Orangutan

solo performance · orangutan · Ages 15+ · United States of America

one person show
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Review by JOE DESOTO

June 27, 2019 certified reviewer
tagged as: powerful

What I liked

This show subverts expectations big time! I was expecting an hour of goofy caricature and political jabs, but what I got was an existential exploration of self-sacrifice for the greater good. Expertly tackled and refreshingly poignant!

What I didn't like

Some moments were staged too far from the audience or in dimly lit areas. But this is more to do with technical restrictions in that particular space.

My overall impression

One-person shows are a staple of the Fringe Festival, and this one definitely stands out. Kristina Mueller is gripping as Mama Mary, all-at-once hilarious, heart-wrenching, and powerful. And hats off to Troy Deutsch for creating a Trump piece that isn’t anchored by hacky pandering (not an easy feat these days). Orangutan has something to say, and says it in a clever and unexpected way.

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