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As American As
by Ken Prestininzi
directed by Shirley Serotsky
produced by Journeymen Theater Ensemble
reviewed by Janice Cane

The premise of the dark comedy As American As is promising. What is the ultimate price of freedom and security? What does it mean to be patriotic in our post-9/11 world? How much would we sacrifice for our country? One family agrees to convert their basement into a “black site” for terrorist interrogation. (more…)

Without You I’m Nothing

• by Sandra Bernhard and John Boskovich
• produced by Theater J
• reviewed by Janice Cane

Theater J’s website warns that Sandra Bernhard’s solo show, starting off a new tour here in the nation’s capital, is not for the easily offended. Indeed. And it’s certainly not for Republicans, of whom there were probably few in Thursday night’s audience, anyway. She has some good lines-putting on a pair of Palin-esque glasses and proclaiming “I eat moose raw” (more…)

• Eugenio 
• Reviewed by Janice Cane

It’s a tricky thing, having a theater festival in the middle of summer. If the weather is gorgeous, as it was for the opening weekend of Fringe, it may be hard to draw a crowd. (more…)

• Fool for a Client 
• Reviewed by Janice Cane

Who knew fraud was funny? For most people, it probably isn’t - especially not when it means facing 225 years in federal prison. But Mark Whitney saw his financial nightmare as an opportunity to fulfill a dream - to represent himself at trial. (more…)

• Dorks on the Loose: It I Awkward  
• Reviewed by Janice Cane

Happy Fringe, everyone! I’m excited about the festival but I can’t say I was all that excited by Dorks on the Loose. Not sure what’s going on with that subtitle. Sketch comedians Phaea Crede and Becca Jones are indeed awkward, but they just don’t seem entirely at ease with the whole acting thing. (more…)

• World of Jewtopia
• Written and performed by Bryan Fogel and Sam Wolfson
• Produced by Bethesda Theatre
• Reviewed by Janice Cane

Jews have been around for thousands and thousands of years, and most of the jokes about the chosen people are nearly as old. But plenty of comics (and lay people) are still coming up with original zingers - witness Judy Gold at Theater J earlier this year who had this reviewer cracking up. Bryan Fogel and Sam Wolfson unfortunately do not belong to that group; instead they serve up  the reheated leftovers of Jewish comedy. (more…)

• Mad Breed
• By Jacqueline E. Lawton
• Directed by Juanita Rockwell
• Produced by Active Cultures Theatre
• Reviewed by Janice Cane

Mad Breed reminded me of the last time I greeted news of a brand-new play with a good deal of skepticism. I didn’t think one of my favorite books, a rich tapestry of complex characters and themes, would translate to the stage. Well, I was wrong-thank goodness, because Wicked is now one of my favorite musicals. (more…)

• Anima
• By Christiaan Greer
• Directed by Patrick Torres
• Produced by Doorway Arts Ensemble
• Reviewed by Janice Cane

“You would never kill me, would you, Ella?” “You would never make me, would you, Vlad?” Ah, young love. Nothing like it. Certainly nothing quite like Ella’s and Vlad’s explosive relationship. Peacemaking after their violent fights consists of cutting themselves with knives, while bonding experiences usually involve hard drugs. All of this is conveyed in the first, quickly paced scene of Anima, the riveting debut production of the Doorway Arts Ensemble.

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• Lost & Foundling
• By Eric R. Pfeffinger
• Directed by Janet Stanford
• Produced by Imagination Stage
• Reviewed by Janice Cane

The dark woods are so overdone as a scary-story setting that the forest has lost its fright. And kids these days don’t really wander around in the forest. So why not set a fairy tale in a more familiar place-like, say, a buy-in-bulk mega-store? That’s where we meet the heroine of Lost & Foundling, Pryce. (more…)

• All That I Will Ever Be
• By Alan Ball
• Directed by Serge Seiden
• Produced by Studio Theater 2ndStage
• Reviewed by Janice Cane

Which is worse-a play whose first act is stronger than its second, or vice versa? Is it better to be drawn into a story and then disappointed after intermission, or is it better to have your patience throughout a tedious and disjointed first act rewarded with a stronger, more coherent Act 2?

I’m not sure of the answer, but I do know that All That I Will Ever Be falls into the latter category. (more…)