Category: See it or Skip it

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

HFF18 day 3 – see it or skip it (part 1)

Yesterday was another easy day of reviews, with time left over to catch a movie.  We checked out Ocean’s 8, and it was perfect, and even told a convincing story of the connection between the movies staring George Clooney and the current one with Julia Roberts.  Afterwards it was time to head down to the Fringe, with five shows on our schedule.

TITLE OF SHOW:  Dracula’s Taste Test

VENUE:  The Broadwater Black Box

REVIEW:   We had no idea what to expect from this show, and picked it because it had Dracula in the title.  We were pleasantly surprised to find it a rollicking good time, singing karaoke with Dracula and his monster friends, and listening to Quasimodo deliver the perfect stand-up comedy routine.  The cast was amazing, with knock-out performances by Carrie Keranen as Quasimodo, Jeff Sumner as Creep, Crystal Keith as the Ghost of Mina Harker and Marz Richards as Dracula.   C.J. Merriman did a great job of choreographing and directing this show, with musical direction by Ryan Johnson, who also provided the piano accompaniment as The Phantom of the Opera.  This is the kind of show you can only get at Fringe – no agenda, no propaganda, and no purpose other than to just have fun.

RECOMMENDATION:  If you want a good time, and to forget about the world for an hour, come immerse yourself in this show.  It is just what the doctor ordered.  You can still catch it on June 17 at 6 p.m. and June 21 at 10 p.m.   You can purchase your tickets here.

TITLE OF SHOW:  Echoes

VENUE:  The Broadwater Second Stage

REVIEW:   It was a honor to review this play, which has already won awards around the world, including the Adelaide Fringe, Edinburgh Festival Fringe and Prague Fringe.  The cast of Catherine Lidstone as Samira and Bree Wernicke as Tillie was sheer perfection, bringing this interesting parallel story to life.  We quickly lost track of time as these ladies told their individual tales.  Despite them being 175 years apart, they were similar in so many ways, living in a time and place where females were not respected and were forced to be whatever their abusive husbands wanted.  To share in their tenacity for justice and freedom and their mission to help others was the core of the show, and the audience was buying every second of this magnificent performance.   The simplistic staging added to the timeliness of the story, which comes at a time when women are once again rising up against their male antagonists.    This one is well worth the investment of time and money, for the knowledge you can glean from it is without price.

RECOMMENDATION:  Definitely see it – it is a treasure that will become a powerful motivator for change.  Catch one of their remaining performances on June 14 at 8 p.m., June 15 at 7:30 p.m., June 17 at 4 p.m., June 21 at 5:30 p.m. and June 22 at 9 p.m.  You can buy tickets here.

TITLE OF SHOW:  The Other Side of the Razor Ribbon

VENUE:  Asylum Studio C

REVIEW:  This was our first solo play, and we were looking forward to it because of the subject matter – writing.  As writers, we are always looking for helpful hints and ways to improve our blog, and to have the opportunity to hear from the acclaimed “Memoir Midwife” seemed like a good idea.  However, it wasn’t exactly what we had thought it would be.  Stacy Dymalski wrote the show, based on her encounter with a budding writer, David C. Taylor, who was incarcerated for human smuggling.   Dymalski worked with Taylor for several years, mailing his transcripts back and forth while creating what was to become the Jacumba Connection.  We expected the show to be more about that interaction, but the majority of the show was spent on explaining Dymalski’s personal backstory.  While that was interesting, it was not the story that the title reflected.  We think the show would have benefitted greatly by having a director, as the backstory portion was longer than the subject matter portion.  Still, it was a worthy effort, and the inclusion of her musically gifted son Derrick (who played flute, clarinet and sax) helped set the mood for the show with his beautiful compositions.

RECOMMENDATION:  This is a good Fringe show that could be tweaked to be even better.  We still think you should see it, just don’t go expecting to hear a lot about the writing process.  Enjoy the music and listen to the story and you’ll leave fulfilled.  Remaining performances are June 16 at noon, June 21 at 7 p.m. and June 23 at 3 p.m.  Tickets can be purchased here.

Don’t go away – part 2 is coming soon.

