CLICK HERE FOR RECENT REVIEWS IN CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER CLICK ON PLAY FOR AUDIENCE REVIEWS FOR THAT PLAY
- 0 to 6 in 60
69 Moments of Life
Actor, You're Killing Me
Air Tight Security
Almost True Adventures ...
Amazing Improvised Musical
Animal Farm
Ballerina on a Horse
Beautiful Man
Berserker
Caffe di Amore or ...
Check the Box
Clearing Hedges
Corned Beef
Countless
Crime & Variations
Death Blow II: ...
Demon Pope
Diagnosis: Jew Pain ...
Disco Prohecies
Ethan's Gift
Far From Springer
Fixed Boundry
Forty Love
Got Water
I Can't Believe They're Not Oriental!
Idiot Machine: ...
In Cahoots
John Muir: Watch, Pray, Fight
Late Night Talk Show
Ludlow and Canal
Magic at the Fringe
Man 1, Bank 0
Marx in Soho
Mixed Signal
Mother: A Modern Buddhist ...
Naked Inqisition
nEO - surrealists present: ...
Neon's Crazy Blue
Nharcolepsy
Original Action Pack
Park - N - Ride
Passages
Sandwich
Scabaret!
Searching for God in Kerala
Seventh Game of the World Series
Shadow Kissers
Strobe Vision
This World is Not My Home
Total Improvisation - ...
Train Stories
Tripping on the Equator ...
Twinspeak
Play: Shadow Kissers
Reviewer: Fan in Oakland
Reviewer Email:
Rating: 5 Stars
HHhhmmmm , YUM!! Good theater!! Very satifying!
Play: In Cahoots
Reviewer: John Rackham
Rating: 5 Stars
Hi..er..ok..I'd like to say...well...I think these three were...Hi...er..ok...I'd
like to say...well..I think...
Honestly, I loved this show. There was no clown fear induced at all. Hilarious physical and verbal comedy, with touching moments, driven by brilliant character acting. A great pleasure to watch.
One moment almost made me cry too - is that strange?
Play: Neo Surrealists
Reviewer: John Rackham
Rating: 5 Stars
I had to see the Neos show twice again this year. Their last night show
has become the Fringe closing ceremony for me and lots of other performers.
I loved the regular stuff like the Cheese Break, Love, the black light fun and of course the naked people. The Doer and The Thinker I loved - Beckett with muppets!
It was also nice to see the, apparently unappreciated, move away from
comedy to more thoughtful, serious material that played with the audiences
emotional reactions.
Play: Neo Surrealists
Reviewer: henry dunn
Rating: 5 Stars
There were a large party of Englishmen watching this mesmerising production.
To a man we were, to put it simply, awe struck. This would go down a storm
in London. Rather rum? I nearly drank the bottle!!
Play: Shadow kissers
Reviewer: henry dunn
Rating: 5 Stars
There is the conventional, hum drum theatre that just simply bores me rigid.
Desperately waiting for the interval at the R.S.C.on more than one occasion
comes to mind. Then there are gems such as Shadow Kissers that renew my
faith in theatre. Exceptional. Only hope I get another opportunity to see
it
Play: Man 1 Bank 0
Reviewer: Jim
Rating: 5 Stars
Five stars?? This show deserves at least eleven!! Patrick?s ability to relate
his experience on such an intimate level and with such energy and enthusiasm
is truly a natural talent not to be missed! I had so much fun the first
time I went back for seconds and the show was just as entertaining. A great
story, an exceptional storyteller and an hour of fun and laughs. A definite
MUST SEE!!
Play: Man 1, Bank 0
Reviewer: Michelle Watson
Rating: 5 Stars
I had such a great time at Patrick's show. He is truly the best storyteller,
and his ability to engage the audience is wonderful. The story is incredible,
and Patrick brings the audience along remembering his fantasic highs, along
with his most private agonizing moments. Wonderfully funny, I clapped in
triumph with the audience for the guy who stuck to his guns and got a bank
to say "I'm sorry."
