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Kings River Life will be posting Rogue show reviews all week long. You can find them all here http://kingsriverlife.com/03/02/rogue-reviews-2019/
Check back often!
Pop culture Jihad was awesome!
Tim Mannix is amazing! Best magic show I’ve seen, he surprises and delights the audience with his talent and humor!
Saw Tim Mannix last night, perform his magic @ Hart’s bookstore. What an entertainer and magician!! I almost choked from laughing so hard, he’s a must see!!
Very nicely done play. Very visceral play that makes you think. The acting and directing was superb.
Very nicely acted and directed play. Avant-garde and visceral. Makes you stop and think.
I’m talking about the play BOXCAR – El Vagon. A must see play at the festival.
The play BOXCAR – El Vagon really captures the feeling of being trapped. It was very thought provoking and visceral. I enjoyed the acting and the tremendous directing. It was visceral and quite artistic.
This was a very interesting play about what we are witnessing now at the border. It is complex and this play shows it.
Saw BOXCAR – El Vagon. This was a very interesting play about what we are witnessing now at the border. It is complex and this play shows it. I really enjoyed the opening scene and the ending was profound. I thought the play was artistically directed, and the acting very well done with all 7 of the actors.
Saw BOXCAR- El Vagon. This was a very interesting play about what we are witnessing now at the border. It is complex and this play shows it. I liked the beginning scene for it made me feel trapped. The ending scene was profound. Very good acting and nicely directed. Very artistic.
Boxcar El-Vagon
Fantastic show!!!
Timely.
Informative.
Powerful.
Very well done.
Go see it!
Miss Fitts at Cal Arts- Silly and beautiful with comedic movements and timing. Lots of fun interaction with the audience. They literally walk thru the audience at one point. Very much an all-age show! I recommend highly!!!
Miss Fitts at Cal Arts- Silly and beautiful with comedic movements and timing. Lots of fun interaction with the audience. They literally walk thru the audience at one point. Very much an all-age show! I recommend highly!!!
Klondike Kate at Dianna’s. Such a nicely written show. I love hearing Donna sing and take over that stage. Never mind she undresses on stage and shows her period appropriate knickers. It’s a new show for her and I’m so glad to see it at the beginning of its journey. Go see it!
The Eulogy at Dianna’s. Omg, if Joshua Taylor and Jonathon Hogan had a love child this would be the result. I don’t know his name, but this guy is quirky with so much energy like JT. And comedic timing & improving with audience like Jon. It was a sold out show on Saturday….so be sure to get in on this!
Why did I think the same thing?!?!! When he walked out I thought to myself “wait a minute isn’t Josh’s show at Cal Arts” haha
The Do Over, at Revue. Jonathon Hogan, Britt Monahan, Tony Sanders, Justin Kamamoto, Daisy Vela, and Lydia Bustos, are in this lovely show written by Paula Balekian, a local. Real stores taken from the question, what would you do with a Do Over? Some stories are graphic and not kid-friendly. But a show that gets you talking… and definitely not a comedy, as some would expect from my husband. Highly recommended, even if a bit bias
The Do-Over is a poignant set of tales that are all at once beautifully personal and yet recognizable as tales of the Everyman! This is not one you want to miss! A must see that will leave you better for the experience!
Mad for Trad – Lark
This is a very polished group of musicians. They played a lively set of tunes from a variety of Celtic countries as well as Sweden, Canada and even Africa. Two of the tunes were written by members of the band. You will not be disappointed if you came for incredible music played by incredible musicians.
While not a review, you can learn more about magician Tim Mannix and his Rogue show in this article that went up this weekend http://kingsriverlife.com/03/02/local-musician-tim-mannix-performs-at-rogue-festival/
EVERYONE (except children) please see #Me too Monologues. These are LOCAL women who deserve to be heard and applauded for their courage. (As an aside, I know three of these women and all three of them are very involved in volunteer work for our community. Just Another reason to support them).
Amelia Ryan – Songs to Live By
Amelia Ryan celebrated her Irish heritage during her first show by singing Irish songs in Gaelic and English accompanied by harp and fiddle or acapella. She has a very beautiful and clear voice which was a pleasure to hear. She ended her show by inviting the audience to sing along on some Irish American standards and ended with several fiddlers joining in on The Sally Gardens. I was enthralled by the whole show.
