2019 Fringe So Far . . .

I’ve survived the first weekend of Fringe intact.  I saw seven shows in two days and proudly got the reviews uploaded quickly.  I hope they’re helpful as you plan your Fringe experience.

To recap, so far my NOT TO BE MISSED shows are THE MILF ALSO RISES, 90 LIES AN HOUR, THIS HOUSE WILL NEVER LET US GO, and ZOINKS!  Each of them is special in their own way: with MILF featuring Jen Joplin’s personal story of womanhood, 90 Lies is Paul Strickland’s newest storytelling piece, This House is a brilliant horror narrative, with compelling characters and fascinating dialogue and ZOINKS! featuring the genuis of Trey Tatum’s writing and Bridget Leak’s flash-mob style informed directing with tons of crowd interaction.  They’re all different, yet all so so good.

I’ve caught seven of the 34 mainstage shows.  By Sunday evening, I’ll have seen eleven more (plus THE WOLVES at Ensemble Theatre, which opens on Wednesday).  I’m really jazzed about THE VEGETABLES and STOW YOUR BAGGAGE this week, and I’ve heard really good things about THE DAVE MAHER COMA SHOW as well as WALKING WHILE BLACK IN MOSCOW, which are also on my list.  So far there’s nothing on my schedule for next week; we’ll see what I might see.  I’ve heard Craig Branch is killing it in MARTHA and I’m intrigued (and a little afraid of) DANDY DARKLY’S ALL ABOARD.  I feel like I should also check out KUMFERTED from Performance Gallery and BETWEEN 3 and 5 from PONES, INC.  So much Fringe to see.

One thing I will not miss is Peter Michael Marino’s special Fringe event DESPERATELY SEEKING THE EXIT as read by a host of Cincinnati and Fringe celebrities.  The show runs both Thursday and Friday and the show, which has gotten rave reviews elsewhere, intrigues me.  How many times do we get to hear about the inner workings of a West-End musical’s journey . . . especially one that features the music of Blondie with a plot from a Madonna movie.  Thursday’s line up includes Marino, Patrick E. Phillips, Sara Mackie, Darnell Pierre Benjamin, Burgess Byrd, and Rory Sheridan.  I’ll be there for that lineup.  Friday will feature Marino again, Les Kurkendaal-Barrett, Erika Kate MacDonald, Robert Macke, and Paul Strickland.  You can’t go wrong with either night – but you will regret it if you miss it.

I hope you are having a great time at Fringe and if you haven’t begun your 2019 Fringing . . . well, what are you waiting for?  You can read my reviews but can get another opinion by going to both ArtsWave and CityBeat.  They’ve got a team of people writing reviews of what I think will be every single show.  It’s impressive!

Hope to see you all around; I usually stop by Know Theatre at the end of the night so congratulate good performances and catch up with friends.  Please say hello if you see me.