Monthly Archives: May 2015

May 31, 2015 · 10:44 am

Sunday Fringe Update (Three Sell Outs)

The first Saturday of Fringe added three more sold out performances.

CFF_Radio Gomorrah LiveRADIO GOMORRAH LIVE! produced by local group The Burying Beetles sold out their third show.

It’s the future: Ecosystems in collapse. The One-Percent cavorts in Mercedes escape pods while the rest of us – enslaved by our micro-chip implants – roast rats over toxic waste fires. Only three people can save humanity: a foul-mouthed social dropout, a pathologically cheerful religious fanatic, and a Cyber-Babe with a past. It’s a radio serial, live on stage, with the audience as sound-effects artists. It’s Radio Gomorrah LIVE! It’s the future. Ooops.

You have two more changes to catch this one:

  • Wed, June 3 at 9:00pm
  • Fri, June 5 at 9:10pm

CFF_Edgar AllanAs I mentioned earlier this week, the buzz around The Coldharts’ EDGAR ALLAN has been strong. Saturday’s second performance was packed.

Eleven year old Edgar Allan has one goal: to be the most remarkable boy at boarding school. He has only one obstacle: Edgar Allan. A manic lullabye inspired by the childhood and short stories of Edgar Allan Poe..

I am catching their third performance this evening. All remaining performances:

  • Sun, May 31 at 4:30pm
  • Thur, June 4 at 8:40pm
  • Sat, June 6 at 7:25pm

CFF_Tales Too Tall For TrailersFan favorite Paul Strickland (AIN’T TRUE AND UNCLE FALSE and PAPA SQUAT’S STORE OF SORTS), has teamed with Erika Kate McDonald for this year’s TALES TOO TALL FOR TRAILERS. Unsurprisingly their first show sold out.

Trailer-park tall-tales for adults that kids can enjoy too! Paul Strickland (Ain’t True and Uncle False, Papa Squat’s Store of Sorts) and Erika Kate MacDonald join forces in this off-kilter musical comedy full of funny songs, strange southern stories, shadow puppetry and more!

I’ll be in the audience tonight. TRAILERS has four performances left.

  • Sun, May 31 at 6:30pm
  • Tue, June 2 at 8:25pm
  • Wed, June 3 at 7:30pm
  • Fri, June 5 at 8:15pm

There are 20 performances to choose from today. Individual tickets are $15, or try a One Night Stand Pass (two-shows and one drink pass) for $30. I hope to you out and about in OTR today.

Leave a comment

Filed under Articles, Family-Friendly

Tagged as , ,

May 30, 2015 · 11:42 am

DUNGEON Review

CFF_DungeonLinks to all reviews can be found using the REVIEWS link at the top of the page. Blog postings, links and more are available on my Facebook fan page. You can also receive updates on Twitter from @BTCincyRob.

DUNGEON presented by Hit the Lights, Dad Theater Co. as part of the 2015 Cincinnati Fringe Festival.

You can read the show description here.

There is much about DUNGEON that appealed to my geeky, gamers heart.

Hit the Lights, Dad Theater Co. promises to “build a world where the darkness speaks louder than the light,” and they succeed. Creatively staged using hand-held lighting and small props, we follow a young man on his quest to rescue his princess from the big bad. Two musicians, on base and violin, add to the mood and at times offer some familiar adventuring music.

The cast includes Samantha Blain and CCM alums Kristopher Dean, Claron Hayden, Casey Scott Leach and Mikayla Stanley. Aside from our hero, the remaining cast members serve as the various denizens of the dungeon and the dungeon itself. The tube worm encounter and the river scene were personal favorites.

Overall a unique and engaging offering in this year’s fringe. I’d recommend a seat with a good vantage point of the floor. Four performances remain through June 6.

I would enjoy hearing what you think about the show or my review. All I ask is that you express your opinion without attacking someone else’s opinion. You can post your comments below.

1 Comment

Filed under Cincy Fringe Festival, Reviews

Tagged as

May 30, 2015 · 10:42 am

DOG SHOW Review

CFF_Dog ShowLinks to all reviews can be found using the REVIEWS link at the top of the page. Blog postings, links and more are available on my Facebook fan page. You can also receive updates on Twitter from @BTCincyRob.

DOG SHOW presented by Animal Engine as part of the 2015 Cincinnati Fringe Festival.

You can read the show description here.

Warning: Audience members may be licked…

I’ve sure you have all seen the online videos of what kind of mischief man’s best friend can get into when the master is away. In DOG SHOW, when Lightning and his “siblings” are left alone, their attentions quickly turn to….staging a French farce.

The strong cast features Karim Muasher as eager-to-please and eager-to-be-praised Lightning. Carrie Brown’s dog is the lethargic and food obsessed one of the trio. Becca Bernard’s canine is young, hyper and loves to break the fourth wall. All bring great physicality to their roles.

The concept is clever. The script is laugh-out-loud funny, peppered with great visual gags and some fun ongoing bits. None of which I will spoil here.

Late in the show, where the farce begins to fall apart, things got a little bit muddled on stage. There seemed to be a dip in the energy and the timing. It rebounded and the show finished strong.

Overall a doggone good time and a must-see for dog lovers. Four performances remain through June 6.

I would enjoy hearing what you think about the show or my review. All I ask is that you express your opinion without attacking someone else’s opinion. You can post your comments below.

