars
Just the right mix of humor and insight and sharing. All three of the performers
were engaging and funny as heck.
Play: The Ken and Andy Show
Reviewer: George Lucas
Reviewer Email: eyesunsure@hotmail.com
Rating: 1 Star
There are only three words I can utter in response to this so-called play:
CEASE AND DESIST! How a couple of so-called writer-actor-producer-funnymen-gay-hetero-pseudo-intellectuals
could think they could get away with stealing my precious little Yoda is
beyond my amazingly prodigious (and profitable) imagination. If you ever
perform this plagiaristic crap again, I will sue you so hard you won't know
what hit you. And, furthermore, if I ever see either of you bitch monkeys
in a dark alley, I will fuck you in the ass so hard that my Jedi cum will
shoot out your eyeballs. Oh, I'd also like to add that I really enjoyed
the show.
Play: F***ing Handicapped Guy
Reviewer: Emily B
Reviewer Email:
Rating: 5 Stars
This show is funny, honest, and enlightening. While laughing about what
Mr. Parks is saying, the audience is also learning something about MS and
the Christian Science religion. Highly recommended!
Play: Full Spectrum Improvisation
Reviewer: Bill Kranlin
Reviewer Email:
Rating: 5 Stars
It was so refreshing to see improvisation which didn't rely on the cheesy,
slapstick humor of "whose line is it anyway?". The Lucky Dog Players
were quirky, deep and original. The improvised song based on the audience-chosen
words "magenta rose" was more creative than most music found in
your local CD store. As always with improv, the performance was slightly
uneven, but the energy and sheer creativity of the performers more than
made up for it.
Play: death blow the show
Reviewer: Susan
Reviewer Email: sallen@vsite.com
Rating: 5 Stars
I loved this show. The two actors took me back to my childhood when I grew
up the only girl on a block of boys who made up games about super heros
in impossible situations or those safe fall backs - cowboys & indians
or astronauts & aliens - and could unhibitedly produce any sound in
the universe. My neighbors generously allowed me to play too, because I
could climb higher in the trees than anyone else (or maybe they just wanted
to look at my knickers). Give me a guy who can make a metal collander into
a helmit, and I'm over the moon.
Play: Looking, Then Pointing
Reviewer: Kenny Paul
Reviewer Email:
Rating: 4 Stars
The curcumstances and situations in the play make for a unique storytelling
experience but it is DeShara's performance that makes this such great entertainment.
Through characterization, anecdote and movement he presents his sometimes
surreal experience acting on a film in a very humorous and engaging fashion
throughout..
Play: Looking, Then Pointing
Reviewer: LT
Reviewer Email:
Rating: 4 Stars
Unlike Liza (with a “z”), Daniel (Dan with a “D” - you’ll
have to see the show) Deshara is sublimely entertaining without any of the
brassiness of Broadway, the frenetic angst of stand-up comics or the formulaic
schtick found in other one-m an shows. Working with few props other than
his semi-nice hair, Deshara delivers in rapid-fire fashion a series of humorous
vignettes and self-deprecating antecdotes about his attempts at breaking
into show business and ultimately his “60 seconds of fame” in
the recent Bay Area-based movie, “Cherish”. Cleverly presented
by an actor who clearly enjoys his craft, you’ll find no heavy social
messages here, just light hearted fare designed to lift the spirits of the
audience and provide a brief - yet personal - behind-the-scenes look at
the trials and tribulations of yet another struggling actor hoping to soon
shed himself of his current “suck-ass” day job. This piece employs
razor-sharp wit, laced with heavy doses of humor, impersonations (!
Jimmy Stewart speaking in Vietnamese!!??), sight gags, sound effects, and
on-going repartee with the unseen producer, Debra Wade. Somehow it all works,
although the segues could be a bit smoother, and you’ll have to listen
carefully to catch some the more subtle references and esoteric jokes. All
in all, a joy that had the (almost ) packed house chuckling, guffawing,
outright belly-laughing and occassionally going, “huh??” throughout
the performance. And no, this review isn’t being written by Dan (“with
a D”) himself, but rather by some shulb who wandered in off the foggy,
cold streets of San Francisco looking for a little relief from the events
of the day (9/11) and found himself captivated by this charming little slice
of life. Go see the show. You’ll thank me.
Play: Devouring Time
Reviewer: Vince Marazita
Reviewer Email: vmarazita@jps.net
Rating: 5 Stars
The Bella Union Theatre Company "devoured" 52 minutes of my time
with an uniquely intimate look at a selection of Shakespeare's sonnets.
