Category: Fringe Shows

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HFF19 day 2 (part 2) – see it or skip it

Back for part 2 of our day 2 reviews.  You can find part 1 here.

TITLE OF SHOW:  Silver Bullet

VENUE:  Underground Annex

REVIEW:  We love the film noir, so this play sounded like a perfect fit.  It is a well written show.  Unfortunately, it suffered from one flaw that is easily correctable – pacing, or more specifically, the lack thereof.  The majority of the cast were witty with their delivery, and their efforts to pick up the pace were appreciated, especially Katherine Kimball, who was brilliant in her role as Lila Caine. and Taylor Mack, who portrayed police captain Beverly McKennon.  The other issue was the lack of focus demonstrated by actors bringing their props in after the lights went up, or leaving them on set when their scenes were done, forcing the next actor to have to remove them before they could go on with their scene.  This show is still worthy of your attention, if corrective action is taken.

RECOMMENDATION:  Give it a shot.  Remaining performances are June 22 at 2 p.m., June 23  at 8 p.m. and June 28 at 7:30 p.m.  Tickets are available on her Fringe project page.

TITLE OF SHOW:  The Death of Sam Mobean

VENUE:  The Broadwater (Studio)

REVIEW:  Besides Kimleigh Smith, the person most responsible for me becoming a Fringe fixture is Michael Shaw Fisher and his Orgasmico Theatre Company.  After spending the last couple of years producing amazing art with Cherry Poppins productions, he has returned with an amazing show that channels his inner David Lynch, and gives us the “fringiest” show of HFF19.  He has assembled a stellar cast that includes his wife Alli Miller, Shoen Hodges, Eric Curtis Johnson and Heather Schmidt.  We will leave the mysteries of this show intact to encourage you to check it out before it sells out.  This intimate space is perfect for this show, so be prepared to be part of the action.

RECOMMENDATION:  This is definitely a don’t miss show, so get your tickets before it sells out.  Remaining performances are June 16 at 8:30 p.m., June 22  at 3 p.m., and June 26 at 8:30 p.m.  Tickets are available on her Fringe project page.

 

 

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HFF19 day 2 (part 1) – see it or skip it

Day 2 of HFF19 was an interesting day that started off very promising before taking me on a roller coaster of an evening.  At least it ended up in the company of friends for a truly inspiring show.  Here are our reviews for Day 2.

TITLE OF SHOW:  The Mayor’s Debate of Tranquility, Nebraska

VENUE:  The Complex (Flight Theatre)

REVIEW:  If you’ve spent much time at the Fringe, then you’ve probably seen Jim Hanna in at least one show.  If you haven’t, then this is the show to see.  Not only is he part of the amazing cast, but he also wrote this masterpiece that mixes politics with the supernatural.  The magical cast of Hanna, Emily Dorsett, Kate Hellen and Lucie Beeby will whisk you away and provide a thought-provoking look at small town politics.  There is so much great humor in this show, and the chemistry of these four is palpable.  Suffice it to say that it stands as one of the best comedies at this year’s Fringe, and definitely worthy of your time and money.

RECOMMENDATION:  This is definitely a don’t miss show, so get your tickets before it sells out.  Remaining performances are June 22 at 8:30 p.m., June 23  at 12:30 p.m., June 26 at 6:30 p.m. and June 29 at 4 p.m.  Tickets are available on her Fringe project page.

TITLE OF SHOW:  Temple Tantrum

VENUE:  The Broadway (Second Stage)

REVIEW:  If you’ve seen my solo show Livin’ the Dream (a journalistic journey) or have spent much time with me at Fringe, then you know that Kimleigh Smith has been my inspiration and muse since 2010.  She has directed a very interesting story of survival from a cult that led to freedom for Nicole Steinwedell.  The show felt like Steinwedell was the poster child for ADHD, as she told her story in short bursts of non-stop energy.  Thank goodness she summarized it all during the final 10 minutes, because it was hard to keep up as she hopped from event to event in a truly non-linear approach.  She definitely kept her sold-out house intrigued and engaged, and for that alone she should be praised.  See it for  yourself and you’ll know what we mean.  Thanks for shedding light on this important story of triumph over emotional abuse.

