Shari Barrett (she/her)

Theatre Reviewer and Publicist

LOST in LVOV

shari barrett · August 18, 2014 certified reviewer
The play is a true celebration of life through music, dance, and emotional remembrances of first loves and loves lost, dreams and hard knocks with pre-show and post-show music performed by Jacob & Julia from Paris Chansons who sing classic songs in Russian and Yiddish and inspire Simona's wild and wonderful singing and dancing, Read my full review on Broadway World at http://www.broadwayworld.com/los-angeles/article/BWW-Reviews-In-LOST-IN-LVOV-Sandy-Simona-Shares-Her-Russian-Jewish-Immigrant-F... full review

NO HOMO

shari barrett · July 31, 2014 certified reviewer
NO HOMO examines whether you have to be homosexual to be really, really gay by telling the tale of Luke and Ash, two 20-something Los Angeles urbanites who have known each other since childhood, identify as heterosexual, and live together as roommates even though their relationship pushes the boundaries of gay life. Ash (lithe blond Jonny Rodgers)loves to cook and run around half naked while Luke (Benjamin Durham) focuses on his career and new girlfriend, the totally clueless Babette (Elizabeth E... full review

The Navigator

shari barrett · June 26, 2014 certified reviewer
Your GPS tells you how to get where you're going, but what if it could tell you more? Such is the inventive premise of THE NAVIGATOR, enjoying its West Coast premiere during Fringe. Written by Eddie antar and directed by Leslie Kincaid Burby for Burning Clown Productions, this show was nominated for 2 Drama Desk Awards and 8 New York Innovative Theatre Awards, all well deserved. Kelly Anne Burns is the stoic, all-knowing Navigator in Dave's (Joseph Franchini) car. With every small robotic h... full review

Meet & Greet

shari barrett · June 26, 2014 certified reviewer
Highlighted with brilliant acting, writing and directing MEET AND GREET is bound to be one of the biggest hits at this year's Fringe. The premise is we are in a casting office in the San Fernando Valley, present day. Four actresses have been called in for one part during pilot season, and each one appears to be at the end of her acting rope and really needs the job. Each is greeted by a catty, young, gay male CASTING ASSISTANT (Paul Iacono) who seems to be more than happy to feed the egos of ... full review

Friends Like These

shari barrett · June 25, 2014 certified reviewer
Gregory Crafts has written an insightful play about what teens must deal with daily in high school, both the good and the bad. Taking his inspiration from the Columbine shooting, Crafts has put together an assortment of characters easily recognizable from the Geeks to the Jocks and the Popular crowd, letting us see both the camaraderie with their peers and bullying from their haters, for whatever reason. Produced by Theatre Unleashed and directed by Wendy Gough Soroka at the intimate Elephant... full review

Harold & Stella: Love Letters

shari barrett · June 25, 2014 certified reviewer
Being a descendant of Eastern European immigrants who loved the Yiddish theater in New York at the turn of the 20th Century, what a treat it was to learn Stella Adler's parents were stars from that wonderful period of theater history. Film clips after the play introduced Stella Adler as a real person, showing her in her element teaching theater to future generations of actors. But the most impressive thing about this production was the brilliant acting by the father-daughter team of Bill and... full review

Afterloves: Love Lives in the Afterlife

shari barrett · June 23, 2014 certified reviewer
AFTERLOVE: LOVE LIFE IN THE AFTERLIFE, written by and performed by Ron Hanks and Betsy Reisz is one of the most brilliant and inventive shows I have seen at this year’s Hollywood Fringe Festival. In the dating pool of the afterlife, there are a LOT of choices. The show presents 8 couples of public figures across time and space as they attempt to create new and continued love with each other in the after life in heaven. I asked Ron Hanks and Betsy Reisz how they decided on the characters and ... full review

Twylight Zone: Back to the 6th Dimension (a parody)

shari barrett · June 22, 2014 certified reviewer
As a huge fan of The Twilight Zone TV show, I enjoyed seeing the different mash-ups of episodes as well as catching references to many other episodes (ie: Willoughby, Hitchhiker). It was also fun to see clips from many original episodes played on a large TV monitor on the set. Very clever editing on all of these. This is a bare bones production but the small cast makes it work especially during "Will the Real Visitor Please Stand Up" when most played several characters. The ending was some... full review

Better Than Shakespeare presents: Much Ado About Something

shari barrett · June 16, 2014 certified reviewer
What a fun show! Shakespeare's comedy gets a new and very modern take on this tale of love with aliens dropping in to stir things up. Very clever use of items purchased at the 99 Cent Store to create outer space props that light up, and allowing the audience to participate by handing out glow sticks to wave at appropriate moments.Excellent musical and sound effects accompaniment by Greg Nicolett. Classic Shakespeare lines from many of his plays and thrown in throughout, which garnered lots of... full review

Mariko Passion's Whorrific Cabaret

shari barrett · June 16, 2014 certified reviewer
Quite an interesting assortment of sex workers, many transgender or transsexual, who shared their stories and entertained with songs and burlesque routines. Too bad this was the only performance during Fringe as I bet a lot of people would really enjoy seeing this show. Their honesty confirmed that to be happy you really just have to be yourself and proud of who you are.... full review

shari barrett