Jennie Webb

Originally posted in Bitter Lemons: "Fringe Femmes" | “Conduct of Life” by Maria Irene Fornes | “There’s something malignant in the world.” Oh, yeah, there is. In Maria Irene Fornes’ award-winning 1985 Conduct of Life, mounted in a stunning Hollywood Fringe revival by The Vagrancy, it’s not just the terrifying, animalistic soldier Orlando (Robert Homer Mollohan) – although he’s the one who, ironically, makes the statement. It’s also the frightened, prey-like characters who surround him and... full review

Originally posted in Bitter Lemons: "Fringe Femmes" | "The Creeps" created by Catherine Waller | Who can resist a Fringe show with free-flowing wine and bottomless popcorn? Just overlook the fact that the hunched over woman who's offering it appears as if she's... well: she's likely had a hard life, even at her young age. This is the first indication that The Creeps is maybe not what you expect. Or, given the title, maybe it is. What it is, is a fascinating and completely compelling... full review

Originally posted on Bitter Lemons: "Fringe Femmes" | "Riot Grrrl Saves the World (or, The Zine of Grrl)" by Louisa Hill | Man. To some of us, 1992 doesn't seem that long ago. But I'd guess that even for those who were in diapers (or not even?) then, Louisa Hill's exploration of the Riot Grrrl post-punk, third-wave feminism music and zine movement that began the '80s and '90s could not be more fun and fresh. So in Riot Grrrl Saves the World it's (kinda) 1992 and not only do we find three t... full review

Originally Posted in Bitter Lemons: Fringe Femmes | "Lydia Trueblood: The Black Widow of the Atlantic Coast" by Liz Eldridge & Efrain Schunior| Sometimes you just luck into things, and the charming musical confession of Lydia Trueblood has got to be on the top of my #HFF14 happy accident list. Who knew walking into a bar would mean a 19th century tale of murderous exploits and romantic adventures, complete with an adorable singing, accordion- and trumpet- (simultaneously, mind you) playing mu... full review

Originally posted in Bitter Lemons "Fringe Femmes" | "La Bête" by June Carryl | I'm a sucker for incredible performers. So watching June Carryl as a diva facing her downfall in La Bête - seeing her navigate the highs and lows and every nuance in between of an emotionally charged, often wickedly funny journey - makes me very, very happy. Carryl wrote this backstage drama and has no problem stepping into the stylish shoes of Marian Davis (no, not silver-screen star Marion Davies), a fictional... full review

Originally posted on Bitter Lemons "Fringe Femmes" | "Things Being What They Are" by Wendy MacLeod | Okay. So this beer-infused, way-male two-hander is not particularly Fringey nor - except for its female playwright - is it remotely Femme. But in the hands of the guys (yep, I mean XY guys) from Moving Arts, Wendy MacLeod's 2003 comedy is certainly good for some full-length fun and a surprisingly touching look at male friendships. Darin Anthony directs Cameron Jappe and Chet Grissom as ... full review

Originally posted on Bitter Lemons - "Fringe Femmes" | “Sex, Lies, and Social Media” plays by Mary Steelsmith, Elin Hampton and Lorin Howard | First of all, how fabulous to see the very traditional (read, male) Alliance of Los Angeles Playwrights shaking things up a bit with some female energy in its first Fringe outing! On their bill of five short plays, three are written by women. Nice! There’s nothing wildly experimental or risky here, but these plays (all of them) work together to... full review

Originally posted on Bitter Lemons - "Fringe Femmes" | Chitlin’ Blues: Dancing in the Grey” concept by Constance Strickland | It’s pretty amazing: the unspoken power of a actor wearing blackface. Constance Strickland is, obviously, well aware of its impact and uses this and other powerful images to put together an amazing, “eclectic mix of physical theatre & vaudeville.” The result is a haunting, visceral study of race and gender that is at once disturbing and absolutely beautiful. Wi... full review

Originally posted on Bitter Lemons http://wp.me/p1ZQLV-adL Legendary film actor Ron West is a sick, old shell of a man, holed up and waiting to die. But his much-younger wife thinks he's got one more command performance in him: getting her pregnant. Lisa Ebersole's dark comedy is sharp and vicious and funny, and we couldn't ask for better performers than Herman Poppe and Heather Lindell as the not-so-unlikely couple. Under Matt Soson's direction, Mr. Poppe is heartbreakingly pathetic, yet some... full review

Originally posted in Bitter Lemons http://wp.me/p1ZQLV-adR Man. It's not all that often that you see a solo show where you want to take the performer home with you. The pocket-sized Liz Femi is just about the most adorable actor onstage ever, and her story of growing up middle-class in Nigeria - and being captivated by the "fiery tongues and fierce temperaments" of those around her who're living in poverty - is pretty much irresistible. The outrageously talented Ms. Femi portrays an 8-year... full review