1 Comment

Filed under Cincy Fringe Festival, Reviews

Tagged as

May 30, 2015 · 9:18 am

My 2015 Cincy Fringe Show Rankings

CFF_Moonlight After MidnightBelow I am ranking the shows I’ve attended to date. Links to reviews added as they become available.

  1. MOONLIGHT AFTER MIDNIGHT
  2. HITCHHIKERS MAY BE INMATES | Review
  3. HEARD | Review
  4. TALES TOO TALL FOR TRAILERS | Review
  5. EDGAR ALLAN | Review
  6. OCCUPATIONAL PLEASURES
  7. CHEMISTRY
  8. DOG SHOW | Review
  9. KISS AROUND PASS AROUND | Review
  10. ZOMBIE-LOGUE | Review
  11. CODA (CHILDREN OF DEAF ADULTS)
  12. CODY CLARK: A DIFFERENT WAY OF THINKING | Review
  13. DUNGEON | Review
  14. PREFER NOT TO SAY
  15. !KE: /XARRA //KE A NEW AFRICAN FOLK TALE
  16. FIXATE
  17. YOU SEEM PRETTY GREAT
  18. MOUTHY BITCH
  19. THE FAMOUS HAYDELL SISTERS COMEBACK TOUR
  20. CATHEDRAL CITY | Review
  21. SHIRTZENCOCKLE
  22. WE GOTTA CHEER UP GARY
  23. VALIDATE ME
  24. RADIO GOMORRAH LIVE!
  25. METH: A LOVE STORY | Review
  26. DOWN AMONG THE VULTURES | Review

3 Comments

Filed under Articles, Cincy Fringe Festival

Tagged as , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

May 30, 2015 · 9:03 am

Saturday Fringe Update (Five Sell Outs)

CFF_SquaresThe first Friday of Fringe finished with five full houses. Sold out performances included:

SQUARES from dog & pony dc

The rules of the playground were simple: play nice, play fair, and have fun. But the rules of life? More complicated. Play nice, and you’re not assertive enough; play fair, and fall behind. And only winners have fun. Sometimes it seems like the bullies are still king. That hardly seems fair, or right, or… American. Can you retake the blacktop and square game, for all of us?

Only two shows remain:

  • Sat, May 30 at 2:10pm
  • Sun, May 31 at 1:00pm

CFF_Dog ShowReturning favorite Animal Engine filled the Know Theater for their first performance of DOG SHOW

What do dogs do when their masters leave? Put on a French farce! Quick entrances, mistaken identities, and love triangles collide with panting, sniffing, and lots of leg humping in this unusual and saucy comedy! Inspired by the plays of Georges Feydeau and the behaviors of Man’s best friend, Dog Show is a knee slapping love letter to the joys of unleashing your inner animal.

You have another chance to catch it this weekend and three more performances next week:

  • Sun, May 31 at 2:15pm
  • Wed, June 3 at 8:00pm
  • Thur, June 4 at 6:30pm
  • Sat, June 6 at 9:10pm

CFF_DungeonAlso selling out their opening performance was DUNGEON from Hit the Lights, Dad Theater Co. from New York City.

A young man falls into the unknown to rescue something he holds dear. Inspired by kabuki, video games, horror movies, and pixar shorts, Hit the Lights, Dad Theater Co. build a world where the darkness speaks louder than the light.

It continues with two more performances this weekend and two next week.

  • Sat, May 30 at 9:00pm
  • Sun, May 31 at 8:20pm
  • Thur, June 4 at 6:30pm
  • Sat, June 6 at 4:00pm

CFF_Hitchhikers May Be InmatesClifton Performance Theatre sold out their second performance of HITCHHIKERS MAY BE INMATES.

Dave is new to AA and struggling mightily. JD, his sponsor, own tenuous grasp on sobriety is exactly what Dave doesn’t need. Their evening spent flirting with disaster is funny and cautionary.

My personal favorite of the Fringe so far, you have three more chances to catch Michael Bath and Kevin Crowley.

  • Mon, June 1 at  6:30pm
  • Wed, June 3 at  9:10pm
  • Sat, June 6 at 2:55pm

CFF_The Famous Haydell Sisters Comeback TourFinally, also selling out their first performance was THE FAMOUS HAYDELL SISTERS COMEBACK TOUR.

f you love country music you’ll love this hilarious comeback concert. If you hate country music you’ll ESPECIALLY love this hilarious comeback concert. With original comedic songs and a true sad story by early ‘90s superstars Mattie and Maybelle Haydell—onstage together for the first time since 1993! With classic tunes like “Wrangler Butt,” “Seven Seconds (Too Short a Ride),” and a heartwarming dose of ’90s nostalgia, it’s the good old days all over again!

You can join me for their second performance this afternoon or catch one of the three more next week:

  • Sat, May 30 at 3:30pm
  • Wed, June 3 at 6:30pm
  • Fri, June 5 at 9:10pm
  • Sat, June 6 at 7:15pm

Attendance Friday night seemed really strong and Over-the-Rhine is hopping.

Tonight at the Know bar series is the Fringe Prom. Kevin Thornton’s new band, Indiana Queen, will be performing. Come down for a drink or two beginning 11pm-ish.

Leave a comment

Filed under Articles, Cincy Fringe Festival

Tagged as , , , ,