What I liked
Great show
What I didn't like
I wouldn’t touch a thing.
My overall impression
“PURE CENEMA”… What a way to jump off the 2024 Hollywood Fringe. This is my first show of the season and it reminds me of what it is to see outstanding fringe performances with amazing writing, fantastic direction, a spot on ridiculously talented cast, and all done within the chaos and simplicity of the fringe festival. Immediately when the lights came up I absolutely knew who the characters were. Bill Chott, “Alfred Hitchcock” nailed the cinematic icon, down to his pouty bottom lip, his voice, his demeanor, his walk and movements all wonderful acting. Aaron Caponigro, depiction of “Mel Brooks” was absolutely delightful, what a fun guy to watch on stage. He gave us so much of the comedy legends’ love for art and direction and movie making and love for his legendary wife Anne Bancroft. The moment you hear the bells, (You’ll know what I’m talking about when you see the show, you are going to see this show, right?) He immediately captured Mel Brooks’s spirit and continued throughout the play. Told in three Acts this play takes us on a journey inside a few weekly meetings between Alfred Hitchcock, his assistant “Maja Jablonski” another amazing performance by a wonderful actress, Lindsay Seim, and Mel Brooks. There’s a line in the play “It’s like bumping into history” This play is absolutely like bumping into history. The writing by David Nepris is so smart, fun, and thoughtful, The play is very well written and very well executed, and I look forward to seeing more from this talented writer. The Production team was also spot on, The Direction was so good that I found myself looking for flaws, Nope, I’m not saying it was flawless but Damn good Direction, Matt Ritchey. The props and set decoration worked extremely well, especially for Fringe. The costumes are great. Bravo team. Bravo. You don’t have to be a fan of the “New Hollywood Movement” of the 1960s-1970s Cinema to enjoy this piece as much as I did. But if you are, definitely see this play. All you “Film Buffs” that hate Plays, definitely see this play, this one is for you.. Many of us idolize and grew up with these real people and although we see them as characters, Alfred Hitchcock, Mel Brooks, his beautiful wife Anne Bancroft, and " The Birds" Tippi Hedren, and Maja Jablonski are all real people and we get to spend a few days with them, How cool is that? We get to have lunch with Hitchcock and Brooks, How cool is that? This play takes us on a journey into their lives and shares with us what it was like to sit in on a meeting with Alfred Hitchcock at the end of his career and Mel Brooks at the start of his legacy. There isn’t a film fan alive who wouldn’t want to be a fly on the wall in that meeting. I’m glad I had the opportunity to be that fly. Bravo cast, very well done.
BARRY BRISCO “ASYLUM JUDGE”