Play: Demon Pope
Reviewer: Karen
Reviewer Email:
Rating: 5 Stars
Excellent! Fantastic use of mixed media. This was a well written play on
a couple of difficult philosophical themes that was kept light with well
written and well timed humorous moments. I saw this play several years ago
and it has been updated. The updates really added to the show. Great acting
by several of the cast members contributed to the fantastic writing to make
a truly pleasurable theater experience!
Play: Train Stories
Reviewer: Diana
Reviewer Email:
Rating: 5 Stars
Although the Fringe is over, I have to give this show its due. I'd never
seen Wayne Harris before, and came away thinking "that man has heart!".
He's a consummate performer, riveting, and the show was beautifully rendered.
Although I usually tend to favor the absurdist/experimental stuff offered
up by the Fringe Fest, it was refreshing to see something so real (although
made up), so "down home", so grounded in human experience and
particularly that of African-Americans in the south. He was able to bring
such humanity and complexity to each of his 3 characters. Anyone who can
transform an initially unsympathetic character (the pimp) into a person
of grace/understanding/compassion by the end of the show has my vote. But
I've given too much away...
Play: Actor You're Killing Me
Reviewer: Samantha Sandoval
Reviewer Email:
Rating: 5 Stars
Very funny, good timing, dialog witty, well cast; we were all roaring. I
loved the audience participation. I had a very good time.
Play: This World is Not My Home
Reviewer: Eric
Rating: 4 Stars
The play takes on the Human condition of living in a constant state of desire.
If we aren't hungry for food, sex, or nicer things then we're prpbably dead...
Yes, chances are they are going to be preaching to the converted, but the
performances are strong and the writing good. Its not just about money.
Play: I Can't Believe They're not Oriental!
Reviewer: Paul Hurr
Rating: 5 Stars
Great show! its a must see! very funny, awesome skits! alot of them you
wouldnt understand if your not asian. but im sure everyone loved it. hope
they win this year! go OPM!!!! (Opium....mmm)
Play: Far from Springer
Reviewer: Gabriela Favela & Eve Morris
Rating: 4 Stars
Wonderfully acted drama about two gay friends living in San Francisco. It
was poignant, brutally honest and yet very funny at times, it truly mirrored
real life, without the Hollywood ending!
Play: Countless
Reviewer: Simone
Rating: 5 Stars
I can understand why some people could find the show boring but for me it
has been fascinating. It was like being home, watching my own soul. Indeed
it didn't feel very pleasant at the beginning, but the last look of Sara
to the audience before she came all the way up touched me so much that it
catched my breath. As we say in French "j'etais bouche bee(with an
accent on the first e)", and I love when a show can trigger this kind
of rection.
Play: Man 1, Bank 0
Reviewer: tara
Reviewer Email:
Rating: 4 Stars
A great story, told very compellingly. The show is one part humor, one part
classic storytelling, and one part chat with a personable guy. Toss in a
little stick-it-to-the-man, and you've got yourself a Fringe delight!
Play: Magic @ the Fringe
Reviewer: tara
Reviewer Email:
Rating: 5 Stars
This was the best thing I saw at the Fringe this year -- hands down. Christian
is very personable, has great stage presence, and is an excellent magician.
He had the audience in the palm of his hand nonstop.
This should be Best of Fringe -- and everyone should see it!
Play: This World Is Not My Home
Reviewer: tara
Reviewer Email:
Rating: 4 Stars
Great ensemble work! Really inspiring. And a really wonderful use of a challenging
space.
I'm glad to know this show is headed for an extended run at Venue 9 -- it's definitely worth checking out!
Play: Bottom of the Seventh
Reviewer: Susana Sanchez
Reviewer Email:
Rating: 4 Stars
It was a cute show, great premise, good music. The band played over some
of the vocals but I sepecially liked Adam Genser as the manager. He had
the best voice in the cast. I'd like to see more of him.
