What I liked
It was super fun to see my friends doing a play!
What I didn't like
I’m beginning to wonder if it’s one of the rules of Fringe Festival shows that the needle-drops that pepper the productions be overtly on-the-nose commentary on what’s happening in the story. Have we learned nothing from Suicide Squad? HAVE WE LEARNED NOTHING?
My overall impression
Yes, No, Maybe was a complete joy to watch! It’s a contained dramedy featuring 4 characters who are exploring the limits of their morality, loneliness, sexuality and desperation. Bonds of love and humility are tested when a young (and very attractive) couple is propositioned by an older (and powerful) film producer. I don’t want to spoil it for you but I really can’t. It’s the deal with the devil parable albeit with enough new wrinkles that it feels fresh. What really makes this one stand out is how it lands the dismount, leaving the audience with no single devil one which we can place the blame, just a bunch of little demons who will seemingly never have their fill.
Al LaFleur and Kelly Rook Daly perfectly sell the complexities of being a hot, thoughtful, hot, artistic, hot, creative and hot couple working in entertainment in LA. One almost gets the sense that they are actually hot, thoughtful, hot artistic, hot, creative and hot people off the stage as well. Dee Dee Stephens plays the often-ignored voice of reason. While I wanted her voice to be heard more throughout the story, I imagine the other three who have more than earned her admonishments would only and always ignore them. Sorry, Dee Dee… you’re too wise for this story. Finally, there’s writer-director-star Raymond-Kym Suttle. It’s rare to see that many hyphens in front of an actor’s name and still see them take the stage as the heel of the story. Raymond-Kym’s commitment to his character’s own narcissistic emptiness is impressive and clearly the work of a seasoned actor who knows story comes first.
Leave the kids at home for this one.
