Category Archives: Reviews

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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May 29, 2015 · 3:30 pm

ZOMBIE-LOGUE Review

CFF_Zombie-logueLinks 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.

ZOMBIE-LOGUE presented by Hugo West Theatricals as part of the 2015 Cincinnati Fringe Festival.

You can read the show description here.

Well you know what they say about assuming.

Just because Mike Hall is the guy who helped create zany musical comedies like Don’t Cross the Streams: The Cease and Desist Musical and Hot Damn! It’s the Loveland Frog for previous Cincy Fringes, one should not automatically assume that this year’s entry would also be a zany comedy. Like I did. Then you would be wrong. Like I was.

Instead, ZOMBIE-LOGUE is a story grounded in the real world (well, a real world with zombies). Hall portrays a lone “walker,” held at an undisclosed location, being passive-aggressively interviewed by person or persons unknown about his role in what has transpired.

Hall has a great every man quality that serves the character well. The zombie’s struggle to piece together what has happened and stay on topic feels natural. The script is well-written and, while not a comedy, it has a fair share of laughs and offers some biting commentary on today’s social norms.

The make-up, designed by Bob Allen, is unique and succeeds in the small space.

Aside from being a little slow to start, director Greg Procaccino has the show well-paced and and uses the area well. I did think there were a few emotional beats that could be explored regarding the zombie’s concern for his wife and child.

For future performances, a platform under the chair would help with sight lines. Also, when Hall was downstage center at the fence, it blocked the audience’s view of the communication from the observer(s).

Overall a bit unexpected, but an interesting and engaging story well-told. 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 29, 2015 · 2:12 pm

CODY CLARK: A DIFFERENT WAY OF THINKING Review

CFF_Cody ClarkLinks 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.

CODY CLARK: A DIFFERENT WAY OF THINKING presented by Cody Clark as part of the 2015 Cincinnati Fringe Festival.

You can read the show description here.

Cody Clark is a talented young magician and a savvy performer. Cody also has autism.

Reading that in his show information, the word doesn’t have any real-world meaning for me. No one in my extended family or circle of friends has this neurodevelopmental disorder.

During his show, Cody discusses the social deficits and communication difficulties he and other people with autism experience. He also shares funny and, at times, poignant stories of growing up, and the challenges he faced. All complimented by a wide-array of magic tricks. The story of his Mee-Maw, and his family’s obsession with Velveeta Cheese (with accompanying sleight-of-hand) was a personal favorite.

What I find most impressive about what Cody does, is that his desire to perform his magic in front of an audience is, in ways, in direct conflict with his disorder. His determination to succeed and love for what he does is inspiring.

Cody personifies what he encourages his audience to do: embrace and celebrate what makes you, you.

Overall an entertaining performance that offers some new insight into the human condition . 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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