RECOMMENDATION:  This one is truly worthy of your time.   Remaining performances are June 16 at 4 p.m., June 19  at 6:30 p.m., and June 22 at 1 p.m.  Tickets are available on her Fringe project page.

 

 

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HFF19 day 1 – see it or skip it

HFF19 is officially underway – previews are over, Fringe Central is open, and the Hollywood Fringe Festival has taken over Theatre Row.

We took in three shows, visited Fringe Central twice, and managed to collect five of the seven Matt the Gathering cards, leaving just two more to secure.  What a fun opening day.  Here are our reviews.

TITLE OF SHOW:  Shiva for Anne Frank

VENUE:  The Complex (Flight Theatre)

REVIEW:  Like many of you, I read The Diary of Anne Frank in school, and never knew there was so much more to the story.   Comedian Rachel McKay Steele delivers a moving and emotional tribute to the legacy of Anne Frank, and teaches us Goy a thing or two about the Jewish faith.  This show will make you laugh (a lot), but it will also break your heart, and (hopefully) leave you with a desire to do a better job at being less judgmental.  She also taught us the importance of noshing.  Come early and enjoy the treats.

RECOMMENDATION:  If history is your thing, or if you like to laugh and snack, then definite check out this show.  Remaining performances are June 20 at 8:30 p.m., June 22 at 10:30 p.m. and June 30 at 4 p.m.  Tickets are available on her Fringe project page.

TITLE OF SHOW:  Straight White Men #trying to woke

VENUE:  The Blank (Second Stage)

REVIEW:  Chris Valente has been a part of the Fringe for many years but I have never been able to make any of his previous shows.  Luckily, I was able to squeeze this one in, and very glad I did.  He has written five five hilarious vignettes that are presented by an amazing cast that included Brian Lally, Steve Brewster, and Victoria Ippolito on “Fandom,” William Gabriel Grier and Valenti on “Polite Racism,” Jim Nieb, Ian Gray and Anna Luiza on “Suicide Pact,” Jeff Elam, Ippolito and Christine Ditillio on “Brittle Trombone,” and Gray, Valenti, Nieb, Brewster, Lally, Luiza and Grier on “Fantasy Football.”  It was a humorous way to address these serious issues, and was well received.  Come on out and laugh at these white man “mistakes.”

RECOMMENDATION:  Definitely worth checking out this show.  Remaining performances are June 14 at 10 p.m., June 15 at noon, June 16 at 3 p.m., June 19 at 8 p.m. and June 21 at 8 p.m.  Tickets are available on her Fringe project page.

TITLE OF SHOW:  Squeeze my Cabaret

VENUE:  The Lounge Theatres

REVIEW:  Back in 2017, Cathy Schenkelberg created the incredibly popular Fringe show Squeeze my Cans.  She’s back with a musical version that is naughty, funny and so much fun, and once again pokes fun at the cult to which she gave 20 years of her life and nearly $1 million.  This lady has an incredible voice, and a wicked sense of humor, and it all comes out during this show.  If you aren’t worried about retribution, go and enjoy this “take no prisoners” musical cabaret.

RECOMMENDATION:  If you enjoy laughter and great musical performances, then don’t miss this show.  Remaining performances are June 16 at 10 p.m., June 21 at 11:55 p.m. and June 23 at 10 p.m.  Tickets are available on her Fringe project page.

 

 

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HFF19 preview day 6 – see it or skip it

Well, previews are now official complete, and the fabulous Opening Night Gala is tonight.  During previews, we took in 22 shows as well as doing our own preview of Livin’ the Dream (a journalistic journey).  Tomorrow is the first “official” day of HFF19, and we are ready, but tonight we party.  Here are our final two reviews from the previews.

