Bill Ratner

I finally caught Keaton's show w-a-y after the fact - in Sept., at The Complex Theaters in "Spumoni" - a three-part curated evening of Best-of-Fringe pieces - all of which I enjoyed. Define Dif-fer-ent is truly different. Keaton is an extremely likable naturalistic actress, and her story is riveting. It is a deeply personal show and yet ultimately theatrical and stageworthy. She takes us into a fascinating world. Huzzah, hurrah, and congratulations!... full review

I FINALLY caught the show at the Complex 9/6/13. I always intended to see DDDDH during your Fringe run but instead went out for tacos, drinks, saw other shows, etc. But last Friday night I made it to Spumoni, and you guys were frantagalistically exquisite. I'm almost glad I waited to see DDDDH, because your performances were so tight, your timing so exquisite, your pirouetting from character to character so flawless, that my wife and I wanted to hurl hundred-dollar bills at you, but we only had... full review

I'd heard great buzz during the Fringe and was happy 'Devil' got extended, but I had no idea what a tour de force of a performance I was in for. From the totally funky and appropriate music by Hank Doughan, Kevin Katich, and Carlos Flores (who made his guitar sound like a dozen different studio sessions) to Ruth Fox's fun dancing and support, and finally to Aaron Lyons' fantastical acting as da debbil, a sleazo agent, and Billy Markham, himself--this was some of the best theater I've seen. 3 of C... full review

Watching these comedy pros bounce out onto the stage was like watching the NY Yankees hit the infield in the good old days. The full house was full of well-deserved laughs for this troupe of improv-magicians. John Mariano could be the new Howdy Doody on speed, he was so lithe, and stage-electric. It's hard to single out performers from this group of long-time experienced improv players, but what the hell...My favorite moment was watching the brain of Pat Musick on mic meld with the stage acting/l... full review

Lisa Cole is so charming and likable on stage, her acting so swift and effective, and her story so strange and fascinating, that we forgive any mending that may be in order in the narrative telling of this very personal story. I loved the video trope, but I wasn't sure what happened to the "dead" part, since Lisa lives so vividly throughout, with no end in site. Cudos to all for a really fun afternoon of Fringe solo theater in front of a full house.... full review

This production reminded me of why I love live theater. Taking the famously well-known Cat on a Hot Tin Roof and setting it on its post-modern ear, these actors put on an exquisite, cracked, zany, beautifully choreographed display of ensemble cooperation and fun outré acting, especially the exquisitely droll, funny, and other-worldly stage work of Blaire Chandler who took Big Mama to the dadaist acting moon and back. Cudos to all!! ... full review

John Grady is a true storytelling master. And this piece is triumphant. A former Blue Man and ballet dancer, Grady has taken to solo performance like an eagle takes flight, and he uses his masterful control of his thin, athletic frame to great advantage here. This story is at once funny and wry, and at turns deeply philosophical, heart-rending, brutal, and true in the sense that the best of theater can be. I had seen a 30 minute version of this tale last year at I.O. West, and seeing this 70 minu... full review

Scott Ratner (no relation) is a double threat. As the slovenly inheritor of the curse of Agatha Christie he acts well, is funny and thoroughly appropriate for the role which he slyly and excellently crafted for himself. A genuine stage mystery geek, Ratner shovels a delicious platter of Agatha Christie trivia at us, and it is truly fun to behold. The full house on a Saturday afternoon enjoyed itself completely. Makes me want to dust off my meager Agatha Christie collection and dive in, and then a... full review

Liz Femi is a deliciously charming comic performer with exquisite control of her lithe, athletic frame and warm expressive face--a pleasure to behold. Solo performers would be wise to attend a performance of this show to see how Femi frames and focuses characters, seamlessly moving from one to another. And that face...oh, my. Such warm, sassy, funny, loving, and sardonic looks, telling it all in a glance. Alas, the acoustics in the back room of The Lounge where Femi performs this Fringe run are... full review

Awkward Pauses is a total hoot. Starting off with Evan Baughfman's very funny cosmic death rattle with Mindy Warick and Jerry Chappel strapped in for their ride to hell. Chappell's manic hoots and nervous little boy chops were very funny to watch, and a perfect counterpart to Warick's doubt-filled, mincing ambivalent death wishing. These two were a delicious comic duo. Then Susan Marlowe and Tony Christopher pulled off the perfect awkard sex-in-the-park pas-de-dieux - funny, effective, physical ... full review