Download VoiceMail Review 02
fringe_2008_voice_02_boom.mp3
Length: 0:53

Ryan leaves his thoughts about BOOM in the Blue Venue. Call 321-441-3964 to leave your review.

Thank you to Cervo Systems for providing bandwidth and hosting for Blogging Fringe.

The file is just an MP3 - no iPod is required to listen to this show, although that is a popular way to enjoy podcasts.

Where does one begin? I often find that when writing these theatre reviews, it’s a good idea to gather my thoughts, think about what I want to say and in what order; I don’t have time for that, I’m going back to see the last showing in an hour!

I first learned about this production through a friend who helped to workshop the format for this improvised 90-minute board-game inspired murder mystery… she and several other students, under the direction of David Charles, PhD. - Assistant Professor of Theatre and Dance at Rollins College. The whole play is improvised, so there are bound to be some times during such a long show where the scenes may be stronger or weaker - to counteract that, “Dr. David” and his class developed dozens of devices to help them create a sustainable story throughout the length of the show.

We begin at the stately home of a Mr. Phil Reynolds, a successful lawyer with a deceased rich wife. His business partner Toni and spouse Gene the artist will be guests at tonights party, along with his child Bobby and sibling Toni, servant Pat, and lifelong friend Dr. Chris. An unexpected guest arrives, and, inevitably, there is a murder! Some classic (yet improvised) scenes are played on the stage of the Annie Russell Theatre, which has been masterfully converted to the perfect setting for these 8 unlikely murderers or murderesses to play out their little drama. You’ll laugh, you’ll scratch your head, and above all you’ll have fun.

I’ve got so much more to tell, but no time to tell it… we continue our recap when I return from the last showing of Murder We Wrote tonight!

**** Continued ****

As I write this, Muapin is out of town... ha ha! the whole town to myself!!!

I must say that I've never had a face-to-face conversation with anyone involved with Hate Mail... What does this mean? Well, I think it means an un-biased attitude. OK, I have had a little interaction with the Technical Director, but I'm not sure that counts for a review.

I think the 'gimmick' and also one of the least important parts about this play is that every single line that is spoken is in fact part of a letter or a note... I didn't know this going in, and it didn't affect my perception one bit.

Like everyone else who came to the Fringe Festival this year, I truly wanted to adore Heart of Coal. Anyone who I had met who was involved in the show, even people whose names appeared in the program that I knew – I really like all of them. And of course the fact that Heather Henson had created the show’s puppets was a huge selling point. I got to learn a little bit about the environmental issue at hand in the show and I agreed with it a great deal. I was really excited before sitting down in the Green Venue to see the show on Thursday night.