Category Archives: Reviews

June 5, 2023 · 9:14 pm

CFF23: My Fringe Show Rankings

QCF_Ruh-Roh!The question I get asked most by people with limited time and resources is, which shows are a “must see.” And I give them my bias answer, based on how I reacted to the shows. Please understand that differences between shows in the rankings can be infinitesimal. And I guarantee everyone’s list is different and just as valid.

And if you do decide to attend, I highly recommend you look at all the options. Aside from the fact that there are still plenty of shows I just haven’t seen yet. If a show sounds interesting to you, I highly encourage you to see it. Grab a friend, split a flex pass and hit three shows. You never know what you might discover. Happy Fringing.
-Rob

Updated 6/15/23

My Rankings

  1. RUH-ROH!
    Jordan Trovillion & Trey Tatum return for the final chapter of the adventures of the teen sleuth and her faithful dog companion. Imaginative, clever and funny, RUH-ROH! is a satisfying finale and completely accessible even if you have not seen the previous installments.
  2. BLOODLINES
  3. HEART RIPPED OUT TWICE AND SO CAN YOU!
  4. 1NCE UPON A LIE
    Paul Strickland is back with new tall tales from his latest visit to Aunt True and Uncle False. Funny, heartfelt and with the clever word-play you expert from this master storyteller.
  5. THE REMBRANDT JOB
    Ocean’s Eleven they aren’t. A fun, tongue in cheek retelling of a bizarre but true art theft at Cincinnati’s Taft Museum. Dale Hodges narrates the story as one of the missing works and Paul Morris shines as the sleazy Jim Hough.
  6. THREAD AND BONE
  7. JULIE
  8. MADE IN AMERICA
  9. WHO’S AFRAID OF WINNIE-THE-POOH
  10. ONE LAST NIGHT WITH MARY MACLANE
  11. HAPPY GO LUCKY
  12. ANATOMICA
  13. RAPPINGS
  14. PERFECT PURITY
  15. THE HIGHWAY WOMAN
  16. DAD (HATES) JOKES
  17. GRANNY FIX-IT
  18. DEARLY DEPARTED
  19. GENTRIFICATION THE MUSICAL
  20. KEEPING OUR TORCH
  21. TO SPITE ONE’S FACE
  22. RUNAWAY PRINCESS
  23. SHMILF LIFE
  24. SPANK BANK TIME MACHINE
  25. MAGIC FOR ANIMALS
  26. UDFCC 

Leave a comment

Filed under Reviews

Tagged as ,

September 29, 2022 · 3:50 pm

VIOLET Quick Review

VIOLET presented by NKU School of the Arts through Oct. 2. I attended the closing Wednesday night performance. 

NKU_Violet 1

Let’s cut to the chase: NKU School of the Arts is currently presenting an impressive production of VIOLET.

Vocally the show is excellent with powerful solos from Jeremiah Savon Jackson (Flick), Yolee Louis (Almeta), Chloe Hedrick (Music Hall Singer), and Chloe Esmeier (the Violet understudy in the title role for this performance). The harmonies were beautiful.

I also enjoyed the excellent character work by Hailey Watson (Young Vi), Rachel Gardner (Old Lady), Sylas Craven (Preacher), and Tre Taylor (Virgil).

NKU_Violet2

Hailey Watson as Young Vi & Trey Finkenstead as Father.

Both Chris Monell (Monty) and Trey Finkenstead (Father) created solid, believable characters and handled their songs very well.

The orchestra, under the leadership of Scot Buzza, sounded great and were hot miked. Thankfully, so were the actors so I could hear well when there were one or two vocalists. In the group numbers, there were times when the combination caused the lyrics to get muddy.

Director Jamey Strawn keeps the action clear and easy to follow as the story takes us to various locations and back and forth in time. The set design worked well and set changes were made with efficiency and never drew my focus.

Overall, an impressive, smartly presented, not often produced musical that my guest and I thoroughly enjoyed.

My rating: 4.75 out of 5.

Click here for more information on the production.

Leave a comment

Filed under Reviews

Tagged as

September 28, 2022 · 2:09 pm

it’s not a trip, it’s a journey Quick Review

it’s not a trip, it’s a journey presented by Know Theatre of Cincinnati through Oct. 9. I attended the opening Saturday night performance. 

KTC_its not a trip1

Angelique Archer as Frankie, A.J. Baldwin as Rain, Ariel Mary Ann as Willie, & Jasimine Bouldin as June. Photo by Dan. R. Winters.

Director Daryl Harris smartly leads a quartet of charismatic young women on this tale of a life-changing journey to the Grand Canyon.

I enjoyed the short pre-show that introduces the four characters via a signature song and dance, choreographed by Kim Popa. Make sure you are in your seats before show time.

KTC_its not a trip2

A.J. Baldwin as Rain & Jasimine Bouldin as June. Photo by Dan. R. Winters.