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Hollywood Fringe Festival Reviews See it or Skip it Theatre

HFF18 day 2 – see it or skip it

With only two reviews to write from our first day of Fringe, we had lots of down time yesterday.  That gave us the chance to hit Big Lots and stock up on essentials for the next two weeks, and catch up on sleep.  Staying out of that hot sun was another good reason to lay low.

Finally it was time to head back down to the Fringe, and we had a couple of interesting shows to check out.  We were joined by our dear friend Rasika Mathur, the creator and actress who brought us last year’s My Hustle has ADHD, who met us at the Hobgoblin Playhouse for our first show of the evening.

TITLE OF SHOW:  The Story of my Life

VENUE:  The Hobgoblin Playhouse

REVIEW: This was our second show at this amazing venue, and once again that grand piano was the star of the show.  Although not an original show (it had a brief run off Broadway), it was nevertheless extremely well done by members of Chromolume Theatre, who exceeded our expectations in their interpretation of the songs and the material.  This was easily one of the best musicals we have ever seen at Fringe.  Andrew Schulman, who played Thomas and Daniel Koh, who played Alvin, truly embodied their characters, giving the audience an honest look at the lives of these two life-long friends, and the adventures they shared during that life.  The direction of Michael Marchak and the musical direction of Richard Bereni were also quite evident, as they worked the full gamut of our emotions, creating memorable moment after memorable moment.  The actors performance of “The Butterfly Song” had us in tears with the simple beauty of the story and the imagery that the words created in our minds.

RECOMMENDATION:  This one is our third straight no-brainer.  You simply must see this show, especially if you love music and want to be truly moved by a wonderful story about friendship.  This one deserves a long run.  You can still catch it on June 16 at 10 p.m. and June 23 at 7:30 p.m.   You can purchase your tickets here.

We had a little time before our next show, so Rasika suggested we grab a drink.  We headed over to the next venue, found a parking place, and walked around until we found the Next Door Lounge on Highland.  We had the Georgia Julep, and it was mighty tasty.  It was fun catching up with Rasika, comparing notes on the first show, and discussing what to expect from the next one.  After taking the obligatory selfie, and posting it to social media, we headed over to the Los Angeles LGBT Center for our next show.

TITLE OF SHOW:  The Dangerous Cures of Dr. B

VENUE:  The Los Angeles LGBT Center

REVIEW:  We didn’t know what to expect from this show, but since they had applied for the Larry Cornwall Award, we had to screen it.  The play is based on the true life antics of John R. Brinkley, a so-called “doctor” and radio pioneer who achieved infamy during the 1920’s and 30’s for his radical use of goat glands to “cure” male impotency and other problems.  This is not a “feel-good” show, which was painfully obviously in the quiet and introspective looks on the faces of the audience as they left the venue.  While Jess Weaver and Garrett Crouch did a great job of providing music within the context of the show, it did not rise to the level of necessity to the overall story that is required for the Larry Cornwall Award.  This was a truly dark story of a man who was in many ways just another Jim Jones or David Karesh, and the insane ways that people can ignore reality when it opposes their rosy picture.  Kudos to the Puckwit Gang, who turned in stellar ensemble performances and brought the sordid story to life.

RECOMMENDATION:      Even though you won’t leave the venue feeling better, this is a show you should definitely see.  Hopefully it will open  your eyes to the dangers of being blinded by any one person and their philosophy.  You can still catch it on June 13, 19 and 22 at 10:30 p.m., June 17 at 6 p.m., and June 23 at 8 p.m.   You can purchase your tickets here.

 

 

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Hollywood Fringe Festival See it or Skip it Theatre Women in Entertainment

HFF18 day 1 – see it or skip it

After 17 hours of driving, and an overnight stay in Las Vegas, we arrived in Los Angeles mid afternoon.  Our first show wasn’t until 7 p.m., so we had time to visit with friends, get situated at the airBNB and clean up before heading into Hollywood for our first night of fringing.

Our first stop was the newly opened Hobgoblin Playhouse (6520 Hollywood Boulevard), managed by the stellar team of Greg Crafts and Jenn Scuderi Crafts, who also manage Studio/Stage.  It was great to catch up with them pre-show, and to hear the back story about our first show of #HFF18, which was written and performed by Laura Jo Trexler.

