Tag Archives: Cincinnati Fringe Festival

June 8, 2016 · 6:33 am

My Fringe Schedule: Day 8

Finally seeing two shows everyone keeps asking me if I’ve seen yet…

CFF_Baby Mama promoBABY MAMA: One Woman’s Quest to Give Her Child to Gay People
Caps Lock Theatre
Astoria, NY

Written and performed by Mariah MacCarthy
Directed by Sara Lyons

BABY MAMA tracks one birth mother’s true adoption journey, from conception to placement with the gay couple of her dreams–while still living her life, dating, and attending the occasional orgy. From adoption agencies to vaginal discharge, from burlesque to good-byes, this up-close-and-personal night of storytelling is everything about those ten months you ever wanted to know (and probably plenty that you didn’t). Bring hankies.

CFF_Shit Men Have Said logoSHIT MEN HAVE SAID OR: HOW I LEARNED TO STOP WORRYING AND LOVE THE PATRIACHY
ReVamp Collective
Philadelphia, PA

Written by Kristen Scatton
Directed by Carly Bodnar

Cast: Anna Pysher, Kimie Muroya, Gil Johnson, Rich Stevens & Erin Carr

Enter the system! ReVamp Collective would like to invite you to the People’s Association of Testing, Research, and Innovation for Achieving Rigorous Control of Humanity. This organization is committed to developing standards to maintain a well-ordered society, and training individuals to understand and fulfill these expectations. This production reexamines the established gender roles in our western society. Each ‘test subject’ will be part of the conversation through moments of audience participation before, during and after the performance. Welcome, and enjoy.

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June 6, 2016 · 5:05 pm

NAKED STRANGERS Review

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.

CFF_Naked Strangers promoNAKED STRANGERS presented by Out of School Productions as part of the 2016 Cincinnati Fringe Festival. You can read the show description here.

This production is one of several fringe shows this year that uses an ensemble to discuss a topic and impart information to its audience. For me, it was also the most successful.

STRANGERS features a talented and diverse cast of nine recent college-graduates, who are very much at-ease on stage and enjoyable to watch. I was grateful for the overall tone of the show and its underlying sense of humor. I felt included in the experience, the difference between being talked to vs. being talked at. The material was well-written and organized. Properties and costumes were well-chosen and used sparingly. It was nice to see the urge to “kitchen sink” the production was avoided. Credit for this fine production is shared with creator and director Richard Hess.

“Wasn’t that pleasant?” the audience is rhetorically asked several times throughout the production. Indeed it was.

Two performances remain through June 8.

 

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June 6, 2016 · 5:03 pm

THE UNREPENTANT NECROPHILE Review

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.

THE UNREPENTANT NECROPHILE presented by The Coldharts as part of the 2016 Cincinnati Fringe Festival. You can read the show description here.

CFF_The Unrepentant Necrophile

Katie Hartman & Nate Gebhard.

nec·ro·phil·i·a – A paraphilia in which sexual gratification is derived from fantasies or acts involving a corpse.

Consider yourself warned.

The Coldharts follow up last year’s macabre EDGAR ALLAN with an even darker, more-twisted tale featuring a rock-n-roll beat. Joining Katie Hartman (guitar/vocals) and Nick Ryan (bass) this year is Nate Gebhard on drums.

Still a relatively new work, the show could benefit from an expanded book and perhaps an introductory scene before the first musical number. At the opening performance, Hartman’s vocals were over amplified, causing many in the audience to literally cover one ear to manage the volume. Conversely, it was difficult hearing some of the dialogue, as the actors were too soft-spoken and blocked completely upstage.

Volume obstacles aside, the musical numbers are strong and the show still manages to generate some good laughs. I can say unhesitatingly, that I’ve never seen anything quite like this on stage. A dark and entertaining guilty pleasure. BTW, Weekend‘s Bernie can’t hold a drumstick to this corpse.

Two performances remain through June 11.