Candice Milan masterfully selected a group of the sonnets, and gave them new life by adding new meaning to words that are close to 400 years old. For those of us who are a bit rusty with interpreting Shakespeare in real time, the excellent direction and acting added to the ease of interpretation for the audience.
The non-verbal communication, expressions, gesturing and movements were subtle translators that made for a complete theatrical experience!
From the simple gestures of folding laudry to the sensual intimacy of this love triangle, the actors gave a power punch of human emotions. I was frankly surprised that the acting, direction, tech and props blended so well with the sonnets.
If you want to see actors doing their job as it should be done, go see
DEVOURING TIME and you won't regret it.
Play: Looking Then Pointing
Reviewer: Jim Traggett
Reviewer Email: tragworld@aol.com
Rating: 4 Stars
Great premise. We really laughed through this entire show. It was a surprise
to find this little gem that we decided to see to kill some time before
going over to the Exit theater to see "Back to Kroenig" (also
very funny in a different way) Dan Deshara keeps his pace and the audience
with him. The voiceovers with his real-life director are hysterical and
so are the numerous sound effects. Don't miss this clever and well written
look at what it means to be actor/artist.
Play: Looking Then Pointing
Reviewer: Jim Traggett
Reviewer Email: tragworld@aol.com
Rating: 4 Stars
Great premise. I really laughed through this entire show. Dan Deshara keeps
his pace and the audience with him. The voiceovers with his real-life director
are hysterical and so are the numerous sound effects. Don't miss this clever
and well written look at what it means to be actor artist.
lay: Getting it Wrong
Reviewer: Taylor
Reviewer Email:
Rating: 5 Stars
I loved every minute of Vivian Straus's performance. Hilarious, and very
real.
Play: Microclimates
Reviewer: Diana
Reviewer Email:
Rating: 3 Stars
Excellent acting, great postmodern/absurdist/60's spy show spoof of corporate
America (I think that's what it was about). Needs more work: better scene
changes, editing (it sagged in the middle)...but it has a lot of potential.
This ensemble has a lot of potential. Loved the ending!
Play: Guano Delle Amore
Reviewer: Diana
Reviewer Email:
Rating: 5 Stars
I can't believe it wasn't sold out... Everyone should see this piece! It
was brilliant, hilarious, just the right amount of scatalogical humor (thankfully
not too much),and well-acted. I loved the improv, especiallly by Capitano
& Rosaura
Play: Tangled
Reviewer: theatergoer
Reviewer Email:
Rating: 5 Stars
fantastic..5 stars do not do this play justice. watch for Noni to really
go places; as a writer,actor you name it. please dont mniss this one.
Play: Woods For The Trees
Reviewer: Noah Kelly
Reviewer Email: ripetreats@hotmail.com
Rating: 4 Stars
Bizarre & Fringey. This tight duo sets a dark, tense and farcical mood
using plenty of carbohydrates, dreamy video footage, masking tape, &
action figures. Sara's lecture was pretty damn funny.
And weird.
Play: My Son, The Mummy
Reviewer: Michael Lawrence
Reviewer Email:
Rating: 5 Stars
This is off the charts great but I don't know what it really was I saw.
Part cabaret, part stand up comedy, part B-Movie mummy... and then there's
that whole bovine theme... this is the work of a madman.
Play: The Way Light Strikes Filled Mason Jars
Reviewer: Victoria
Reviewer Email:
Rating: 5 Stars
An emotional rollercoster, well worth the ride. Danielle Thys' dazzling
portrayal of four complex, deeply troubled women is a tour de force. Don't
miss it!
Play: The Way Light Strikes Filled Mason Jars
Reviewer: Dawson Moore
Reviewer Email: dawson@dawsonmoore.com
Rating: 5 Stars
Really great show. Danielle Thys is one of the truly top notch actors in
this town, Christopher Slater is understated and fabulous, and the production
is smoothly directed, touching and professional.
Play: clockbusters
Reviewer: carol
Reviewer Email: csanfran
Rating: 4 Stars
laugh-out-loud funny
great cast that plays well together
definitely worth seeing
Play: The Way Light Strikes Filled Mason Jars
Reviewer: Tim Bauer
Reviewer Email:
Rating: 5 Stars
The script itself works on so many levels -- and then the performances bring
it all home. A beautiful, thrilling, amazing piece that will make you think,
feel -- and truly appreciate what good playwriting is all about. Don't miss
this one!
