What I liked
I enjoyed the overall structured chaos and energetic sense of play, the way the show built to a new level of unpredictable weirdness with each new character’s appearance. The ensemble was terrific, fully committed to whatever was happening onstage. Many moments I found myself saying to myself, “Wait, what just happened? What’s happening now? Why didn’t I get a drink? Who wrote this thing? Hey, isn’t that the guy who plays Willy Loman? Oh, forget it…”
What I didn't like
This is show is 100% it’s own monster. So to suggest “improving” it might be to impose or unmake the very thing that gives it life. I’m probably thinking too hard here. But like, I might say, “Well the jokes and gags could have been funnier.” “The story threads could have been more cohesive.” Blah blah blah. But the zany messiness at the show’s core is what makes it unique and special. So ultimately I wouldn’t change a thing. It’s rootbeer’s world, we’re just floating in it. This show is 100% Fringe.
My overall impression
This show blew my mind. Literally. Watching this show was like having my mind fellated in a ship lost at sea, with twenty of my best friends (all sharing a private joke from which I’d been partially excluded) filing in and out of my cabin talking about their problems and issues and back stories and shooting Nerf darts while in the adjacent cabin a police investigation with homoerotic overtones is taking place and on the main deck musical numbers are in full swing. The rootbeer flowed freely and there’s even a history lesson in there somewhere, and this barely scratches the service. Arrr! It was exhilarating, confounding, chaotic, raucous, joyous, silly, sexy, fun. Wish I’d seen Night of the Rootbeer, but I’m not sure that would have mattered or helped. But it begs the question: will there be a Revenge of Revenge of the Rootbeer: Sequel to the Sequel? I’m so there!
