Vegas Fringe Festival pass a worthy investment

I recommend you buy a $90 pass and see all 10 plays at Las Vegas Little Theatre's Vegas Fringe Festival this weekend. If you'd prefer to be more selective, here's a blow-by-blow account of the small-scaled, under-an-hour productions, in order of preference.

ZZYZX Kid Productions' "Unfinished," by local Ernie Curcio, begins with an intellectual art enthusiast (the magnetic Erik Amblad) lecturing us on a painting. By the time we come to understand the relationship between the lecturer and the artwork, the teacher is devastated. Director Curcio brings out the best in his script about the nature of love. It's much more emotional than cerebral. Grade: A

Born and Raised Productions' mounting of Curcio's "Perturbed," is a hilarious and ultimately disturbing look at a troubled teacher. Ms. Adelson (Mundana Ess-Haghabadi) is taping a lesson to her star sixth-grader. The script, sharply directed by Amblad, delivers a solid punch when we find out what the teacher is really up to. Ess-Haghabadi is the sort of actress who's able to register her every thought. Grade: A

Maythinee Washington's production of her own "White Girl" is a simple (but not simple-minded) movement piece about a young black girl's discovering her identity in a white-driven world. It's an often playful, cartoonish pantomime, with one near-silent scream that takes your breath away. Washington moves well, but it's her expressive face that captures us. Grade: A

Las Vegas Little Theatre's "Life Under Water," by Tony-winning playwright Richard Greenberg, gives us two very different college girls (Saffron Mazzia and Aja Wilson) who get entangled with a troubled preppie (Shane Cullum). Walter Niejadlik's direction is often lean and lovely. The three major actors establish relationships that are rich in nuance. Grade: A-

Taylor Hanes presents himself in the starring role of former local playwright Ross Howard's "Arthur & Esther," about a librarian coping with loss. Howard's script sprints along with observation and humor. Hanes is often as human as he is funny, which makes for a touching portrait. But he was directed in this a couple of years ago (by Sarah Norris), and it's obvious he needs some guidance now to tone down the affected mannerisms. This is a special script that deserves care. Grade: B

Endless Productions' "Ptolemy Had a Silver Nose," written and directed by local Sean Critchfield, is, seemingly, about two men (Timothy J. Burris Jr. and Will Klundt) trapped in a well. It's a cross between "Waiting for Godot" and "No Exit." You get the feeling the author fell in love with his play's form way before he had legitimate content. Critchfield can write, though, and I'm certain better scripts await him. Klundt makes for a believable idealist. Grade: C

Absolute Theatre Company's original presentation of Charles E. Drew Jr. and Lalanya Abner's "Soil" is a movement/ musical/narrative meditation on prison life and spiritual entrapment. It boasts a cast of 14, and Jahmil Foster makes for a heroic leading man. Director Abner comes up with some stunning visual images, but fails to rein in the melodrama. Her villainous leading lady, played by Sherida Devine, drains the show with her overwrought line readings. Grade: D+

Butcher Block Productions' presentation of former local playwright Fin Keegan's "The Last of the Las Vegas Magicians" plops us into the memories of a dying entertainer (Thom Chrastka) who still has some magic left in him. Ruth Pe Palileo, unfortunately, directs with a heavy hand, and Chrastka's lines sound too memorized and planned. Grade: D-

Found Door Theatre's "Great Falls," by Tony-winner Lee Blessing, is about a middle-age man (T.J. Larsen) trying to establish a relationship with his estranged stepdaughter (Breon Jenay). Larsen and Jenay interpret their roles rather than inhabit them. And director Stacia Zinkevich's pacing is so static that the characters' bitching quickly gets old. In the end, we don't see the changes in the people that the script tells us has taken place. Grade: F

Note: Throbbin' Gristle Productions' showing of David Hwang's
"Bondage," directed by Joe Hammond, was not available for viewing as of press time.

Anthony Del Valle can be reached at DelValle@aol.com. You can write him c/o Las Vegas Review-Journal, P.O. Box 70, Las Vegas, NV 89125.