O, Fallen One

I didn't know what to expect when I attended O, Fallen One. I knew the character of Ophelia had often polarized people in the past, who either thought she was a looney victim, or a feminist who refused to compromise her principles, especially when it came to love. What I found from this piece was lyrical, creative theatre combining the wonderful language of Shakespeare with a parallel modern storyline of a woman in much the same place as the original Ophelia character. The actors use movement effectively to show the characters' inner states of mind, and the scene where Ophelia is being swallowed by the water was especially creatively staged and moving. It's a really interesting take on the classic tale of Hamlet, and if I had any complaint a... full review

I have learned my Fringe lesson - always arrive with plenty of time in advance. So disappointing to arrive late to O Fallen One, especially since I enjoyed what I saw so much. As a fan of Hamlet - and a fan of using movement to express stories, relationships and the underlying emotions - O Fallen One struck a chord with me. I found the beautiful staging, haunting music and thoughtful performances compelling. Many of the lines echoed (if not directly quoted) Ophelia in Hamlet - which, are of course, exquisite, so one cannot complain. But I thought the best moments of O Fallen One were the ones that used few if any words, words, words at all, whether through Lia's silent but visible responses to her therapist, or through the elegant stagin... full review

I went to see the show yesterday 6/14, and I cannot be happier that I did! Honestly, I was expecting this show to be very minimal, but was pleasantly surprised to watch intricate movement pieces expertly intermixed with complex scenes and visually stunning technical effects. I enjoyed every minute of it and I can't wait to see where this goes, or what is next in store for all of the talented cast and crew. Great job all!... full review

Curlique & Co. present O, Fallen One, which according to director Jaymie Bellous's program note, is "an initial workshop of a play"; one, I'm sorry to say, suffers from too many ingredients in what could've been a great recipe... Read more at http://www.latheatercritic.com... full review

O, Fallen One brushed the dust off a very significant point: Mental abuse in relationships should not be taken lightly, especially today. We must continue to revisit the shallow evolution of humanity in regards to our respect and treatment of others. Brava to Jaymie Bellous and Megan Ruble for piecing together a unique mosaic of movement and classic text, to give light on a woman's perspective of love lost and loss of oneself. Bellous and Ruble established a great platform for their marvelous actors to breathe and grow with each other during the performance. ... full review

A very compelling first workshop including some of the best acting work I've seen at Fringe so far. I would love to see this show become further developed. I thought the scenes that were more abstract were more effective in telling the story, and conveying the feeling of madness, confusion, and poetry. I would absolutely be interested in seeing this show again and watching it grow over time. ... full review

I loved this. I thought it was so beautifully done. And the way contemporary, Shakespeare, and physical theater intertwined...I was so impressed. And this was a workshop?! My goodness, if you guys keep going down this road you're on you're going to have an amazing piece of art that will keep people talking. I think Galen Sato as the doctor was a bit of a miscast, he is too young for the part. It's like he's supposed to be tired of seeing the same case over and over and over again, but the most he could be is a resident. And though he did a fantastic job, he's just too young to play worn-out. However, Megan Ruble, holy sh*t. I thought her performance was outstanding. She never played an "idea" of crazy, she was just so true to Ophelia's c... full review

O, Fallen One is the initial concept workshop of a devised play that combines stylized scenes with fragmented language, movement, dance, and other devices to create a unique artistic experience. The more theatrical sequences are interspersed with traditional dialogue scenes that tell the story of a modern day Ophelia (Megan Ruble) who, as in Shakespeare’s Hamlet, is dumped by a boyfriend (Chris Hull), goes into a depression, and takes to the water to drown. In this original piece, she’s a high school girl named Lia who lands in the gym’s pool, but rather than descend to a muddy death like her predecessor, she’s pulled from the water and committed to a psych ward for further evaluation. There, a patronizing nurse (Amanda Carson), a concern... full review

The opening scene was riveting as Ophelia arrives at the hospital and interacts with the cold, methodical nurse. The nurse was fantastic throughout. The doctor was the only character who seemed out of place, but it seemed to be more of how he was written than the actor himself. It seemed strange that a doctor who is so caring would immediately bring the ex boyfriend, who clearly triggered the meltdown, in to see his patient. The ex-bf was also almost too cold, showing no sense of sympathy. I mean I know you broke things off with her, but she meant something to you at some point didn't she? No sympathy for seeing her in an asylum? Then again if I remember Hamlet, that was exactly what he was like. Megan's portrayal of Ophelia was spot... full review

This was a very creative, unique, and poignant play. The concept was fresh and the performances brilliant. Megan Ruble made me cry! Her performance was heartfelt, believable, and heartbreaking all at once. Beautiful.... full review