My overall impression
When I hear the words “solo show” I have to admit that some part of me feels like it shrivels up in fear. I associate these types of shows with whininess, self-aggrandizing types looking for agents, attention-seeking above all, doing anything but put on a show for other people. If Ceremony hadn’t been about an interesting subject matter, I may not have seen it, which would really have been a mistake on my part. A big mistake. Michael Kass is, first and foremost, a very talented storyteller. Sure, he’s got a few first-world problems, but his natural charm and self-deprecating humor wins you over from the start and even when he does something you already know, on some level, isn’t going to turn out well, you’re still rooting for everything to turn out fine. It’s a show about so many things, it’s hard to categorize. But that’s probably what makes it great. Sex, death, love, purpose, spirituality, inner demons, owning your own shit, getting out of your mind, and learning to trust the universe are only some of the topics he covers in just under an hour. It’s an authentic, beautiful and meaningful time at the theater, and if you’re looking for something a little more thoughtful at Fringe this year, this is the piece for you.