Once they got the contract to manage the space, they discovered this beautiful grand piano inside.  They called Trexler to come and tune the piano.  During the session, she mentioned that she had written a one-woman show and asked if they knew where she could perform it.  Obviously, the response was “At the Fringe,” and the rest, they say, is history.

TITLE OF SHOW:  Play On!  A Musical Romp with Shakespeare’s Heroines

VENUE:  The Hobgoblin Playhouse

REVIEW: Trexler is incredible, both as an actress and musician.  The songs she has so skillfully created depict the true character of each of these legendary women as written about by William Shakespeare, including Juliet, Rosalind, Ophelia, Olivia, Beatrice, Viola, Adriana, Lady M, Gertrude, and the Dark Lady,   The production was in every way imaginable just perfect, and set the bar extremely high for this year’s Fringe.  Greg Crafts did an admirable job stepping in for the stage manager, who was under the weather, and perfectly executed the lighting plan.  Trexler’s performance had all that you would expect from a Broadway show, with just the right amount of theatricality added to the songs to make them come alive and memorable.  She even had recorded a soundtrack of the songs, and made the CD available for her patrons at a “pay what you can” price.  This was definitely the way to start our 2018 Fringe Experience.  Welcome to the Fringe, Laura Jo!  We’re so glad we found you.

RECOMMENDATION:  This one is a no-brainer.  You simply must see this show, especially if you love music and Shakespeare.  This one deserves a long run.  You can still catch it on June 15 at 10 p.m., June 16 at noon and June 24 at 11:30 a.m., or buy the soundtrack and listen it these great songs over and over again.  You can purchase your tickets here.

Our next show wasn’t for a couple of hours, so we headed over to Fringe Concierge to pick up our credentials and then stopped at Three Clubs for a drink.  It was wonderful to run into several of the Cherry Poppins ladies, including Alli Miller, Sarah Haworth Hodges, and Sarah Wines, along with their amazing cohorts including Michael Shaw Fisher, Cory Robinson and Schoen Hodges.  We even managed to find Laura Wiley there as well.

We headed back to The Complex for our 10:30 show at The Flight Theatre, and ran into Victoria Watson and Better-Lemons‘ own Enci Box.  Watch for our reviews on that website as well.  Before we knew it, it was time for our second show of the night.

TITLE OF SHOW:  The Rental

VENUE:  The Flight Theatre at The Complex

REVIEW: This one was a last minute addition to our schedule, and boy are we glad we went.  This show was impeccable, and wonderfully written and directed by Ben Ubiñas.  The show starred Jake Corvino and Ali Astin, the amazing actress daughter of Sean Astin, best known to millions as “Sam” in the Lord of the Rings trilogy.  In today’s era of #MeToo, female empowerment and sexual politics, this show was right on point.  Both Astin and Corvino turned in Tony Award-worthy performances as a call girl and her virgin client.  The story takes you in one direction and then shifts into an entirely different one, with mind-blowing results.  Trust us when we say that you will walk away from this one with an entirely new perspective on the world’s oldest profession.

RECOMMENDATION:  This one is likewise a no-brainer.  There is only one performance left on June 14 at 6 p.m., and you owe it to yourself to attend.  You can grab your tickets here.

It was so good catching up with Ali after the performance.  We hadn’t seen her since 2012 when we worked at the Renaissance Faire.  We are sure the world will be seeing a lot more of this amazing actress.

 

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

HFF 17 – see it or skip it (day 9)

We’ve reached the end of our Fringe experience for 2017.  It was an amazing ride – 3,396 miles driven, 11 wonderful nights at Castle Zharinov, 20 new fringeships and countless more renewed.  And along the way we got to see 37 shows and give out our first Fringe award.  We will be back later with our own awards for the shows that we saw, so go ahead and follow our blog so you won’t miss anything.  Here are our final three reviews.

TITLE OF SHOW:  Why we Become Witches

VENUE:  Sacred Fools Studio

REVIEW:  My wife really wanted to see this show, which is based on the novel, Lolly Willowes or The Loving Huntsman, written by Sylvia Townsend Warner.  It was not at all what we expected.  The best thing about the show was the dynamic performance by Lisa K. Wyatt, an amazing actress who has multiple television and film credits.  She brought the story to life and kept the audience firmly engrossed in the show.  Kudos to Kate Motzenbacker for a wonderful job of directing.  Congratulations on your Encore award.

