There's tremendous talent in both the material and performance of this show, even if it doesn't jell as a story. The songwriting (probably a more accurate term despite the operatic approach) is often evocative and mesmerizing, and Bianca Gisselle's voice grabs you from the get-go. The show's atmosphere, utterly committed cast, and ambitious scope IMO make it worth the price of admission. That said, the relationship of music to story is often tenuous, and it's difficult to interpret what's happeni...
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Full disclosure: the playwright is a collaborator and friend of mine. Those biases disclaimed, I'll say that this is a powerful, true-to-life, and unfortunately timely piece that delivers a dramatic punch with sympathy, compassion, and humor. Friends Like These doesn't strive to provide answers to the events it depicts, but it creates such strong attachment to its characters that you can't help but be swept along with them through their crests and troughs. ...
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A respectable production of the venerable Off Broadway hit, thought it falls short of the virtuosic quality of the same company's "A Man of No Importance" at last year's Fringe. The piano/harp instrumentation adds a delightful layer of color to the score, but the placement of those instruments on opposite sides of the stage sacrifices some rhythmic coordination between the musicians. Acting and vocal talent ranges from adequate to very good. If the material resonates with you, you'll find it wel...
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A consistently enjoyable rock score and some great comedic / singing talent make this show a lot of fun despite the heavy-handed book. A worthwhile diversion for anyone who enjoys over-the-top pop-driven musical melodramas a la Rocky Horror. In the negative column are the clumsy lyrics, which the cast members struggle to enunciate, and which makes it hard to follow what's going on during the songs. ...
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What a pleasant surprise to encounter such a tight, professional-grade production in a modest theater in the Fringe festival. The direction and acting were superb, the live band spot-on, and the vocal perforance quality only a small notch below - and this was opening night.
As for the material: having mixed feeings about Flaherty and Ahrens' other works, I was taken aback by how touching, funny, and moving I found this musical to be. It bears some comparison to The Commitments, though the un...
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