TITLE OF SHOW:  The Dating Game

VENUE:  The Hudson Theatres (Guild)

REVIEW:  I try to see at least one cabaret each year, and this year I stumbled upon this one by up and coming musical comedian Darcy Rose Byrnes.  She is doing a total of five different show during Fringe and joins with the amazing Sam Johnides (who contributed to the amazing Robot Teammate musicals Turbulence and Thug Tunnel) on this one to provide a comedic look at the current dating scene.  Byrnes may be the next Carol Burnett.  She is funny and extremely talented with a voice that deserves a shot at Broadway.  Catch her now before she becomes a huge star.

RECOMMENDATION:  This one is worth checking out.  Remaining performances are June 21 at 6:30 p.m. and June 29 at 2 p.m.  Tickets are available on her Fringe project page.

TITLE OF SHOW:  Saving Cain

VENUE:  The Hudson Theatres (Guild)

REVIEW:  There are only a handful of “can’t miss” writers at the Fringe, and Aaron Kozak is definitely on that list.  His latest, Saving Cain, is an extremely well crafted masterpiece that shines new light on the religious right and those that can’t meet their standards.  He has assembled an all-star cast that includes the incomparable Leah Verrill (star of last year’s masterpiece The Women of Lockerbie) as the hard-right leaning helicopter mom, Lenny Hernandez as her hell-raising son Levi, Jim Martyka as guidance counselor Ed, and Christian Blake Splitt as her son’s best friend Bryan (who just happens to be gay).  Cindy Chavez (Nancy, Daniel Cirilo (Peter), Travis Joe Dixon (Bobby) and Tiffany Walker (Dr. Zeliner/ Pentecostal woman) likewise provide amazing support, making this one of the best dramas at this year’s Fringe, and most worthy of extending their run afterwards.  Like Guilt, this one is best viewed when you leave your religious prejudices at the door.

RECOMMENDATION:  This one is a “don’t miss.”  Remaining performances are June 15 at 2 p.m., June 16 at 4 p.m., June 22 at 4 p.m.,  June 23 at 8:30 p.m., June 29 at 4 p.m. and June 30 at 3 p.m.  Tickets are available on her Fringe project page.

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HFF19 preview day 5 – see it or skip it

We enjoyed a much needed down day after viewing 13 shows over the weekend, and having the time to catch up on all the reviews was wonderful.  We only attended one preview on Monday, and here’s our review.

TITLE OF SHOW:  Sorry About my Friend

VENUE:  Stephanie Fuery Studio Theatre

REVIEW:  I meet Rachel Scott, the co-writer of this dramedy as well as half of the cast, during Office Hours, and was intrigued by her show.  Then she applied for our Larry Cornwall Award, and I had to go see it.  Although it wasn’t quite what we’re looking for Award-wise, it was an impressive show that addressed the ever-growing college problem of alcohol abuse.   The show is co-written by Scott’s real-life college roommate Xan Herring, and based on a true story. This two-hander delivers its point through a series of comedic glimpses into four years of being college roommates, with a very serious ending.  Both Scott and Kelsey Griswold turned in amazing performances.  The only thing that I didn’t like was the lack of a curtain call/bow at the end, leaving the conclusion far too abrupt.  Despite that, it is definitely worthy of your time.

RECOMMENDATION:  This one is worth checking out.  Remaining performances are June 22 at 1 p.m., June 23 at 2 p.m.,  June 27 at 7 p.m. and June 29 at 11:30 a.m.  Tickets are available on her Fringe project page.

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HFF19 preview day 4 (part 2) – see it or skip it

Continuing on with our reviews for Sunday, here is part 2.  You can check out part 1 here.

TITLE OF SHOW:  Alive-ish

VENUE:  The Broadwater (Studio)

REVIEW:  If there were an award for the most delightful and refreshing piece of art at Fringe, then this show would be a shoo-in.  Anabella Funk is a gifted ballet dancer and storyteller that shone the light on suicide and its consequences on those left behind.  Through a well-written dialogue, amazing instrumental performances by Elias Alexander on violin, Annette Dunklin on cello and Heather Grove on piano, and stand-out interpretive dance and ballet, we learn her story, and understand why she has dedicated the show to suicide prevention.  Bravo to you, Ms. Funk – you have served the cause well!

