ORANGUTAN – The West Coast Premiere of Troy Deutsch’s original political satire, Orangutan opens June 8, 2019 at The Broadwater Black Box Theatre (6322 Santa Monica Blvd. 90038) as part of the 2019 Hollywood Fringe Festival. Written by Deutsch, directed by Tinks Lovelace and starring Kristina Mueller, Orangutan is a haunting and absurd one-woman show about the mother of a brutish (slightly orange) would-be dictator, and the tribalism that’s tearing our country apart.
Deutsch’s provocative dark comedy was inspired by Bill Maher’s challenge to Donald Trump’s outrageous Obama “Birther” claims. Maher offered to donate five million dollars to the charity of Donald Trump’s choice if Trump produced a birth certificate that proved he was not half-ape. Trump’s lawyer responded: “Attached hereto is a copy of Mr. Trump’s birth certificate, demonstrating that he is the son of Fred Trump, not an Orangutan.” Trump then sued Bill Maher for five million dollars…
Kristina Mueller is a force of an actress. Her vocal control, character creation, and transitions between comedy and tragedy were pure genius. She is a fantastic actress. Tinks Lovelace masterfully exploited the entire stage with elegant and effortless blocking. I especially appreciated the use of light to control time, space, and mood. Troy Deutsch’s writing sounded like poetry coming out of Mueller’s mouth. This solo show is not to be missed. What a ride, a journey, and a release.
This show was moving and absurd, hilarious and terrifying - all in the way that only really good, challenging art can be. It was a bold look at the state of politics in a way that felt fresh, yet primal. I was grateful for the reminder of where the instincts to protect our own comes from and how it plays out in the world today.
Beginning with the amazing script by Troy Deutsch, the brilliant diretion of Tinks Lovelace and the Tony-worthy performance by Kristina Mueller, this show should win the Top of the Fringe award hands down. It is truly thrilling to be totally engaged in a show from start to finish, and this show takes you on a roller coaster ride worthy of an amusement park. Don’t miss this imaginative and highly entertaining show.
Kristina Mueller pulls off the impossible, making the mother of the orange-faced world leader a sympathetic and engaging. She creates a broken matriarch who agonizes over her decisions long after she’s made them. Kristina is engaging, powerful and embraces her demented creation with loving arms. Tinks Lovelace stages the play in such a way as to maximize the separation from the character and the audience, isolating her in her crazed musings.
I can’t wait for the next thing they collaborate on.
Beginning with the amazing script by Troy Deutsch, the brilliant diretion of Tinks Lovelace and the Tony-worthy performance by Kristina Mueller, this show should win the Top of the Fringe award hands down. It is truly thrilling to be totally engaged in a show from start to finish, and this show takes you on a roller coaster ride worthy of an amusement park. Don’t miss this imaginative and highly entertaining show.
Kristina Mueller is a force of an actress. Her vocal control, character creation, and transitions between comedy and tragedy were pure genius. She is a fantastic actress. Tinks Lovelace masterfully exploited the entire stage with elegant and effortless blocking. I especially appreciated the use of light to control time, space, and mood. Troy Deutsch’s writing sounded like poetry coming out of Mueller’s mouth. This solo show is not to be missed. What a ride, a journey, and a release.
This show was moving and absurd, hilarious and terrifying - all in the way that only really good, challenging art can be. It was a bold look at the state of politics in a way that felt fresh, yet primal. I was grateful for the reminder of where the instincts to protect our own comes from and how it plays out in the world today.
Kristina Mueller pulls off the impossible, making the mother of the orange-faced world leader a sympathetic and engaging. She creates a broken matriarch who agonizes over her decisions long after she’s made them. Kristina is engaging, powerful and embraces her demented creation with loving arms. Tinks Lovelace stages the play in such a way as to maximize the separation from the character and the audience, isolating her in her crazed musings.
I can’t wait for the next thing they collaborate on.
