Shari Barrett (she/her)
Theatre Reviewer and Publicist
THE FANTASTICKS - the original fringe musical (1959)
shari barrett
·
June 07, 2014
certified reviewer
Janet Miller has magnificently directed a show close to the hearts of many of us. The music is divine, enhanced with the addition of a lovely harp, played by Jillian Risigari-Gai. I have never seen the show done with a harp before and it makes a wonderful addition to so many scenes, often adding magic to the sweep of a hand in the air. It's no wonder that the original production included a harp!
All of the actors bring a sense of wonder and joy to their roles, with tall, dark and handsome Chri...
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Philosophy in the Boudoir
shari barrett
·
July 19, 2013
certified reviewer
One thing I will say is these are the bravest actors in the Fringe Festival. Yes they keep the promise of full frontal nudity and simulated sexual acts going on throughout the show. Yes it is titillating. But it is also a show with actors comfortable in their skin and willing to bare it all for art.
One quote from the show interested me the most: "Lust only increases with the lack of love." This to me is the true libertine motto on display during the show.
Special kudos to the actor w...
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To Carry the Child
shari barrett
·
June 23, 2013
certified reviewer
For anyone who has gone through losing a loved one to cancer, bring lots of kleenex with you to this show as it will tug at your heartstrings and bring up emotions that live deep in your soul. There is no greater compliment you can give an actor than to say I hated the character you were playing, and you will feel that way about the father and mother in this play. They cannot help who they are, but you really do want to reach out and slap some sense into them more than once during the show. remin...
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Sunny Afternoon
shari barrett
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June 23, 2013
certified reviewer
Those of us who were alive on November 22, 1963, will never forgot where we were when Kennedy was shot. In the days that followed, we were glued to our television screens watching with devastated hearts as the tragedy played out live in our homes. And if, like me, you were watching at the exact moment that Lee Harvey Oswald was shot, then you too certainly felt as if the rug had just been pulled out from beneath the American people.
But who was Lee Harvey Oswald and could he really have acte...
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The Ruby Besler Cabaret
shari barrett
·
June 12, 2013
certified reviewer
The show stars Anastasia Barnes as Ruby Besler who shares the story of her life through bawdy tales from her birth through the loss of her first love to achieving success on stage.
Although Ruby is definitely the star of the show, she is by no means alone on stage. There’s pianist Dorothy Diamond (portrayed by musical director Gere Fennelly) and also her dancers, The Rubies (Tatiana Giannoutsos, Regan Carrington, Laurel Vecsey, and choreographer Flame Cynders, all from the Fishnet Follies Clas...
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The Time Machine Musical
shari barrett
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June 10, 2013
certified reviewer
I was at the preview performance on June 9 and agree that the sound problems caused the band, as good as they were, to overpower the singers. And I really wanted to know what they were singing. Having been a fan of the movie my whole life. I really wanted to LOVE this show, but walked away just liking it. The lead actor, Steve Altman, is wonderful and the ensemble numbers were fun to watch even if you could not understand all the words.
But why in the world did they leave the part of about...
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A Man of No Importance
shari barrett
·
June 09, 2013
certified reviewer
I know this fantastic musical production, brilliantly directed by Janet Miller, is going to the THE HIT of the Hollywood Fringe Festival. It's all about love and embracing how lucky you are to find it in your life, no matter the form it takes. Dominic McChesney is perfectly cast as are all the actors in the show, and their harmonic mastery will enthrall you from start to finish. Rush to get your tickets before they are gone!...
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#Hashtag
shari barrett
·
June 09, 2013
certified reviewer
#HASHTAG is a new comedy directed by Jeffrey Wienckowski and devised by The Mechanical Heart, a group of UCSD Alumni who put the show together in only six weeks. It explores the other kind of LA gridlock: the daily struggle to remain engaged in the present moment in a culture built on social media and status anxiety. Everyone is searching for their dream relationship and dream job, but at what cost? And just how much influence should you allow social media to have on your dreams?
Look for my...
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The Harry and Sam Dialogues
shari barrett
·
June 09, 2013
certified reviewer
I am a huge fan of theatre that gets you thinking and questioning the experience, characters and subject matter presented. And I find myself, even after so many hours, still thinking about this fine production and just what reality was really being presented. I challenge you to do the same after seeing this brilliant production.
Read my full review on Broadway World: http://losangeles.broadwayworld.com/article/BWW-Reviews-See-the-Intellectually-Challenging-THE-HARRY-AND-SAM-DIALOGUES-During-th...
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Gentle Passage
shari barrett
·
June 24, 2012
certified reviewer
The heart of this story sneaks into your consciousness slowly through the short vignettes that signify each visit Joseph has as part of a clinical medical study on trial medication for Alzheimer's.
Anna runs the one-on-one sessions as clinically and sterilized as she's become, both careerwise and personally. But after a few awkward and odd visits, Anna begins to learn of the tormented and abusive past Joe has endured, along with his distress over feelings of losing parts of his past, and memo...
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