What I liked
Terry Ray’s crisp script and Steve Rosenbaum’s gentle but pointed direction kept the show leaping from moment to sexually charged moment. It was more of an ensemble piece than I was expecting, and I was happily surprised by the strength of the cast. (Not always a given at Fringe.) Jason Reale and Alex Price had fantastic chemistry, keeping the “will they or won’t they” bubbling till the very end.
What I didn't like
NA
My overall impression
Cleverly written and expertly performed, The Lincoln Debate is the best type of history play. Facts are presented, emotions are displayed, but all the conclusions are clearly in the audience’s mind. While there were elements of campy fun, there was no real effort to make it a campy show. What surprised me was how much love there was between the characters. This is easily the strongest ensemble piece I’ve seen at Fringe in a long time. All the performances were top tier. My favorite performances came from Angela Landis, as the long-suffering, but eager to love Mary Todd Lincoln, and Kimleigh Smith as Fanny and pretty much everyone else. Her energy, sass and playfulness brought joy to every character she presented. While The Lincoln Debate doesn’t resolve the issue of Abe Lincoln’s sexuality, it does give you a lot of food for thought. I loved it, and I think you will too.