RECOMMENDATION:  Definitely check this one out during the Encore run.  It is worth your time.

TITLE OF SHOW:  The David Mayes Show

VENUE:  Sacred Fools Studio

REVIEW:  David Mayes and his brother JJ are staples at Sacred Fools.  We had heard mixed reviews about his show, so we had not added it to our schedule.  However on Saturday night, we sat and chatted with them at Fringe Central, and ended up receiving a pair of tickets to check out the show.  Much to our chagrin, it’s really good.  David has assembled the who’s who of Sacred Fools to populate this fake talk show and turned it into such a farce that you couldn’t help but laugh.  The biggest treat was finding out that one of our favorite actresses, Carrie Kerranen, of Lamprey fame, was an audience plant who crawled from the back row to the front row to be a part of the show.  Well done Sacred Fools!!

RECOMMENDATION:  Sad but true, The David Mayes Show is a must see.  Too bad it didn’t get an Encore.

TITLE OF SHOW:  I’m too Fat for This Show

VENUE:  Lounge Theatre 2

REVIEW:  We met Kate Huffman at our first Lounge show this year (Hey Hollywood My Hustle has ADHD) and after chatting with her a bit decided to close out our Fringe run this year with her show.  It was one of several this year about the struggles with real world issues.  While we loved her performance and applaud her efforts to be transparent about her struggle, we left the show feeling like the story was not yet complete, that merely accepting your condition is not the same as overcoming it.  In addition, the show’s 70 minute length is a little long for a solo show, and it might help to tighten it up a bit.  Overall, it was an amazing show, and we wish Kate well in her acting career.  Congrats on your Encore.

RECOMMENDATION:  This show and Kate Huffman in particular are worthy of your time and attendance.  We recommend you See this show during its Encore run.

 

 

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Fringe Shows Hollywood Fringe Festival Reviews See it or Skip it Theatre

HFF 17 – see it or skip it (day 8) part 2

Continuing on with our reviews of a most intriguing day of Fringing.

TITLE OF SHOW:  Orange Mango Cabaret

VENUE:  Sacred Fools Black Box

REVIEW:  This show was by far the most political one we have seen this year.  It reminded us of an evening of Jon Stewart, combined with a taste of Saturday Night Live.  The glue that kept it all together was the riveting performance of Sierra Taylor as the hostess, Friv O’ Less, and the guitar strumming of Dylan Peruti.  Sprinkled between her songs and monologues were six short plays about our events and attitudes that have shaped this current political climate.  The rest of the cast, which included Cole Wagner, Jax Ball, Daniel Ramirez, Celina Surniak, Celia Mandela, Kelly Goodman and Bart Tangredi, ably brought us those plays, which provided much food for thought.

RECOMMENDATION:  An interesting show with enough political gunpowder to ignite many a night of discussion.

TITLE OF SHOW:  Martha Washington Killed a Redcoat

VENUE:  The Other Stage at Actor’s Company

REVIEW:  A sterling comedy about the night of the Boston Tea Party, and the first Redcoat killed in the revolution.  Martha Jefferson, played by Corrine Mestemacher, who previously played Bella in Buffy Kills Edward, joins with Dolley Madison (Laura Lee Walsh) and Deborah Reed (Megan Barker) to cover up the murder of a Redcoat by Martha Washington (Katie Stevens) in this hilarious spoof of American history.  Wonderfully directed by Matt Richey, the show was well done with great pacing and laughs.  There were great performances by the supporting cast as well, but no programs were supplied so we can’t credit them by name.  We enjoyed laughing at this zany cast and the storyline of the first cover-up in American politics.

RECOMMENDATION:  Definitely worth seeing.  Check it out if it receives an extension.

