{"id":6384,"date":"2013-06-20T05:17:24","date_gmt":"2013-06-20T12:17:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/forallevents.com\/reviews\/?p=6384"},"modified":"2013-06-20T05:17:24","modified_gmt":"2013-06-20T12:17:24","slug":"brighton-fringe-reviewed","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/forallevents.com\/reviews\/brighton-fringe-reviewed\/","title":{"rendered":"BRIGHTON FRINGE REVIEWED"},"content":{"rendered":"

NEWS FROM THE BRIGHTON FRINGE<\/strong><\/p>\n

SHORT COMMENTARY ON WHAT IS HAPPENING ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE POND<\/p>\n

I had the unexpected pleasure of stumbling on BITCH BOXER <\/strong>\u00a0written and performed by Charlotte Josephine.\u00a0 I am not a sports fan and I particularly abhor boxing, yet this play with its fast moving dialogue, exquisite direction by Bryony\u00a0 Shanahan and truly brilliant lighting effects by Seth Rook Williams captivated me from the moment Josephine stepped on the stage and brought tears to my eyes as I relived a young girl\u2019s torment,\u00a0 torn by her own determination to validate herself in her fathers eyes.\u00a0\u00a0 This is a play that must be seen because words cannot cast its spell.\u00a0 I takes place in 2012 when women entered\u00a0 the Olympic boxing ring for the first time.\u00a0 We see Chloe training to compete in the event even as she is torn by cosmic events in her own life.\u00a0 Through it all, we see her hanging on to a tattered faith in herself and reaching for a star she knows belongs to her.\u00a0 It is Josephine\u2019s performance that makes this production stellar.\u00a0 She is an artist in every sense of that word and beyond<\/p>\n

BITCH BOXER<\/strong> returns to the Marlborough Theatre May 25,26,& 27 7:30 pm<\/p>\n

www.brightonfringe.org<\/a>; 01273 917272<\/p>\n

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THE SPEIGEL TENT IS THE<\/span> PLACE TO BE \u2026\u2026<\/strong><\/p>\n

LA CLIQUE <\/strong>\u00a0happens every night but MOnday at 9 pm and iach performance is unique.\u00a0 You will see Scotty the Blue Bunny charming you with is wagging little tail and marvelous repartee;\u00a0 Shay Horay amaze you with rubber bands, Lilikoi Kaos spinning hula hoops in ways you cannot imagine and the Wau Wau Sisters doing a trapeze act that defies gravity.\u00a0 The show is spellbinding from start to finish and for me a huge highlight is Paul Zenon\u2019s combination of magic and comedy.\u00a0 This is an hour and a half of superb entertainment\u2026fun, exhilarating and spirit lifting.<\/p>\n

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My favorite performers ever are and have always been MIKLEANGELO AND THE BLACK SEA GENTLEMEN.\u00a0 <\/strong>\u00a0They perform at 5 pm in the tent from the 13-19 and are an experience not to be missed \u201cThese are performers at the top of their game,\u201d says The Scotsman;\u00a0 The Sydney Morning Herald says \u201cThey are not so much a band as a dream you cannot wake from.\u201d<\/p>\n

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The show combines musical theatre and black humor in unexpected ways.\u00a0 You will never see its like anywhere in the world. Mikelangelo has composed and arranged songs that blend Balkan melodies and European Kabaret with comedy and farce.\u00a0 The Gentlemen are superb musicians and each has his own comedic sense. Mikelangelo is brilliant on every level as their leader and your host in the production.\u00a0 When they play AN A MINOR DAY you laugh and yet you know just what they mean\u2026and I defy you not to nod your head at the black humor in A FORMIDABLE MARINADE.\u00a0 You will chuckle; you will dance and you will love every minute you spend with MIKELANGELO AND THE BLACK SEA GENTLEMEN<\/strong>.\u00a0 That is a promise.\u00a0 Tickets 01273 917272\u00a0 www.brightonfringe.com.<\/p>\n

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THE BIG BITE-SIZE BREAKFAST: Fresh Fruit *****<\/strong><\/p>\n

This is a series of award winning one-minute plays delightfully presented with coffee and a croissant included in the 12.50\/9.50 ticket.\u00a0 Fresh Fruit <\/strong>is a collection of 5 vignettes directed and produced by Nick Brice\/Sam Holland and Sophia Wylie.\u00a0 Each play in this series gives us a new take on what it is to be human, mixing pathos with humor.\u00a0 Of special note is Tegen Hitchens whose monologue Thin Air <\/strong>\u00a0about a tight rope walker who learns what courage is all about is mesmerizing and unforgettable.\u00a0 Do not miss this delightful mid day hour. Tickets 01273 917272\u00a0 www.brightonfringe.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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THE BIG BITE-SIZE BREAKFAST: Interpretations\u00a0 *****<\/p>\n

