The Jaws That Bite, The Claws That Catch!

So much more than I expected

I've always loved Jabberwocky and now I see it in a new light. Cleverly and boldly told in a loveletter to the poem and a deep analysis of ... psychosis? Dementia? Mental health in general? All three players give us their parts of this world with absolute conviction. Also, extremely clever use of the space and three simple boxes.

Most intriguing

I always enjoy seeing Edwin Strout, and this is him doing a role that fits his style perfectly. Mostly a monologue, but interspersed with conversations with characters who may or may not be there. Well written and well paced.

The vorpal blade went snicker-snack!

Edwin Strout has created an electric piece of performance art. With the handsome looks of Claude Rains and a sly wit that is all his own, his performance is even more astounding when knowing that he also wrote the script. Spearheading Joking Apart Theater’s Fringe show, "The Jaws That Bite, the Claws That Catch!," he shepherds us through a man’s mind as he uses Lewis Carroll’s nonsensical "Jabberwocky" poem to make sense of his own nonsensical mind. The audience quickly follows him, like Alice following the White Rabbit down the rabbit hole, moving swiftly through densely packed text, as we come to realize that he is not only dissecting the poem, like Humpty Dumpty in "Through the Looking-Glass," but he is also unravelling the missed steps, the unfortunate and passed over opportunities, of his personal life. How long has he been inside this loop of self-discovery, therapy, and psychoanalysis only to trip over his own words, wounds, and painful memories, again and again? Perhaps he is holding up a looking-glass. How long have we all been inside that same loop? Fully supported on stage by the transformative David Denninger and Anna Olson, this production allows its audience to take a big bite, even enough for the Jabberwocky to chew on for a while.

Clever writing!

The writing was amazing, and the act was so energetic and engaging.

Insanely Good

This was an extreme and beautiful version of someone's interpretation of Lewis Carol's "The Jabberwocky." The acting was incredible and the 4th wall break was done in a unique way that made me believe I was also going a little insane.

Late Season Twilight Show Vibes, plus Jabbewocky

Heartbreaking (positive)

I came expecting a more straightforwardly fantastical horror experience; what I got was an intricately real one that made me sob into my purse even as I took note of the show's craft. Strout's performance and writing placed me directly in the shoes of someone who can't rely on his own memory or happiness. Denninger and Olson's whiplashing changes of expression and the starkly-patterned changes in lighting made the layered, cyclical writing beautifully tense and upsetting. I'm so glad I came.

Extremely well staged and directed

Still reeling from this show

Congratulations to everyone that helped make this lecture come to life. A passionate dissertation begins to unravel in a most peculiar way. Edwin Strout expertly navigates his script to keep the audience guessing , punctuated by poignant moments. Highly recommended!

A Must See

This is a beautifully performed depiction of a man's slide into insanity while using (of all things) the poem, The Jabberwocky, as his steadying lodestar. Great performances, terrific direction, wonderful sound design, and excellent lighting. Recommend!

Go Down This Rabbit Hole

This production is a beautifully brutal examination of mental decline. Crafting the narrative around Lewis Carol's famous poem was incredibly clever and thoughtful. Edwin Strout's performance is very moving, while the high-caliber lighting and sound design add atmosphere throughout. A thoroughly engrossing and complex piece of theater.

Definitely add this to your Fringe list

Lovely performances. Beautifully and simply staged in the round. My heart goes out to this character. This show is definitely one you’ll talk about in line afterward!

Are you smoking hashish

it will play with your mind