Posts tagged with ‘leigh’

Hamluke If you fucking LOVE “Star Wars” and are somewhat familiar with Hamlet I’ll bet one million Fringe Bucks that you will die from a geek-induced orgasm of nerdosity no later than halfway through this show. Its premise is to hang Hamlet’s skeleton on a tree branch and have the entire Ewok nation hurl “Star Wars” jokes on it until said branch bows under the immense weight of as much as fifty Geoge Lucases. It’s not intelligent. It’s not even terribly clever. But it is fun. Even for this reviewer who hasn’t seen either source material in a good five years. -Leigh-

Hamluke

If you fucking LOVE “Star Wars” and are somewhat familiar with Hamlet I’ll bet one million Fringe Bucks that you will die from a geek-induced orgasm of nerdosity no later than halfway through this show. Its premise is to hang Hamlet’s skeleton on a tree branch and have the entire Ewok nation hurl “Star Wars” jokes on it until said branch bows under the immense weight of as much as fifty Geoge Lucases. It’s not intelligent. It’s not even terribly clever. But it is fun. Even for this reviewer who hasn’t seen either source material in a good five years.

-Leigh-

Your Responsibility for Sex Failure Several people recommended this show to me and I was totally looking forward to seeing a fun play about the ridiculous clichés, stereotypes, and ideas about sex in the 1950’s. Unfortunately, the show’s tone and style left me confused and annoyed. What makes plays of this genre successful are their innocence, naïveté, and honesty. None of this works as humor when it’s played as a hard melodrama with a shit-ton of mugging. There were some moments when I smiled and yes, even laughed, but there were so many opportunities lost in the writing and playing of it that could have made this show a monster hit. Anyone remember Commedia Beauregard’s Five Fifths of Romeo and Juliet? Those kids knew what they were doing. -Leigh-

Your Responsibility for Sex Failure

Several people recommended this show to me and I was totally looking forward to seeing a fun play about the ridiculous clichés, stereotypes, and ideas about sex in the 1950’s. Unfortunately, the show’s tone and style left me confused and annoyed. What makes plays of this genre successful are their innocence, naïveté, and honesty. None of this works as humor when it’s played as a hard melodrama with a shit-ton of mugging. There were some moments when I smiled and yes, even laughed, but there were so many opportunities lost in the writing and playing of it that could have made this show a monster hit. Anyone remember Commedia Beauregard’s Five Fifths of Romeo and Juliet? Those kids knew what they were doing.

-Leigh-

Nineteen Cows Leaving Beirut I love theater. Really. But sometimes I see shows that make my soul cry. This one came awfully close. A parody? Commentary? Satire? On the No Child Left Behind Act this play follows a struggling teen and the girl that, for some reason, loves him. Something happens to them…they get captured by the government or something. I don’t really know. All I remember is a violent ending whose profundity was completely unearned by the grade-school antics that drove the show up to that point. -Leigh-

Nineteen Cows Leaving Beirut

I love theater. Really. But sometimes I see shows that make my soul cry. This one came awfully close. A parody? Commentary? Satire? On the No Child Left Behind Act this play follows a struggling teen and the girl that, for some reason, loves him. Something happens to them…they get captured by the government or something. I don’t really know. All I remember is a violent ending whose profundity was completely unearned by the grade-school antics that drove the show up to that point.

