Jim Blanchette

This is an epic theatre piece presented with full pageantry. I love the commitment to bring a massive theatre classic to the Fringe. Though long for a Fringe show, the company does a masterful job of combining two epic Marlowe works into 105 minutes. The cast delivers grand, stylized performances, none better than Matt Harding in the lead role. This show has great acting, humorous special effects, and terrific hand to hand combat.... full review

Michael Shapiro's musical is delightful and energetic. The cast is invigorated by Joanna Syiek's precise and inventive direction and choreography. Jennifer Lin's musical direction makes the wonderful score shine. There are many fantastic performances delivered by the cast, none more so than the work of Allie Costa and Jordan Mitchell-Love. Costa soars as both the adorkable love interest as well as the moral center of the show. Mitchell-Love gentle positivity and subtle humor as the artificial lif... full review

Jacob Smith's scintillating script under Sean Fitzgerald's taut direction gives the humdrum minutiae of couplehood the tension of a thriller. Julia Plostnieks soars in her simple yet potent portrayal of a woman finding her way through the morass of romance and relationship. Michael Lutheran fully embodies a charmingly flawed man who struggles to earn and prove his love. Equal parts mystery and love story, Met Again earns every moment. ... full review

You go to enough Fringe shows, and you practically expect them to be raw and under rehearsed. Then you see a show as tight and polished and hilarious as Human Hothouse, and you actually start to feel cheated by the other productions you've seen. The acting is clean and delightful, without a wasted moment on stage. Everyone gets their moment to shine and no one is ever upstaged. It is top notch satire filled with faux pretension and physical gags. Must freaking see.... full review

I love women. I appreciate women. I have no idea what it's like to be a woman. Smile, Baby is probably as close as I will ever get. The women of this ensemble capture the essence of what it is to be a woman in today society with humor, gravitas and only the smallest bit of bitterness. This outstanding ensemble effortlessly flows from sketch to sketch. At no time does anything feel preachy or labored. The entire ensemble brings their A game, particularly Madison Shepard, whose characters are all c... full review

Magnum Opus' production of The Yearbook, a rejected film script, is nothing short of brilliant. I couldn't stop laughing, even though I tried several times. The cast is outstanding. The acting is crisp and effective. I laughed so hard I thought I was going to hurt myself. Monica Greene and Heather Klinke lead an amazing cast consisting of absolutely zero weak links. Couldn't recommend this show more.... full review

Timeheart is a fantastic musical romp through the science fiction staple of time travel. The company hammers one cliche after another with irreverent joy and really make this show come to life. Dave Reynolds is exceptional as the bumbling and lovable time machine inventor Bruce Greenstreet. He is at once enthusiastic and awkward, attacking each scene with renewed vigor. Writers and fellow cast mates Chris Bramante and and Miles Crosman create a ridiculous reality that also manages to have a heart... full review

Laura Carson takes the journey many of us consider when she decides give up her LA life and pursuit of her career to return to Atlanta to care for her elderly father. This is just the first of many difficult choices she makes in this very personal journey. The consequences of her actions range from heart warming to heart wrenching, leaving her in a strange and wondrous afterglow of introspection, where from moment to moment she questions, hates, love or affirms her life, a few instances all at th... full review

This is one hilarious lampoon of a Fringe staple. I was laughing so hard I had a coughing fit. Darin Tooner and Jim Hanna led an absolutely hilarious cast in lovingly skewering the one-man show. I could fill two reviews with all the things I thought were so great about this show, but I don't want to spoil anything accidentally. Do yourself a favor. Go see this show while you can still get tickets.... full review

This was a very inventive telling of the Devil's side of things. Robin Walsh's puppetry was beautifully performed and Kila, as the voice of the Devil, was mesmerizing. I enjoyed it very much. I found the pacing a little slow, but that may have been a factor of puppetry, which I am woefully unqualified to comment on so take that comment with a grain of salt. I loved when Satan physically interacted with the audience and wanted more of it. Overall a very theatrical event. ... full review