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dark comedy
good
clever
competition
funny
funny; clever; witty; timely; relevant; great value
ground breaking theater
hilarious
humor
manipulation
motivational speaking
skewers pretentiousness
thought-provoking
MARC WHITMORE
certified reviewer
June 09, 2014
Funny, well-acted, well-written, fast-paced romp! I think that's enough hyphenated descriptions...but it's probably not enough to cover all the wonderful elements of this classy, polished production. James Robinson has written a play that, on it's face, is a competition between four Type A personalities who are vying for top prize in a Ted-like environment. As funny as the play is on it's surface, we wonder if these contenders aren't masking a bevy of insecurities beneath. This multi-layered presentation gives us lots to laugh about, but much to think about as well....
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JOANNA SYIEK
certified reviewer
June 09, 2014
Smart writing and really good hour of thoughtful TED-style presentations. You'll leave wondering what other cherished beliefs that you might have deserve some skewering. ...
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CHARLINE SU
certified reviewer
June 09, 2014
A fantastic production with an extremely clever, well crafted script brought to life by four outstanding actors. Witty, polished, energetic and above all, very entertaining, Death By Powerpoint is one of those rare scripts that leave you with a lot to think about while making you laugh loud and long....
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BENNY LUMPKINS
certified reviewer
June 28, 2014
I hate board meetings and power points. Although the acting was excellent
After the first PowerPoint presentation you get it. Not a fan of this show but you may love it....
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ASHLEY STEED
certified reviewer
June 15, 2014
It seems like everyday someone posts a new TED talk or motivational speech on Facebook. James Robinson has taken this trend of “this speech will change your life” and made an engaging satire on how we convince ourselves and others to lead better lives. First up is Lucy (Scarlet Bermingham) who tells us bullshit ourselves and just tell ourselves that we’re “freakin’ awesome.” Next is Mark (Eric Pierce) who says the secret to happiness is to be like sheep and to look at pictures of pugs. Third up is Joan (Emily Thomas) who says thanks to Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups there’s no such thing as free will. And lastly is Matthew who argues the way to move forward is sideways using a story of how he lost his virginity as an example.
There are a few ...
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JOSH HILLINGER
certified reviewer
June 16, 2014
Well presented, funny and smart. The four presentations were keenly delivered with bravado. The show has balls, is what I'm saying. The ending was a little weird and I wish it tied the characters together a bit more. But everything else had me all the way....
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TABBY STONE
certified reviewer
June 29, 2014
PowerPoint presentations like you've never seen them before in a well put together and well acted show. If you've ever watched a good (or bad) PowerPoint lecture, you'll enjoy watching this play....
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CHAIRMAN BARNES
certified reviewer
July 02, 2014
I found the show rather tedious. The actors were all very good but the material was sadly lacking. The plot tasks the characters with creating a presentation to "destroy a cherished belief". From there each in succession wandered farther and farther afield. Albeit, some funny moments are scattered throughout and light is thrown onto certain dysfunctional cultural obsessions, but it isn't enough to sustain the plot. ...
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KATHERINE DIAZ
certified reviewer
July 25, 2014
Another stellar performance, guys. I had the pleasure of seeing Scarlett and Michael for a second time tonight, both of whom were incredible; so engaging to watch. I also had the joy of seeing Eric and my good friend, Emilly, bring Mark and Joan to life. Eric, the blissful life of a sheep never seemed so enticing. Emilly…you're a star. Killer performances and exquisite direction…I am thrilled to have had this show as part of my Hollywood Fringe experience. Well done! ...
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NEAL WEAVER
certified reviewer
June 12, 2014
***This Review first appeared on Stage Raw.***
There are no actual deaths in this sly and clever satire by playwright-director James F. Robinson, but one character experiences near-death.Four motivational speakers are finalists in the National Global Influencers contest. Lucy (Scarlet Bermingham) begins by telling us they’re here to destroy all our most cherished beliefs. She tells us the secret of success is to ignore depressing facts and to practice self-delusion: Just tell yourself, “You are freakin’ Awesome.” Mark (Eric Pierce) assures us that the way to achieve the Inevitability of Cosmic Bliss is to concentrate on the pushed-in face of an endearing pug-dog. Joan (Emilly Thomas) is so distracted by her chocolate addiction that she l...
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