RECOMMENDATION:  Don’t miss this one – it could easily change your life.  Remaining performances are June 16 at 6 p.m., June 22 at 8 p.m.  and June 26 at 8 p.m.  Tickets are available on her Fringe project page.

TITLE OF SHOW:  Wigfield

VENUE:  The Hudson Theatre (Backstage)

REVIEW:  Last year we almost missed out on the stunning Pamela Eberhardt show The Runaway Clone, but thanks to the persistence of Scott Golden, we made it just before the end of its run.  This year Eberhardt has adapted a best-selling book into a project of love that has been ongoing for 15 years, and in the process has delivered one of the true gems of HFF19.  With a cast of Fringe veterans like Golden, Emily Clark, Jeff Scot Carey, Eric Curtis Johnson, and Meghan Parks, as well as Fringe newcomers Bedjou Jean, Joe Hernandez-Kolski, Connor Pratt and Heather Marie Roberts, she brings us a show that is a can’t miss hit from start to finish.  Arlo Sanders captures all the nuances of Eberhardt’s adaptation, and keeps the timing up and the show jumping.  This one will definitely be your guilty pleasure.

RECOMMENDATION:  Don’t miss this one!  Remaining performances are June 21 and 28 at 8:30 p.m. , June 22 and 29 at both 2 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. and June 23 and 30 at 2 p.m.  This show will sell out so don’t delay, order your tickets on her Fringe project page.

TITLE OF SHOW:  Cave Girl the Musical

VENUE:  The Complex (Flight Theater)

REVIEW:  One person musicals are usually hit and miss at Fringe, but Glennis McCarthy has written and performed a memorable show that brings a totally different point of view to the problem of addiction.  Skillfully directed by Amber Petty, it is the story of an addict who loses herself in a fantasy world, only to come to the realization that she desperately needs help.  McCarthy has an amazing voice, and delivers a dazzling performance that includes rewritten lyrics to hit songs including Billy Joel‘s “Moving Out,” as well as songs from the Disney classics Beauty and the Beast and The Little Mermaid.  This one is worth the climb up to The Flight Theatre, and wiil have you humming along to these all-too familiar songs.

RECOMMENDATION:  This one is definitely worth your time.  Remaining performances are June 15 at 8 p.m., June 20 at 10:30 p.m., June 22 at 4 p.m.  and June 26 at 8:30 p.m.  Tickets are available on her Fringe project page.

TITLE OF SHOW:  Corina, From Lap Dance to Sundance

VENUE:  The Lounge Theatres

REVIEW:  Corina Calderon is a gifted SAG/AFTRA actress who got her start in the Sundance-nominated film All She Can, which led to her nomination for Best Film Actress at the Imagen Foundation  Awards in 2012.  Since then she has been very active in Hollywood, including appearing in the DC/Warner Bros. moving Suicide Squad, as well as numerous television appearances.  Her show tells her back story of growing up in a musical family and working in a strip club to pay for acting classes and head shots. With the assistance of the talented Jessica Lynn Johnson, Calderon delivers a masterpiece, keeping the story real as she examines her path to the silver screen.  This show is a strong candidate for best solo show at Fringe this year.

RECOMMENDATION:  Don’t miss this one!  Remaining performances are June 15 at 4 p.m. and June 20 at 8 p.m.  Tickets are available on her Fringe project page.

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HFF19 preview day 4 (part 1) – see it or skip it

Saturday was a blast but Sunday was even more so.  Check out part 1 of our reviews of Sunday’s shows.  We’ve now seen 19 shows at HFF19, plus done our own preview last Friday.  Fringe On!

