Sub-Total
2026 Audience Reviews
Member Reviews
The following reviews were submitted by Fringe Member: Josh Elmore
Company: New Endeavors
Show: Muskie
Venue: Mixed Blood
Hilarious, topical, almost perfect
I was delighted by this performance, as it combines one of my all-time favorite movies with local references. The cast was clearly committed and there were so many ridiculous, farcical moments that created the perfect 10PM-on-a-Friday viewing experience. My only reason for giving it a 4.5 is that I think the script could use a bit more tightening. At times, there are bits of dead space in the dialog that rely exclusively on the topical humor and fall a bit flat. Overall, though, this is one of the most enjoyable shows I've seen during the entire festival. Great job, everyone!
Company: Albino Squirrel Productions
Show: It's-a-Me, a Musical!
Venue: Rarig Stoll Thrust Theatre
Hard not to smile!
It’s exactly what you expect - a fun, silly, heartfelt reenactment of a Mario movie from 1993. The characters are hilarious, the musical numbers are enjoyable, and you leave feeling good. What a great pick-me-up! Would see again.
Company: CuerpoxCuerpo
Show: LATIN PAPI
Venue: Rarig Nolte Xperimental Theatre
Fenomenal
Este par de bailarines nos atrae, nos encanta, y nos inspira. Muestra las interpretaciones distintas de esta palabra poderosa. Los movimientos son de calidad espectacular y la química entre los dos forja una experiencia profunda y erótica. Que padre, chicos. 😉
Company: SUPERMOON
Show: the statue of liberty is nora in a doll's house by henrik ibsen
Venue: Rarig Stoll Thrust Theatre
An intensely creative take on Ibsen
A modern rendition of DH that, through a mix of creative decisions both humorous and somber, makes us reflect on the subjugation of women in modern society. Highly recommend.
Company: The Miller Conspiracy
Show: Bay Creek
Venue: Barbara Barker Center for Dance
Best horror show I’ve seen at Fringe in a while
Derek is a captivating storyteller who managed to to relentlessly hold my attention. I’m not usually a fan of one-man shows, but he’s got the gravitas to pull it off. Enter into the world of a man who lives within a generational curse. You can feel the tension as he weaves in family lore with humorous and horrific anecdotes. While I will admit that it was a bit hard to follow at the beginning and he might benefit from a prop or some background scenery to help establish time, his talent is enough that I can’t not give it five stars. I hope to see more of your work at Horror Fest!
Company: PhysicalLies
Show: How to Escape Hell
Venue: Rarig Nolte Xperimental Theatre
Awkward and confusing, but with good elements
The show makes good use of different forms of media and staging, and I think the pair would be better at having a mythology education channel on TikTok. However, the format suffers greatly from the plot confusion and the underdeveloped characters. Where does one myth start and another ends? Some of the video explanations were hard to hear and too detailed, where I found myself missing crucial details if I zoned out for a second. The writing isn’t strong enough to allow for variation in the myths that (I think?) vary between each performance. I chose this one at random, and unfortunately it didn’t pan out.
Company: Zabel Weinhagen
Show: Empty Nest
Venue: Rarig Stoll Thrust Theatre
Warm, poignant - a glimpse into a parental world
I had never heard of this show and went when I realized the other show I’d schedule sold out, and I’m so glad I did! Laura and Levi created a beautiful show that is humorous, insightful, and educational on issues affecting middle-aged parents. I was smiling the whole show and I had the pleasure of talking to them afterwards. What a sweet couple! Go see this!
Company: an alleged Theatre Company
Show: FAST Death of a Salesman
Venue: Rarig Stoll Thrust Theatre
5 stars, with a caveat
The physical comedy in this show is excellent, and the auctioneer completely stole the show. Another knockout from this company. However, I would recommend reading the plot summary before he show (like I did, because I saw other reviews) as it will greatly appreciate your understanding. Great job, all!
Company: Dave Dvorak
Show: Just One Life
Venue: Rarig Kilburn Theatre
Good intentions, but needs work
The show has a simple, easy-to-understand message we can all relate to, the original songs are fun, and the two leads have lovely voices. However, the writing is full of cliches and needs serious tightening. The plot is, unfortunately, predictable and doesn’t offer anything new. If the script were workshopped a bit more, it would be much more enjoyable. Thank you for your activism, though.
Company: Jake Mierva
Show: I Will Become The Silver Surfer. I Will Protect You.
Venue: Rarig Stoll Thrust Theatre
Original, poignant, and daring
I had no idea what to expect from this show, and it kept me captivated every second. I've never seen Jake do a solo piece, and, admittedly, I'm not the biggest fan of solo shows in general. However, he did such a phenomenal job of creating a character that's both hilarious and tragic. The writing is complex and poignant, weaving in a mix of trauma and childlike hopefulness. The spectacle of the bold stagecraft may grab your attention, but it's the performer's talent that sustains you. He should be very proud of this show.
Company: Melancholics Anonymous
Show: Watership Down
Venue: Rarig Stoll Thrust Theatre
Phenomenal, but suffers a bit from density
I don't think it's up for debate that MA delivers, and this year is no exception. They took a slightly different approach from their usual, original writing and created a full-blown, immersive world that keeps you engaged and connected emotionally. As always, the actors displayed their stellar chemistry. It can be very tricky to get a children's book right - especially one with such an extensive narrative - and they found the perfect balance of weight and whimsy. These aforementioned elements are so strong that they outweigh the fact that, IMHO, this should be a full 2-act show with an intermission. There are so many side quests and character changes that it can be difficult to follow at times, and the dialogue is very dense with information. Whenever I looked away for a second and stopped listening, I felt like I missed critical information, Overall, though, this is another winner that both adults and kids can appreciate.
Company: Band Practice
Show: DON'T BE SCARED
Venue: Rarig Nolte Xperimental Theatre
Pure talent, pure fringe ;could use more structure
It definitely took me a solid 20 minutes to "get it," but once I did, I was able to focus on the brilliant performances by the leads. Phenomenal chemistry, excellent improvisation skills, and a Fringe classic. I'd teetered on giving this 4.5 stars because it could use a bit more structure to make its points, but I reconsidered because the performance skills really are that impressive. Ich liebe die Finsternis. ;)