Three Solo Performances at FringeNYC 2014 “The Death Monologues” Written and Performed by Giselle Suarez and Directed by Cathy Hartenstein “Mining My Own Business” Written and Performed by Xavier Toby and Directed by Glenda Linscott “No Static At All” Written and Performed by Alex Knox and Directed by Becca Wolff Reviewed by David Roberts Theatre Reviews Limited
Three solo performances at FringeNYC highlight the difficulty of performing solo. All three actors were engaging; however, their stories were not. Here is TRL’s take on these shows.
THE DEATH MONOLOGUES
Giselle Suarez’s “The Death Monologues” gives death personified the opportunity to defend itself against popular notions about the famed harbinger of the life after life. Death is of course the master of ceremonies here and pops up between monologues to “clarify” what the audience might have missed in each. The audience hears from “Mortality” about the existential crisis of the first awareness a child has that those around her or him might not always be there. Death echoes, “I love you and you can trust me!” “Only Love” follows with the affirmation of life after death of Ms. Suarez’s father and that “love is the only thing that matters.” Death echoes, “I never make mistakes or cheat anybody.”
A character named Tristus and then Persephone, goddess of the Underworld make their case for death as does Ms. Suarez’s mother Betty in the final monologue making her case for “readiness for death” despite the efforts of others to keep her alive.
Throughout the monologues, Giselle Suarez relies heavily on magical thinking and concepts of death which offer nothing new on an age-old topic. The reappearance of “Death” becomes tiring and obtrusive. There is language in this performance not suitable for children.
MINING MY OWN BUSINESS
It is probably not best to listen to work mates when they suggest writing a one-act play about experiences on the job with them, particularly if they are the sort who put you in your bed in your drunken stupor and draw pornographic images on your face while you are passed out. But that’s exactly what Xavier Toby decides to do in his “Mining My Own Business” the sixty minute recounting of his stint in administrative duties at an Australian FIFO mining site where he worked to pay off the substantial credit card debt incurred while “following his dream” performing at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in 2012.
Laced with more than a fair share of homoerotic humor (this from an ostensibly straight young man), and a smidgen of scatological humor, Mr. Toby’s story highlights the perks and pitfalls of being just a bit out of his element at the work place.
Although much of Xavier Toby’s humor is bland, he is an affable performer whose story has a modicum of interest despite its lack of comedic punch.
NO STATIC AT ALL
Alex Knox, juggling the trendy tenants of Judaism (Biblical and Rabbinic), humanism, and unabashed magical thinking, weaves a tale of friendship, self-discovery, and finding meaning and direction in one’s life.
Although these are admiral themes for a solo performance, they need tender care in composition and performance. There are times when Mr. Knox achieves a “perfect chord” in the delivery of his script (developed by Becca Wolff); there are other times when the performer seems to wobble off course and lose the thread of his story. It is not that past and present events are not clearly identifiable; the problem is that one often wonders why the story is being told. Is the listener supposed to reconnect with spiritual roots? Become a fan of Steely Dan? Look for sixth dimension connections between events stretched across continents?
Unfortunately, “No Static At All” creates more fuzziness than clarity. Mr. Knox is an affable and engaging young actor. There is something about his friendship with Joshua and his connection with Steely Dan (Walter Becker and Donald Fagen) that is honest and authentic and makes the piece a worthwhile effort on the journey to self-understanding.
THE DEATH MONOLOGUES, MINING MY OWN BUSINESS, NO STATIC AT ALL
“The Death Monologues,” “Mining My Own Business,” and “No Static At All” are presented by The Present Company (Elena K Holy, Producing Artistic Director). Directed by Cathy Hartenstein, Glenda Linscott, and Becca Wolff respectively.
For performance schedule, ticketing information and more information about the presenting company, please visit www.FringeNYC.org. For mobile ticketing, please visit www.FringeonTheFly.com. The running times are listed in the online FringeNYC Guide.
Permalink | Posted by David Roberts on Friday, August 15, 2014
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