Matt Ritchey

Buffy Kills Edward: A Musical Romp

matt ritchey · June 04, 2017 uncertified reviewer
SO much fun!! I've only seen, like, maybe five episodes of BUFFY ever and I force-watched a scene from TWILIGHT so I could write a parody scene years ago, but this great musical works even if you don't intimately know the characters from these shows (it's a bonus if you do!). With a fantastic cast of great actors and voices, great fight choreography, a funny book and lyrics, and very specific and funny direction, BKE is a must-see for a good uber-Fringy time!... full review

AN EVENING WITH JOHN WILKES BOOTH

matt ritchey · June 04, 2017 certified reviewer
Stephen Spielgel gives a charming, energetic, wonderful performance as JWB! Owning the stage and setting the scene for Sic Semper Tyrranus, Spiegel exudes a "Tom Cruise does theatre" magnetism! Bravo!... full review

Definition of Man

matt ritchey · June 03, 2017 certified reviewer
What is the nature of humanity when there is no more humanity? Can our personal fears and relationship insecurities stop us from connecting even when there's only one person left to connect to? How can you trust someone to help bear your weight when they may not be able to bear their own? These are some of the questions explored in a truly impressive movement/character piece featuring great performances and effective staging. I wasn't sure what I was getting into when I first sat down, but by the... full review

SHAKESLESQUE (To Thine Own Cherry Be True)

matt ritchey · June 03, 2017 certified reviewer
This show is fucking amazing. The best thing CPC has done, bar none. Packing eleven million people onto the postage stamp stage of Three Clubs doing an Elizabethan wedding dance to "Smells Like Teen Spirit"?? Seriously? How did they do this???? Bar. Raised. Every character had an arc, the new players were spot on, the choreography was amazing, the (vague spoiler) Ophelia scene was a new unbelievably dark shade to the usual fun times, it was laugh out loud funny, super sexy (as always), I alway... full review

A Feast of Snacks

matt ritchey · June 25, 2016 certified reviewer
A super cute night of short musicals! While the shows vary in idea and writing quality, they're all well put on by a committed cast - and some of the ideas - CLIMB THE SMALLEST MOUNTAIN and ESCAPE ARTISTS - are really fun! Some great performances and funny lyrics to boot! ... full review

Tilt

matt ritchey · June 25, 2016 certified reviewer
What's to say that hasn't been said? Engrossing, brilliantly written, brilliantly acted, brilliantly directed. Gorgeous imagery and dialogue within a barren, desolate world. Ben Moroski's Boone (imagine if Sid Vicious and Danny Zucco fused) and Michael Shaw Fisher's Chester (a grounded mix of Yosemite Sam and Sammy Hagar - complete with a "5150" namecheck) are wonderfully at each other's throats and psyches for sixty minutes that I would gladly enjoy again. The character physicalization and lang... full review

Sweet Love Adieu

matt ritchey · June 20, 2016 uncertified reviewer
He's done it again, kids. Ryan JW Smith plates out another wordtastic dish for the educated masses and hits the mark once more. Having seen three of Smith's shows now, the thing that's wonderfully clear is not how skilled and talented he is (I figured that one out last year), it's how talented his casts are! The use of language, asides and TIMING are always on point and make the shows fly by wonderfully. He's a Renaissance Man, I am once again annoyed by his great talent, and of the fantastic wor... full review

THUG TUNNEL

matt ritchey · June 17, 2016 uncertified reviewer
I had a BLAST at THUG TUNNEL! A big leap forward in clarity and storytelling from last year's TIMEHEART (and let me be clear: TIMEHEART was one of my top five favorite shows last year), RTATAP have created a goofy, energetic, and emotional spectacle worth seeing twice! The performances across the board were terrific but Chris Bramante, Dave Reynolds, and Nikki Muller in particular blow the doors off the place! And Miles Crosman's "Trash" was a standout! Clever writing, great choreography, great u... full review

Broadway Noir

matt ritchey · June 16, 2016 uncertified reviewer
A fantastic location for noir and a truly cool intro for each act - I love the live horn slowly building you into the world! A slew of great performances and some incredible vocals, especially solo work by Lauren Byrd and Nathan Ondracek. The lighting got a bit dark (I mean, hey, I know, it's noir), but the characterizations were right on, the mystery was a slow build. I am once again impressed at the huge production quality by this talented crew!... full review

How to Be A Virgin (in 12 morally ambiguous steps)

matt ritchey · June 13, 2016 certified reviewer
Where do I begin? The script by Carla Neuss is a gutsy, well-crafted, and funny/sad exploration of one woman's journey to remain a virgin until she finally marries The One. The smart and simple direction by Payden Ackerman connects the audience to the show in a much more emotionally connected way than most fourth-wall-breaking shows. This, of course, is largely due to the great performances of the two actors. Josh Bross does fantastic work as NUMEROUS characters, all quite different and, more imp... full review