Play: I Can't Believe They're Not Oriental
Reviewer: Sara Meeker
Reviewer Email:
Rating: 3 Stars
This show was pretty good. They started off very strong with the rap song
and Li'l Kim Chi was hilarious (although the music was a little loud and
I missed some of the lyrics). Overall, they had great ideas. I just wish
these guys would get some better actors (and director), then the ideas would
be better executed. Most of the cast was ok, but it's the (new) weak ones
that keep this show just ok as opposed to fabulous. I get the feeling they
think since it's sketch, it's ok to over-act and be campy. Allright, sure,
but you still have to do that well. Stop it with the forced facial expressions
already. Take an acting lesson and learn to be honest onstage and don't
force the funny on us. Just because it's sketch doesn't mean you shouldn't
create a committed character. If you're going to play an older person, really
be an older person -not just a young person in a wig -and it'll be much
more satisfying to watch. One girl in particular was so uncomfortable on
stage that she couldn!
't look up or speak up. I hate to pick on anyone, but if you're gonna do
sketch you can't be afraid. I don't mean to sound like a pretensious critic,
it's just that this show could be so much better if it was just tightened
up and cared for a little bit more. The ideas truly are funny and some of
the old cast is still right on (the priest giving sex advice you are hilarious
and psycho-neurotic girl you are adorable), and I did howl a lot of the
time. I guess the audience who comes to see these guys could care less about
how well the actors execute the show. I'll try to lighten up more the next
time I go to see them.
Play: Improvorama
Reviewer: Frank Davi
Rating: 4 Stars
My wife and I had so much fun! It was nice to laugh for an hour. The performance
space is the perfect size to hear and see everything,
The characters were really funny and that Sylvie H. had such a believable accent!!! The group gave the audience the right to suspend their disbelief for the various strange situations. We really saw the circus improv with sequence acrobats and lion tamers. “A deviously passionate sexual mix with a sympathetic heroin looking for love.”
Good Show!
Frank and Dee
Play: Animal Farm
Reviewer: Frank
Reviewer Email:
Rating: 4 Stars
Nadine was fabulous as Squealer! Trevor was superb as the Cow and Mr. Frederick!
Bravo!!
Play: Magic @ the Fringe
Reviewer: Dan Anderson
Reviewer Email:
Rating: 5 Stars
This was an amazing show. Not being a magic fan, I was ready to not enjoy
it before I walked in. I was ready for that little red ball trick and those
silver rings. Instead I saw a show that was really fun performed by a guy
who owned the stage, was very likeable, and did some pretty neat tricks.
My favorite part was during a trick where he puts a needle through his arm
a guy in the audiance passed out. The show was stopped for a few minutes
then Chris the magician finished with a very poetic story. My vote for best
of fringe!
Play: Ludlow and Canal
Reviewer: Sara Meeker
Reviewer Email:
Rating: 5 Stars
The reviewer below me was right about the first skit; it's been done before
and wasn't terribly memorable. But then the second skit came up about previews
for upcoming theater, and melo-dramatic cliche one-liners over-acted by
over-zealous actors were portrayed ("No Dad, I never wanted to be an
astronaut, that was your dream NOT MINE!")and I don't think I ever
stopped laughing after that. The film-done-by-theater skit was so damn funny,
so well done. My god! They fit so much into an hour. I didn't get some of
the skits, but I still thought they were hilarious for some reason, I think
because the actors were so committed, they had such great timing and they
had natural comedic talent (they did little things with their expressions
and voices that was their own that nobody can copy)that just took them a
few steps beyond the usual that we've all seen. I had just come from OPM's
"I Can't Believe They're Not Oriental". Those guys are always
sold out and have a big fan base. And thou!
gh they are fun and have clever ideas, their weak points are their actors
and failure to end their skits confidently. That's where Ludlow and Canal
beats them. (After the show, I said, "That was ten times better than
OPM", and the people behind heard me and heartily agreed.) Who wrote
and directed those sketches? I want to work with them! AH! Soooo good.
Play: Airtight Security
Reviewer: Alex
Reviewer Email:
Rating: 3 Stars
A 30 minute play that could easily be a good hour - why isn't it? In its
current state, there is not sufficient development and transformation of
the characters to give the audience a truly engaging experience. But the
acting is great and there should be an excellent longer play to come out
of this.
