The Navigator

By far one of the best things I've seen at Fringe this year. Very funny with impeccable comedic timing, but poignant as well. The most striking part about the show, and what sets it apart from most other shows at Fringe, is how amazingly clean it was--from the sound design to the understated miming to the simple but effective set and staging, and of course, the acting and concept in general... Just stellar. A must-see.... full review

I missed this show in New York and traveled to see it in the Fringe Festival. The lead actor, Joseph Franchini, was nominated for a Best Actor Drama Desk Award along with Philip Seymour Hoffman. It was a small show down town so you had to wonder what that was about. First, the play is a real theater piece, not a TV script wannabe. It is thoughtful and provocative and somehow gets under your skin in one short hour. Kelly Anne Burns plays the "navigator" which is to say the voice of the GPS system. At first, it seems she does very little but sit center stage and speak in short mechanical phrases. But, by the end, she is a real presence and is more than a little menacing. But, Franchini is the reason to see this. He covers a wide range of disc... full review

Terrific acting, simple (but clever) staging, a great premise, and a fascinating story. What wouldn't we all give to have an on-board navigator that gives us all the answers? And what wouldn't we all give to finally shut her up for good? This deserved the awards it won in NYC, and it's great to have the chance to see this gem out here. ... full review

Slick, tight, funny, poignant, fast paced, and totally entertaining. The Navigator reaches inside us to ask the questions we ask ourselves over and over again. I love a play a that makes you think, that demands your attention and then fulfills. The Navigator is all that. The performances were creative, concise and interesting. Lots of humor inside all the dark spaces. So worth seeing.... full review

The Navigator should rise to the top of your Fringe Festival must-see list. This tale of Man vs. Fate is totally unique to any play I’ve ever seen. Funny, well executed, finely acted, and engaging from soup to nuts. Don’t miss this one!... full review

This is a fast-paced, contemporary and very funny (and a little disturbing) play that deserves to be seen and experienced. The performances are uniformly good. The story is compelling and well-paced. The humor pitch-perfect. Imagine a cross between Billy Wilder and Krystof Kieslowski's 1st of the "Decalogue" films and you have a good idea what to expect. Highly recommended. ... full review

I loved The Navigator. It more than lived up to my expectations. The dialogue was rich, the idea behind the navigator was brave and the acting was superlative. "Willing suspense of disbelief" all the way.... full review

Loved it! Engaging, well-written and performed with humor and passion. Inventive and always surprising. ... full review

In Eddie Antar’s play The Navigator down-on-his-luck Dave is directionless. He has been out of work for months, his wife is ready to give up on their marriage, and he doesn’t know where his life is going. Fortunately for Dave, his GPS does. After delivering some navigational advice that ends up saving Dave’s life, the GPS begins providing Dave with semi-cryptic life advice. He soon discovers that his omniscient GPS can guide him through a life free of sadness and surprise. The play rides smooth for most of its duration, simultaneously fast, funny, and sensitive. It’s fun to watch Dave’s life improve as he hands over the controls to a machine. Each hesitation he has proves to be in vain, as his GPS repeatedly demonstrates that she kn... full review

First let me go on record by saying that I do not like the voice on my navigation system, so it is saying something when I which I can dub Kelly Anne's voice in my system. This production was awesome! From concept to cast. No wonder they are multi-award winners. That being said, what I took from this piece is more of a social statement on us human beings, and we really do not need as much help with life as we thing. Don't get me wrong, I would like the "pick 6" numbers too, but one thing that I am not willing to give up, is the joy on gamble taking from the gut that pays off. Or worse the stories I could tell from going face-down, because I thought I switch extra-hard in a slippery pair of heels. Bravo guys! Bravo! And if you ... full review