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 Costas 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 cant 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.
|