From the first Fringe previews, I have been going to every single Fringe theater to talk to audience members about Better Lemons and the #LemonMeter, encouraging them to leave a review of shows they have seen. We currently have 1375 reviews listed (from critics and from audience members) and it's nice to see over 40 #Sweet #LemonMeter ratings. We also have 2 shows that received #DoubleSweet ratings which occur when the critics and the audience both award #Sweet ratings.
Congrats to all who worked very hard to get critics out to their show and who got audience members to leave reviews of their show.
Since my last post, I have seen the following shows:
THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE
HIGH RISE
TRANSMISSION: A ONE TRAN SHOW
TALKING WITH ANGELS: BUDAPEST, 1943
PENETRATION
BLAMED: AN ESTABLISHED FICTION
THE AMITYCODE
LADIES IN WAITING: THE JUDGEMENT OF HENRY VIII
And of this list, here are the shows that I really enjoyed:
High Rise was a real Tour de Force show written and performed by the very talented Cameron Jones. In 30 minutes he took us on a journey of a real estate agent, Henry Lewis, who started small to "become somebody", and who had to start anew after the market crash. The entire show is extremely physical and Cameron incorporates elements of mask, mime, Commedia dell'arte, Buffon and physical forms of theatre. And the ending was a beautiful surprise. It is a must see at the Fringe! Two more performances: Friday at 5pm and Saturday at 3:30 pm.
There's No Place Like is performed by two talented actors from the UK, both of whom, plus the director, I'm hosting at my house. I love watching international performances! The acting style is different, as is the writing and the stories. And I loved this show! As an immigrant of two countries since the age of 10, it is very difficult to describe what it feels like to be home at a country that you weren't born in and at the same time longing for your father land. And this play did a wonderful job of just that. How does one feel when one is an immigrant? Why do people create a little village in their communities instead of going home to their country of origin? How does it feel when one goes back "home" and what is "home" anyways? What does it mean and where is it? These are questions that I always ask myself and this play (wonderfully written by Lilac Yosiphon, performed by her and talented Sam Elwin, and beautifully directed by Marianne Mayer and Mike Cole) answer these questions and more. Go and see their last performance at the Underground Theatre tonight at 10!
Ladies in Waiting: The Judgement of Henry VIII (the first show to receive a #DoubleSweet rating) is another international play that I enjoyed not only for the topic but also for the great performances and the creative directing and use of space. The playbill had a family tree on it which was super helpful to understand the timeline and the relationship of the women with Henry VIII. See this show if you can! One performance left on Saturday at 4pm at the Stephany Feury Studio Theatre.
Transmission - A One Tran Show was performed by soft spoken Jade Beauvoir, who was born a woman trapped in a man's body. She meditated, she sang, she showed us slides and videos to make us try to understand what being transgender feels like. She pulled us into her story like a gentle lullaby and I walked away smarter then when I entered the theatre. And hat off to her parents! Art can teach us so much! Even if this issue doesn't seem interesting to you, you should give it a try. Only one show left on Friday at 11:45pm at the Lounge Theatre.
The Amighty Code I caught late at the Stephanie Feury Studio Theatre right after Ladies in Waiting and I was pleasantly surprised. I wan't going to see this show because I wanted to catch something else on Santa Monica Blvd. but I didn't want to hassle with parking again, so I decided to give this show a try and I'm glad I did. Clever writing and great acting, and lots of humor, the story drew me in and a week later I'm still thinking about it. The ending was disappointing for me only because I wanted Pete, the engineer, to make a choice that would have been against our human nature. Only two more performances left: Friday at 10pm and Saturday at 7:30pm at the Stephanie Feury Studio Theatre.
more articles to inspire
July 22, 2017 Ashton's Audio Interview: A Steady Rain @ John Kirby Studio- March 13, 2020 L.A. Venues and Events That Are Postponing, Updating, or Canceling To Help Deter Coronavirus Spread and Protect the Public
- June 12, 2019 Voices from the Fringe: Writer/Performer Ross John Gosla
- June 11, 2019 Voices from the Fringe: Writer/Director Thomas Wortham
- June 3, 2019 See Our Fringe Teaser at the BLACK
- May 31, 2019 Voices from the Fringe: Singer/Performer Victoria Gordon
- July 27, 2018 The TVolution 2018 Hollywood Fringe Awards!