Two for the Road – Brain Cloudy Blues
Donn Beedle is a highly skilled fiddler adept at many musical styles including bluegrass, cajun, and Celtic. Karana Hattersly-Drayton joined him on keyboard and vocals. They played a wonderful variety of songs and tunes. They will be playing a different set of tunes for each of their shows and if they are like the first show they will be worth your while
Just added more Rogue Festival show reviews on KRL-this time for “Not This Time” and “The Do-Over” http://kingsriverlife.com/03/02/rogue-reviews-2019/
Lark: Mad for Trad. The Friday night concert by these four talented musicians included a lovely set of tunes from Norway to France to North African and such with richly layered arrangements. New this year was a wonderful interpretation of a Mali tune by Bruce Honeyman imitating the oud (on his octo mandolin). Great flute and fiddle backup by the guys, over-the-top double fiddling on the American tune medley, and as always love the clogging to the French Canadian tunes. Show today (Sunday) at 1:45. GO!
Went to “Lies My Father Told Me” at The Tent of Tales and really enjoyed it. In addition to the great rainy atmosphere at the time, the fascinating stories literally kept me leaning forward in my chair for half the show. The crew provided humorous and entertaining visuals and sound effects to make the stories feel even more real. Definitely recomend you go!
Just saw bending reality. The show was terrific! Comedy magic with lots of audience participation. If you only see one show this year, make sure this is the one!
The Do Over was very powerful, very emotional, well written and very well acted. Kudos to Paula Balakian’s writing and the cast for a wonderful performance. Highly recommend!
Lark is awesome! We really enjoyed their music! So glad we got to see them! I think I might become a Lark Groupie!
Two for the Road-Brain Cloudy Blues was a lovely bluesy take on traditional down home, lost love, dark emotions, and fateful romance from many cultures. Fiddle, piano, and voice speak volumes about the human condition. Worth a listen. Donn and Karana do a wonderful job.
Two for the Road-Brain Cloudy Blues was lovely bluesy take on fateful romance, dark emotions, and lost love from several cultural points of view. Effective fiddling and singing, with piano, brought it all home. Highly recommend seeing this show.
Tater Tots and Beer is a relatable and thought provoking story about mental health. It’s told in a truely enjoyable way. We loved the show and left with a better understanding of how our internal dialog can affect us.
The Do-Over was very thought provoking as we all have things we wish we could do-over. Highly recommend you see this show!
Highly recommend The Do-Over. Very thought provoking.
The Do-Over:
Fantastic series of real life stories about regret and the question, what would you do if you could have a do-over. Great writing, terrific acting, and heart wrenching tales of life’s journey.A thought provoking theater experience.
Overall Rogue Review:
I’m an alumnus of Hollywood Fringe, San Diego Fringe, and New York Fringe. Rogue Festival is by far my favorite so far! I have not been this excited to see shows in a long time. The talent is ridiculously good and the staff are exceedingly helpful. The sense of community is heart warming. This is my first year as an artist participating in the festival and I will always make sure to come back! Rogue makes me feel alive!!!!
The Do-Over: Highly Recommend! Real life stories, from uplifting to heart-breaking, all beautifully written and exquisitely performed. Paula Balekian did an amazing job of compiling the stories into a compelling script and directing this lovely show. Best acting I’ve seen in Fresno, each performance subtle and heart-felt. Jonathon Hogan, Britt Monahan, Tony Sanders, Justin Kamamoto, Daisy Vela, and Lydia Bustos bring life to the stories they represent and do so beautifully. The target audience is adult – late teens plus – because of the subject matter. Although there are teary-moments, there are some laughs as well. I’m very glad I went, may try to hit another performance and I strongly recommend this play to you.
The Do Over is pretty serious, it is engaging and filled with emotion. If you’re human you will relate to any or all of these stories. The actors take you for a ride! I was moved! Go see it.
The do over was absolutely amazing. Touching and eye opening. The best.
GREAT year for Rogue!!
Here is a quick review of my weekend:
Tolerance?!
Started a little slow but grew on me by the end in a sort of quiet, unexpected way.
Cody Clark
Sweet. Endearing. Chuckle worthy.
Figmentally
Just plain excellent. Smart. Playful. Talented. A must see. Seriously.
Martin Dockery
You gotta go. There are no words to describe this man’s ability to captivate an audience.
Donna Yarborough – Query the Crone
Magical. Transforming. Patient. Bold.
Tea Liturgy
My type of show. They had me at Tea and live music. But… I was a little bummed I wasn’t offered tea!! Recommended: grab your own before hand!! Haha!
Jaguar Bennet
Rides the line. Nimble commentary on today.
Mi Casa es Tu Casa
Made me want to stop by his 17 room house in LA to see where it all went down!
Megill & Co
We had a FANTASTIC time dancing for you all!! Hope to see you next year!!!
The Eulogy: If you like physical/visual comedy, improv, and a little audience participation, this show is for you. I laughed from start to finish. Dark humor, and a very unique performance.
Bending Reality, Magic of Elder: Whoa! How did he do that? I’m not normally a big fan of magic shows. But I can see why so many people recommended this one. I don’t know what sorcery he’s using, but it was very impressive. Fun!