Play: Clock Busters
Reviewer: Fred Wickham
Reviewer Email: fred_w@pacbell.net
Rating: 5 Stars
There's some hilarious sketches here. The Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
bit is especially fine. Top notch comedic acting. The looniest bit involves
an egg -- I want to tell you more about it but I shouldn't so I won't. Go
see it.
Play: Surfing Toasters
Reviewer: Sandi
Reviewer Email:
Rating: None
All i can say is - what was going on with those silver tights???
Play: Spray
Reviewer: Sandi
Reviewer Email:
Rating: 5 Stars
Not many people make me laugh out loud, but Mike had me in stitches... I
would look out for him having his own TV show in the near future. Stand
up comics - watch out!
Play: Uncle Jacques Symphony
Reviewer: Luz
Reviewer Email:
Rating: 5 Stars
This is hands down Best Of Fringe in a catagory all by itself. I agree with
the reviewer from the Exam who said," shone head and shoulders above
the offerings I sampled last weekend." I've seen some wonderful shows
but this is truely special.
Play: Blackbox Confessions
Reviewer: leila
Reviewer Email: duhleila@yahoo.com
Rating: 5 Stars
Wow! What a fantastic surprise! 3 completely
different women sharing some of the most
intimate confessions right there up on
stage. I went through a full range of emotions
watching them and somehow forgot that they
were on stage and felt like I was eavesdropping!
How awesome is that?! This is great theater!
Play: Gulag Ha Ha
Reviewer: darryl henry
Reviewer Email:
Rating: 2 Stars
Gulag huh? huh? may be more appropriate. Be prepared for a journey of shifting
moods. Dark segments ending with a laugh(?). One of the more edgy productions.
Don't end your evening with this one.
Play: blue sofa
Reviewer: darryl henry
Reviewer Email:
Rating: 3 Stars
I would have given this 4 or 5 stars if it hadn't been so repetitive. Or
if it had ended earlier and all the pieces been shortened. If they'd permit
it, arrive 10 minutes late and leave for 10 minutes in the middle and you'll
still see everything.
Play: spray
Reviewer: darryl henry
Reviewer Email:
Rating: 5 Stars
Have some caffeine before attending this play or you may miss something!
Almost every "bit" hits. The hour sped by. If you find slapstick
to be "too sophisticated and difficult to understand", you may
want to pass on this production. Otherwise, it was great.
Play: Black Box
Reviewer: darryl henry
Reviewer Email:
Rating: 4 Stars
Hilarious. Great to go to, particularly if you've seen a "downer"
production an hour earlier. Some of the ground travelled was familiar but
you'll still find yourself laughing.
Play: Spray
Reviewer: deborah wade
Reviewer Email: corwingroup@yahoo.com
Rating: 4 Stars
Sign me up with the rest of the audiences that love this show. Wonderful
brilliant energy. I thought the ending dance sequence needed to be couched
with some of the earlier edgy premises in the show, but what a pleasure
to see this tremendously talented performer.
Play: valentine's Playtime
Reviewer: tslerner
Reviewer Email:
Rating: 4 Stars
I liked the pretty-much dead-on Rhode Island accents a lot. Sharp, solid
acting work from everyone, great direction. The ending is fantastic. I love
theater that leaves an audience thinking.
Play: Woods For the Trees
Reviewer: deborah wade
Reviewer Email: corwingroup@yahoo.com
Rating: 4 Stars
What an original premise! There are many moments that shine a light on our
own childhood experiences of neglect and loss. These moments are carefully
woven with wonderful and hilarious video highlights that add a great pacing
to the show.
Play: exit laughing
Reviewer: tslerner
Reviewer Email:
Rating: 4 Stars
I love Ruby Unger. She is hilarious and a fabulously Powerful woman Artist.
She is on the top of the Popularity Graph. I love my power trout. I want
Ruby to do more shows and I want to cast her in everything. Ruby is Funny,
Smart and Hot.
lay: Getting it Wrong
Reviewer: lynda
Reviewer Email:
Rating: 5 Stars
Wow! What a blast! I never wanted it to end. The combination of an insane
date gone wrong as referenced from the farmer's daughter's jewish roots
is a riot. What a sexy woman! Definately Best in Show!
Play: Looking Then Pointing
Reviewer: Janelle Sims
Reviewer Email:
Rating: 5 Stars
Great show. Very well written, acted and directed. Dan Deshara is a delight
to watch as he takes the audience through his painful and hilarious trials
as an actor. His multiple characters are distinct and Jimmy Stewart rules
the day.