Play: Disco Prophecies
Reviewer: Alex
Reviewer Email:
Rating: 2 Stars
I love this guy's crazy dancing, I love the disco lights and I love the
music, but as a show, this does not work (yet). Too casual delivery of the
storyline and lack of variation in presentation mean that the production
falls flat. But I believe there is a good show in there struggling to get
out.
Play: Mother : A Buddhist Fairy Tale
Reviewer: Alex
Reviewer Email:
Rating: 1 Star
A 30-minute movement piece that looks more like an exercise in acting class
- but not as good. Some of the pieces show potential and the performers
seem ok, but in this current state, the show is tedious and meandering.
Doesn't help that the program claims to invent a new aesthetic of physical
theatre - hmmm....
Play: Clearing Hedges
Reviewer: Alex
Reviewer Email:
Rating: 3 Stars
A solid one-woman show but lacking in many respects. We need to have more
emotional connection with the characters. Also, the 7 characterizations
that Jennifer portrays are minor variations on her own personality - I would
have liked to have seen more use of physicality and voice variations
Play: Sandwich
Reviewer: Darogue
Rating: 5 Stars
O.K.... the whale on stage got me! Loved the show! Then again... loved your
shows since "Number 2!"
cheers!
Play: Twinspeak
Reviewer: Mary
Rating: 5 Stars
I thought the play by Mike/Brian was excellent! Thoroughly enjoyed it; as
it honestly protrayed their relationship to each other, their growing pains,
role expectations, identities, emotional strife, and coming to accept one
another. Mike/Brian were incredible in that they were able to share their
vulnerabilities w/ the audience. Their candor and honesty make their issues
as twins more intense, but nonetheless, is applicable to any siblings in
the family. Bravo!
Play: "Actor You're Killing Me"
Reviewer: Don Hows
Reviewer Email:
Rating: 5 Stars
It's a great story with topical references and a lot of laughs. The actors
really brought the story to life. I loved the whole show
Play: Countless
Reviewer: Morgan
Reviewer Email:
Rating: None
Sara and Ed are both very good performers. clean, committed, precise. the
cello is cool. also, the section of video wherein sara's face is accelerated
through rapid contortions on the projection screen is rad. countless has
its moments, as all the other posts here have noted. unfortunately, it does
have the following problems:
a) the initial narrative premise (a man who has found a formula to predict
the fluctuations of the market) is exactly the same as that of the movie
Pi. if it was not simply looted from that movie, the fact of the film's
existence was carelessly ignored.
b) the repeated ascending/descending, optimism/pessimism movement on the
staircase. it happened too many times. the conceptual point is made the
first time sara does it. the first time it happens, it really lets us in
to the piece, because it's the first time we can link the worlds of the
two actors. subsequent repetitions begin to shut us out again.
c) most of the video is lame. cars at night, people on city streets...these
are the same things that everybody puts in their multimedia video pieces.
yes, the piece refers to the repetitive patterns of human behavior, but
there have got to be fresher ways to portray that. when the images were
most abstract the video was good.
d) there is no middle. initially, ed's character advances an entirely deterministic
conception of history and market fluctuation. patterns exist, are absolute,
can be analysed and interpreted. this perspective is apparently proven by
sara's confessions (we see that her experience of privation is only one
point in a cyclical pattern).
fine.
then ed tells us that in fact, the stock market can't be predicted, that
the patterns change too rapidly, that we are always one step behind, much
like sara's character with the premonitory dreams. it seems implicit that
in life and markets, as in dreams, there is some stuff that just happens,
some things that don't make sense, some dreams that are truly random or
insignificant.
the piece would be much stronger if there were a progression through that
discovery of randomness. i don't know. maybe the show actually posits a
scenario in which the future is written, we're just too hungry/tired/lonely/stupid
to read it. even so, accepting our limited knowledge necessitates accepting
a degree of chaos, and i never felt that the play revealed that moment of
acceptance.
that's basically it. there is obviously a great deal of talent among the
major contributors to this piece, but the creators of text and video should
hold themselves to a higher standard.
thanks
Play: TwinSpeak
Reviewer: Nick Cederlind
Reviewer Email:
Rating: 4 Stars
Review of “Twin Speak”
By Nick Cederlind
If you’re looking to laugh, cry, and be humbled all at once this
fall, look no further than Brian and Michael Aho’s play, “TwinSpeak”.
