Butt Kapinski

*This review first appeared on ArtsBeatLA.com* Hands down the best show I have seen at the Fringe Fest this year. Super funny and astonishingly inventive, Deanna Fleysher has crafted a show that depends so heavily on audience interaction (shudder!) that it's like watching a trapeze artist soar without a net. The audience were all fantastic troupers, mildly improvising and following "Butt's" cues and storyline. The guy tasked with providing live musical cues throughout was a hoot! A brave, raw and accomplished solo performance. I laughed my ass off! Don't miss this show.... full review

As a lover of her work last year as the director of Red Bastard, I simply HAD to see this show. Deanna is a character, and that character must be experienced to be truly understood. This was a remarkable piece of theater, sort of like a foreign language immersion course. Almost everyone in the audience was drawn into this interaction show, and turned in quite incredible improv performances themselves. Don't miss this limited run - you'll be kicking yourself if you do.... full review

A hilarious and unique theatrical experience. A melodramatic and speech-impeded private eye narrates his own film noir, casting the audience as all other parts- from whores to cops to bodies- along the way. Of course the chink in this plan is that not every audience member is witty and willing, but Deanna (Butt) is quick enough to handle whatever comes her way. I appreciated that she effectively brings the entire crowd together as one theatrical ensemble. Once the culprit is caught, there's an odd little coda that doesn't really seem of a piece with the rest- but no matter. Fringe exists for a show like this. (And there's just one more performance, 6/24, so grab tickets now!) fringeblog.webs.com ... full review