Most parents may shy away from bringing their kids to a performance of “Stomp.” But what if you removed some of the volume and injected some humor perfect for young audiences? You’d get “Rhythm Delivered.” The troupe of dancers and percussionists use their bodies, as well as miscellaneous objects (paint buckets, cardboard boxes, plastic tubes, […]
Rochester Fringe 2019
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Frank reviews ‘Pearl: Secrets of the Sea’
The French company Plasticiens Volants made up for Friday night’s forced cancellation due to high winds with two spectacular shows on Saturday night. It was mighty cool, it was mondo epic and truly amazing how they brought these enormous inflatable sea creatures to life over the heads of thousands of mesmerized souls, as their jaws […]
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Adam reviews ‘RIT School of Film & Animation Honors Show 2019,’ ‘Oz and Effect,’ and ‘‘33 (a kabarett)’
I always try to make a point of attending the annual Fringe program from RIT’s School of Film and Animation, which presents a host of films (34 this year) produced by the students of SOFA. The works are selected to represent every year of the school’s graduate and undergraduate programs, as well as every genre […]
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Kathy reviews ‘Flirting Like an American’
Language is a funny thing. It’s even funnier when Sufian Zhemukhov takes command of it to tell his story of coming to America from Russia and finding out slowly (and sometimes painfully) that the language of love is not international. He came here for his work as a Fulbright scholar, but hoped he would also […]
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David reviews ‘Dogfight: The Musical’
Just to put it up front: “Dogfight” is a musical with a book by Peter Duchan and a score by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul. I mention this because their names are mentioned nowhere on the program for OFC Productions’ Fringe Festival presentation. Seeing “Dogfight,” you might well wonder who wrote it, because Duchan, Pasek, […]
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Leah reviews ‘The Eulogy’
Seven minutes before his 7 p.m. curtain on Friday night, performer Michael Burgos was on the first floor of Writers & Books, nervously milling around the long line that had formed outside the stairway to the second floor theater. A house manager cleared her throat. “Excuse me! We have an announcement,” she said. Burgos, dressed in a somber […]
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Leah reviews ‘BardBending: Fight Club Edition’
With more than 500 shows running in 12 days of Fringe, most folks won’t be likely to choose Shakespeare first. Unless maybe it’s all fight scenes. From a handful of different famous Shakespearean tales. Set in different eras and realities. Leave it to Virginia Monte and crew at Rochester’s own WallByrd Theatre Co. to dream […]
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Adam reviews ‘Colma!’
The infamous Colma, California is a small town just south of San Francisco where, thanks to a significant chunk of the city’s land being devoted to an absurd number of cemeteries, the dead outnumber the living by a jaw-dropping 1,000 to 1. With roughly 1800 living residents, that’s a lot of stiffs. No wonder the […]
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David reviews ‘Charlie and the Siberian Monkey Goddess’
“Charlie and the Siberian Monkey Goddess” manages to be something you’ve seen before — the zany “Who’s the crazy one?” debate in a psychiatrist’s office — and something a bit different, in that the debate is between Charlie Chaplin (or an imposter) and someone who might be a doctor, or the goddess of the title, […]
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Kathy reviews ‘Somewhere in Between’ and ‘God is a Scottish Drag Queen’
After debuting at last year’s Fringe Festival, the Frazee Feet Dancers are back with a new work titled “Somewhere in Between.” Utilizing original written works, newly composed music and contemporary dance, the small but nimble group tells stories about love, life and acceptance. The written pieces, which are read by its author Reilly Hirst, serve […]
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Leah reviews ‘Black Matter’
Candles flickered around the event space off the main dining room at Nox in Village Gate on Wednesday evening, adding to the ambiance of the large, Victorian-esque room. A server flitted around delivering drinks tableside, and a makeshift stage area set apart from tables and chairs was lit with red and blue lights, casting purple […]
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Kathy reviews ‘Something From Nothing (Marfa)’
When you walk into your first Fringe show and you’re greeted by a tunnel of cast members cheering and offering you high fives, you might suspect you’re in for something a little different. That’s the case with “Something From Nothing (Marfa),” my first show of 2019. In keeping with the theme of “Leap A Little” […]
