My overall impression
NOW LEASING is a special kind of thing. But let me digress:
G. S. Morales — Editor – “latheatercritic.com”
“At sixteen years old, I produced and directed my first theatrical presentation — merging my passion for writing and knowledge as a black belt in kung fu into a successful martial art theatre extravaganza. Since then I have bled, sweated, and cried my way through every role in the theater world from the costume and welding shops, to center stage and the director’s chair.”
So, that’s the grossly self-indulgent pap of a bio from the “editor” of “latheatercritic.com”. Let’s see if we can parry this sad-sack black belt attempt at “welding” his or her waste of breath to this lovely show.
Absolutely run-of-the-mill on its own terms – that claim to theater experience – but far more pathetic in the refracted scope of this self-appointed blogger’s posted reviews of Fringe shows. That’s my assessment!
Every person in theater sweats, cries and bleeds. But to play the turncoat and wield an indecent, insufficient sword elmer’s-glued onto a pen against other folks who’ve suffered as you claim to have: what does that make a reviewer?
A scurvy-bent and rank hooker digging for cheap PR and a quick boost in page views during Fringe season.
NOW LEASING is a show that’s about crying through blood, sweat and tears. More importantly, it’s about learning to LAUGH through the calcinated sting of what we endure while smelting our own personal mettle into something worth sharing – especially when we’re dreaming for all that “so much more.”
Apparently “G.S. Morales” has let the roots run dry (as well as the half-cocked bio) of what made him or her a “theater person” in the first place.
NOW LEASING is a show that asks you to take a leap of faith, while knowing this is a production that’s done on a shoestring budget. Like ALL Fringe shows. Sure, costume changes might take a second. Yes, there might be slightly awkward moments. Isn’t this to be expected in small-time theater?
When did baseless cynical invective replace a sense of community in theater? When did we stop encouraging people brave enough to get into a chicken costume and encourage an audience member to wear a fake horse head? (I think it was actually a unicorn – I was kind of stoned.)
This supposed critic has razed any number of Fringe shows from this year. I landed a Fringe show I wrote in 2009 in NYC. Personally, I received one scathing review from someone in NYC TimeOut magazine. I then received a glowing review from an NYU professor of theater on the Fringe website. Who was fair and honest? Who was trying to make a buck?
Where do we draw the line with self-created theater, and whose opinion is worth a bitter (omitted for decency) fart in hell?
Theater is about personal engagement. It’s about speaking with the audience more directly than you might through glossy blockbusters or auto-tuned pop songs. It’s about being more honest than Spiderman the Musical. If you don’t know about Artaud or Brecht, go diddle yourself if you think you can review theater.
Lea beautifully brings a naked honesty to the stage. It’s not some mommy-look-at-me act. It’s not provocative for the sake of ruffling feathers. Nor is it self-pitying or narcissistic.
NOW LEASING is a show built on one woman’s self-examination through writing and choreography, as well as the direction of a small-but-dedicated crew. It’s admirable in and of itself to put up a one-person show, but to do it in Fringe – that’s truly something.
Don’t, for a second, waste your time on this gutterlicking scumsucker at “lattheatercritic.com” – clearly that person has lost any sense of their roots, or how much they supposedly “bled” to get to where they were going.
Lea’s the antithesis of bleeding, and she’s doing a darn fine job of being exactly that. Through words, song and dance she’s cauterizing wounds – yours and mine.
She made me laugh. She made me cry a little. And she reminded me of why I love honest and real theater.
PS – Do I know Lea? Only by meeting her in a bar and being invited to the show. Do I know G.S. Morales – no, I’d never want to. I just like theater.