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It is rare to see a show that has an almost universal appeal.\u00a0 The audience for this \u201cmenu\u201d ranged from a rapt 3 year old to a woman of 80 and everyone there was captivated by the selection of plays that combine comedy with a dose of unvarnished reality.\u00a0 Of special note was Becky Norris\u2019s monologue VALENTINE\u2019S DAY<\/strong> about a woman who receives a valentine from a most unusual stranger.\u00a0 Norris\u2019s characterization is multi-faceted and believable, yet laced with dead-pan humor.\u00a0 Kudos to Nick Brice, Sam Holland and Sophia Wylie for their programming and expert direction.\u00a0 Once again they have given us a delightful and unforgettable morning. Tickets 01273 917272\u00a0 www.brightonfringe.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n

ROAD Written by Jim Cartwright and directed by Julian Kerridge *****<\/strong><\/p>\n

This award winning play is as moving today as it was when it was written in 1986.\u00a0 \u201cNow, 24 years later, as the gap between rich and poor grows ever wider\u2026.once again it is the very poorest in society who suffer,\u201d says director Julian Kerridge.\u00a0 Theater is our best vehicle for social outrage and this gorgeous piece will make you cry, laugh and ponder at what is happening now in our world.\u00a0 Perfectly paced, beautifully directed and acted by an all-star cast, it is the most important piece of theater I have seen in a very long time. Tickets 01273 917272\u00a0 www.brightonfringe.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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THE BIG BITE-SIZE BREAKFAST: Desires.\u00a0 The Latest Music Bar May 19, 2013 *****<\/strong><\/p>\n

Once again, the audience is beautifully entertained with five ten-minute plays, all\u00a0 unforgettable because each is a commentary on the human experience.\u00a0 The\u00a0 play selection for all three menus (at Theatre Royal and The Latest) is superb.\u00a0 We are given literary quality, spot-on direction and amazing acting.\u00a0 These talented performers must switch from one character to another in a repertory of fifteen plays (for all 3 shows) and not one of them loses the narrative flow.\u00a0 Each menu is well worth seeing both for its social commentary, its quality, humor and pace. Tickets 01273 917272\u00a0 www.brightonfringe.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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THE TREASON SHOW *****<\/strong><\/p>\n

This special Festival show is at the Sabai Pavilion at 9pm Tuesday May 21 until Thursday May 25. The very talented cast present fast moving acerbic commentary on the news in song and satire that cannot help but appeal no matter what your level of political interest.\u00a0 This venue is very large and lacks the intimacy that works so well for the production at The Latest Music Bar, but the skits still get\u00a0 laughs and leave the audience with unforgettable memories that poke holes in the public image of our all too pompous public officials. Most memorable in this production was Daniel Beales’ impersonation of Angela Merkell singing a parody of My Way.\u00a0 This show runs monthly. If you missed this one go to www.treasonshow.co.uk<\/a> for the next edition.<\/p>\n

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BIG BOYS DON’T DANCE *****<\/strong><\/p>\n

This show is a must see for every age. The music is superb, the dancing is mind boggling and the talent of the two stars amazing.\u00a0 There is a recognizable and believable story line running though the hour about two brothers about to split up because one is getting married.\u00a0 However, the show\u00a0is held together with almost magical rhythm, dialogue and dance. The hour passes in an instant, so memorable are the performances of these two South African actors with unequalled comedic timing and pace.\u00a0\u00a0 At The Warren until May 24 at 6 pm\u00a0 Tickets www.otherplacebrighton.co.uk<\/a> or 01273 917272\u00a0 www.brightonfringe.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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QUA, QUA, QUA\u00a0!!<\/strong> *****
\nPrepare yourself for a delightful, interactive experience creating comedy in the Jacques Tati tradition.\u00a0 This charming hour sweeps the audience into the Tati experience highlighting the tiny absurdities that are life itself.\u00a0 Chris Cresswell has created this gem of a piece and it is his comedic genius that propels the action.\u00a0 He is supported by a talented cast who pantomime his words. Marion Deprez is outstanding in her characterizations of the conductor on a train, a frustrated sunbather and just another woman in the rain.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Do not miss this tribute to a moviemaker who saw what being human means.\u00a0 Cresswell\u2019s presentation is sensitive to every nuance that makes life worthwhile.\u00a0 Tickets: emporiumbrighton.com.\u00a0 May 30-June 1 @ 7:30\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 13.50 pounds<\/p>\n

