69 Moments of Life
 SAN FRANCISCO FRINGE FESTIVAL AUDIENCE REVIEWS
HOME / FRINGE PLAYS / SCHEDULE / AUDIENCE REVIEWS / TO REVIEW A PLAY / TICKETS & DIRECTIONS
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 Prophecies
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: 69 moments of life
Reviewer: henk smits
Reviewer Email: henk@garlic.com
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: 69 Moments
Reviewer: anon
Reviewer Email:
Rating: 2 Stars
I feel a bit guilty about giving this a tepid review. The actor was sooo earnest and clearly meant to give it his all but, unfortunately, I cringed often. It is rare for a solo show, particularly an autobiographical one, to work. This didn't.


Play: 69 Moments of Life
Reviewer: Henry Milstead
Reviewer Email:
Rating: 2 Stars
Some people would say that "edge" is in the eye of the beholder. A lot of times it takes "crossing the line" to make an audience believe that they are watching something raw. And sometimes, "fucking the norm" is the most jarring way to tell an audience - "Hey, I'm different."

In the case of Terry Costa, the only thing that provides real edge to this awkwardly fragmented and incohesive mish-mash of journal vignettes is his spirit. For that alone, I give credit.

But, for a show that *is* this fragmented and disjointed, it's actually quite derivative. One fidgets 3/4 of the way through the show saying - "I've seen this before...in another solo show."

It's not terrible, mind you. It's just that the show cares more about having you think that it's thought-provoking than actually provoking thought. A lot of the points made are quite profound. But these are merely points you must decipher while wading through the rest of the mess. One such cutesy and painfully indulgent visual is a brain in a martini glass. "A little brain never hurt anyone." Oh, the irony.


Play: 69 Moments of Life
Reviewer: Henry Milstead
Reviewer Email:
Rating: 2 Stars
Some people would say that "edge" is in the eye of the beholder. A lot of times it takes "crossing the line" to make an audience believe that they are watching something raw. And sometimes, "fucking the norm" is the most jarring way to tell an audience - "Hey, I'm different."

In the case of Terry Costa, the only thing that provides real edge to this awkwardly fragmented and incohesive mish-mash of journal vignettes is his spirit. For that alone, I give credit.

But, for a show that *is* this fragmented and disjointed, it's actually quite derivative. One fidgets 3/4 of the way through the show saying - "I've seen this before...in another solo show."

It's not terrible, mind you. It's just that the show cares more about having you think that it's thought-provoking than actually provoking thought. A lot of the points made are quite profound. But these are merely points you must decipher while wading through the rest of the mess. One such cutesy and painfully indulgent visual is a brain in a martini glass. "A little brain never hurt anyone." Oh, the irony.


Play: 69 Moments Of Life
Reviewer: Miriam Schultz
Reviewer Email:
Rating: 4 Stars
Theatrically stunning on the boarder line of performance-art, or as some may call it high-art. The performer was emotionally and physically grounded like I've never seen before. Definitely worth the visit.


Play: 69 Moments Of Life
Reviewer: Josh P
Reviewer Email:
Rating: 5 Stars
This may be a fragmented 'play' but it is the most well-thought-out production at the fringe this year. Every detail has been taken into consideration from colors to props, music to gestures. After watching Terry Costa perform with 'a cold' on tuesday night, he only proved to me that he was nothing short of a first-rate performer. Leaving the theater with a smile all I could think was that thanks to performers like Costa, our voices (gay) are being heard in ways that television would not dare: imagine new facets of our queer world, or at least new ways of approaching it. I guess it takes a Canadian to be queer without being flamboyant, queenie, or even make it all be just about sex.


Play: 69 Moments Of Life
Reviewer: Pat Brock
Reviewer Email:
Rating: 5 Stars
This show is definitely not for everyone. I'm glad my husband and I ended up seeing this Canadian performer though. I have to offset my husbands negative review because I believe in what Terry Costa was trying to accomplish. He definitely held himself quite well from beginning to end showing his professionalism. The work is quite edgy and experimental. The fact that it is a non-linear story lost my husband as an audience member, but I was there 110% Keep up the great job and I urge San Francisco peoples to go see this exciting Canadian performer if as the program says "you are looking for something different" - very different.


Play: 69 Moments Of Life
Reviewer: Jackson
Reviewer Email:
Rating: 5 Stars
All I have to say is THANK YOU for not following the path of most solo performers. You engaged me and offered something that is barely tried in the San Francisco stages. Congratulations - keep coming back to the fringe.


Play: 69 Moments of Life
Reviewer: Vince Vitale
Reviewer Email: WorldGazer@aol.com
Rating: 3 Stars
Terry Costa’s performance art piece seems to search for a focus, while giving us a scattered melange of gay tangents that make up his life. I would have liked to hear more about his Portuguese heritage in Canada, and that alone could have made for a fascinating coming-out portrait. The brain in the martini glass did not work for me. The program describes the title as “A man comes back to life 69 seconds after having flat-lined.” I can’t recall any establishing reference to this in the show. I kept finding myself trying to connect with Terry, but unable to.


