Erik Blair

Human Fountains

erik blair · June 29, 2019 certified reviewer
How can you not marvel at a show that's about people spitting water for an entire hour? A combination of clowning and choreography and lots and lots of water. The Human Fountains are exactly what they claim to be--human and fountains--and that's absolutely okay be me. Weird, wonderful and wet, Human Fountains finds humanity through the perfectly choreographed use of mouths and lots of bottled water. Even the audience gets into the act (to my complete embarrassment!)... full review

Twirly's Traveling Tricks

erik blair · June 29, 2019 certified reviewer
Dana Benedict has put together an incredible character with Twirly. Partly undead, partly a clown, partly a tap-dancer, Twirly is a twist on the classic clown idea that's absolutely wonderful. Wherever Twirly goes next, you should make sure you're there to see it. She's THAT good.... full review

Mr. Yunioshi

erik blair · June 29, 2019 certified reviewer
THIS SHOW WAS THE BEST ONE-MAN SHOW that happened at this Fringe, hands down. If it does not win the Freak award for solo show, there is no justice to the awards in any fashion. People should vote for this show even if they haven't seen it. I promise you, it's that good.... full review

The Scorpion and the Frog: A time-killer

erik blair · June 29, 2019 certified reviewer
You could call this show "Waiting for The Fable" or "The Scorpion and The Frog are Dead" because while I was watching it, all I could think about was how this was a fairy-tale version of Waiting for Godot or Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are dead. It was definitely a new way of telling that story, looping both in its prologue/epilogue and in the fable itself. It was eerie, dark and very worth watching.... full review

thank you for loving me

erik blair · June 29, 2019 certified reviewer
Breakups can be so bitter, so dark and so scary. It was amazing to see a show that tackled that last moment in such a real way, with no clear winner or loser, no clear resolution and no clear path forward. That's life but it's rarely what you see onstage. Very, very well done.... full review

VIRGIN

erik blair · June 29, 2019 certified reviewer
This was a show that I thought had some wonderful inspiration behind it. I really liked the general idea and the Bad Bitch was spectacular. There were a few writing flaws that marred the story for me but I enjoyed it overall and was very glad to see it. This show needs to be performed further so that other audiences can experience the atmosphere and the characterizations which are brilliant.... full review

PRETTY, WITTY NELL

erik blair · June 29, 2019 certified reviewer
There is something literally overwhelming about seeing iambic pentameter created anew, out of whole cloth. It's like having a momentary glimpse back into what Shakespeare's time might have been like. And Ryan J-W Smith has once again created a masterpiece of such a show, this time about Nell Gwynne. Having seen the one-woman version of this show (yes, there were TWO DIFFERENT VERSIONS this Fringe!), I was blown away by the actor's talent and Smith's design. Pretty Witty Nell is a knockout of a pe... full review

The Last Croissant

erik blair · June 29, 2019 certified reviewer
MY GOD what an amazing show. The entire cast and crew of The Last Croissant needs to be commended for putting together a show that is weird, strange, dark, different, unique and yet somehow all comes together in a nearly perfect way. I mean it--The Last Croissant is the type of show a production company would KILL to produce. Everything about it is appealing. Especially the sound effects. KILLED it.... full review

Jordan Maverick, History Teacher

erik blair · June 29, 2019 certified reviewer
This was one hell of a goofy show. And there is absolutely nothing wrong with that if that's what you intended. And that is DEFINITELY what was intended here.... full review

"Not That Kind of Princess" Darcy Rose Byrnes

erik blair · June 29, 2019 certified reviewer
What a treasure of a singer/songwriter Darcy Rose Byrnes is. I have enjoyed her in multiple different roles this Fringe and seeing her sing her own music (and how surprisingly dark and 'dirty') some of it can be was a real joy. I mean this in the best possible way--when I do another musical, if she's free I'm going to have her write the songs. Because her sense of humor is exactly what I'm thinking about for a show.... full review

erik blair