Stage Takes

I am excited to jump back into reviewing shows for the Hollywood Fringe Festival. Let me use this site to offer a more personal take and detail more of my experience. Today I drove over to The Broadwater after work, and I would say today started out slow. The vibes weren’t there yet, but I ran into artists I had met before as well as new people whom I expect to see their shows. I managed to see four shows and get a good bit of socializing in. By my third show I was drained. Pleased to see Bryan doing security at the door for Plunge, as well as Trevor, doing a podcast on the sidewalk. Anyways, on with the reviews.

Party Boy by Adam Smith

I had seen Adam Smith’s previous work, so I came in expecting to be entertained and he did not disappoint. Party Boy follows a man seemingly searching for connection amid the chaos of his own party, at least as I interpreted it. The show is an immersive experience driven by a character whose awkward, unpredictable energy evokes the spirit of Andy Kaufman and Zach Galifianakis. Much of the humor comes from watching him navigate his own discomfort, creating moments that are both cringeworthy and hilarious.

Smith demonstrates a remarkable ability to work a live audience, skillfully reading, shaping, and amplifying the energy in the room. His audience interactions feel spontaneous yet controlled, drawing viewers deeper into the experience. The comedic timing throughout is impeccable, with each moment landing exactly when it should. I thoroughly enjoyed Party Boy and found it to be a funny, engaging, and memorable performance.

Wet Hot AMUSICAL Summer

A musical parody of campy theater about a movie that is a revival of a cult classic, one of the most fun experiences in all of Fringe! If you’re looking for smart, strange, high-energy comedy and a night of pure entertainment, this is a must-see. It’s a celebration of over-the-top theatricality that embraces its ridiculousness with infectious enthusiasm. Award-winning Cherry Poppins Theater Company does it again, with another smash hit at the Hollywood Fringe Festival. Expect to be entertained and not care too much about the plot. Sitting here, I cannot think of major themes, yet I hum through the music from the show. Direction, choreography, singing, and comedy all at a 10! I see that the program lists all characters as “Wet Hottie” so I don’t want to spoil any surprises here. It is bizarre, absurd, bold, boundary-pushing comedy.

DWNYC

This production is an adaptation of Harold Pinter’s The Dumb Waiter, relocated to 1970s New York. I am a fan of Harold Pinter’s work and I appreciated the opportunity to see this classic brought to life on stage. The play’s tension, ambiguity, and dark humor remain intact. The performances are solid, and that feels to be the main focus of the production. Two actors produced this project and that is respectable, I am loving the emergence of classical works at the Hollywood Fringe Festival. For those who enjoy watching revivals and/or classic works, this provides an enjoyable evening of theater.

Banana Man Live

What an imaginative and deeply moving piece of theater. The best way I can describe it is as “live theater animation”. Banana Man Live production that feels as though a cartoon has come to life on stage through creativity, movement, and sheer theatrical ingenuity. If you allow yourself to step into Ari Fromm’s imaginative world, you’ll be richly rewarded. The story follows a banana on a journey of self-discovery. Beneath its playful premise lies a thoughtful and surprisingly profound exploration of identity, belonging, and possibility.

I especially loved the inventive set pieces and props, which are woven seamlessly into the storytelling. Every visual element feels purposeful and enhances the whimsical nature of the production. Fromm’s performance is equally impressive as they effortlessly shifts between multiple fruit characters, giving each one a distinct personality and comic voice.

This is the kind of Fringe show that reminds you how limitless theater can be: imaginative, heartfelt, hilarious, and unlike anything else you’ll see.