Play: 69 Moments of Life
Reviewer: Alex
Reviewer Email:
Rating: 4 Stars
This solo autobiographical piece is full of moments that remind me of silly ideas we have all thought up when drunk - e.g., using a red balloon as sexual symbol, dancing with body organs - but after having sobered up, we realized their silliness and dropped them. Costa, however, does not give them up, but throws himself completely into the performance of these ideas, and, as a result, they work - for the most part. Many of the ideas need development, but, in general, Costa's use of sound and lighting, and his engaging delivery of text result in an enjoyable show. I would like to see this again in a year when Costa has responded to critical feedback and tightened things up.


Play: 69 Moments Of Life
Reviewer: Joan M
Reviewer Email:
Rating: 5 Stars
Every year there are a couple of performers that surprise me at the fringe. 2003 is the year of Canadian Terry Costa to teach me something new about theater and performance in general. '69 Moments Of Life' is the most fragmented piece at the festival, but also the most exciting! Costa must be commended for creating a highly theatrical show with minimal set/props/costumes. It is really all about the moments... Congrats. Go see '69 Moments Of Life'. I know I will try to make it to another performance.


Play: 69 Moments of Life
Reviewer: Charles Belov
Reviewer Email:
Rating: 1 Star
*Sigh!* This is the sort of thing that scares me away from solo shows. A few significant moments, wish the whole performance was like that, because those moments were really really moving. But most of it was dreary self-indulgent performance crap, barely dancing to several songs and throwing some props around the stage.


Play: 69 moments of life
Reviewer: mary
Reviewer Email: ssauga24@hotmal.com
Rating: 5 Stars
this was a very exciting production coming from an incredible canadian performer. from the dark opening through all the stories, movement and imagery, Costa kept on moving and exploring thought-provoking material.
definitely the most intriguing and meaningful show i've seen at the fringe.


Play: 69 Moments in Life
Reviewer: goreski
Reviewer Email:
Rating: 1 Star
Bored, totally bored with this performer's work, a dull story line, trite and un-emotional, many minutes watching this guy prance around stage to music.

An Hour that seems like three, almost painful to watch.

Stay away!!


Play: 69 Moments of Love
Reviewer: jes'fine
Reviewer Email: jes_fine@hotmail.com
Rating: 2 Stars
Perhaps I'm suffering from being insufficently Canadian and/or gay but I didn't connect with this show at all at any time. Disconnected , self indulgent, scattered all come to mind. If there's an audience for this it doesn't include me or the folks I was with. Was very disappointed inspite of his obvious sincerity and energy. Would not reccommend.


Play: 69 moments of Life
Reviewer: Jeff
Reviewer Email:
Rating: 4 Stars
Awesome performer who has alot to say (not necessarily with words). This guy definitely knows how to make people fall in love with him. Fantastic production - go see it!


Play: 69 Moments of Life
Reviewer: John-Christopher Thomas
Reviewer Email:
Rating: None
Wretched, self-absorbed solo show complete with recycled music from the Rocky Horror Picture Show and rapid-fire product placements. Save yourself 60 minutes and $8 by not going!


Play: 69 Moments of Life
Reviewer: Jeff Thompson
Reviewer Email:
Rating: 5 Stars
Terry Costa uses movement,wonderfully chosen music, everyday objects used as amazing props( what he can do with a red balloon!),and his own compelling and charming presence to create a show that engages, moves, and ultimately challenges us. He states in his program notes that his that his goal is to"make you feel,feel in a world where computers and television have ripped us from human contact." He succeeds in his goal and then some.


Play: 69 Moments Of Life
Reviewer: Robin Chase, Freelance Writer
Reviewer Email: heretic_wormhole@lycos.com
Rating: 5 Stars
As he sips from a giant cocktail glass containing a brain in place of an olive, Terry Costa remarks 'a little brain never hurts anyone'. But it is really Costa's soul that we drink from in this very moving production in which he shares his thoughts on life through a series of symbolic vignettes. On the surface, this combination of monologue and physical theatre deals with same-sex issues, but Costa's gift of multi-layered metaphorical storytelling speaks eloquently to all of us regardless of sexual preference. We learn more about this man and his life moment-by-moment - his hopes, dreams, aspirations and all of his stumbles along the way. At first as background and later as tragic foreground, we learn of the relationship with his partner, John. We understand that something has gone horribly wrong, as evidenced by Costa's anguished dance to the beautiful original song 'I Am In Love With A Dead Boy'. Costa shines in an emotionally driven soliloquy, drawing us out of our vicari!
ous gratification so that we may question ourselves, our entrenched attitudes, our prejudices and even our dreams. If you miss this five-star performance, you'll be questioning yourself forever.


Play: 69 Moments of Life
Reviewer: Me
Reviewer Email:
Rating: 3 Stars
A good, albeit VERY queer, show.