Category Archives: Cincy Fringe Festival

TOOTH AND ‘NUCKLE Review

TOOTH AND 'NUCKLE from Matt Johnson - Photos by Jeff Burkle.

TOOTH AND ‘NUCKLE from Matt Johnson and Artistic Compatriots as part of the 2011 Cincinnati Fringe Festival. You can read the show description here.

I’m not sure how to react to TOOTH AND ‘NUCKLE. And I have the sneaking suspicion that that is exactly the reaction Matt Johnson wants from his audiences.

The show seem to have been birthed from too much free time spent alone with his young children’s toys and his strangely unique sense of humor. The result is sometimes dark, sometimes uncomfortable and sometimes just plain weird. There is also some interesting commentary and a few good laughs.

A bit off-putting to me is the lack of eye contact with the audience. During a large part of the performance you either can’t see his eyes or he is looking at the props he is manipulating. But again, the show is not there to make you comfortable and this is the Fringe Festival.

Two performances remain of TOOTH AND ‘NUCKLE at Hanke 2.

  • Fri, June 10 at 7pm
  • Sat, June 11 at 8pm

Links to all reviews can be found on the BTC REVIEWS page. Blog postings, links to other media reviews and more are available on my FaceBook fan page or you can receive updates on Twitter from @BTCincyRob.

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MUSIC FOR NEWSPAPERS AND RADIOS Review

MUSIC FOR NEWSPAPERS AND RADIOS as part of the 2011 Cincinnati Fringe Festival. You can read the show description here.

One of the best things about attending the Fringe Festival is the opportunity to experience works outside your experience or comfort zone. MUSIC FOR NEWSPAPERS AND RADIOS was my first exposure to experimental music and to be honest, I can’t say that I enjoyed it.

That statement is by no means a reflection on the composers or musicians. I have no intention of trying to review this performance as I don’t have the knowledge or experience to speak with any authority about the medium.

The final performance of MUSIC FOR NEWSPAPERS AND RADIOS  at Media Bridges is TONIGHT (Thu, June 9) at 7:15pm.

Links to all reviews can be found on the BTC REVIEWS page. Blog postings, links to other media reviews and more are available on my FaceBook fan page or you can receive updates on Twitter from @BTCincyRob.

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FIRE & LIGHT Review

FIRE & LIGHT from Incendium Arts as part of the 2011 Cincinnati Fringe Festival. You can read the show description here.

If you are looking for a truly unique Fringe experience, just add fire. The local fire performance troupe, Incendium Arts, offers a fun, hip and visually stunning show.

The choreographed numbers use a variety of flaming tools to create mesmerizing patterns in the air. The talent and charisma of the performers quickly won over Wednesday’s SOLD OUT crowd of all ages.

Writing about the performance doesn’t do it justice, it is something you need to experience for yourself. Be sure to reserve your tickets early as Wednesday night did sell out.

The final performance of FIRE & LIGHT  at the Famous Neon’s Unplugged is TONIGHT (Thu, June 9) at 9:30pm.

Links to all reviews can be found on the BTC REVIEWS page. Blog postings, links to other media reviews and more are available on my FaceBook fan page or you can receive updates on Twitter from @BTCincyRob.

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Fringe Festival Update: More Performances Sell-Out

SOLD OUT performances from Wednesday:

  • THE BODY SPEAKS: MOVEMENT from Pones Inc. The final performance is Saturday at 7pm.
  • FIRE & LIGHT from Incendium Arts. The final performance is tonight at 9:30pm.
  • PEYOTE BUSINESS LUNCH from Artemis Exchange. The final performance is Friday at 7pm.

The Festival continues through Saturday.

Official Cincy Fringe site | Plan your Fringe-ing with my daily show grid |

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2011 Fringe Adventure: Day Eight

Fringe performances on Wednesday, June 8th begin at 7pm. The three productions I’m attending tonight are:

  • 7pm at Media Bridges
    MUSIC FOR NEWSPAPERS AND RADIOS
    MUSIC FOR NEWSPAPERS AND RADIOS is a concert of musical compositions which make use of either newspapers or radios as the generating source of musical sounds, forms and ideas. The program will include three compositions by CCM doctoral candidate Paul Schuette including: NO NEWS IS GOOD NEWS, for string quartet, MEDIA COUNTERPOINT, for 2 radios, sine tone generator, piano, electric guitar and suspended cymbals, and TOMORROW?, for 2 male and 2 female actors.  The program will also include two piece by John Cage: RADIO MUSIC and WATER WALK.  
  • 8:15pm at HANKE 2
    TOOTH AND ‘NUCKLE from Matt Johnson and Artistic Compatriots
    Part meditation. Part freak out. All righteous theatrical indignation. This improvised treatise is aimed at the intersection of the tooth and the knuckle; when the feeding hand of benevolence spreads its flesh to the mongrel tooth of freedom. Interdisciplinary and insane with a rotating cast this show is never even remotely the same. Make the choice: TOOTH AND ‘NUKCLE? Either way you’ll have blood on your hands. 
  • 9:30pm at Neons
    FIRE AND LIGHT from Incendium Arts
    Incendium Arts is cabaret-style fire entertainment. Dance, object manipulation and flame exhibition combine with an eclectic soundtrack and nerdy abandon to provide an outrageously fun full sensory experience. Incendium’s 35-45 minute, 15 prop shows provide a few solo performances intermingled with 6-7 multi-person, multi-prop, fully choreographed pieces. 

Reviews for these three productions will be available on Thursday.

Official Cincy Fringe site | Plan your Fringe-ing with my daily show grid |

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