-Leigh-

Animal FarmVille: A Friend Me, Like Me, Poke Me Musical Disclaimer: I do not play Farmville, nor am I on Facebook or FourSquare or Twitter or Google+. I am probably the worst person to review this show. However, I believe that I can say with some authority that this was half-baked. The premise is fine; it’s a series of sketches that revolve around a war that breaks out between Mayors real and virtual over local turf. And while it’s certainly cute, I didn’t find it particularly clever. I mean, it’s sketch comedy, right? It’s not supposed to be well-written. But at the same time, it’s a real show with a great plot idea that simply comes up short. But, like so many other shows this year, I found that my fellow audience members enjoyed it much more than I. Even the senior citizens in the house were laughing at a few tech jokes which only made me feel even more like an uber-luddite that just crawled out from under my rock for my weekly dose of whatever. So they get an extra half-star for that. Also, you should know that while the cast can sing they are by no means singers. So just be prepared for that. -Leigh-

Animal FarmVille: A Friend Me, Like Me, Poke Me Musical

Disclaimer: I do not play Farmville, nor am I on Facebook or FourSquare or Twitter or Google+. I am probably the worst person to review this show. However, I believe that I can say with some authority that this was half-baked. The premise is fine; it’s a series of sketches that revolve around a war that breaks out between Mayors real and virtual over local turf. And while it’s certainly cute, I didn’t find it particularly clever. I mean, it’s sketch comedy, right? It’s not supposed to be well-written. But at the same time, it’s a real show with a great plot idea that simply comes up short. But, like so many other shows this year, I found that my fellow audience members enjoyed it much more than I. Even the senior citizens in the house were laughing at a few tech jokes which only made me feel even more like an uber-luddite that just crawled out from under my rock for my weekly dose of whatever. So they get an extra half-star for that. Also, you should know that while the cast can sing they are by no means singers. So just be prepared for that.

-Leigh-

FLESH Nic Lincoln might be this year’s Joel Smith. It’s been a while since a dude made my lady bits all warm and tingly, but seeing Mr. Lincoln’s near-perfect form in high heels and latex pants bent over on all fours and prancing around like a horse might have been the highlight of my day. Also, Ms. Ober is totally topless and moves around the stage like some sort of deer with a chromosomal abnormality. What were they doing? Oh, right. They were dancing. Yes…FLESH is a five-piece dance show curated(?) by Tamara Ober, the long-time Zenon member and PIPA creator (Fringe ‘09). It’s also a last-minute replacement show and though the pieces don’t really form a cohesive whole, it’s admirable that she’s able to pull this all together on a few weeks’ notice. The show is a veriety of modern dance and movement and while I didn’t love or even understand every piece there’s definitely something for everyone. Ms. Ober’s piece, as I mentioned before, is more abstract and unconventional, but it’s fascinating to watch a human being move in that way. But the most profound moments of the show belonged to Leslie O’Neil. Her bathtub transformation gave me chills and was one of the more raw and beautiful pieces I’ve seen in a while. -Leigh-

FLESH

Nic Lincoln might be this year’s Joel Smith. It’s been a while since a dude made my lady bits all warm and tingly, but seeing Mr. Lincoln’s near-perfect form in high heels and latex pants bent over on all fours and prancing around like a horse might have been the highlight of my day. Also, Ms. Ober is totally topless and moves around the stage like some sort of deer with a chromosomal abnormality. What were they doing? Oh, right. They were dancing. Yes…FLESH is a five-piece dance show curated(?) by Tamara Ober, the long-time Zenon member and PIPA creator (Fringe ‘09). It’s also a last-minute replacement show and though the pieces don’t really form a cohesive whole, it’s admirable that she’s able to pull this all together on a few weeks’ notice. The show is a veriety of modern dance and movement and while I didn’t love or even understand every piece there’s definitely something for everyone. Ms. Ober’s piece, as I mentioned before, is more abstract and unconventional, but it’s fascinating to watch a human being move in that way. But the most profound moments of the show belonged to Leslie O’Neil. Her bathtub transformation gave me chills and was one of the more raw and beautiful pieces I’ve seen in a while.