TITLE OF SHOW:  Hollywoodn’t

VENUE:  The Lounge Theatres

REVIEW:  Last year I missed seeing this show in its original form, but so glad I could make it to this reformatted and completely amazing new version.  Lisa Verlo was part of the audience at my preview, and I was glad to return the favor, as she has delivered a stunning performance of her #MeToo experience.  You will be stunned at the revelations in this show, and laugh along with Verlo’s characterizations of her experiences within the Hollywood scene.  You will also be amazed and thrilled by her musical talents, both songwriting and performing.  Needless to say, this is an early favorite for our very own Larry Cornwall Award for Musical Excellence.  It is also another contestant for the best solo show at Fringe this year.

RECOMMENDATION:  Don’t miss this one – it could easily change your life.  Remaining performances are June 16 at 6 p.m., June 22 at 8 p.m.  and June 26 at 8 p.m.  Tickets are available on her Fringe project page.

TITLE OF SHOW:  Fertile

VENUE:  The Lounge Theatres

REVIEW:  So many of us have always taken having children for granted.  Thanks to the comic genius of Heather Dowling, we will never think of that topic in the same way we have before.  Dowling delivered a gem in her last Fringe show back in 2015, the only year we did not attend, so we were determined to catch her latest show, and we’re so glad we did.  She walked us through all the nuances of the assisted fertility industry, keeping this serious subject light-hearted and full of memorable moments.  We won’t tell you the result of her journey – you’ll just have to come see it to find that out.  We will tell you that your time will not be wasted and your life may be permanently enriched by the experience.

RECOMMENDATION:  Don’t miss this one!  Remaining performances are June 14 at 8 p.m. and June 29 at 6 p.m.  The show is currently sold out, but tickets may be available on her Fringe project page or at the door.

TITLE OF SHOW:  Crabbe and Goyle are Dead

VENUE:  Studio/Stage

REVIEW:  When you decide to create a new chapter in an iconic story like Harry Potter, you had better deliver.  Unfortunately for Crabbe & Goyle, it does not, although not for lack of trying.  The show suffered from a lack of direction that hurt the herculean efforts of the cast to deliver a first-rate show.  The show started off strongly but somewhere around the middle of the show it fell off the tracks and was unable to get back on.  The audience wanted so badly to like this show, but even for those of us who have read all the books and seen all the movies, this one had us lost in the Forbidden Forest.  We applaud the efforts of Graydon Schlicter as Goyle, Michael Lutheran as Crabbe and Kiki Anderson as house elf Tinsy, but they were unable to save this one.  Hopefully they will find their way before the end of their run.

RECOMMENDATION:  Wait until closing weekend for this one – hopefully it will be better by then.  Remaining performances are June 19 at 8:30 p.m., June 29 at 10 p.m. and June 30 at 3:30 p.m.  Tickets are available on her Fringe project page.

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HFF19 preview day 3 (part 2) – see it or skip it

We continue with part 2 of our reviews of the previews we saw on Saturday.  You can find part 1 here.

TITLE OF SHOW:  Leaving Prince Charming

VENUE:  The Lounge Theatres

REVIEW:  One of the reasons I have always loved solo shows is the depth of honesty and relatability.  Leaving Prince Charming is further proof of that fact.  Lara Repko delivers a masterpiece of solo theater with another in a long line of unfortunate stories about domestic violence.  Unlike so many others, she is not bitter about it, although her emotions came through loud and clear.  She tells the story in a humorous way that kept the audience at ease while she hit us with one startling revelation after another.  Her courage was evident and I left the show feeling empowered, as I have had a similar experience.  Thank you once again to Jessica Lynn Johnson for helping Repko tell her story.  This is one of the best solo shows at Fringe this year.

RECOMMENDATION:  Don’t miss this one – it could easily change your life.  Remaining performances are June 16 at 6 p.m. and June 29 at noon.  Tickets are available on her Fringe project page.

TITLE OF SHOW:  To Richard!