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June 5, 2016 · 7:40 am

My Fringe Schedule: Day 5

Ok, so seven shows yesterday kick my butt. Sunday’s schedule is a more manageable five shows:

CFF_Measure for Measure logoWILLIAM SHAKESPEARE’S MOST BRUTAL TRAGEDY: MEASURE FOR MEASURE
#ViralContentGenerator
Pittsburgh, PA

MEASURE FOR MEASURE features Isabella struggling to maintain her bodily autonomy amongst several powerful men who desire her. This exploration of Shakespeare’s text highlights the changes between 17th century Verona and today–and what hasn’t changed

CFF_The Secret of Avalon Falls

Photo by Rick Poston.

THE SECRETS OF AVONDALE FALLS
The O’Debra Twins
Brooklyn, NY

Avondale Falls. Where everybody knows your name. Because they’re planning to poison you for seducing their fiancé while they were in an amnesia-induced coma after falling into quicksand, and your husband, the world’s handsomest doctor, is trying to put you in a medical prison for the exceptionally beautiful and rich. No one is safe in this 1980s soap opera, performed radio-style. Brought to you by the creator of RADIO STAR and her evil twin sister.

CFF_Velour promoVELOUR
Schedule C Productions
Anderson, IN

The creators of The King & I: a Hunk of Burnin’ Love (Citybeat Critic’s Pick 2014) are back for their 3rd Cincy Fringe with the story of wannabe lounge singer, Vinnie Velour, who must fight for the right to sing via a series of audience-chosen variety acts offering 27 possible outcomes! “There’s nothing Vinnie can’t do…à la the screwball comedies of the ‘40’s” ~Nuvo Magazine “One of this year’s best. Don’t miss this show!” ~Indyfringetalks.com.

CFF_Daddy IssuesDADDY ISSUES
Peter Aguero
Sunnyside, NY

Moth Host and Storyteller Peter Aguero takes the audience through a raw and sympathetic look at his relationship with and without his father. “Simply, perfectly moving” – Edmonton Journal “A master storyteller and wordsmith” – Winnipeg Free Press

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June 5, 2016 · 7:24 am

My 2016 Cincy Fringe Show Rankings

Updated 6/13/16

CFF_We Did It Girl logoI have reached that point in the Fringe Festival where I become woefully behind in reviews vs. productions I’ve seen.

Below I am ranking the shows I’ve attended to date. Links to reviews added as they become available.

  1. WE DID IT, GIRL!
  2. BOO-BOO
  3. CESSNA: A Drama Noir | Review
  4. DARLINGS | Review
  5. UNREPENTANT NECROPHILE | Review
  6. ICE CANDLE
  7. BABY MAMA
  8. NAKED STRANGERS | Review
  9. FRUIT FLIES LIKE A BANANA
  10. MY LEFT TEETH
  11. FURLESQUE
  12. COSMIC NOMAD
  13. RYAN & ALICE?
  14. DADDY ISSUES
  15. SHENATRA!
  16. SHIT MEN HAVE SAID
  17. SQUEEZE IT FROM THE MIDDLE
  18. PUNK’S NOT DEAD AND NEITHER IS SAM (YET)
  19. GOLCONDA
  20. THE 4TH GRADERS PRESENT AN UNNAMED LOVE-SUICIDE
  21. THE FAINTING ROOM
  22. THE BISCUITEATER
  23. TESLA EX MACHINA | Review
  24. PLEASE, CALL ME CUPCAKE
  25. VELOUR
  26. THE SECRETS OF AVONDALE FALLS
  27. OTHER BOTHER | Review
  28. I HATE IT HERE | Review
  29. WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE’S MOST BRUTAL TRAGEDY: MEASURE FOR MEASURE
  30. BLACK-N-WHITE CAFE
  31. WOODY VS. MIA VS. GWYNETH VS COLDPLAY
  32. GOSPEL OF FAT KATHY
  33. TWIGGY FARTDUST AND HER NEMESIS FROM MARS

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