Obviously Michael

Very good show. Sharp. Fun, and imaginative. Dug all the performances.... full review

a good story for children, but there is still a lot of room for growth. that said, there are some real beautiful moments ... full review

A great show about a boy named Michael who learns how to make friends and get along with others without compromising his commitment to Truth and his battle against Dumb and Wrong. ... full review

Really fun show about the power of imagination and intellect and friends. There are a lot of laughs packed into a quick 50 minute show. Everyone involved has done a great job. ... full review

Enjoyable and humorous. A great balance between the sarcastic reality of adulthood and the innocent skepticism of a young introvert named Michael. Held in the intimate Elephant Space theatre, the energy of the actors grasped the audience's attention while portraying the relatable and light hearted confusion of a young man.... full review

Wonderful little play right near the heart of Hollywood! The audience is gently dumped into Michael's world, which brilliantly anthropomorphizes the difficult struggle of balancing harsh reality and illustrious imagination. All the performers are top form, easily snapping between their (eerily accurate) six year old characters and adult counterparts, and the coziness of The Elephant House brings the perfect atmosphere to let you in on the adventure with them. Echoing The Phantom Tollbooth's wish to live in "one city as easy to see as Illusions and as hard to forget as Reality," Obviously Michael will make you laugh and think and feel a little wistful for a childhood past.... full review

OBVIOUSLY MICHAEL is ultimately a solid children's show. Since I spend quite a bit of time around children I laughed out loud many times - including the reference to Ponypuppies, or as I often hear them called on the playground, "pupihorses". The text has interesting themes: the power of imagination and our need to label. I particularly enjoyed the performances of Zach Brown and Katie Lyman - they were very specific, grounded and full of energy. Since I am a director myself, I have strong opinions about casting. In this case, I think the title character of Michael would have better suited played by a Christopher Mintz-Plasse type. This is a "must see" for families at the fringe. I wouldn't say that I "Loved it" or I "Liked it" or it's "Not ... full review

Obviously Michael is a wonderfully fun ride through childhood fears and anxieties, where imagination ultimately conquers all. Zach Brown is as silly on stage as he is in real life, so combine him with the rest of the ensemble and Laura Steinroeder's playful direction and you'll find flashes of your elementary school days replayed before your very eyes.... full review

A charming ensemble piece about the power of connection. I was surprised that with all the jokes about literal language and references to Michael's unclear perception of others' emotions, there was no mention of the autism spectrum. It may not have intentionally presented a child with Aspergers, but so many of Michael's quirks reminded me of the spectrum kids in my life. The cast's energy bubbled, and the script made me chuckle (and I'm not always a chuckler) but the overall arc - was it in complete flashback? - was a tad confusing, and ended a little abruptly. Nevertheless, I enjoyed my time with Obviously Michael. ... full review

The show was thoroughly charming. I was impressed with its ability to avoid being too cutesy or too light or too self-serious. It felt a little "workshoppy" but that is the nature of the piece. It was non-traditional in staging and story and the piece needs some creative exploration before it is complete. It didn't feel complete, but that didn't stop me from enjoying the show. Some of the cast members took a while to warm up to their roles, but by the end of the show they all shined. Highly recommended.... full review