TITLE OF SHOW:  The Rise and Fall of Dracula

VENUE:  Asylum @ Stephanie Feury Studio Theatre

REVIEW:  We have not had much experience with immersive theater so we were totally unprepared for this awesome experience.  Starting the show lined up against a wall at the huge Stephanie Feury Studio Theatre, the show unfolded before our eyes as we moved from room to room and back again while the show happened right in front of us, enveloping us in its splendor.  We got to participate in this show in a way we thoroughly enjoyed, becoming part of the performance.  It made the story more real.  Melissa Ortiz, the writer and director, and Cassandra Ambe, who played Dracula and choreographed the show, have created a masterpiece of immersive theater that simply must be experienced.  The rest of the cast, which included Tamara Burgess, Sam Flemming, Matt Jennings, Corissa Pacillas Smith, Gerard Alvarez, Mary Emfinger, Sarah Rodriguez and Guilia Blandino were amazing in their support of the story.

RECOMMENDATION:  This show was the perfect ending to one of our busiest Fringe days and must be experienced to be understood.  We understand that the show has been extended, and we highly recommend you See it on July 14 at 9:30 p.m. or July 15 at 10 p.m.

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

HFF 17 – see it or skip it (day 8) part 1

What a Fringe experience we have had.  We saw six  shows on Saturday and plan to see three more today, bringing our total to 37 shows in 9 days.  Quite a run.  Saturday was one of the most diverse days of Fringe we have ever experienced, and we are happy to share our reviews with you.

But before that, here are our nominees for the first Larry Cornwall Award for Musical Excellence, which will be handed out today at the Fringe Awards show at 6 p.m. at the Montalban Theatre:

Under the Jello Mold

Nosferatu

The Girl who Jumped off the Hollywood Sign

Lights Camera Lyla: The Second Act

Magic 8 Ball (My Life with Asperger’s)

TITLE OF SHOW:  Middleschoolandia

VENUE:  Sacred Fools Main Stage

REVIEW:  An interesting musical, written by a 12 year old girl and her mother, based on her journal about the trauma caused by attending middle school.  The entire cast, with the exception of the Dad, Teacher and Advisor, were children, and they taught the adults how to do a show.  It was cute, like Alanis Morissette on steroids, full of angst and satire, but not quite as tight as it could be.  Some of the songs were too basic, but the overall gist was that the three years of middle school were a rite of passage that every child must endure.  As Dad says in closing, “There are scarier things in life than Middleschoolandia, like Trumperica!”  It was a worthy effort and several of the kids were outstanding, both in the vocal deliveries and their characterizations.  Hats off to Carson Goring, who wrote the show and portrayed Ashley, Mia Ruhman, Cheyenne Rimando, Lilly Mae Stewart, Veronica McFarlane, Jacob Accardo, Kai Johnson, Jacob Smith and Lily Hightower who portrayed the children; Carlos Chavez, Amsara Holly, and Nikki Lewis, who portrayed the Wild Teens, and to Steven Bray for his portrayal of Dad.

RECOMMENDATION:  It was an interesting show that has the potential to become something even better.

TITLE OF SHOW:  Chemo Barbie:  My Lady Bits’ Journey Through Breast Cancer

VENUE:  Asylum @ Studio C

REVIEW:  If there were an award for the most tender, emotional and inspirational show at Fringe, then Chemo Barbie would win hands down.  I have personally never cried so much during a Fringe show as I did at this show, which tugged at my heart and connected with my past experiences with friends and family.  As a cancer survivor myself, this show hit me like a ton of bricks, giving me new found courage to live even stronger than before.  Heather Keller is a powerful actress with the emotional strength to make her journey relatable to her audience as well as inspire them to live.  The show was wonderfully directed by Jessica Lynn Johnson, who squeezed out an amazing story of triumph and hope from the tragedy that could have been Keller’s life.  Believe me when I tell you that seeing Chemo Barbie is a life-changing experience I will cherish forever.

RECOMMENDATION:  This show is a MUST SEE and truly worthy of an extension.  Don’t miss your opportunity to be inspired.

TITLE OF SHOW:  An Evening with John Wilkes Booth

VENUE:  The Flight Theatre at the Complex

REVIEW:  History has always told us about the assassination of Abraham Lincoln from the victim’s side.  This show explored it from the view of the assassin, actor John Wilkes Booth, exploring his reasons and frame of mind in creating and carrying out his conspiracy to kill Lincoln, General Grant and Secretary of State Seward.  It was an insightful journey through the mind of a killer, and Stephen Spiegel was excellent in bringing the audience along.  The show was wonderfully written and directed by Lloyd J. Schwartz.  Although it did drag at times, the overall pacing was good and the acting was well done, resulting in an interesting show.

