Reserve Champion

This is a well crafted one man show. Both touching and funny.... full review

Chris Piehler's Reserve Champion is a whimsical yet poignant autobiographical piece, taking you on a touching journey of Chris' childhood spent with his pony. Written and performed by Chris, directed by Thomas James O'Leary, you'll meet the whole family, and the pony, in this delightful work. I laughed, I cried, I awarded him a ribbon. So much resonated with this one man, one pony show, and his performance really connected with the audience as we all went back to being 10 years old again. Chris is a beautiful storyteller, and this travels along at a perfect pace, but was over far too soon. I strongly recommend this heartwarming 1 hour piece of theatre...with the beautiful take home message 'Sometimes, coming second it bes... full review

A terrifically funny, very heartfelt hour. Piehler has great presence and wit and draws the audience into his childhood world of competitive riding. Genuine, charming, and moving. Kudos to Thomas James O'Leary for the simple and effective staging and the deft direction.... full review

This one man show is a fantastic - well crafted, moving and funny coming of age story. Highly recommend!... full review

Chis Piehler's writing abilities are on full display in this autobiographical one-man show about growing up with his beloved pony. Chris is engaging to watch as a storyteller, especially as the show progresses and he becomes visibly more relaxed on stage. Under the skillful direction of Thomas James O'Leary, Chris finds the right balance of nostalgia and humor as the audience is further drawn into the story via the simple, yet effective and elegant, staging. ... full review

Excellent, solidly written piece which gave me a glimpse into a world I never thought about: A boy living every little girls dream of owning and riding a pony ( "A pony is NOT a baby horse!"). His journey throughout the English riding circuit documents a critical time of pre-adolescence when everything is scary. A dream is realized, becomes reality and then a (scary) challenge. His relationship with his pony, Atom Ant teaches him how to care for another, observe and respect their needs, and prepares him for the next scary challenge: Girls. Chris ushers us through this weird little world of ponies and propriety with wit and clarity. O'Leary's direction keeps the story focused which allows Chris the confidence to relax into the telling. A... full review

Great storytelling! Authentic, quirky and funny. Loved the visual aids. Everyone should catch this one! ... full review

Chris Piehler's one man show is a delightful experience, beautifully written and delivered with humor and sensitivity. Under the skillful direction of Thomas James O'Leary, Mr. Piehler's storytelling talents shine. In the course of an hour, we come to understand and feel the valuable lessons gleaned in the course of his relationship with his pony, Atom Ant. If you're looking for an emotionally rich, uplifting and altogether sweet story, this is the show for you.... full review

Reserve Champion is a charming and heartfelt show that teaches a lot about pony racing. It's also quirky and funny, with unintimidating audience participation. The play is well structured, with delightful discursions into the author/performer's childhood (and adult) psyche. The performance is genuine without being overly polished or slick. A lovely way to spend an hour!... full review

RESERVE CHAMPION (Gold Medal) A sincere, heartfelt solo show by Christopher Piehler concerning the period of his childhood when he rode in youth equestrian competitions and the relationship he had with his horse “Atom Ant”. The show succeeds in touching the funny bone while tugging on the heart stings. An endearing work, with a delicacy and brevity of a haiku. Thomas James O’Leary directs. FOR MORE OF MY REVIEWS OF THE HOLLYWOOD FRINGE GO TO: THE TVOLUTION.COM ... full review