The MacCloskey and Myers Complete Do-It-Yourself Comedy Hour

The Board of Directors of an international dog-food company once held a meeting, with legendary results. They had just released a new product which represented the cutting edge in canine nutrition. It came, moreover, with the endorsement of leading celebrities, and it was the beneficiary of a smart, well-financed advertising campaign. [Read more...]

Fringe Star Darin Ellis dead at 24

Darin Ellis, a gifted actor and singer who had a featured part in the Capital Fringe show Assembly Required: How to Write, Produce and Stage a Musical, the Musical, died on July 22. According to his aunt, the cause of death was congestive heart failure. [Read more...]

How the Money Goes

Although Theatre of the Absurd is often associated with mid-twentieth century European writers, How the Money Goes is a relatively new (2008) absurd comedy from American playwright Robert Cousins.  While it receives a spirited production from a talented troupe from the University of Maryland’s Theatre Department, the work is ultimately a little too sprawling to provide a satisfying experience. [Read more...]

2 Reprises – In Pursuit of the English Rose and Disorder

I had seen both of Hillary Kacser’s one-woman plays in previous Fringes. I immoderately enjoyed Rose, which was a portrait of a single character in Doris Lessing’s justly famous book “In Search of the English” in 2006. On the other hand, DISORDEr, which I saw last year, struck me as a DISASTEr. I went this year in the hope that I would find Rose in even fuller bloom, and DISORDEr in better array. I am pleased to report satisfaction on both scores. [Read more...]