Play: Getting it Wrong
Reviewer: Ashley Fieglein
Reviewer Email: afieglein@gapartners.com
Rating: 5 Stars
Vivian Straus does an excellent job of comically tying the typical mistakes
that most women have to fess up to making in relationships to life on a
farm (or worse yet, life as a cow on a farm - are we really that bad???).
She's funny, cute and keeps you engrossed in her stories the entire time,
and the only disappointment was realizing that the play was over when it
was... Looking very forward to act II!!!!
Play: spray
Reviewer: tslerner
Reviewer Email:
Rating: 5 Stars
Mike Albo is my new hero. I love him and his work. I laughed for the whole
hour and my cheek muscles were sore. This is a show for the castro and girls
who are really gay men and people who like to laugh. I'm putting Mike Albo
on the top of the Popularity Graph. He's Number One on the Squad. If you
want to be Popular, you'll go see his f***ing Fantastic Extravaganza of
Satire.
Play: The Song In Your Blood
Reviewer: Adam Sandel/The Examiner
Reviewer Email:
Rating: 3 Stars
"The Song In Your Blood" is the first act of Denise Dee's play
about the inheritance of music, disease and madness. An Irish family in
the late 1920s struggles with poverty, the death of a child, and its mother's
schizophrenia. Dee valiantly takes on big issues, but too often mistakes
recrimination for conflict. Sara Santiago has some strong mad scenes at
the mother, but much of the acting is at surface level, without exploring
the characters beneath the lines.
Play: Guano dell' Amore
Reviewer: jes'fine
Reviewer Email:
Rating: 4 Stars
Great presentation of classic commedia farce. Lots of laughs. Well worth
seeing.
Play: Spray
Reviewer: Peter
Reviewer Email: kingothefruitflies@yahoo.com
Rating: 4 Stars
Mike Albo is awesome. i've seen a number of his shows in New York and I
must say, it's great to see him continue to grow as an artist. He makes
you laugh and think, and really, you can't ask for more than that. I've
taken to handing out his postcards. Eight bucks! Hell, better than most
movies I pay to see.
Play: Getting It Wrong
Reviewer: jes'fine
Reviewer Email:
Rating: 5 Stars
Another Best Of Fringe nomination. Very polished presentation. Beautifuly
crafted and acted. Great use of music and lighting. This could easily play
Off Broadway just as it is right now or expanded into a longer piece. Wed
night this show was packed to capacity and then some.
Play: Smashing Icons
Reviewer: Jennifer L.
Reviewer Email:
Rating: 4 Stars
I really thought alot about this afterward, and I am stil thinking. Clever
but bliunt. Challenging and ridiculous and insecure and brave-what an astonishing
and bizarre play.
Play: Gulag Ha Ha
Reviewer: jes'fine
Reviewer Email:
Rating: 5 Stars
Falls into my highest group of Best Of Fringe nominations. Intense drama
, expertly created and acted. Do not go expecting "ha , ha" or
as been pointed out, just before going to bed.
Play: Upper Canada Cougar Movement
Reviewer: jes'fine
Reviewer Email:
Rating: 4 Stars
This is a sweet , humerous , poignent portryal of a 7 year old attempting
to deal with an absent father and her mother about to wed "the loser".
Quiter and more subtle than many of the works here and in truth it took
me a little while to get into her character at the beginning ,but that changed
once I feel into the rythem of the play. There are moments of humor and
devestating poingnency , her made up story of "the little sprout"
stuck me deeply. The videos interspersed through out the drama worked for
me - they were funny and much like kids who wander in and out of subject
allowed for time and space to pass in the main story. A COUGAR by the way
is an older woman who goes after much younger men, a term that hasn't made
it's way across the border from Canada to the US. Definitely worth catching
this show.
Play: woods for the trees
Reviewer: Dr. Wilhelm Grimm
Reviewer Email: wilhelm.grimm@rapunzel.net
Rating: None
Wunderbar!
Play: Gulag HaHa
Reviewer: Susan
Reviewer Email: sallen@vsite.com
Rating: 5 Stars
Many audience members came to the production I saw with an intention to
laugh, and there was a bit of an us them feeling to the experience of being
in the audience last night. That said, once I managed to get the little
old lady in me to settle down and not mind, I enjoyed these performers and
their collage of sound (brilliant), lights (extremely effective), movement
(monkeys on qualudes dancing in the style of Twyla Tharp), costume(hilarious)
and words (cruelly captivating). It's amazing what one can whittle out of
a piece of wood, in this case the claustrophobic space that we know and
love as the Exit Left. I am sure each observer must have had some personal
remembrance of entrapment, however mundane, flow through the mind as these
very physical actors used voice, body, and mind to express the terrible
reality of gulag, and the spirit that keeps a prisoner going, or the HAHA.