RECOMMENDATION:  This show is worthy of your attention, and we recommend that you See it if it returns for an extension.

 

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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.

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

HFF 17 – see it or skip it (day 6)

The 2017 Hollywood Fringe Festival is rapidly coming to a close.  We attended two shows today, with three shows scheduled for Friday, six (or seven) on Saturday and two on Sunday before the awards are given out.  It’s been a wonderful run this year and we’re so glad we had the chance to come down.  We’re looking forward to handing out our first award on Sunday.  Hope you’re all there for that!

TITLE OF SHOW:  Tough Brown Leather

VENUE:  Lounge Theatre 2

REVIEW:  We love that so many people have been able to tell their personal stories through the magic of Fringe solo shows.  This vehicle has allowed people like Tonya Jones the freedom to reveal her experiences with sexual abuse and to showcase her triumph over that event.  Her story is inspiring and her journey to acceptance and victory is a work of art.  It is a sad testament to our society that so many people have to go through this in silence because the justice system treats these victims as criminals, instead of making the perpetrators pay for their crimes.  Thank you Tonya for reminding us of those who suffered silently.  Thank you for being the voice that can help them unlock their past and move on with their lives.  We need more inspirational people like you, Diana Varco and Kimleigh Smith to continue sounding the alarm and showing other victims that they can have a full life again after sexual abuse.

RECOMMENDATION:  We highly recommend this show and urge you to See it.  Her final performance is June 24 at 6 p.m.  Don’t miss it.

TITLE OF SHOW:  Nosferatu, a Symphony in Terror

VENUE:  Studio/Stage

REVIEW:  In what has to be the most unique show we have ever seen at Fringe, Crown City Theatre Company brings us the stage version of the classic 1922 film, Nosferatu.  What makes it so unique is the complete lack of dialogue, other than what is projected on the back wall, and the amazing voice of the narrator.  The story is told through classical music, dance and the amazing dramatic movements of the cast, who all turned in stellar performances.  The cast included Michael J. Marchak as Thomas Hutter; Alina Bolshakova as Ellen Hutter, Michelle Holmes as Count Orlok, Amanda Walter as the Gypsy; Shayna Gabrielle as the Innkeeper’s Daughter; Renee Cohen as Sister Agatha, Rolando J. Vargas as Herr Doktor Schmidt; Kristian Steel as the evil Herr Knock and Matthew Campbell as the Postman.  Special kudos to Holmes, who braved three hours of makeup to create the diabolical Count Orlok.

Our only complaint was that the staging often prevented the audience from being able to read the written dialogue.

RECOMMENDATION:  You should definitely See this show.  Its uniqueness will give you a fuller Fringe experience.  Their final show is June 24 at 3:30 p.m.

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Fringe Shows Hollywood Fringe Festival Reviews See it or Skip it Theatre

HFF 17 – see it or skip it (day 5) part 2

After those three magnificent dramas, we were ready to cut loose with some comedy, mischief and mayhem.  That can only mean another production by the amazing troupe at Cherry Poppins Productions, held at Three Clubs, the best place for late night entertainment in Hollywood.

TITLE OF SHOW:  Shakeslesque (To Thine own Cherry be True)

VENUE:  Three Clubs

REVIEW:  We fell in love with the ladies (and gents) of Cherry Poppins Productions last year, and couldn’t wait to get back this year for another delectable slice.  The addition of Michael Shaw Fisher this year has made for an absolutely appetizing and appealing show.  Kudos to Alli Miller and Sarah Haworth Hodges for creating this delicious morsel that is so much more than burlesque, with triple threats in abundance that add to the sheer beauty of the art that they create.

Hats off to the entire cast, which included Fisher, Miller and Hodges, as well as Tyler Olshansky, K.C. Lindley, Cory Robinson, Schoen Hodges, Amber Bracken, Kelly Stevenson, Taylor Baker, Reagan Osborne, Angie Hobin, Rebecca Reaney, Sabrina Moiseyev, Brin Hamblin, Sarah Wines, Kim Dalton and Megan Esber.  Every one turned in amazing performances.  We also love the ad libbing that goes on, especially from Miller, and the overall chemistry of this troupe – they are one of a kind.

