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dreamsharkTHURSDAY Aug 6
8:30 p.m.
Was my brother in the battle? SONGS OF WAR - unrated
presented by Stephen Swanson & David Gompper
Venue: Playwrights' Ctr
This is the epitome of the type of show that I can't give a meaningful rating to. Apparently the performance was superb if you like classical (operatic style) singing. I don't. The first half of the show was all art song - I found it excruciating. The second half featured more accessible selections, including some Tom Lehrer, which fared pretty well in this style. On the other hand, it also included a song that I utterly loathe - "The Band Played Waltzing Matilda." Richard liked this show better than I did, but not by much. We should have skipped this one.
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10:00 p.m.
This Show Will Change Your Life! * * * * 1/2
presented by David Mann
Venue: Intermedia
Okay, it didn't change my life, but it sure did make me laugh. Motivational seminars seem like such an easy target that I was expecting a show full of mugging and cheap shots (we just stopped in on a whim because the time and place were convenient). Surprise! It was hilarious! The two performers are so skilled that they don't have to overact to make their point; they have the exact body language,timing and gimmicks of the professional salesman. The catch phrases and bullet points are familiar enough to sound momentarily plausible at the beginning of each new pitch before the whole thing collapses into nonsense. Great chemistry between the two as they reminisce about their long friendship ("What a stroke of luck that we ended up sharing the same cell that night!") and subtly jockey for control of the stage.
FRIDAY Aug 7
10:00 p.m.
The Flickering Wall * * *
presented by Illusion Theater Venue: Illusion
Audience traipses around the back stairs and hallways of the century-old repurposed Masonic Temple, interacting with bits of theater. Biggest downside: group is too large to even fit in some of the spaces, and the A/C cannot keep up. As the tour moves from dismal little hallways into the larger and more interesting backstage areas it gets better and better, and I was really enjoying it by the end. The skits are simply written and broadly played, but if you go with the flow it's a lot of fun. The stories themselves are pretty trivial; the ones that work are the ones that highlight the space and involve the audience. Recommended, but with reservations.
8:30 p.m.
Was my brother in the battle? SONGS OF WAR - unrated
presented by Stephen Swanson & David Gompper
Venue: Playwrights' Ctr
This is the epitome of the type of show that I can't give a meaningful rating to. Apparently the performance was superb if you like classical (operatic style) singing. I don't. The first half of the show was all art song - I found it excruciating. The second half featured more accessible selections, including some Tom Lehrer, which fared pretty well in this style. On the other hand, it also included a song that I utterly loathe - "The Band Played Waltzing Matilda." Richard liked this show better than I did, but not by much. We should have skipped this one.
____________________________
10:00 p.m.
This Show Will Change Your Life! * * * * 1/2
presented by David Mann
Venue: Intermedia
Okay, it didn't change my life, but it sure did make me laugh. Motivational seminars seem like such an easy target that I was expecting a show full of mugging and cheap shots (we just stopped in on a whim because the time and place were convenient). Surprise! It was hilarious! The two performers are so skilled that they don't have to overact to make their point; they have the exact body language,timing and gimmicks of the professional salesman. The catch phrases and bullet points are familiar enough to sound momentarily plausible at the beginning of each new pitch before the whole thing collapses into nonsense. Great chemistry between the two as they reminisce about their long friendship ("What a stroke of luck that we ended up sharing the same cell that night!") and subtly jockey for control of the stage.
FRIDAY Aug 7
10:00 p.m.
The Flickering Wall * * *
presented by Illusion Theater Venue: Illusion
Audience traipses around the back stairs and hallways of the century-old repurposed Masonic Temple, interacting with bits of theater. Biggest downside: group is too large to even fit in some of the spaces, and the A/C cannot keep up. As the tour moves from dismal little hallways into the larger and more interesting backstage areas it gets better and better, and I was really enjoying it by the end. The skits are simply written and broadly played, but if you go with the flow it's a lot of fun. The stories themselves are pretty trivial; the ones that work are the ones that highlight the space and involve the audience. Recommended, but with reservations.
