Sam Vieira

A unique and fresh approach to a tried and true story. We all know the pains and pressures of trying to make it in the City of Angels, but how are these changed when viewed against the backdrop of the digital age? Social networking, Larry the Twitter bird and, of course, Hashtags are back and center for most of this show and they are used to great effect as a narrative device as well as a design element. Part drama, part movement piece, part comedy, with a touch of the musical, this blend of g... full review

3-of-a-Kind doing what they do best with 3 original 1-act shows from local playwrights, actors and directors. You'll get a multi-faceted ride through comedy, dark future, sex-farce and social commentary, all in one night. The actors are great, and they perform with verve and passion. Tech is your basic lights up lights down kind of ordeal, though there are some very good sound cues (especially in the first piece). Overall an enjoyable addition to the Fringe Oeuvre. ... full review

This show falls just shy of being perhaps the best show I've seen thus far. Writing is great and elevated by the quality of acting on that stage. Gary Rubenstein is nonpareil in his role as Joe, and his story is heartbreaking and amusing all at the same time. He is foiled nicely by Anna (Rachel Boller) who hits all of her different emotional states with almost too much precision. The direction is fresh, starting with a few well placed music cues that later disappear from the tale without exp... full review

High Energy, terrific writing and a premise just kooky enough to be intriguing but fun. Oh, and also, the terribly catchy tunes. Favorite trope of the evening had to be the paranoid bass player with the noirish monologues. Go, you'll see what I mean. Well worth the price and then some!... full review

Some decent blackbox stuff here. Good use of space reminds that you don't need an entire set in order to put on a play. Tip of the cap to Ann Ryerson and Andrew Boyle who both take the work they are given and make it soar.... full review

Knocking out 25 separate pieces of work in under an hour is no small feat, but the folks over at Theatre Unleashed have it down to an art. In 60 minutes or less you're treated to rapid-fire delivery of micro-scenes at times wildly hysterical and deeply touching. A wide range of acting talent and emotion is on display here, and I had a knee slapping great time. Go Go Go! ... full review

Everything about this show was competently done. There wasn't a lot of glitz or fancy light shows, just two actors doing what they do best. I even found the subject to be compelling, an almost existential debate between these men with the idea of religion being subtly masked with the word "coincidence." And yet, I felt as if this show was missing something. I was quite impressed by the first half of the show,it was compact and had a definitive establishment and an ending that left me just cur... full review

Both of these shows sport interesting concepts and movement to convey the narrative. While Hanjo is compelling and makes good use of power-plays via a long, red scarf, one is left with the impression that more time and technical prowess could have been given to this show. The lighting is uninspired, and the movement is at times graceful, at times full of pain, but occasionally clunky. A moment should be taken to give credit to the violin player on stage. Both her presence and her talent are no... full review

I was so ready to hate this play. I showed up overheated and out of breath, rushing from another show only to discover that Pool has no discount for Fringe-goers or participants, nor are they offering any preview rates. The fellow at the door informed me that this show had not set out to be a Fringe show, & had originally planned to charge people $21 dollars a pop. Odd, since the Fringe website says they are charging everyone $20 right before it says a Fringe Button will get you a dollar off. ... full review

There is something brilliant about this group's approach to the stage. They take chances, inverting conventional wisdom, and translating it into an entirely new language. I am so wowed by a group that can create a scene using so few words, or in the case of 4 Clowns (7 not 4) using only expressions, noises, gestures, and a well placed sentence here and there. That Beautiful Laugh does this and so much more with aplomb, giving the audience a loosely structured arch with a wide range of emotio... full review