RECOMMENDATION:  This one is a pure no-brainer.  If you love music, beautiful ladies, handsome lads, drag and burlesque, then you simply MUST SEE this show.  Your fringe experience is not complete without it 🙂  Their final show is June 23 at 11 p.m. and it is currently sold out, but you should make the effort to get on the wait list – it will be worth it.

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HFF17 – see it or skip it (day 5) part 1

After two days of clearing out our storage unit, we hosted the LA Music Critic Awards winners showcase on the Second Stage at the world-famous Hotel Café on Tuesday night.  During that amazing night of indie music, we were treated to performances by Wendy Sweetlove, Elyse Haren, Jon Mullane, Janey Street, Jerad Finck, Lovers & Poets, Katie Costello, The Spider Accomplice and Papermoon Gypsys.   In addition, Janey Street was awarded the 2017 Icon Award.  Kudos to her team at Blue Élan Records, who showed up in force, led by label owner Kirk Pasich, label-mate Cindy Alexander and their publicist, Melissa Dragich-Cordero of MAD Ink PR.  Other notables in attendance included Alexis Keagan, Aleksey Zharinov of Sika, Kris Angelis, Alisha Zalkin and Dan Kalisher of Sleep Machine, Jennifer Lyneis of Ue3 Promotions and Patrick O’Hefferan of LA Musica Radio.  Thanks to everyone who attended.

Moving on to Wednesday, it was time to get fringing again, and we took in three plays which are reviewed below, and topped it off with the Cherry Poppins production of Shakeslesque, which we will review in part 2.

TITLE OF SHOW:  Magic 8 Ball (My Life with Asperger’s)

VENUE:  Sacred Fools Black Box

REVIEW:  We first learned about this show when he submitted for our Larry Cornwall Award, and we are so thankful he reached out.  This show has got to be one of the hidden gems of HFF 17.  Wonderfully directed by first time directorial team Penni and Crystal Wilson, the show was written and performed by George Steeves, who is also a singer-songwriter with songs available on iTunes.  Needless to say, this was one of the best shows we have seen at Fringe this year.  It is a very personal story of triumph over adversity that was also educational in understanding the struggles of people living on the autism spectrum.

RECOMMENDATION:  If you only have time for a few shows at Fringe, this is a MUST SEE!  We are proud to give Magic 8 Ball one of our highest recommendations.  He still has shows available on June 24 at 4:30 p.m. and June 25 at 2:30 p.m.

TITLE OF SHOW:  “Lovesick” The Misadventures of a Love-Crazed Maniac

VENUE:  Sacred Fools Black Box

REVIEW:  Lovesick is another show wonderfully directed and developed by Jessica Lynn Johnson, and amazingly written and performed by Gabriella DeMarco.  Told through a host of characters, including cats, the story was funny, uplifting and all too universal.    What made it all the more special was that DeMarco has had some personal losses while preparing for Fringe that would have driven most people into a deep state of inactivity and depression.  The fact that she was performing during this turmoil goes to the true professionalism she displayed in her acting, and in sharing her story with the Fringe.

RECOMMENDATION:  This was her final show, but hopefully Combined Artform will pick her up for an extension.  If they do, we highly recommend that you See her show.

TITLE OF SHOW:  Shattered

VENUE:  Sacred Fools Black Box

REVIEW:  Our final drama and one-person show of the day turned out to be Diana Varco‘s amazing production of Shattered, which was also wonderfully directed by Jessica Lynn Johnson.  Not since 2010, when Kimleigh Smith rocked the Fringe with her dramatic tale in T-O-T-A-L-L-Y, has such a powerful piece about sexual abuse and its aftermath rocked my Fringe world.   Told through 35 characters, which included many of the emotions that haunt most of us, this show made its mark and earned the distinction of being among our favorite shows of HFF 17.  It was funny, sad, heart-wrenching and hopeful, and left us with a true sense of purpose to becoming the person we were meant to be.  Kudos to Ms. Varco for a true Fringe work of art.

RECOMMENDATION:  We strongly advise you to See the final performance of this show on June 24 at 9:30 p.m.