Sub-Total
2018 Audience Reviews
Member Reviews
The following reviews were submitted by Fringe Member:
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Company: Red Dice Collective
Show: Cyrano on the Moon
Venue: Ritz Theater Studio
A Fun Reimagining
I genuinely enjoyed this show. It’s a great concept and an interesting way to re-evaluate a classic. The story was super compelling and the performances were very fun and genuine. The venue provided some issues with sight lines and the light and sound ques mostly missed but it’s a good show. My only critiques would be that there was one character death that was very quick and underwhelming (my seat mate and I looked at each other to say “did she just...?) and it felt like the show was a drum roll to an ending that didn’t have much energy and then it was just over. This could be due to time restrictions but also a strange lack of chemistry between characters who ought to be tragically in love. That being said, these things didn’t overwhelm the quality of the show and I look forward to more from the group.
Company: Michael Rogers
Show: Now We See It
Venue: Ritz Theater Mainstage
Wow. Did not see that coming.
The opening number might as well be from a different show because it did not prepare me for what I was about to see. The show unravels the aftermath of severe trauma and ptsd in a way I’ve never seen. As someone who has lost a parent to gun violence at a young age, I was floored. I don’t know how they managed to bring language and imagery to an experience so indescribably unique. The movements were beautiful and haunting, the dialogue very earnest and honest, and the overall storytelling spellbinding. I was so confused but I didn’t care. It could use some redirection in the middle, it sort of loses steam at the dance, and some of the emotional peaks really didn’t reach the height they warranted but it was an amazing show. They really sell themselves short in their description. I have so many questions, and I’ll probably be thinking about it for the next few years.
Company: Clevername Theatre
Show: THE NEWS: A Musical
Venue: Ritz Theater Mainstage
Heavy handed Absurdism
This show has a great cast. They really committed to selling a script that flew in the face of conventional storytelling. The archetypes of the bitch-boss and the naive try-hard girl who gets punished for speaking out of turn, really carry a familiar uncomplicated stereotype through a show that otherwise keeps a pace of ridiculous parody that refuses to be interpreted. Fringe at its fringiest.
Company: Ghoulish Delights, LLC
Show: The Screaming Skull
Venue: Rarig Center Thrust
A great production
This is a classic Vincent Price Hour scary story. Story wise it was fantastic, which I’d expect from the source material and the genre. On its feet it was technically beautiful with fantastic production value, while the acting was a little lackluster. From the beginning it felt a little phoned in with a funny accent, though it picked up as the show progressed. It was a little disappointing that while the set, lighting, and sound effects were exceptional, the actor’s performance avoided making any strong choices or delivering the full despair or fear I expect of the genre. Jump scares are great, but a good old fashioned horror needs more fear.
Company: OverLaugh Productions
Show: YOUNGBLOOD IN THE DESERT/GATEWAY DRUG
Venue: Rarig Center Arena
Unique and fascinating
I was very impressed by what they were able to accomplish between the two of them. The first play was probably my favorite. It was well written, well acted, and had an impressive number of technical elements for a Fringe show. It really accomplished a lot in a short amount of time. The second play was a little slower to me and lacked some of the polish of the first one but it was a great foil for the style of the first and had a very interesting story. Easily one of my favorite shows in the festival so far.