I heard about this through a friend and I immediately became enthralled at seeing as much as I can. I like the idea of having short pieces go up one after the other, similar to the style of the Hollywood Fringe Festival. The website is even similar to that of the Fringe Festival; it feels like June again! It will allow artists to test out their smaller works before working on expanding them to full fledged productions, most likely. All shows takes place at The Stephanie Feury Theater on Melrose and are presented by Combined Artform / Asylum. If you know me, you know I have seen a lot of Fringe… I immediately started reaching out to different productions to see how my schedule would line up. With the shows being 30 minutes (or less), I don’t think I will write full on reviews, but maybe little blurbs about each show. What I liked, What needs more work.
Day 1:
Marketing R Us by Spencer Frankenberger – An absurdist variety show. Walked in with a scientist in a lab coat asking me if I ate today and wrote my response on clipboard; so I was confused at the start, but curious in what I was about to see as the immersive experience had begun. Alexandra McCale gave a five-minute opening stand-up comedy performance. She is a very intuitive, brutally honest performer and has a well crafted set; I’m excited to see more of her work. The show itself — what was that? Absurdist to a ten! And if that is something you enjoy, you will enjoy this! A key element to comedy is surprise, but I will say that a show that starts at a 10 — and stays at that level for the majority of the show — the surprises don’t hit as well. I will say I had a fun time.
Rob Janas Traveling Sketch Show was introduced to us as, “I saw the news and got sad, so I wrote jokes.” I loved this guy’s energy! Rob is a sketch writer from Second City planning to bring his work to the stage. It was a nice experimental piece, three guys switching up different characters throughout the different skits. Really raunchy, controversial humor. I laughed out loud but I could understand it is not everyone’s taste. A skit of a Far Right German political group starting to understand how toxic their beliefs are, Kim Kardashian using salmon semen as a face lotion (puppets were used). Good impressions and we can tell the actors had fun doing it. He plans to take it to Hollywood Fringe Festival and I hope to see him there.
Holy Water and Tequila by Cat Alvarado was a charming standup set, hilarious and heartfelt, and I was pleasantly surprised. I usually hate watching standup at theater festivals but this was not just a comedian working on jokes. Alvarado created a show about dating as a woman while overcoming shame from her religious upbringing. She played with the audience a bit too, and worked off of our reactions. A show about navigating the complexities of guilt, self-discovery, and liberation. Alvarado invites the audience to laugh with her.
Day 2:
Runs In The Family by Ben Taylor. Not so sure of this performer’s name, as he stated he could not reveal it due to his family history. Maybe that added to the mystery behind his stories; but it also made me feel uncomfortable, like I was witnessing a crime. Was that what he was going for? A really ambitious project where “Ben” plays different members of his family involved in criminal events. I’ll admit, I was somewhat confused at times — Ben jumped so quickly into polar opposite emotions as he interchanged characters. In the second half he explains his whole process of finding and creating the story, I wondered if it would have helped to give the explanation in the first half, or cut it in between the dramatization. It is an ambitious project, and I can see it growing as time allows.
Mister Snow starring Rachael Meyers and Bryan McKinley is a masterclass, incredible show that might be my favorite so far. My expectations are not too high for a 20 to 30 minute production, in any case, yet this exceeded any notion I had. With all these shows, I know nothing going in, and this is a show that can keep you fully entranced in the post-apocalyptic universe they created. Characters with rich backstories. I loved the elaborate use of the stage design, and other effects. Theme of strangers searching for connection yet fearing the unknown; a slice of life, truth on stage. Highly recommended! At the end of the show, a patron yelled “We want more!” and I concur. Meyers writes that this is the first act to a play she is write so I am excited to see where it goes.
Safety Stew written and performed by BK Wong is a one person show that is a personal show about the five stages of grief and interesting flavors, with moments of humor. The production has good structure and gives insight into the performer’s experience. I love how Wong utilized her quirky personality to command the stage. I gasped at some of the daring risks she took, kept the audience entertained.
I’m A Nice Man by Adam Frost Vernick was a captivating, deep one-man show. It begins with Adam talking at the audience but he connects with us and uses our reactions to build on his show. Talk about range! It has a great structure, emotional roller coaster. I appreciate the vulnerability and love how dark he is willing to get.
Day 3:
Shame On Sunday was a great variety show. Michael David-Ker gets on stage, tells a personal story about shame, his producers ‘baptize’ him (I guess), and the multi-platinum song writer Harold Payne gets up with his guitar and creates a song abiut Michael’s story. Brilliant, edgy, hilarious storytelling by Michael and it is an honor to see Harold get on his guitar. Michael is fully aware of his beats, and it seems like he has done this many times. It was a fun time! Catch Shame On Sunday once a month at the Lyric Hyperion.
The King and Paul and I a show with great energy and great physical comedy. A new couple moves into an apartment and Paul realizes he might be second in line to the King, Elvis. The title reminds me of The King and I (musical) but also Elvis (by way of the Eminem song). I do not know much about the musical or Elvis, other than he was the king of rock. Not sure if they had anything to do, but it is not a requirement to enjoy the show! A simple premise with no awkward moments. The show is well-crafted and the characters work so well off of each other. A great use of the set design and props. Angelique Fustukjian brings such fun energy to the stage,
Welcome to the Uterus IS A MUST SEE. Good luck getting tickets, this show was a full house and I got the final seat. I would describe it as Inside Out 3 (set in the title of the show) or like watching an Adult Swim animation special live on stage; a truly interesting and creative concept. A big ensemble with fun characters, and I loved the adventure. This experience had the whole crowd laughing out loud; also filled with strenuous choreography and — I just don’t want to spoil anything. I am left wanting more and can’t wait to see where this show will go.
Bro! (How To Be A Man) was a touching, powerful, deeply personal project offering an honest exploration about the complexity of modern manhood through the lens of their own journey as a trans man. With a mix of humor and vulnerability, James Leonida brings universal yet unique ideas to the stage. I wish more people were able to see his performance as it will prove to be heavily impactful, and resonates long after the lights go dark. He satirizes the idea of man and gives his own take to it. I love the impersonations he gives throughout the piece and flows in and out of different characters.
Top picks: Mister Snow, Welcome to the Uterus, I’m A Nice Man
Stage Takes 