My overall impression
“NO TRAVELER” (Platinum Medal)
Written and flawlessly performed by Penny Pollak, with Lindsey Hope Pearlman directing “No Traveler” reveals itself part dance, part psychodrama, part vaudeville, part morality play and all diamond. I doubt that any tale of pain and despair has ever seen a wittier staging or suicide viewed in such a frisky light.
Pollak portrays Abigail, an angst driven party girl who dances (literally) herself into an act of self destruction. She awakens to find herself in a tub, and the tub in purgatory. There she is given another chance at salvation if she can prevent another despairing soul from following the path she chose.
But as good as Abigail was at screwing up her life, she’s even better at screwing up her one shot at salvation. Sent to talk a jumper off a ledge, she argues with her that it’s foolish for her to end her life. “Go out there, experience the world” Abigail advises, “You’ll find good reasons to kill yourself.”
Pollak’s show is bizarre, dark and brutally fun. And one not to be missed.
For more of my reviews of the Hollywood Fringe go to: The TVolution.com
