How to Escape Hell

This is what fringe is for!

These two do what most other shows (fringe or otherwise) do not: take some actual risks. They use technology, physical storytelling, mythical transposition, good ol' acting and narration, masks, and many other devices that show true experimentation of live performance. For a first fringe they took a big swing and its inspiring to see how hard and earnest they are working! Well done, keep on going :)

Deeply Meh

The relationship between the characters was incredibly cliché, which for something where that's basically the whole show is a bad sign. Deeply gendernormative in a slightly icky way (imo at least) despite attempts to gesture toward the opposite. And the audience participation element was awkward and unnecessary. No one wants to be fumbling with their phone flashlight in the theatre.

Adventurous art

MN Fringe’s tagline is “adventurous art,” and I truly believe that this is one of the most adventurous pieces in the Fringe this year. And I also think its ambition is one of the reasons it falls short. The dramaturgy on demand is a cool idea, but it doesn’t feel like it fits in the larger narrative of this piece. A series of vignettes, similar to Metamorphosis but with a technological twist, would be a cool way to develop this part of the piece. Both performers are incredibly talented (especially Mark, who is a master of movement), but the script needs a little more development. This is the show I’ve enjoyed discussing and dissecting the most this year, which speaks to how evocative it is. I’m excited to see what this group does next.

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.

I left feeling sick to my stomach

The single kitty here goes to the truly stellar lighting design. I can’t stress enough that it was the only redeeming quality to the show. No amount of rehearsal could have rescued this script. From butchering every myth they discussed, to misusing SAT words, there was truly no saving it. For a concept with so much potential- I was grossly disappointed. It was clear very quickly that no amount of critical thinking and very little research was put into writing the show, resulting in a childish attempt at examining/dissecting gender identity and double standards in relationships. An attempt at playing on Jean Paul Sartre, came to be lazy philosophy- with monologues trying to “Trifles” masculinity and manhood. As a trans audience member, the ending genuinely made me feel physically ill- implying transitioning to be a “sacrifice” while showcasing incredibly dangerous chest binding techniques. I entered the audience intrigued and excited, and left disappointed and offended.

Beautiful acting and complex storytelling

The performers are great actors, display incredible vulnerability and offer interesting new ways to engage with story. Made me think of the stories we all carry with us and what happens when we retell/ reframe them. Xxx

Missed the interaction opportunity

Acting was convincing and able to draw me in. Crowd interaction piece could have proven interesting. But a few things were at odds: it is difficult to be the person who takes the initiative, directions were clear but it almost needs to be even more obvious because of the "ask" and how it affects the show. The "ask" should be done in a different way that doesn't involve a phone. If no "ask" occurs after a while, a planted person could encourage it. I definitely was too immersed to want to interrupt things despite wanting to know more of the origin story.

Not perfectly executed, but very deep.

This show barely had an audience when I went to it. The performers did some incredible, moving experimental art. I don't know how to describe it, but I really think this show is quite underrated. The music choices really did underscore the unsettling nature of the dynamics of gendered relations. It wasn't perfect because it wasn't immediately clear how the audience participation would change the direction of the show, but it was definitely a subversive piece of work.