Sub-Total
2023 Audience Reviews
Member Reviews
The following reviews were submitted by Fringe Member: Christopher DeVaan
Company: Rogues Gallery Arts
Show: My Only Hope for a Hero
Venue: Southern Theater
Duck is MY Hero!
Sunday was "Double Duck" day, where I ended up at "5 Prisoners" because I didn't think I would have time for a 2:30 show, and then ended my limited Fringe experience with this show, and it was absolutely the best show to end on. Duck has so much charisma, uses the space and the time so well, and isn't afraid to lay vulnerability bare as he shares his family and friend reflections on the definition of what a hero is. This was a powerful hour that could easily be an entire one-man full show!
Company: Juggling Act Productions
Show: Dearest Mother
Venue: Augsburg Studio
A compelling attempt
This play was obviously done with a lot of respect and reverence for John Barryman, a local legend that people speak of woefully little. But then, narcissists who cannot overcome addictions don't make for very sympathetic characters. I know the premise was to illustrate the relationship through the letters, but having the characters on opposite sides of the stage, while the third took center and just relayed information made for very, VERY stagnant blocking pacing. I wish that it had been more like the last 15 minutes when the characters actually all interacted with one another. THAT'S where drama and conflict comes from. Not from information, but from interaction. I would like to see it again maybe with some workshopping.
Company: Ghoulish Delights
Show: 5 Prisoners
Venue: Southern Theater
Prisoner of the Moment
Five different vignettes about captured persons. The acting was great! Each of the performers was a veteran actor, and they wove their tales wonderfully! The story about the plasma donator who then becomes the next "nurse" to take the donation was a little more odd than usual, but what the heck! It's Fringe and this was fun!
Company: Legend's Ghost Productions
Show: In Celebration of the Mysterious
Venue: The Hook and Ladder Theater and Lounge
Mysteriously Celebrated
I think this show would greatly benefit from a space that would allow for a set, and maybe a slightly expanded cast. The music is beautiful, but it's hard to imagine the worlds these characters are from only via small handprops. I am glad that the characters interact, and I know the Narrator has large chunks of monologues to memorize, but I thought he could have been better utilized if he could become a character within the story, and interact with the other two, rather than just being a passive observer off to one side. But for a first run of an original show, it was not half bad at all.
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Company: Lady Chamberlain Productions
Show: 4 Bisexuals and 2 Guys Named John Kill Dracula
Venue: Rarig Center Arena
You Can "Count" on This Show
I am usually critical of a "Dracula" show where the vampire himself is neither creepy not intimidating, but this is a fantastic Fringe schlock that turns the old tale on it's head...quite literally at one point. The cast worked tremendously well as an ensemble, and made terrific use of the space, and the time, weaving in some tender moments and still fitting basically Stoker's whole story into the time limit. Well done!
Company: The World Crime League
Show: Uncle Walt
Venue: Augsburg Mainstage
Dripping with satire and blood
I think that I have seen this show once before, but even if it seemed very familiar, it was still a very solid dark comedy that was well performed by the ensemble. It kind of irked me that Walt's blocking was so stagnant, but that is a very small criticism.