Written and performed by two twin brothers, TwinSpeak presents a very touching,
poignant expose of personal development and coping with issues such as personal
identity, family loss, security, and acceptance. Autobiographical in nature,
Brian and Michael are able to give form to and express the impact of life
as a twin on the psyche. With surprisingly simplistic storytelling (there
are few props and a stage smaller than my kitchen floor), Michael and Brian
are able to affect their audience on the deep, meaningful levels that almost
anyone can find in their family life. The most notable talent at work in
the writing of this play can be found in its ability to abstract a universal
impression on the psyche of life as a twin that almost any sibling can identify
with – regardless of genetic similarity. Siblings different in appearance,
yet !
intensely alike in personality will be able to distinguish and identify
with themes like constant comparison, fear of separation, fear of losing
independence, etc. While this is happening, the audience will find themselves
surprised by not only the enjoyable comedy infused into such a touching,
personal story, but the simple fact that the dichotomy of laughter and personal
struggle works so smoothly. Brain and Michael’s deft interweaving of
these elements into the performance will certainly keep you on your toes.
Towards the play’s conclusion, we see how this rich and tumultuous
life has strengthened these two brothers in their ability to take their
lives in new directions, symbolizing how the themes of acceptance, identity,
and security can manifest themselves in healthy ways even as a result of
the most turbulent times. If you’re someone who’s bad at gambling,
this production offers redemption. When you place your $7 bet on TwinSpeak,
you’ll get more than your money’s worth !
each time... - it’s a guaranteed winner.
Play: mother: a modern fairytale
Reviewer: henk smits
Rating: 2 Stars
Two stars for the concentration of the four movers/players en the cellist;
but the percussionist had chewing gum(!)and acted like he was David Bowie
himselve.Ans this didn't fit in what was going to happen.
The performance had good movement and a beautiful concentration on stage.
But this is not a professional production;
it was more like an ending of the season-show of a yearrunning workshop;
and that's what I did not expect; I concentrated on the
"bold man" he had a very good presence on stage; the simplicity
of the story attracted me although.
Play: discoprophecies
Reviewer: henk smits
Rating: 4 Stars
Why did the artist not let us sing: Yes sir, I can boogie.......... The
performance was charming and the pieces of dance and movement were well
chosen; but....why the images of his youth and the president of autralia??;we
(nearly 50) could imagine his attraction to discomusic; so we amused ourselves;
the end was too sudden,that was a pity!
Play: I can't believe they are not oriental
Reviewer: henk smits
Rating: 3 Stars
three stars for the smashing enthousiasm of a group of amateurs.
but there's a difference between doing a workshop and working out some lose
ideas and creating a play!
of course this becomes a hit again, because the space was filled with asian
people who recognized themselves.
But this is no artistic creation.
Where does the fringe stand for?
Play: train stories
Reviewer: henk smits
Rating: 3 Stars
a very good player in a very clear and good provided scene, but half an
hour too long;
there were many so called "dead moments" in the piece;the player
had to dry his face, to
change clothes or to drink; at that moments everything stopped on stage;
my imagination
as watcher was disturbed; but the player was so strong that he pulled me
again in his story; he succeeded in this, except for the last half hour;
a pity!
to the director: make choices and let the player wipe his face while playing
his role!
Play: counless
Reviewer: henk smits
Rating: 5 Stars
BEAUTIFUL; the movements together with the video-images;the cello-musician
just composing her sounds while performing; the
song of the woman;it was my last perfromance of the day (saterday) but I
awoke at once!
10 times Bravo!
Play: Caffe di amore
Reviewer: henk smits
Rating: None
A shame that a play like this is accepted on the fringe; the space was full
of family and friends; we didn't know anybody and we didn't laugh AT ALL;
the roles were only filled in from the outside; very cliche;
an Italian who should have seen this, should be very ashamed, I think.
