Spoken Word at the Fringe
Reviews by Wonder Dave
My Sinking Ship by Allison Broeren
Rockstar Storyteller Allison Broeren returns with her 3rd solo fringe effort, except this time it’s slightly less solo (but more on that later). Allison is, above all things, a very endearing performer and an engaging speaker. On stage she has a quirky charm and a natural warmth that makes the listener feel invested in her tales.
In My Sinking Ship, Ms. Broeren takes us on a journey through her past while stuck at sea stranded on a life raft that has been separated from the yacht on which she was partying hard the day before. The show switches from story to story in a jumpy self-effacing manner which at times works well and at other times seems a tad hokey. The stories (the bulk of the show) are well told, showcasing Allison’s competence as a performer.
As I said, this show is occasionally less solo since throughout the show Allison uses her boyfriend Marlow as a one-liner delivery boy. Since Allison is stuck on a raft this adds a nice amount of movement to the show. Marlow is a very cute shark.
Overall, I would give this show 4 out of 5 kitties on the fringe rating scale. Allison is the heroine of her own stories in a refreshingly positive way. Watching her life unfold before you onstage, you can’t help but root for this woman’s success.
This show is a perfect fit for viewers who:
want to relive their wild college days,
are scared of bats and/or scuba-diving,
who are in a relationship that involves their boyfriend being a weird prop/co-star.
Current Rating on FringeFestival.org 4.5 kitties
A Cynic tells Love Stories by Katherine Glover
The segments of this one-woman spoken word show are divided into different viewpoints on love and relationships. Katherine Glover glides smoothly from one segment to the next. Glover is alternately hilarious and heart breaking. This show resonated deeply. I would really like to delve into more details but I don’t want anything about the show to be spoiled for a first time viewer.
I give this show 4.5 out of 5 Kitties on the Fringe Rating Scale (although technically when reviewing online at fringe you can’t give half a kitty I suppose in real life you can’t give half a kitty either unless you’re a big creeper). Katherine Glover has a dry acerbic wit, sure to delight the cynic in all of us, but she peppers the show with just enough upbeat fun to keep the audience from being bummed out.
This show is a perfect fit for viewers who:
are women who might be interested in dating a nerdy fringe performer named Katherine Glover,
have ever gone through a break up,
are cynics and hopeless romantics.
Current rating on fringefestival.org 4.5 kitties
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