I found Jasimine Bouldin’s performance as June to be completely engaging. The actress’ expressive face and emotional beats well defined her character. AJ Baldwin is strong as the emotionally troubled Rain and her relationships with the other characters are nicely established. As Frankie, Angelique Archer brings the attitude and is believable as the cracks in her armor begin to show. Ariel Mary Ann has several nice moments as Willie. I would encourage you to tie your blocking to your lines as a few times you seemed to plant your body before speaking. And always remember to breathe.

The projections work well in establishing location and the overall progress of their trip.

The structure of the show is almost a series of vignettes as the action switches between the car and their various stops along the way. This does result in a start and stop quality that affects the energy and pacing between scenes, particularly when the four chair “car” is struck and reset. Perhaps if the chairs were on a truck it would help with the flow.

Overall, a fun, sassy and emotionally-fulfilling road trip.

My rating: 4.25 out of 5.

Click here for more information on the production.

Leave a comment

Filed under Reviews

Tagged as

September 27, 2022 · 4:07 pm

THE HALF-LIFE OF MARIE CURIE Quick Review

THE HALF-LIFE OF MARIE CURIE presented by Falcon Theatre through Oct. 8. I attended the opening night performance. 

FT_The Half-Life of Marie Curie2

Tracy Schoster as Heartha Ayrton & Tara Williams as Marie Curie.

Falcon Theatre kicks off their season with a work by the prolific and oft-produced playwright Lauren Gunderson. This two-person show features Tara Williams as the titular character and Tracy Schoster as fellow scientist and friend, Heartha Ayrton.

The two have an easy chemistry and their personal years-long friendship serves their onstage relationship well as Heartha rushes to her friend’s side during one of the darkest times in Curie’s life. With Ayrton having the stronger personality, I did feel there were times, particularly in their first scene together, where she was talking “at” instead of “to” her friend. I’m all about the snark, but the tone could have been lightened here and there.

FT_The Half-Life of Marie Curie1

Tara Williams as Marie Curie.

There were times when the blocking became a bit stagnant with extended periods of sitting, especially in the first scene that was confined to a small play space.

Of the Gunderson plays I have seen, this script lacks the depth I am used to finding in her other works. Perhaps it is because this is a commissioned work and was not created as organically. With only two characters, aside from a well-acted disagreement halfway through the performance, there is little conflict between the two, resulting in grievances aired against those not present.

A couple of choices did impact my ability to be pulled into the story. While I’m not expecting expensive and elaborate time-period appropriate costumes, Ayrton’s styling and costume seem to be decades outside of the time frame of the play. I also question the decision to forego the use of accents. In this day of representation, it seems ill-advised to eliminate an integral part of each character’s identity, in a way “Americanizing” their story.

Overall, an interesting, solidly performed, but at times flawed, look at two turn-of-the-century scientific pioneers.

My rating: 4.25 out of 5.

Click here for more information on the production.

Leave a comment

Filed under Reviews

Tagged as

September 22, 2022 · 3:43 pm

SWEAT Quick Review

SWEAT presented by Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati through Oct. 9. I attended the opening night performance. 

ETC_Sweat1

Burgess C. Byrd as Cynthia, Mierka “Mookie” Girten as Tracey, Ollie Corchado as Oscar, and Allen R. Middleton as Stan. Photo by Ryan Kurtz.

It is not very often I leave a theatre as energized as I did last night’s opening at ETC. SWEAT is simply damn good theatre.

The foundation is the excellent, Pulitzer prize-winning script by Lynn Nottage (Intimate Apparel and Fabulation, or the Re-Education of Undine), giving face and voice to the blue-collar workers impacted by America’s economic decline.

ETC_Sweat2

Burgess C. Byrd as Cynthia and Mierka “Mookie” Girten as Tracey. Photo by Ryan Kurtz

The characters are believable, easily relatable, and played brilliantly by the near-perfect ensemble. While the dialogue is very conversational, the performances and pacing easily draw you into the story. Director Darnell Pierre Benjamin takes full advantage of his cast and set, expertly using both to bring this story to the stage.

The set is amazing and so realistic looking that you believe you in a bar, allowing the audience to effortlessly be transported into the story. Excellent work by Brian c. Mehring (set and lighting designer), Shannon Rae Lutz (properties curator/design assistant), and Rae Kuhn (scenic charge/production assistant). The costumes by Jerrilyn Lanier Duckworth are well-suited to the characters and the time period.

ETC_Sweat3

Charlie Cromer as Jason, Allen R. Middleton as Stan, and Jay Wade as Chris. Photo by Ryan Kurtz

I do want to circle back around and again praise the cast as a whole (Burgess C. Byrd as Cynthia, Ollie Corchado as Oscar, Charlie Cromer as Jason, Denise Dal Vera as Jessie, Mierka Girten as Tracey, Allen R. Middleton as Stan, “ranney” as Brucie, Derek Snow as Evan & Jay Wade as Chris). There are so many little moments by and between the characters that make SWEAT such a rich experience.

Overall, ETC’s production of SWEAT needs to be seen and will easily stand as one of the best productions of the 2022-2023 season.

My rating: 5.0 out of 5.

Click here for more information on the production.

Leave a comment

Filed under Reviews

Tagged as