VENUE:  The Lounge Theatres

REVIEW:  Death is not normally a funny topic, but the brilliance of the script and the shear power of the performances by writer/ director Jessica Durdock Moreno and Nicky Romaniello turn this somber subject into a hilarious romp.  A chance meeting between a grieving widow and a former candidate for priesthood creates a roller-coaster of emotions, and leads to healing for both of the protagonists.  We don’t want to give anything away, but suffice it to say that this one will have you laughing and crying at the same time.  This is the first self-directed show I have ever truthfully been able to recommend.

RECOMMENDATION:  Don’t miss this one – it could easily change your life.  Remaining performances are June 13 at 8 p.m., June 15 at noon, June 19 at 6 p.m., June 21 at 8 p.m.  and June 29 at 4 p.m.  Tickets are available on her Fringe project page.

TITLE OF SHOW:  Tattered Capes

VENUE:  Studio/Stage

REVIEW:  Theatre Unleashed has earned its reputation for consistently delivering Fringe hits, and this show does not deviate from that pattern.  It was one of our Most Anticipated shows of HFF19.  Written by the uber-talented Greg Crafts and directed by the equally brilliant Corey Lynn Howe, Tattered Capes delivers where only DC and Marvel have delivered before.  The star-studded cast includes Travis Joe Dixon and Joanna Mercedes as Kevin and Stephanie Connelly, a couple with major secrets who are trying to celebrate their fifth anniversary.  Major props to the “5” – Tanner Risner as Maximus, Ann Hurd as Lady Voodoo, Courtney King as The Owl and Chris Clabaugh as Jonathan Strong – the best superheros since the Justice League.  This was a truly different type of Fringe show for TU, and proved that there is nothing they cannot do.  Hats off also to the “Shadows” for their amazing assistance and support to this show.

RECOMMENDATION:  Don’t drag your feet getting tickets for this one – it’s almost sold out for the entire run.  Remaining performances are June 16 at 7 p.m., June 21 at 10 p.m., June 24 at 7:30 p.m. and June 29 at 1 p.m.  Tickets are available on her Fringe project page.

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HFF19 preview day 3 (part 1) – see it or skip it

Had a fantastic Saturday full of fringing, music and  new fringeships.  Headed in early to get good parking at The Broadwater, and easily found parking all day at both The Lounge and Studio/Stage.  Early morning breakfast at Starbucks produced a pair of new fringeships and tickets to a couple more shows.  We’re now up to 70 shows on our schedule.  Approximately 27 of them are for our Larry Cornwall Award for Musical Excellence and the rest are just because.  Also got an amazing email from Michael Shaw Fisher stating they wanted to judge my solo show for their “O” Face Award.  That made my day.  I saw a total of six shows on Saturday, topped off by a Neverwonder concert at Molly Malone’s.  Let’s get going on the first three shows.

TITLE OF SHOW:  The Bully Problem

VENUE:  The Broadwater (Main Stage)

REVIEW:  Our first musical of HFF19 was a dream come true.  Michael Gordon Shapiro (with the help of ASCAP and Broadway’s Stephen Schwartz) has created a masterpiece of energetic singing and dancing and a timely story about overcoming obstacles and becoming who you were meant to be.  The show was produced by New Musicals, Inc. and is ready for Broadway now.  Time stood still as the entire sold-out audience was totally mesmerized by the amazing talent on stage, especially the work of James Everts as the protagonist Kevin Djykstra,  Jordan Mitchell-Love as the robot Oscar,  Josh Hillinger as the chief bully Gordo and Allie Costa as the effervescent Margaret.  The show was skillfully directed and produced by Joanna Syiek with superb musical direction from Jennifer Lin.  Hallie Mayer, Melvin Villajin Biteng, Tianna Cohen, Clint Blakeley, Jayna Sweet, Frankie Zabilka, Andrew Landecker, Socks Whitmore, Case Hunter, Malissa Marlow and Adam Foster Ballard turned in masterful supporting performances, especially Whitmore’s portrayal of bully intern and future nerd Charley.  This one is definitely one of the best musicals we have ever seen at Fringe.

