Let’s continue with our reviews from Saturday. You can find part 1 here.
TITLE OF SHOW: Chrissy Meth – a Dance with the Devil and the Journey Back to Self
VENUE: The Lounge Theatres
REVIEW: I always make time to attend shows that are directed by Jessica Lynn Johnson, and most of the time they are among the best Fringe shows I see. Not that this show wasn’t great, it just needed some tightening up. In particular, the melt-down scene seemed a little long, with too much gut-wrenching screaming. Other than that, her victory over drugs was inspiring and informative, and I am glad I got the chance to see it. This was my first encounter with a former meth addict, and her story was truly enlightening. I also enjoyed it when she sang, and would have loved to hear more of that. She did warn me that she had to cut back on the singing, so at least I knew about it beforehand. Still, I hope to see this one again when she is 100%.
RECOMMENDATION: Unfortunately, this show has closed but definitely check it out if she puts it up again.
TITLE OF SHOW: Clementine
VENUE: The Lounge Theatres
REVIEW: April Wish has an amazing way of looking at life, and she conveys that sweetness in her show. Putting a burgeoning career on hold to create a family may sound like a bad idea, but Wish showed us that it can be very rewarding. Being a parent of three and a grandparent of 13, I could totally relate to what it takes to parent, especially those times where your partner is nowhere to be found. It can be a stressing time, but she showed us the rewards of putting our children first. My only complaint was that the show was very long (80 minutes), but that was probably due to the fact that I really needed to go to the bathroom during the final 10-15 minutes. She needed the entire 80 minutes because she had so much to tell, and every minute of the show was beautiful. Just make sure that you visit the bathroom before the show begins.
RECOMMENDATION: Definitely check out this amazing show. She has added an additional performance on June 29 at 8 p.m. Tickets are available on her Fringe project page.
TITLE OF SHOW: If we Run
VENUE: The Lounge Theatres
REVIEW: I got to know playwright Matt Morillo through Office Hours, and as part of Matt the Gathering. He finally enticed me to juggle my schedule and fit this one in, and it was an intriguing show. I immediately fell in love with Katie Oliver the second she appeared on stage. This two hander handles the serious question of choice – whether you go the “safe” route or go out on a limb and follow your heart. We won’t tell you what she choice, but the journey to that decision is what drives the show. Hats off also to Dingani Beza, who proved to be a worthy companion on this fun ride.
RECOMMENDATION: Definitely check out this amazing show. There are still two remaining performances on June 24 at 10 p.m. and June 28 at 8 p.m. Tickets are available on their Fringe project page.