by Karen Tortora-Lee on September 25, 2011
I’d say that Mark Gindick had me at “hello” with his one-man comedy performance Wing-Man (directed by Barry Lubin) but he actually never said “hello”. In fact, he didn’t say anything. For a solid hour Mark Gindick doesn’t really say a word but as surely as he arrives on the scene with a rose and a heart-shaped box of candy there’s no mistaking that he’s there to win your heart. And frankly, were I not happily married I’d readily have given my heart (and a kiss – but more on that in a minute) to this man as easily as I gave him my laughter — because Mark Gindick just happens to be that engaging, magnetic and sweet. And frankly, if anyone deserves your love, it’s him.
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by Karen Tortora-Lee on September 25, 2011
I don’t even know how to start explaining how or why Neon Lights (created and performed by Chris Manley and Jeff Seal) became the show that had me laughing so hard that I was literally wheezing. Truthfully, if I gave you a rundown of everything they did in their act it would sound like I’m describing a show where two crazy lunatics mostly run around the stage for around an hour performing foolish antics, emitting crazy noises, flipping themselves around like pinballs and telling nonsensical stories – all for a laugh. But you know how some people open their mouth to hit a high note and it sounds like a screech – but when Pavarotti did the same thing it was magic? Yeah. That’s Neon Lights. Somehow, they’ve found the magic. Or – as they would tell you – the Magik.
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by Karen Tortora-Lee on September 18, 2011
Morro and Jasp Gone Wild is what happens to two teen sisters when, on their way to the beach for Spring Break, they take a wrong turn and find themselves with a wrecked car, a trunk full of props, a book outlining Maslow’s Theory of Hierarchy some possibly mood altering substances, and the threat of being eaten (or possibly just cuddled) by a wild animal.
So, a quick run-down on Morro (Heather Marie Annis) and Jasp (Amy Lee) for the uninitiated – (“the uninitiated” being anyone who didn’t happen to catch their show Morro and Jasp do Puberty at last year’s Clown Festival). They are sisters. They are squarely plunked down on opposite ends of the spectrum: Jasp is a girly wide eyed innocent who dreams of have a romantic … dare I say romantical … encounter at the beach a la Sandy from Grease with the boy of her dreams while her sister, Morro is a hard core tom boy rock and roll party girl who couldn’t care less about romance. She just wants to drink some smuggled beer, and have some fun with her team as they compete in a “Save the Fish” volleyball tournament. While both sisters have different reasons propelling them they share the same frenzied desire to get to the beach. To GO WILD. It’s just your basic teen story of raging hormones as two sisters live the dream, mark off the milestones, and let the chaotic hilarity ensue when it all goes wrong. Except, you know … they’re clowns.
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by Karen Tortora-Lee on September 23, 2010
Remember the days before DVR and instant streaming NetFlix when, if you wanted to watch TV you sorta had to watch whatever was on? Yeah . . . good times.
An afternoon of TV was an eclectic mixed bag of cooking shows, public access chat fests and random syndicated sitcoms. Now imagine that it’s the future – the end of the world . . .and there IS NO TV. Except there is. Well, kinda. That is . . . there are these two gals, see? And they’re the only gals left alive. And they find you there one day and they figure they’ll entertain you by putting on the TV. But you read the part about them being the only gals left on the planet, right? So TV is an eclectic mixed bag of . . . cooking shows, public access chat fests and random syndicated sitcoms. I’ve seen the future, and it is my past — eerily similar to Saturday, May 21, 1988 . . . the day my first boyfriend broke up with me and I spent the day staring at the TV and chain smoking Virginia Slims. But I digress.
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by Karen Tortora-Lee on September 17, 2010
Miss Saturn (Photo by Paule Saviano)
Hula Hell Is Miss Saturn? you ask? Or, to rephrase a bit . . . Who The Hell Is Miss Saturn? you ask?
That’s me giving you an assist on how to parse the title, since (quite frankly) until Miss Saturn herself shouted it from backstage it wasn’t quite as punny to my ear. That’s okay – I’m sure Miss Saturn (given name: Jennifer McGowan) is fine with me facilitating her in this instance, since a lot of her act relies on the audience’s willingness to actively participate in a good half of the performance. If you’re up for the task, Hula Hell is a helluva good time.
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by Karen Tortora-Lee on December 21, 2009
So excited to report that if you didn’t get a chance to see Last Life you now have 2 more chances since the show has been extended! Make sure to get to one of the last 2 performances of this outrageous, strange, wonderful show!
Last Life
Presented by Big Time Action Theatre
Fight Directed by Rod Kinter
Directed by Timothy Haskell
In a borderless, burnt out world the few remaining inhabitants are at the end of a long, indefinable war. The survivors, not knowing what they are even fighting for, vow to destroy each other and wrest control for what remains. The new fightsical from the creator of Road House: The Stage Play starring Taimak (of the legendary fight film, The Last Dragon).
NEW SHOWS ADDED:
Fri Jan 8 @ 11pm & Sat Jan 9 @ 10pm
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The Brick
575 Metropolitan Avenue (between Union and Lorimer Street)
Brooklyn
Tickets are $18 and may be purchased online or by calling Theatermania at (212) 868-4444.
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by Karen Tortora-Lee on November 24, 2009
Life isn’t all fun and games – every now and then you’ve gotta take a swing at someone … even if it’s only in your mind. And face it, once you’re off the playground, it usually is all in your mind. (Take THAT Mister Tourist with your 3 kids and your huge knapsack blocking the subway door! YES, you CAN transfer for the #2 train at 14th. Now quit asking everyone and get outta my way!) So what’s a gal to do? Sure, you can go lose yourself in a movie with a multi-million dollar budget, but when you know all that punching and kicking and brawling is probably being handled by stunt doubles who know how to play to the right camera angles, it’s hard to really feel that emotional satisfaction. You want to put yourself in a story where you can not only imagine yourself as the hero, sucker punching and bitch slapping your way through Act One, but where you can actually see guys falling to the ground and feel the vibration of it in your seat. You want to go to a festival that fills the pow-wham-socko void that I know I’ve been feeling.
Well, you’re not the only one. The Brick Theater, Inc. in association with Art Meets Commerce has heard your silent plea and starting December 1st they will be presenting Fight Fest – a rock ‘em sock ‘em good time that, in some opinions, gives this cheery holiday season exactly what it needs – a place where you can vicariously shake out that punch that’s been rolling up your fist all day.
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