Category Archives: Reviews

June 2, 2015 · 12:30 pm

METH: A LOVE STORY Review

Carli Rhoades as She, Connor Lawrence as He, Spencer Lackey as Scary Methhead.

Carli Rhoades as She, Connor Lawrence as He & Spencer Lackey as Scary Methhead.

Links 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.

METH: A LOVE STORY presented by #theatercompany as part of the 2015 Cincinnati Fringe Festival.

You can read the show description here.

When I attend a performance, there are elements that pull me in and pull me out of the experience. Ideally it’s more of the former and less of the latter. Things that don’t ring true to me, emotionally and logically, collect in my critical brain over the course of the show. Too many and I do reach a point of saturation where the show just doesn’t work for me.

METH: A LOVE STORY doesn’t work for me.

Most of it is due to the script. I don’t believe the environment of the show. I don’t buy the circumstances of how the college students came to be in this situation. I felt there were times when attempts were being made to manipulate my emotions instead of appealing to them. And I didn’t make a connection with the characters, so the tragedy doesn’t have an impact except for some brief shock value.

Performance wise, I thought Katie McDonald as Mommy Methhead did strong and consistent work. The last scene between her and Laura McCarthy as Spunky Methhead had some solid emotional beats to it.

To be fair, I am in the minority in my opinion with other Fringe-goers. I also acknowledge that these kind of “inconsistencies” bother me more than the average theater-goer.

Regardless of how I responded to it, please know that I appreciate all the hard work that went into it. Two performances remain through June 5.

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

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June 1, 2015 · 3:12 pm

KISS AROUND PASS AROUND Review

CFF_Kiss Around Pass AroundLinks 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.

KISS AROUND PASS AROUND presented by Shoshinz as part of the 2015 Cincinnati Fringe Festival.

You can read the show description here.

When my niece was little, she would pull together a mish-mash of toys and spend hours creating her own little adventures. There is the same kind of simplicity and imagination in KISS AROUND, PASS AROUND.

Japanese performer Yanomi is a joy to watch. Her energy and charisma are infectious. As Kiss Around, Pass Around, she quickly had the audience under her quirky spell. Just thinking about the show makes me smile. A truly unique experience.

Perhaps the fringe-iest entry of the year. It’s definitely a Fringe experience I’ll remember for years. Three performances remain through June 5.

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

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June 1, 2015 · 2:18 pm

HITCHHIKERS MAY BE INMATES Review

CFF_Hitchhikers May Be InmatesLinks 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.

HITCHHIKERS MAY BE INMATES presented by Clifton Performance Theatre as part of the 2015 Cincinnati Fringe Festival.

You can read the show description here.

Again this year, while Clifton Performance Theatre’s entry may not be the fringe-iest show in the festival, it certainly offers some of the best performances in the festival.

Local professional actors Michael Bath and Kevin Crowley are excellent in this three-scene one act. Both characters are on the tightrope of sobriety. As new AA-member and emotionally-fragile Dave, Bath gives a great nerd-to-jock quality to his relationship with J.D.

Crowley is great to watch in the role of J.D. There is this constant intensity coming from the character. I enjoyed how you were never really sure if J.D. was working to steady Dave on that tightrope or push him off of it.  His transformation of J.D. for the final scene is mesmerizing to watch. Kudos also have to go out to Evan Verrilli as the line-less Waiter. Your body language and facial expressions were so much fun.

For a show that is mainly two guys at a table talking, director Buz Davis keeps the energy high and the blocking dynamic. He makes the well-written script by Crowley, shine.

Definitely a favorite of this year’s festival. Seeing these two on stage together for $15 is a steal. Three 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

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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.

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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.

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