Category Archives: Reviews

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.

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.

OTR 2081 from DIY Productions as part of the 2011 Cincinnati Fringe Festival. You can read the show description here.

The young actor tour guides, supported by audience plants, do a good job in their tag team delivery, and in setting the mood of the work. The fact that one of the performers had trouble getting to the venue for the start of the show could account for some of the pacing problems and (what seemed like) a truncated tour of the neighborhood.

The script seems to be a hodge-podge of ideas that don’t always connect together. For example, extremely limited population figures given for 2081 , the repeated mention of CDs and DVDs (but not of computers) and the props used, does not reconcile with one character’s mulitple references to wikipedia. Also the term EMD is used several times as in “Pre-EMD vehicles,” but I’m not sure EMD is ever explained. There are several moments where the potential for satire and social commentary are realized, but they are the exception and not the rule.

Marching the entire audience out in the heat to “experience” Over-the-Rhine is certainly not worth the effort when there is no scripted narrative to go with it. Final note, a little GLEE goes a long way.

Two performances remain of OTR 2081 at MOTR Pub.

• Fri, June 10 at 7:15pm
• Sat, June 11 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.

YOU ONLY LIVE FOREVER ONCE from Four Humors Theater as part of the 2011 Cincinnati Fringe Festival. You can read the show description here.

The best way I can describe YOU ONLY LIVE FOREVER ONCE is James Bond meets the NAKED GUN in the style of THE 39 STEPS on a shoe string budget. All the spy movie elements you expect get the Four Humors treatment and the result is a clever, fun and imaginative homage with tongue firmly planted in cheek.

A strong four actor ensemble keep the story moving ahead at breakneck speed, both in front and behind the puppet stage. Showing great versatility, the actors from last year’s THE FINKLE’S THEATER SHOW (sorry no program was available) are barely recognizable as the spy leads.

The few issues I had with the performance are minor. At times, the dialogue coming from behind the set is muffled by its fabric. I’m sure the audience’s laughter varies wildly from performance to performance, but I think if would serve you well to hold for laughs more often. I found the litany of spy cohort names to be a great bit, but it takes a second or two to process the names and responses. I understand that you were going for a quick fire delivery in that scene, but it couldn’t hurt to slow down and give the audience a beat to process and enjoy the lines. So I guess my second issue can be summed up as I want more time to laugh.

Three performances remain of YOU ONLY LIVE FOREVER ONCE at 1423 Vine.

• Wed, June 8 at 7:30pm
• Fri, June 10 at 7pm
• Sat, June 11 at 5pm

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.

OPAL OPUS: JOURNEY TO ALAKAZOO from Tangled Leaves Theatre Collective - Photos by Jeff Burkle.

OPAL OPUS: JOURNEY TO ALAKAZOO from Tangled Leaves Theatre Collective as part of the 2011 Cincinnati Fringe Festival. You can read the show description here.

Near the beginning of this play within a play pop opea, The Writer hopes the musical she is creating is “43% halfway-decent.” In that regard, the imaginative OPAL OPUS is more than successful.

What seems to be lacking is a story thread for the “outside” play versus the “play within the play.” I couldn’t figure out the lead character’s motivation for writing such a personal story or the reason for the self-imposed time-limit. I say “personal story” because The Writer actually gets pulled into the play within the play.

Inside the play I found the reason for the children’s journey to be a bit muddled and the characterizations of the four leads to, at times, seem contradictory. Almost every member of the seven person ensemble has great individual moments in the show.

The “muses” of Opal and Opus are a fun concept, however, the relationship between them is unclear. Does Opal represent the story and Opus the music? Are they ying to the other’s yang? Forces of good and evil?

There are good vocal performances throughout. A few small issues with pitch, high notes and technique do appear from time to time.

Favorite moments include father John (Blake Bowden) and daughter Josephine (Callie Schuttera) separated by a persona of Opus (Ken Early). Aretta Baumgartner creates some emotionally moving scenes as mother Joline, especially near the end of the play. Annie Kalahurka stands out as Opal who is a chameleon ball of energy on stage.

The accompaniment is well done, performed on stage by Serenity Fisher (keyboard) and Jenifer Higgins Wheatley (cello.) For me, it is the lyrics that could be tweaked a bit to better define the characters and drive the story forward.

Overall a promising start. I believe some clarity in narrative and theme is needed to strengthen the work.

Two performances remain of OPAL OPUS: JOURNEY TO ALAKAZOO at Henke 2. BTW the entrance to Henke 2 is down the alley between the buildings.

• Thu, June 9 at 9pm
• Sat, June 11 at 4pm

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.