As we wrap up our coverage of HFF18, we find ourselves slowing down and more fully savoring the beauty and talent of the available shows, and Saturday was a perfect example. We had originally packed our schedule but ended up only seeing two of those shows, opting instead to check out a couple of additional shows that had a lot of buzz and for which we were personally sought out to attend. It proved to be the perfect remedy for our last full day of fringing this year.
Because of the Cultural Event happening on Hollywood Boulevard, the street was closed between Highland and Western. We decided to come around the north end, travelling down beautiful Laurel Canyon Boulevard and then south on Santa Monica. It only added about 20 minutes to our trip, so we had time to stop at Eat This and enjoy their breakfast special with scrambled eggs, mixed with bacon and cheese. So worth it. From there it was over to The Lounge Theatre to start our day with a pair of Jessica Lynn Johnson solo shows.
TITLE OF SHOW: SQUIRREL!!
VENUE: The Lounge Theatre
REVIEW: Soaring Solo and Johnson are becoming synonymous with quality Fringe shows, and this one was no exception. Sarah Rose Reynolds is a force of nature, a comedic actress who can sing and does both with an unforgettable flair. She wears her ADHD like a badge of honor, and gave us not only an incredibly funny and refreshing show, but revealed herself to be a wonderful human being as well. It was also amazing how our two worlds intersected, as we discovered we had several friends in common, including The Groundlings’ Tracy Newman and indie music queen Abby Posner. We even had the same taste in Fringe shows, as we met up later in the day for another amazing musical treasure at Three Clubs. Reynolds earned herself an encore, and will be back next weekend.
RECOMMENDATION: Reynolds only performed three shows during Fringe, two of them before we arrived in Los Angeles, so we were privileged to get to attend her closing show. Thank goodness for you LA that you will have one more chance to see her next Saturday, June 30 at 5 p.m. Get your tickets now because she is almost sold out, and you don’t want to miss this masterpiece of solo theater.
TITLE OF SHOW: Wild at Hart: A Tale of Trauma & Triumph
VENUE: The Lounge Theatre
REVIEW: This show was the 14th one we reviewed for our Larry Cornwall Award, and it was a true image of beauty. Kamakshi Hart has a beautiful voice, whether chanting her mantra or singing out show tunes. Her story, although full of pain and trauma, is told so beautifully that the audience can’t help but be uplifted by her unquenchable spirit and her ability to triumph over that tragedy. Of all the #metoo stories at this year’s Fringe, hers is the most touching and powerful. Johnson has once again left her mark upon an actor with this compelling tale of incest, rape, and abuse and the ultimate freedom obtained through dealing with that trauma and learning how to help others faced with similar pain. Hart’s ability to bounce back and conquer her shame is an encouraging story and model for us to emulate. We are so thankful that we had the opportunity to take that journey with her and to be able to apply it to our own personal battles.
RECOMMENDATION: Like Reynolds’ show, this one was only performed three times. We hope for your sakes that it is extended. If it is, do whatever it takes to see this one.
We threw out our schedule for the rest of the day, and decided to check out a couple of shows that we had really wanted to see. Rasika Mathur joined us, along with Johnson and Reynolds for our next show at Three Clubs, one of the best venues for Fringe.
TITLE OF SHOW: Stages: Girl Meets Boy, Boy Meets Boy, Girl Meets Drink
VENUE: Three Clubs
REVIEW: Emily Goglia is one of the most gifted voices and talents we have ever experienced in our eight years of doing Fringe. You’ve probably seen her on NBC’s Grease Live! or if you’re a fan of a capella music, on The Sing-Off as the lead singer of Element. At any rate, she is a voice that you will never forget, and we are privileged to get the chance to see her perform so intimately on the small stage of the Hollywood Fringe. When she’s not singing in Los Angeles, she tours the world with the USO show, entertaining our troops. Stages is a work of art and beauty, capturing the essence of the five stages of grief with a powerhouse performance that has literally taken Los Angeles by storm. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll drink plenty of alcohol, and anxiously await the chance to do it all again. We’re just sad that we didn’t discover the amazing talent earlier, but now that we have, we will tell the world about her.
RECOMMENDATIONS: Be on the lookout for the next chance to catch her, as this was her closing performance. By any means necessary, don’t miss her next show.
TITLE OF SHOW: The Parisian Dream
VENUE: The Assistance League Playhouse
REVIEW: The venue was one of the most beautiful we have ever seen, and perfect for this amazing show by Cabaret Versatile, who we had not experienced since 2012. Director Lola Ohlala has assembled a remarkable troupe who truly understand and demonstrate the beautiful art of French cabaret, and took the audience on a sweet journey to Paris. The dancing by troupe members Natalie J. Davis, Ohlala, Sarah Marquelle Krueger and Julianne Kusmierczyk, and British newcomer Georgie Leahy was breathtaking, while Krueger and Ohlala also mesmerized us with their singing voices. They were supported by the acting of Evan O’Brien and Aaron Stiles, who truly complemented the troupe with their comedic mime. This was a true Fringe event and must be experienced. We will treasure the memories of this performance until the next time they return, which we hope will not be another six years.
RECOMMENDATION: If you EVER get the chance to see Cabaret Versatile, we highly recommend you jump at that opportunity – they will give you a show that you will never forget.