Play: got water
Reviewer: henk smits
Rating: 2 Stars
such plays don't belong on a festival like this in a city like SF; it's
very well done by bear capron, I appreciate that he keeps the teenagers
from the street, but please let them do things on stage they really like
and don't let them tell such boring stories!
they sang very well and the girls and boys were very sweet; but on a theaterfestival
I wanne be amused and triggered!
Play: this world is not my home
Reviewer: henk smits
Rating: 4 Stars
although the subject was serious and brought on stage very serious, it amused
me highly and the energy of the performers was high and overwhelming; to
get stronger feelings after leaving the theater(what a good director wants
from his audience)I presume:
make the piece 15 minutes shorter>
However beautiful moments: umbrella-mouvements- the guided tour through
a small house- the "word stroke" of the man- the small "pssst-
dialogues of the woman on the stairs....beautiful theatrical choices!
Play: nharcolepsy
Reviewer: henk smits
Rating: 5 Stars
EXCELLENT;Total professionals;humoristic,very intelligent and most original
I saw last theaterseason(in Europe)
Play: 69 moments of life
Reviewer: henk smits
Rating: 4 Stars
An excellent performer who's knowing damned well what he'sdoing on stage;
sometimes I didn't get the meaning of his songs, movements or stories but
his musical choices, his movements are so meaningful, you can create your
own story when watching him; he stayed keeping my attention for one whole
hour; bravo!
Play: Poop goes the weasel
Reviewer: Charles Belov
Reviewer Email:
Rating: 3 Stars
This was funny for about the first half hour, but the joke wore thin. Also,
some of the performers' voices were too loud for indoor use. Still, the
juxtaposition of what appears to be traditional Italian comedy style with
modern concerns and conveniences was good for quite a few laughs.
Play: passages
Reviewer: henk smits
Rebecca of course is idealistic (like her grandmother)but it doesn't work
that your flyers are super, but the performance is
boring, not directed and far too long.
The RED THREAD is so obvious that we fell in sleep!
Play: Magic at the Fringe
Reviewer: Charles Belov
Reviewer Email:
Rating: 4 Stars
This was a (mostly) fun show, which had me laughing most of the time. Even
though I could figure out a couple of the tricks, most of them were of the
"how'd he do that" variety. I'm sure I could look them up on the
Net but I'm not going to, it's more fun that way.
There was one trick (that was more for real than a trick) that was sufficiently
gross that I had to close my eyes for it.
Play: Far From Springer
Reviewer: Charles Belov
Reviewer Email:
Rating: 5 Stars
This is a funny and sad play about hopes and (im)maturity and the impact
these have on the relationship between two best friends, a gay man and a
lesbian. The acting is excellent, as is the script, which takes us on a
journey that shows how simultaneously strong and fragile a close friendship
can be. This was the best play I saw (out of 10 plays seen) at the Fringe,
and I hope it gets another production, because it really is that good.
Note: There is brief nudity, which is not mentioned in the Fringe alerts for this show.
Play: Actor, You're Killing Me
Reviewer: Bathsheba Wiles
Rating: 5 Stars
Laughter and revenge all in one night? Who could ask for more. Erudite,
rich, topical, and above all, silly. I'd see it again if I could.
Play: Nahrcolepsy
Reviewer: Michelle Watson
Rating: 4 Stars
I really enjoyed this show. It was weird enough to be "fringey"
and had enough of a plot and good dialog to make some sense on an intellectual
plane. Great story, albeit slightly silly - which is OK - of following a
dream and committment to your friends - even if it means dressing up like
a Yeti and dancing to "We are the Champions." A little absurd,
French/Norwegian Monty Python, Don Quixote, and the North Pole, and you've
got Nharcolepsy.
Play: Narcholepsy
Reviewer: Dan Fost
Rating: 4 Stars
I laughed, even when I wasn't sure why - very silly offbeat humor in a Monty
Python tradition!
Play: Diagnosis: Jew Pain
Reviewer: Dan Fost
Rating: 5 Stars
Hilarious, entertaining one-man show that takes something deeply personal
and makes it universal. I've been humming the theme song for days, and want
to get the lyrics to the food song!