Tag: theatre reviews

Categories
Fringe Shows Hollywood Fringe Festival Reviews See it or Skip it Theatre Women in Entertainment

HFF 17 – see it or skip it (day 7) *UPDATED*

Had a wonderful day yesterday.  After writing my reviews for Thursday’s shows, we lounged around our Airbnb most of the day.  Around 3 p.m. we both decided at the same time – “Let’s go to Margaritaville!”  So off we went to Universal City Walk and had dinner and drinks before heading out last night to hang with fringeships and see some shows.  We saw another three to bring our total to 28 shows.  Here are the reviews.

TITLE OF SHOW:  Ascent

VENUE:  Studio/Stage

REVIEW:  I would not have gone to see this show except that they applied for our Larry Cornwall Award.  To put it nicely, it was a hot mess.  Of course they waited until it was over to tell us “we’re a work in progress.”  Boy was that an understatement.  The concept is there but the show lacks structure.  The best part of it was when the two performers, Adam Kerbel and Shih-wei Willie Wu played the Taiko drum.  Other than that, as my wife says, “it reminded her of two boys playing outside during recess.”

RECOMMENDATION:  Not ready for viewing – skip it.

TITLE OF SHOW:  Billy . . . from Como to Homo

VENUE:  The Sheperd Theatre at the Complex

REVIEW:  In what has to be one of the most physically demanding of solo shows, 70 year old Lynne Jassem tap dances her way into our hearts in this amazing and brilliant production, directed by the solo queen herself, Jessica Lynn Johnson.  Had Jassem not been persistent in inviting me to her show, we might have missed this true gem of HFF 17.  We were fortunate to share the experience with Johnson and several of her other students, Sofie Khan (Mexistani!) and Gabriella DeMarco (Lovesick), and the show proved to be the highlight of our night.  Jassem is a natural storyteller and weaves her life story in such a way that it is ripe for a sequel.

RECOMMENDATION:  You simply MUST SEE this show.  The tap dancing alone is worth the price of admission, but the story will cheer you up and encourage you.  Her final show is June 24 at 8 p.m.

TITLE OF SHOW:  Confessions of an Arab Woman

VENUE:  Dorie Theater at the Complex

REVIEW:  We would definitely have to say that female empowerment is one of the themes of HFF 17, and this show was one of the strongest statements of that theme.  Joumana Haddad is considered to be one of the most powerful Arab women in the world today, and this insight into her was breathtakingly beautiful.  An amazing cast featuring Cynthia Yelle, Madia El-Tawansy, Gamon Quinn, Sandy Rather, Tiffany Badie, and Brenda Salas portrayed Haddad at various key times in her life, each delivering stellar performances.  They were aided by the truly supporting cast of Evan Langle as the Ringmaster/Marquis de Sade, Gilbert Reynoso as the Father and Alexandra Olson as the Journalist.  The imagery and staging were first rate, and the piece left us thinking long after the final bow.  This was a true work of art.

RECOMMENDATION:  Unfortunately, this was a limited three-performance run, and we got to see the final performance.  If this show gets extended, we highly recommend you taking the time to See it.  *UPDATE*  We have just found out that this show will be extended, with performances on August 23, 25 and 26 at 8 p.m. and on August 27 at 7 p.m.  Now you have no excuse, so go see it!

We were going to see another show afterwards, but we both hit a wall and couldn’t stay awake another minute.  Time to refresh and prepare for the final big day of Fringe on Saturday, when we are scheduled to see six shows.

Categories
Reviews Theatre

‘Noises Off’ brings laughter and mayhem to UM’s Montana Theatre

The final production of the 2016-2017 school year for the University of Montana’s College of Visual Arts and School of Theatre & Dance opened on campus on April 19, and it was the perfect closing number for a season of great works.

The play, written by Michael Frayn, has always been a favorite of theatre geeks and participants, and this production pulled out all the stops to make it especially meaningful.  Director Pamyla Stiehl, with help from Scenic Designer Alessia Carpoca, Costume Designer Linda Guilis, Lighting Director Mark Dean, and Audio Designer Cole Milligan, perfectly capture the spirit and intent of the playwright’s vision, while the stage managing job of Sophia Holter brought it all together on stage, all to the delight of the packed house.

The chemistry between the nine members of the cast was truly evident in this magical farce, which depends on that chemistry in order to pull off the multitude of pratfalls and physical comedy that make Noises Off the penultimate homage to the theatre.  Putting on a great show while looking totally inept takes a great deal of talent and skill, and this cast excelled in both.  Christina Heagney as Dotty Otley, Ryson Sparacino as Lloyd Dallace, Dillon Westhoff as Garry Lejeune, Christina Tripp as Poppy Norton-Taylor and Natalie Johnson as Brooke Ashton were all hilarious in their featured roles, especially the slapstick antics of Johnson, who had to be spot perfect In her ability to look inept.  They were truly complemented by Tyson Gerhardt Hirsch as Frederick Fellowes Genevieve Barlow as Belinda Blair, David Mills-Low as Selsdon Mowbray and Curen Feliciani as Tim Allgood in their supporting roles.  Feliciani truly stood out as the bumbling stage hand and understudy for the hapless production, the play within the play, Nothing On.

If you need a good physical release from your stress, combined with side-splitting laughter, then Noises Off is the perfect place for you.  The production will continue at 7:30 p.m. on April 22, 26, 27, 28 and 29 and at 2 p.m. on April 23 and 30.  Tickets are available at the UMArts Box Office or online at umt.edu/theatredance.  We highly recommend this production and can hardly wait to see what’s in store for the next season.