Thanks everyone, and I really appreciated the banana.
lay: Getting It Wrong
Reviewer: Susan
Reviewer Email: sallen@vsite.com
Rating: 5 Stars
Getting It Wrong is a warm and delightful memory as mentor monologue by
Vivien Straus, dairy heiress extraordinaire. She deserves a Best of Fringe
consideration. Getting it wrong is, of course, often the best lesson most
of us can ever give ourselves. At the very best, it can build character.
And it can lend itself to some interesting stories. Vivien's wonderful smile
and non whiney approach to remembrance of things past held my attention.
She has a good writer's gift for incorporating her life and lessons learned
on the Bodega Bay farm into a more difficult personal memory of searching
for a perfect love only to find herself emotionally and literally stuck
with a doozy of a dud and not strong enough to risk being thought of as
a mean person for dumping the guy. So she remains stuck, until she is ready
to move on. And she certainly did that!
I saw this performance right after Gulag HaHa (also very good). The two
performances in juxtaposition made for a thought provoking and entertaining
evening on the lessons of choice and entrapment. This is why the Fringe
must live on, so please remember to put tips in the jar.
Play: Blue Sofa
Reviewer: cynthia
Reviewer Email: cynsa@ix.netcom.com
Rating: 4 Stars
A joy! Pathos to hilarity.
Play: 9/11/01
Reviewer: Mike Forbes
Reviewer Email: mforbes01@hotmail.com
Rating: 5 Stars
The best $8 I have spent on entertainment in a long time. These monologues
are courageous, insightful, educational, and funny. Best of luck to all
the performers. I think you are all on your way!
Play: Looking, Then Pointing
Reviewer: Noah Kelly
Reviewer Email: ripetreats@hotmail.com
Rating: 4 Stars
Yes- Dan has great hair. Excellent impersonations from Johnny to Christopher.
Good writing, honest & charming performance from Dan with a D. If you're
at all curious how painfully long 60 seconds of film takes to shoot- he'll
tell you. Reminded me of why I stay far from LA.
Play: death blow
Reviewer: lyle systrata
Reviewer Email:
Rating: 5 Stars
Ive read some of the other reviews and wonder if ive seen the same show
as these folks. these guys are absolutly the most outrageously funny act
Ive ever seen in my life and thats the truth. the number of times I had
to pick myself up off of the floor from laughing out myself of my seat was
only
surpassed by the number of times i pissed myself
see it and bring your "depends" the mummys nose bits and the physical
comedy in the lonesome stranger piece were thinly vieled attacks on the
bush admn. genious!!!
Play: Something You Might Want
Reviewer: Trudy Willis
Reviewer Email: trudysw@cta.org
Rating: 4 Stars
Very clever production. I particularly liked the communicative facial expressions
and the tautness of the lines. No excess baggage there. Hope the writer
continues to develop his work. He's got a great future in writing plays.
Play: The American Appetite
Reviewer: J Phillips
Reviewer Email:
Rating: 2 Stars
He had funny moments, but my friends and I found this play too long. The
grandfather sketch needed to be edited by about 20 minutes. The seventh-grader
lecture was interesting, but...
Play: Me Laugh You Long Time
Reviewer: Jennifer Phillips
Reviewer Email: enniferjay@lycos.com
Rating: 4 Stars
The cast was great as many different characters, but most of all it was
funny! I loved Yan in "Yan can Mack." And the Asian homeboys in
"Wossop," were perfect.
Play: Woods for the Trees
Reviewer: mikl-em
Reviewer Email: miklff@miklem.com
Rating: 5 Stars
I enjoyed this show immensely. So many Fringe shows are either solo
performances or sketch comedy ensembles, that it's a nice change to
find the dynamic of a two person show well explored. Anyone whoever
saw "Fatty and Pinhead", a few Fringe years ago, could tell you
that.
The duo situation passes or fails on the quality (and honesty?) of
interaction between the actors throughout the show (the studio system
used to call this "chemistry"), even if they are playing different
characters. Not different characters here, but faces of the same, or
variations around a theme. The theme is Hansel & Gretel... and
identity... and orientation, and--are you lost?
Q: where are we? A: HERE! (you're already ahead of the game.)
Fast-paced, frenetic, schizophrenic, funny, dis-orientat-ing. It can
be fun to be lost. And the chemistry, if you wondered, is superb.