What I liked
Jack Menzies delivers the perfect balance of charm and danger with moments of earnest vulnerability. Everleigh Brenner seems almost over-the-top to the point of artificiality at first, but throughout the story you realize that every minute action is calculated and precise to serve a larger purpose that elevates the play’s themes. James Berry gives a powerful and unapologetic performance that you love to hate. Kylie Buckles-Hall grounds the play with a likability that shines through the manufactured persona of her character. The blocking and direction always perfectly serves the play without a single extraneous movement. The intimacy direction is a feat to behold with a chillingly realistic encounter that has left me haunted for days. Finally, and perhaps most importantly, the writing is flawless. The play’s message is complex and important without ever feeling preachy. The dialogue is intense and shocking. The characters all feel like people you know or have seen online. Even the title Playback is ingenious. I had no idea a play about a podcast could be this riveting.
What I didn't like
I am genuinely angry this only has 3 shows. Please do an extension or another production.
My overall impression
Simply put: this was the best Fringe Show I’ve ever seen. The story is wildly entertaining and deeply nuanced. This brilliant script by Jessica Fisher masterfully unpacks heavy topics of sexual assault with twists, turns, and just the right amount of humor. The whole cast is locked in with performances that are somehow both natural and larger than life. The direction is bold and precise as the mounting conflicts build to a jaw dropping finale. I have never seen a play that left me with more questions and conflicting emotions. The play serves as a biting critique of modern culture’s obsession with controlling the narrative at all costs. You won’t want to be left saying you missed this premiere in Hollywood Fringe before this play makes it big.