RECOMMENDATION:  Don’t miss this show.  Remaining performances are June 14 at 8 p.m., June 22 at 5 p.m., June 27 at 6:30 p.m. and June 29 at 6:30 p.m.  Tickets are available on their Fringe project page.

TITLE OF SHOW:  Batter Up!  My Brain on Baseball

VENUE:  Studio/Stage

REVIEW:  Brett Moore is a Fringe rookie performer, just like me, although he is affiliated with Theatre Unleashed and has spent his share of time in the shadows.  Thanks to the amazing direction of his director Gregory Crafts and his stage manager and wife, Erin Moore, he brought this magical show to live and delivered a killer performance.  I’m a huge baseball fan anyway, so regardless I would have seen this show.  But the funny part is that it’s enjoyable whether or not you like baseball.  Think of it like the close-up magic you see by the wandering magicians at the Magic Castle.  This one is interactive and will have you cheering along, and there are prizes.  This is definitely one of the most interesting shows we have ever seen at Fringe.

RECOMMENDATION:  Don’t miss this show.  Remaining performances are June 14 at 7 p.m., June 21 at 7 p.m., June 22 at 3 p.m. and June 29 at 6:30 p.m.  Tickets are available on their Fringe project page.

TITLE OF SHOW:  The Journey of the Little Prince

VENUE:  Studio/Stage

REVIEW:  Irina Kampa is quite simply a force of nature.  If you attended any of the pre-Fringe Office Hours functions, you could not fail to notice her.  She brings that same energy to this production, wonderfully written by Victor Sotomayor, which reminds us that every adult was once a child, but only a few remember.  The Prince’s journey is a meta-physical voyage of self-discovery.  Patricia Mizen and Transe Carder provide excellent support to Kampa during her travels.   The most unique feature was the interesting lighting design, which kept most of the stage and cast in the shadows.  This allowed the words to have a more powerful impact, making them truly stand-out so the message could be delivered loud and clear.

RECOMMENDATION:  This one is definitely worth your time.  Remaining performances are June 15 at 10 p.m., June 22 at 11:30 a.m., June 25 at 9 p.m. and June 29 at 11:30 a.m.  Tickets are available on their Fringe project page.

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HFF19 preview day 2 – see it or skip it

Day 2 was not as hectic as day 1, but just as enjoyable.   I worked my part-time job in the morning, then spent the afternoon writing reviews of the day 1 shows, as well as getting ready for my own preview performance last night.  One of my roommates at the Air BnB wanted to see the show, and wanted to spend some time discovering what the Fringe is.  Although he is the son of long-time Fringe reviewer Ken Worther, Angel Morales had never been to a Fringe show.  He made a great +1 for the evening, and got the chance to see what I do first-hand, including having dinner with one of my fringeships, Rasika Mathur.  Thanks for coming along.

TITLE OF SHOW: Uprooted:  A Tale of Navigating Turbulence to Find Home

VENUE:  The Lounge Theatres

REVIEW:  Solo shows have always been one of my favorite forms of Fringe expression, and I review a multitude of them each year.  I love their honesty and triumphant story, and the bravery it takes to share these sometimes dark truths with the public.  During my nine years of reviewing Fringe shows, one director keeps popping up behind my favorite shows, and that is Jessica Lynn Johnson, who not coincidentally directed this show.  Vanessa Boss revealed so much in this show which was totally relatable and filled me with more hope that I was following the correct path.  What made her show so different was her use of mythological creatures to represent the different aspects of Boss’ psyche and bring her struggles to life so that we could all cheer as she made life-changing discoveries.  Although a bit slow at first, she soon hit her stride and kept the audience mesmerized with her beautiful storytelling.  Her audience interaction skills were likewise brilliant, enabling her to break the third wall without missing a beat.  It was the perfect show to prepare me for my own preview show that occurred later that night.  Thanks for a wonderful experience.

RECOMMENDATION:  Don’t miss this show.  Remaining performances are June 23 at 12 p.m. and June 29 at 2 p.m.  Tickets are available on her Fringe project page.