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NIGHT AFTER NIGHT *****<\/strong>
\nPaul Shaw is a consummate actor, a thrill to see on any stage.\u00a0 His performance in this touching and very wise production is nothing short of stellar.\u00a0 The story begins in 1958 when homosexuality was considered a mental disease.\u00a0 A married couple meet for theater and ponder on their future and the baby soon to be born.\u00a0 Shaw who plays all the characters in Neil Bartlett\u2019s profound script has an understated delivery that makes the dramatization all the more powerful.\u00a0 His series of characters explore the need to accept who we are and what we have become as a fact of our lives.\u00a0 The music composed by Nicolas Bloomfield only enhances the poetic rhythms of the monologue.\u00a0 The tragedy is that this show was only performed May 31 and June first at the Marlborough Theatre and more people lost the opportunity to experience it.<\/p>\n

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THE WEATHERMAN *****<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Kiki Lovechild proves how unnecessary words can be in his charming pantomime of how to amuse yourself in purgatory. His show is beautifully paced and combines movement with sound and lighting that sweeps his audience into a world of fun and fantasy unlimited by earthly notions.\u00a0 Anything can happen on his stage and does from umbrellas swirling to multicolored lights flashing and unexpected gifts shared by a captivated audience.\u00a0 Nothing verbal can describe the magic of this production and why should it?\u00a0 The show is an unforgettable hour that cannot fail to make you laugh and love being alive.\u00a0 Seen at the Marlborough Theatre May 30-June 1.<\/p>\n

JULIAN CADDY SPEAKS ON THE IMPACT OF THE 2013 BRIGHTON FRINGE<\/strong><\/p>\n

This is the second year that Julian Caddy has been at the helm of the Brighton Fringe.\u00a0 In that time, the number and quality of shows have increased by 60% as have the number of attendees.\u00a0 The Brighton Fringe is the second largest festival in the UK.\u00a0 Caddy made these comments after a spectacular performance of THE BIG BITE SIZED BREAKFAST: INTERPRETATIONS <\/strong>(reviewed in this article).\u00a0 The Big Bite Sized Breakfast series was a group of delightful and very meaningful 10-minute plays, each one giving the audience a new view of our own life experience.\u00a0 Caddy spoke to us after the show.\u00a0 \u201cWhat Bite Sized is doing is basic to what we are about,\u201d he said.\u00a0 \u201cOver 200,000 come to The Brighton Fringe.\u00a0 And the shows that come here reflect the values of the society that hosts it.\u201d<\/p>\n

The majority of the patrons that attend shows for this festival are from Brighton as opposed to The Edinburgh Festival Fringe where the majority of punters are visitors. Each production lives or dies on what they produce and the audience\u2019s reaction to their work.\u00a0 \u201cThat is why we should make more of what we have here, now,\u201d Caddy said.\u00a0 \u201cThe Fringe should continue to support the arts by giving vibrant offerings throughout the year.\u00a0 That is my ambition.\u201d<\/p>\n

Nick Brice produced the Bite Sized Breakfast show.\u00a0 \u201cShowing people the choices they have gives them the power to make change happen,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Brice pointed out the parallel between theatre and business.\u00a0 He creates similar productions to businesses to help both employees and employers empathize with one another and learn how to actually understand what the other person is thinking.\u00a0 His goal is to show people how to do business in a different way through theater. \u201cBuilding a brand is making a piece of theatre,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Theater then is a reflection of life in all its many phases.\u00a0 Perhaps, this is why experiencing a fringe festival anywhere is so very exhilarating.\u00a0 Suddenly, the arts take precedence over profit\u2026even over our daily routines.\u00a0 Instead of going home, eating dinner and watching television, we take in a play, listen to music, laugh at a comedy and experience live entertainment with people of like interests.\u00a0 All the shows that came to The Brighton Fringe this year were forms of communication and so was the act of attending them.\u00a0 Theater, be it a play, a dance, a concert\u2026\u00a0 indeed, in all its forms\u2026. gives us \u00a0invaluable tools to keep us human.<\/p>\n

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NEWS FROM THE BRIGHTON FRINGE SHORT COMMENTARY ON WHAT IS HAPPENING ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE POND I had the unexpected pleasure of stumbling on BITCH BOXER \u00a0written and…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"yasr_overall_rating":0,"yasr_post_is_review":"","yasr_auto_insert_disabled":"","yasr_review_type":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[837],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-6384","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-joe-cillo"},"yasr_visitor_votes":{"stars_attributes":{"read_only":true,"span_bottom":"