FLIM FLAM PHANTOM SHAM (Ombelico Mask Ensemble): Fringe Review 56
Ombelico’s latest al fresco offering, FLIM FLAM PHANTOM SHAM, is a delightful synthesis of traditional Commedia dell’Arte with current Philadelphia references, delivered in Italian and English—or Philly’s local version thereof!—which kept me in stitches throughout the entire all-ages show.
View More FLIM FLAM PHANTOM SHAM (Ombelico Mask Ensemble): Fringe Review 56THE WAITSTAFF SH*TS THE BED (The Waitstaff): 2014 Fringe Review 55
After years of milking their hit show The Real Housewives of South Philly until it jumped the shark, The Waitstaff return to the Fringe with another set of funnybone-tickling sketch comedy
View More THE WAITSTAFF SH*TS THE BED (The Waitstaff): 2014 Fringe Review 55NECESSARY EFFORTS (The Naked Stark): Fringe Review 54
What is necessary? In NECESSARY EFFORTS, the mixed-bill production by The Naked Stark, the answer offered is the work of making.
View More NECESSARY EFFORTS (The Naked Stark): Fringe Review 54THE BODY LAUTREC (Aaron Cromie and Mary Tuomanen): Fringe Review 53
THE BODY LAUTREC is not everyone’s cup of tea: a shockingly hard-core depiction of the depravities and debaucheries of Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec and his art.
View More THE BODY LAUTREC (Aaron Cromie and Mary Tuomanen): Fringe Review 53Anna K (Chris Davis): 2014 Fringe Review 40.2
It would be fun to call ANNA K an irreverent romp through Tolstoy’s 1870s novel, Anna Karenina, but in fact playwright Chris Davis reverences the material in his own way. For all its comedy, and there’s plenty in his South Philly-style version, the play scans the storyline and retains underlying issues.
View More Anna K (Chris Davis): 2014 Fringe Review 40.2UNDERGROUND EPISODES (Run Boy Run Productions): Fringe Review 52
UNDERGROUND EPISODES carries us from Olney to past City Hall and then back again in poems, half-spoken and half-recited, sometimes direct and sometimes inscrutable.
View More UNDERGROUND EPISODES (Run Boy Run Productions): Fringe Review 52BY YOU THAT MADE ME, FRANKENSTEIN (Philadelphia Opera Collective): Fringe Review 51
The compelling two-act opus captures the historic characters, events, and mood with passion and clarity.
View More BY YOU THAT MADE ME, FRANKENSTEIN (Philadelphia Opera Collective): Fringe Review 51NELLIE/NELLIE (Antigravity Theatre Project): Fringe Review 50
NELLIE/NELLIE combines whimsy and imagaination with the true story of American journalist Nellie Bly and her 10 days in a mental institution.
View More NELLIE/NELLIE (Antigravity Theatre Project): Fringe Review 50BALLETX AT THE BRIDGETTE MAYER GALLERY (BalletX): Fringe Review 49
BALLETX’s intimate performance featured a company dancer and performers from Murmuration, a dynamic and experimental ensemble.
View More BALLETX AT THE BRIDGETTE MAYER GALLERY (BalletX): Fringe Review 49THE ABSOLUTELY, POSITIVELY, FORGET-ABOUT-IT, LAST NIGHT AT VON DAHM’S SPORTS BAR, WING HUT, AND KARAOKE PALACE (Actors International Theatre): Fringe Review 48
Some Fringe shows display great production values and artistic quality. VON DAHM’s isn’t one of those, but it’s still a joy.
View More THE ABSOLUTELY, POSITIVELY, FORGET-ABOUT-IT, LAST NIGHT AT VON DAHM’S SPORTS BAR, WING HUT, AND KARAOKE PALACE (Actors International Theatre): Fringe Review 48NIGHTMARES IN NEVERLAND (Bri Shaw/Brian Clores/Brey Barrett/Haygen Walker): 2014 Fringe Review 47
Two original one-hour plays inspired by the life and popular children’s book of Scottish author J.M. Barrie
View More NIGHTMARES IN NEVERLAND (Bri Shaw/Brian Clores/Brey Barrett/Haygen Walker): 2014 Fringe Review 479 TO 5: THE MUSICAL (Walnut Street): Performance over plot
Sharp performances keep 9 TO 5 so consistently entertaining it masks a contrived plot and mediocre music and lyrics.
View More 9 TO 5: THE MUSICAL (Walnut Street): Performance over plotKIM COLES: OH, BUT WAIT . . . THERE’S MORE! (Kim Coles / Dir. Scotch Ellis Loring): Fringe Review 46
The actor, best known for work on “Living Single,” opens it all up with a solo show that is hilarious, hopeful, and surprisingly heartfelt.
View More KIM COLES: OH, BUT WAIT . . . THERE’S MORE! (Kim Coles / Dir. Scotch Ellis Loring): Fringe Review 46BEN TO THE FUTURE (Salamé Studios): Fringe Review 45
The creative young minds of Salamé Studios have put together a show that anyone willing to try something untrodden will enjoy
View More BEN TO THE FUTURE (Salamé Studios): Fringe Review 45MAD BLOOD AND OTHER BEAUTIES (A Plague On Both Your Houses): Fringe Review 44
This is no mere retelling of Romeo and Juliet. What we get is a conjuring, a blood-letting, a full-throated cry of rage.
View More MAD BLOOD AND OTHER BEAUTIES (A Plague On Both Your Houses): Fringe Review 44BENT (Truth Be Told Productions): Fringe Review 43
Truth Be Told Productions BENT isn’t innovative, but it is a quality production of a culturally significant play.
View More BENT (Truth Be Told Productions): Fringe Review 43THE FOUR SEASONS RESTAURANT (Societas Raffaello Sanzio): Fringe Review 36.2
Romeo Castellucci has poured his personal inspirations and philosophy into this remarkable abstract production, but ultimately viewers must determine its meaning for themselves. To this viewer, the piece is a resounding “NO.”
View More THE FOUR SEASONS RESTAURANT (Societas Raffaello Sanzio): Fringe Review 36.2KILL SHAKESPEARE: LIVE GRAPHIC NOVEL (Revolution Shakespeare and Hear Again Radio Project): Fringe Review 42
Revolution Shakespeare (dedicated to new approaches to the playwright) and Hear Again Radio Project (specializing in the recreation of vintage radio programs) have teamed up for an entertaining presentation of the popular graphic novel series KILL SHAKESPEARE.
View More KILL SHAKESPEARE: LIVE GRAPHIC NOVEL (Revolution Shakespeare and Hear Again Radio Project): Fringe Review 42THE ADULTS (New Paradise Laboratories): Fringe Review 20.2
Whit MacLaughlin is going off the deep end with this one. Are you willing to jump in with him? New Paradise Laboratories’ handsomely crafted, meticulously acted, and totally weird production, is not easily accessible. Nothing much can be taken literally here, and the production doesn’t reward searching for specific meanings as it creates its own tilted world with its own skewed logic.
View More THE ADULTS (New Paradise Laboratories): Fringe Review 20.2SECRETS (Tongue & Groove): Fringe Review 41
Tongue & Groove’s team is pretty fearless, and though the performance has some slower moments, they’re quick to cut off a bit that isn’t working and move forward. Musician Carol Moog sits off to the side, riffing on a harmonica whenever she decides a scene has ended.
View More SECRETS (Tongue & Groove): Fringe Review 41