Salesmanship for Life and Limb by Thomas Tirney

Salesmanship for Life and Limb, written by Thomas Tirney and directed by Daniel Student, is the hysterical account of corporate America by someone who has been there. Bleerox is a company – a company that, well, it’s never really explained WHAT they do. But that doesn’t matter. Bleerox wants to raise sales. To do that, they’ll go to extreme length. Manfred Manifold (Steven Wright) is the Obama-esque the head of sales, has figured out a way to do that. Only, it’ll destroy the whole company.

Creative, smart and charming, this piece shows the world that many people live and work in – only it shows it at an extreme. Extremely well written, Salesmanship for Life and Limb is clever in it’s story and dialogue. The acting was creative, fun and often over the top.

The use of projects during the show was hysterical. Images that reflected, and often mocked, the words and actions of the characters added to the over all feel of the show.

The only real problem with the show lies in the stage itself. The way the space is set up, if you were sitting in the back, it was impossible to see a lot of the action. That being said, if you try to sit within the first three or four rows, you’ll be fine.

With Salesmanship for Life and Limb, you won’t be disappointed.

Playwright Thomas Tirney is a former Wall Street investor who has made his way into a life in theatre with Salesmanship for Life and Limb.

Salesmanship for Life and Limb is running at Skinner Studio at Plays and Players until 9/8. Tickets and info can be found on the Philly Fringe Website.

The Dark Heart of Meteorology by Stephen Aubrey

A story of love and the inevitable, The Dark Heart of Meteorology, written by Stephen Aubrey and directed by Jess Chayes, is the story of a father’s effect on his son. Using multimedia and power point presentations, this play tells the story of family, through the lens of weather and the inevitable.

Richard Lovejoy gives a stunning performance as Franklin, a weatherman now obsessed with his father’s life work that claims the weather “is going to kill us all” and claims that “it’s all going to happen and we’re helpless to do anything about it.” The play details Franklin’s lectures on the weather and his father’s manuscript.

Although the acting was smart and clever, the show itself left something to be desired. It’s not exactly clear, but it felt like something was missing. Additionally, the video interludes between several of the presentation didn’t really add much to the piece and caused the audience to get distracted.

Overall, it was an interesting piece and definitely worth going to see.

The Assembly is a New York based theatre company. The Dark Heart of Meteorology is their Philadelphia premiere.

The Dark Heart of Meteorology can be seen at 2^nd Stage at the Adrienne through 9/6. For tickets and information, visit the Philly Fringe Website.

Philly Fringe Festival Started TONIGHT!

To anyone who has missed my reviews, I’m back! The summer has been awfully slow theatre wise and I’ve been working on Half Way Home, a show that’ll be held Sept 16th to the 20th at Studio 5.

However!

The Fringe has begun! And although I wasn’t able to go see anything tonight, I have a fun, Fringe packed weekend ahead of me. Actually, it’s a Fringe packed three weeks.

I thought I’d share my game plan of what I’ll be going to see. As of right now, the line up is -

9/4

• Dark Hear of Meteorology – 7pm @ 2nd Stage @ The Adrienne

9/5

• Salesmanship for Life and Limb – 6pm @ Plays and Players – 3rd Floor
• Hermitage – The Strange Story of the Ghost Men of Harlem – 8pm @ Plays and Players – 3rd Floor
• Super Heroes Who Are Super – 10:30pm @ Plays and Players – 3rd Floor
• Zombies – The Musical - 11:59pm @ Plays and Players

9/8

• ‘Ships – 7:30pm @ The Theatre at the Philly Shakespeare Festival

9/11

• Missed Connections – A Craigs List Fantasia @ 7pm @ Calvary Center Sanctuary
• Trad the Remout @ 9pm @ The Playground @ The Adrienne

9/12

• Clover @ 6pm @ 1st Unitartian Church of Philadelphia
• MICROWORLD(s) Part #1 @ 8pm @ The Painted Bride

This is what I’ve got planned out so far. I’m hoping to add another show or two in there.

Also, I’d like to mention a show that I think everyone should get out and try to see (this won’t be the last time I mention it!).

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Falling Gnome Productions Presents

Half Way Home

A New Play by Colleen Coffey, Directed by Natasha Metzger

“When the local halfway house closes, a state legislator takes a group of convicted sex offenders into his home. He must ultimately decide what’s more important in his life – the group of men he’s come to love and understand or his own family.”

The show features fabulous local actors Jeff Baxt, Jen Beatty, Carla Emanuele, Stephen Hyams, Charlie Kirkwood, and Tim Urian.

Performances take place at Studio 5 at the Walnut Street Theatre, 825 Walnut Street and tickets are 15 dollars (10 dollars for students!) They can be purchased at the door or in advance at http://www.livearts-fringe.org/details.cfm?id=8984

Dates and times are as follows -
Wednesday, September 16th, 2009 – 7:30pm
Thursday, September 17th, 2009 – 7:30pm
Friday, September 18th, 2009 – 8pm
Saturday, September 19th, 2009 – 3pm and 8pm
Sunday, September 20th, 2009 – 2pm

More details can be found at www.fallinggnomeproductions.com!

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Try to check it out! I’m really excited about it! And keep checking back for updates on what’s going on with the Fringe!