-Leigh-

Sousepaw: A Baseball Story You don’t need to like baseball to understand this play. It’s a well-crafted and ably-acted story about two desperate people who need each other to survive the night. If you arrive expecting to see a Traveling Treasure Trunk you’ll be disappointed. But what you will find is a good character-driven drama and a refreshing break from the clowns and innuendo. It’s a terrible fit for HUGE, which, I maintain is a terrible stage for the variety of shows that Fringe attracts, but nevertheless, they do the best they can and though it feels confined, the actors never feel trapped. Their characters on the other hand… -Leigh-

Sousepaw: A Baseball Story

You don’t need to like baseball to understand this play. It’s a well-crafted and ably-acted story about two desperate people who need each other to survive the night. If you arrive expecting to see a Traveling Treasure Trunk you’ll be disappointed. But what you will find is a good character-driven drama and a refreshing break from the clowns and innuendo. It’s a terrible fit for HUGE, which, I maintain is a terrible stage for the variety of shows that Fringe attracts, but nevertheless, they do the best they can and though it feels confined, the actors never feel trapped. Their characters on the other hand…

-Leigh-

Macbeth: The Video Game Remix If you play WOW or any sort of MMO, I’m willing to bet ten Fringe Bucks that you will love this show. If you haven’t played video games since your friends’ NES because your parents refused to buy you one for fear of your brain turning to mush like mine did, you’ll still appreciate the humor and plot. Its writing is better than I expected and while not perfectly acted, I got the feeling that these guys love gaming and love theater and what better way to combine the two but at Fringe. Also, Dawn Krosnowski can wear a costume. -Leigh-

Macbeth: The Video Game Remix

If you play WOW or any sort of MMO, I’m willing to bet ten Fringe Bucks that you will love this show. If you haven’t played video games since your friends’ NES because your parents refused to buy you one for fear of your brain turning to mush like mine did, you’ll still appreciate the humor and plot. Its writing is better than I expected and while not perfectly acted, I got the feeling that these guys love gaming and love theater and what better way to combine the two but at Fringe. Also, Dawn Krosnowski can wear a costume.

-Leigh-

You Are Not Paris I’m still not quite sure what to make of this one. Each teen actor takes the audience on a whimsical and/or abstract narrative as an example of a mental illness. It walks a line between theatrical fun and being potentially in poor taste, but as a whole I don’t think it knows what it wants to say. Last year’s Projectile Thinking was a wholly immersive experience that seemed to tug at each actor’s personal experiences. This year’s offering lacks that level of uniqueness and specificity. -Leigh-

You Are Not Paris

I’m still not quite sure what to make of this one. Each teen actor takes the audience on a whimsical and/or abstract narrative as an example of a mental illness. It walks a line between theatrical fun and being potentially in poor taste, but as a whole I don’t think it knows what it wants to say. Last year’s Projectile Thinking was a wholly immersive experience that seemed to tug at each actor’s personal experiences. This year’s offering lacks that level of uniqueness and specificity.

-Leigh-

I May Fly Delightful show that follows the life of May Pusey (like Busey), an Australian actress, through her own “seven ages of man”. It’s a well-acted and directed piece that’s well worth your time. -Leigh-

I May Fly

Delightful show that follows the life of May Pusey (like Busey), an Australian actress, through her own “seven ages of man”. It’s a well-acted and directed piece that’s well worth your time.

-Leigh-

The Bush Monologues Troy Conrad (Comedy Jesus 2007) returns with a show about our 43rd president. It’s not a cartoon or goofy caricature — it’s a smartly written and well performed fiction that gives Bush an opportunity to explain some of the more ridiculous decisions he made while in office. Without getting bogged down in politics, Conrad gives us a brief glimpse into the head of one of our nations most controversial leaders. And please, keep your shoes on. -Leigh-

The Bush Monologues

Troy Conrad (Comedy Jesus 2007) returns with a show about our 43rd president. It’s not a cartoon or goofy caricature — it’s a smartly written and well performed fiction that gives Bush an opportunity to explain some of the more ridiculous decisions he made while in office. Without getting bogged down in politics, Conrad gives us a brief glimpse into the head of one of our nations most controversial leaders. And please, keep your shoes on.

-Leigh-