The Do Over: This ensemble piece was moving. It makes you think. Two of the performers really stood out, with very compelling acting. It’s a slow burning, emotionally charged show.
Which actors stood out to you the most?
Jonathon Hogan was one of them. (Always a stand out performance from that guy.)
I’m not sure of the name of the other fellow. He was the Narrator, and he also performed the vignette about having a wife who was ill. My gosh! It was one of the best performances I’ve seen in a very long time.
Attention Seeker: Hilarious! High energy, interesting story, fast-paced, and full of inappropriate jokes (and some appropriate jokes, too). I belly laughed many times. Highly recommend.
Confessions of a Church Organist: Funny and moving. I enjoyed the music, storytelling, jokes, and confessions of this one man show. If you’ve ever wondered how or why a person decides to become an organ player, this is your show. If you just want to be entertained, this is your show. If you’ve never seen an organ played live on stage, this is your show.
Just added more Rogue Festival show reviews up in KRL-this time for “Bending Reality” with Kyle Elder and “Melt the Soul” by Aerial Arts Fresno, many more to come over the next 3 days! http://kingsriverlife.com/03/02/rogue-reviews-2019/
Bending Reality – The Magic of Elder:
Highly entertaining. Be prepared to laugh A LOT and have your mind blown! Super fun show and Kyle’s energy is in fact, contagious. Bring the family as everyone can truly enjoy this amazing show! Want to have fun at Rogue this year? Make sure you add this to your line up!
Boxcar was fantastic! One of the most intense shows I’ve seen at Rogue highlighting a very real experience that the majority of Americans take for granted.
Pop-Culture Jihad was another unbridled ride down the acid track into Scurvy’s dusky soul, lit only by the flickering blue light of the boob tube as filtered through his bleary, bloodshot eyes. It was, as promised, fun; delivered like buckshot from a double barrel with a bump stock.
Saw the #MeToo Monologues, and I have to say it was tremendously powerful! I was torn between applauding for the performers, and remaining silent after each story was told. The life experiences shared were deeply moving, and the poem at the end of the performance brought everything together, and I joined with those with tears in our eyes.
Congratulations to the women who made this production a reality. Thank you for sharing.
Just posted several more Rogue Festival show reviews up in KRL! We have a double review of “Hoodwinked” with Tim Mannix, “Behind Every Great Mariska Hargitay Is a Great Kurt Fitzpatrick”, “Lies My Father Told Me” from Marcel Nunis, and “Mad For Trad” http://kingsriverlife.com/03/02/rogue-reviews-2019/
Triptych is a MUST! if you love moving contemporary orchestral music coupled with and inspired by a touching, meaningful poem. Well… actually even if that description doesn’t sound like something you would love, you WILL love it! Brilliant combination of keyboard and electric guitar with cello, clarinet and violin. Professional level performance!
Eulogy is the real deal; definitely a professional performance that is HILARIOUS, surprising, personal. Michael is a natural who takes glitches, interruptions, and individual audience responses and turns them into improvisational wonder! His timing, expressions and quick wit deliver an engaging and entertaining show!
Bravo!
I was so lucky to start Rogue this year seeing, Sexology, the Musical. This was a fascinating and informative journey through a part of Melanie Moseley’s life. We are all fortunate to learn much from her life experience. Melanie has a vibrant, spicey, and sensual way of imparting these very important passages in her life. Check it out!!! YOU WON’T REGRET IT!
#MeToo was powerful and well-performed. Totally perspective-changing. Really beautifully-done. Congrats to the cast and crew.
If you are Rogueing and want to experience an intellectual awakening about AI (where are my other nerds at?!) Go see L. Nicol Cabe in her one woman show at the Rogue Festival Fresno “Effing Robots”. It’s in a cute little bookstore named Hart Haven in the Tower District. My mind was blown!!!! I went in not knowing anything about Artificial Intelligence and I left one “learnt” nerd 🤖 Beautiful storytelling and masterful writing.
The Do Over. A group of stories that are, unfortunately, familiar to all of us. Some arise from the decisions we make for ourselves, while others are things people do to us, or just happen. It was very thought provoking and prompted conversation at dinner. I highly recommend. Go see this play!
The Last Pioneer. An excellent and tender tribute to the presenter’s grandmother. She worked in a fire lookout during the 1950s. Her story is told by her grandson, using original music and storytelling, as well as her recorded voice. Wonderful show! Go see it!
“The Do Over” is a must see! It got my friends talking afterwards at dinner all about it and our “Do Overs”. The dialogue and acting were superb. If I lived in the Fresno area, I’d go again in s heartbeat!! Loved it!
Triptych is beautifully performed by talented musicians; the poem is beautifully read by its author. The music is powerful, varied, intense.
