Leaving the life of the American demimonde for anthropology, survivor guilt and Asian primates is a wild ride for Holly, the ex-showgirl turned wannabe ape rescuer. This detailed reading of Jenn Griffin’s play, The Long Call, directed by Heidi Taylor, IS a wild ride. Funny at times, touching, a little bit menacing—who is Jack, what does he really want, and how is this going to end? I found it really fascinating to be witness to the process of developing this play, as reportedly the actors had only finished a cold-reading, and sound design was ongoing improvisation during this performance....
Maybe it's just luck. This year's Fringe has settled into an overall thematic arc for me about substance abuse and bad decision making. Temptation in this case comes from spirits, and not just the spirit of adventure. We know there is ego involved, as well as power and control. Who has it, and who wants it?
Temptation, history, short term choices balancing long term preferences. Albee and Pinter might nod at the homage. The audience responded well to the continuous reveals, and the plot thickened nicely as the temperature was raised through reluctant alcohol-fuelled reveals.
In Michael Beamish's Mac Attack, born-again Christian Darrel travels to the remote bomb shelter his best friend Teevo calls home with the intent of asking him to be his best man. It soon becomes clear that Teevo has long been an athiest and is not at all happy to see his best friend marry "some church bimbo you hardly know".
A battle of wits ensues, escalates and eventually reaches the point where Teevo locks Darrel inside the bomb shelter with him with no means of escape. Teevo reveals that he has been preparing this bomb shelter for some time,...
