DOG YEARS (aka Fear Factor: Canine Edition)

really captures all the magic and messiness of loving our four-legged best friends. funny and bittersweet in the best way possible. even if you don't pass the "must love dogs" test, there's plenty of humanity and humor to satisfy all breeds. definitely best in show, y'all -- so get your butt in a seat. ... full review

Fear Factor: Canine Edition is a show with all emotions rolled into one, you will laugh, you will cry, and most importantly you will reflect. This story about love and loss is unique in that it does not exist between two people, but rather a man and his loving dog, Abby. The show is deeply empathetic for those who have ever had to come to terms with making a difficult decision. In a very short time, he was able to paint a beautiful picture of his life through his remarkable storytelling. You will be moved by this performance and want to share the experience with others. It is a must-see of the festival. ... full review

All of us who have had a long-term relationship with a dog sheepishly admit that often they are more fulfilling than many relationships with humans. That's easy to understand - there is really no guile in a dog. They are forgiving, unconditional vessels of love and adoration. To a sensitive and introverted man living and working in New York, Abby was John Grady's constant companion, navigating with him through his uneasy alliances with females, his therapy visits to severely handicapped patients, his experimentations with 'doga', a dog and human yoga class -in other words, sharing his life. Abby was a Bernese Mountain Dog, with an average life span of 7 years. She lived 13 years, gracing John with the longest (serious) relationship he had... full review

Even though I am not a “dog person” per se, I loved this show immensely and found that it touched on some beautiful, universal truths. A fun, funny ride that unexpectedly hits you in the gut. Absolutely worth your time...you will laugh hysterically and you will be moved. It's why we go to the theater, n'est-ce pas? Get thee to this show!... full review

Steven Leigh Morris nails it in his LA Weekly rave review: "a probing and poetical examination of human relations and canine relations and what it means to be tethered to another living being. Grady's performance is as impeccable as his story is affecting." Finest one-man show in years. ... full review

I went to John Grady's June 12, 2011 performance at Fringe Central expecting to hear cute stories about a man and his dog (which would've been fine since I'm a huge dog lover). But I was treated to so much more. John's sincerity and gift of story-telling carried me away, journeying back in time with him to bear witness to his personal -- yet universal -- moments of enlightenment, when he faced the reality of what it means to be human, to live a life of quality, to love, and to accept love without ulterior motive or selfishness. I wish all of my friends and family could have been with me at the performance. It was truly a beautiful and profound experience.... full review

Beautiful and poetic with just enough humor to keep us in it, Canine Edition all in all is a terrific show. John Grady is a giving performer, from the moment he walks on stage you can feel he is with you, he wants you to take the journey with him. His humor comes in both the physical and verbal and he weaves it within his dramatic tale seamlessly. I'm a crier, and this show pulled tears from me. The show left us with something to remember as my friend and I talked about our relationship to animals for 30 minutes after the show ended. Grady is a strong storyteller and his story is worth hearing.... full review

My favorite show of the Fringe so far. John Grady's performance is so refined, so precise. Every movement, every word is intentioned and effortlessly deliberate-- nothing feels superfluous or accidental or extraneous. This is a completely unexpected story about life and love in a situation we don't hear about often. If anything I'd say the title is a little misleading- I went in expecting something goofy or haphazard and was completlely blown away by this powerfully elegant, graceful performance.... full review

Masterful performance - incredible story of the relationship between a man and his dog. It was easy to understand the depth of John's love for Abbie, and the emotional journey he made as the time came to put her down. I left a changed man! Thanks for a job very well done!... full review