Butt Kapinski

What A Show! "Butt's" Energy fills the room and with his/her quick wit slays the audience. The improvisational skills are top notch and I love the fact that you do not know what to expect as "Butt" really knows how to work the crowd and get them really involved in the performance. A must see on your Fringe to do list. ... full review

*This review first appeared on ArtsBeatLA.com* Hands down the best show I have seen at the Fringe Fest this year. Super funny and astonishingly inventive, Deanna Fleysher has crafted a show that depends so heavily on audience interaction (shudder!) that it's like watching a trapeze artist soar without a net. The audience were all fantastic troupers, mildly improvising and following "Butt's" cues and storyline. The guy tasked with providing live musical cues throughout was a hoot! A brave, raw and accomplished solo performance. I laughed my ass off! Don't miss this show.... full review

What a great night! If you love some interactive theatre you should see this show and even if you don't you should too... seriously you will find something you like in this production. Deanna does a wonderful job of doing this whole "Noir" thing. You will not be disappointed... that is unless you don't like having fun. As far as Fringe goes it is the perfect show when you look at it technically. GO SEE IT! ... full review

Soooooooo inventive. I giggled & marveled at her the entire show. Really weird, brave, hilarious and just wonderful ideas. I went into this show knowing nothing about it and I was compelled to write a review because it was that cool. And she got an organic standing ovation. Take that.... full review

As a lover of her work last year as the director of Red Bastard, I simply HAD to see this show. Deanna is a character, and that character must be experienced to be truly understood. This was a remarkable piece of theater, sort of like a foreign language immersion course. Almost everyone in the audience was drawn into this interaction show, and turned in quite incredible improv performances themselves. Don't miss this limited run - you'll be kicking yourself if you do.... full review

If you enjoy laughing 'til you cry, go see what Butt has to offer. I wish that all mysteries could be solved in such a frank, dirty, and hilarious manner. This show is very inspiring much in the way of Red Bastard from last year's Fringe, and I haven't enjoyed an actor's performance this much since. Talk about selfless! In every moment Deanna was simply and totally in the room with her audience. As private eye Butt Kapinski, she/he explores the audience through questions and with props, eliciting a sometimes very explicit amount of participation. Being a present audience member is vital, and that old "actor-audience exchange" of live performance is heightened. So at the turn, when the case has been cracked, I'm a little more invested ... full review

This show is fan-fucking-tasting. Deanna (Butt) is so great at character work, improv, and reading her audience to create a show that is unique and fun for all. I had a blast and want to see it again!!!... full review

Rarely does one develop such affection for a performer as I did for Deanne Flaysher in the course of one hour. Her depiction of Butt Kapinski was the perfect blend of mysterious, absurd, and inventive childishness. The show is billed as a" film noir fantasi"a which it is but it all takes place within Butt Kapinski's child-like fantasy like a 7 year old on the playground creating an inaginary world in which every single audience member provides one piece of the puzzle. The show began with a single red light turning in the center of the room. When she came out sweeping the floor, no one hardly noticed her there but when she emerged as the articulation-challenged gumshoe our love for her just grew and grew. She found a way to make every s... full review

A hilarious and unique theatrical experience. A melodramatic and speech-impeded private eye narrates his own film noir, casting the audience as all other parts- from whores to cops to bodies- along the way. Of course the chink in this plan is that not every audience member is witty and willing, but Deanna (Butt) is quick enough to handle whatever comes her way. I appreciated that she effectively brings the entire crowd together as one theatrical ensemble. Once the culprit is caught, there's an odd little coda that doesn't really seem of a piece with the rest- but no matter. Fringe exists for a show like this. (And there's just one more performance, 6/24, so grab tickets now!) fringeblog.webs.com ... full review

Hands down the best show I've seen at the Fringe (including my own). Deanna's character work and clowning is seamless, her interaction with and gentle direction of the audience is welcoming and playful, and the whole thing is just fun. For about an hour, she works with the audience to co-create a noir story...then, ultimately, hands it, and her character, over to us as a gift. Amazing stuff--thank you!... full review