The title of Nine Short Plays for the Theatre, written and directed by Joe Stollenwerk, pretty much says what it is: a collection of quirky, often comical takes on the world of the stage and its literature.
One of the more successful vignettes is “Mavis Rents a VHS,” a nicely varied monologue delivered by Barbara Karol that covers the mystery of the Russian princess Anastasia through its treatment in film, biography and TV documentaries. Karol gives a great sense of an everyday woman who is fascinated by both Ingrid Bergman’s characterization and the grandeur of the unknown history. One of the longer pieces in the set, it has a nice arc and a jaunty vibe for its lead.
Another high point comes near the end of the show, in the eighth sketch, “I Dream of Shirley Bassey.” Although the piece starts too slowly, once Joe Hornbaker steps on stage, hilariously miscast (or maybe not) as the title diva, the energy gets outrageous and the show hits a high point of fun.
The rest of the ensemble includes Burgess Byrd, Mindy Siebert and Tara Williams, who each have moments in other skits, although the material doesn’t quite have the same heft or focus.
The final segment, “My Night with Blanche Dubois,” another monologue by Karol, tells of a youthful visit to the theater for a production of Tennessee Williams’ A Streetcar Named Desire. This short flashback culminates in a stage moment where the audience melds with the action on stage as they follow an actor’s gesture to the heavens, looking for real stars.
That’s where the division between the better and lesser bits of this show lands. When it seeks to comment on theater, it misses the mark. But wherever it allows itself to actually be theater, it easily finds the light.
The CINCINNATI FRINGE FESTIVAL continues through June 11. Find CityBeat reviews of 41 early performances here. For a full schedule and more info about Fringe, visit cincyfringe.com.
This article appears in May 31 – Jun 7, 2017.