#Me Too Monologues: About a dozen women tell their stories movingly, honestly. Some of what happened to them is horrifying, hard to fathom. These things are going on all the time. Here’s a way to connect with it, to realize how badly our culture needs to change.
Jazz & Poetry Re-Mixed: A wonderful experience! Local poets read their poems to the stunning (unrehearsed together) improvisations of Ben Boone’s jazz group. In a fascinating reversal, the poets all do something unrehearsed with music the band has already practiced. When the poet is reading, the music is quiet enough to hear the words. The improvisations echoed the moods of the poems, which were honest, moving, and intense. Definitely worth attending!
In the Bag: Another wonderful show by Megill & Company. The initial tap-dancing was mesmerizing and exact. As the dancers later explored the various meanings of “in the bag” and danced them out, they were graceful and strong. Unusually creative moves and danced sketches. I kept wondering how anyone could even imagine such motions! Exciting program.
ATTENTION SEEKER: As a fellow neurodivergent comedy Jew, I was absolutely charmed by Gerard’s show. I think I laughed every kind of laugh possible: delighted cackles, deep belly laughs, the restrained hissing of sympathetic discomfort, explosive guffaws of surprise, and yes, a few awkward chuckles. It’s always a struggle to squeeze in all the shows you want to when you’re also performing, and I’m SO glad I worked Attention Seeker into my schedule!
Boxcar el vagon! I’m speechless, words can’t describe. I was right there with the men that were trapped in this boxcar. I felt the emotions of what it was like to go through this experience. The blocking of the overall performance was simple yet engaging. I saw through Noel’s memory. Non-stop chills. I imagined what my ancestors went through and it broke my heart. Well Done!!!
Just added another group of Rogue Festival show reviews up in Kings River Life! This time we have “Tater Tots and Beer”, “Point Blank Love”, “Cody Clark: A Different Way of Thinking”, and another double review for “Klondike Kate’s Sourdough Reunion Show” featuring Donna Kay Yarborough http://kingsriverlife.com/03/02/rogue-reviews-2019/
Effing Robots – I did not know how much I do not know! Very informative and entertaining.
Congrats to the #METOO Monologues. Tastefully and artfully performed pieces. Very strong and brave voices onstage. Their strength as an ensemble demanded the audience’s attention.
Boxcar is a must see!!!! It’s visually stunning and the acting is superb. Strong and relevant script. We left in tears.
First time attending the Roque Festival and what a nice surprise! The story was great and the acting was on point. The Boxcar is highly recommended!
The Do-Over was a wonderfully acted portrayal of real-life scenarios with the question posed…what would you do different if you had the chance? I always enjoy Britt Monahan’s very realistic acting skills, and her performance in this is great, as is the rest of this talented group. Congratulations to the entire cast and director!
The Eulogy with Michael Burgos is wonderful! I can understand why this show is “award-winning”, it’s fun and entertaining and fully engrossing. The world that he creates in less than an hour is just amazing. I highly recommend seeing this one!
Fringe Factor Season 4 at the Artists’ Underground Tower Lounge is a MUST SEE! This show is insanely entertaining and gives the audience plenty of opportunity to join in the fun, or just sit back and laugh. I mean full belly laughs. Grant with Minion Productions knows how to put together a great show. And it’s always different and even better than the last season!
Boxcar: I really enjoyed this surreal story it made me think of what or how my parents came through back in 1959 with 3 other siblings. Very powerful story and also some comedy but I enjoyed it through the whole story. I even went twice this weekend. Thank you.
I saw Boxcar-El Vagon directed by the very talented JP Rapozo. I love his work and I loved Boxcar. If you see anything, GO SEE BOXCAR! It’s too real for words. These guys (cast and crew) are solid.
Triptych is an instant Rogue classic! Combining chamber orchestra with spoken word poetry, Triptych is nostalgic. Classical instruments like piano and cello juxtaposed with electric guitar will remind listeners of works found in movies and video games. Performed dutifully by Fresno professionals, artists and creators will be allured. Bring young poets and musicians, they will be inspired!
Boxcar-El Vagon was amazing! It is a shame that this is a reality for some of our brothers and sisters.
Tripych was wonderful! A unique musical-poetic experience, inviting the listener to make their own thoughts part of the performance in response to the lovely poem by Maria Bosch and evocative music, wonderfully composed by local composer EJ Hinojosa. A few more performances this coming weekend yet, I think!
I attended The Do Over and loved it. It is basically storytelling theater about people who’s stories involved a regret they had about something in their life. The stories were moving, well produced, and entertaining. I can’t recommend it enough!
We saw The Do-Over. The acting and directing were amazing. I felt very emotionally connected to the stories and the characters.
Half Baked Boomer was a real hoot! I laughed so hard, and snorted a lot. Francine is very talented and will keep you in stitches. Really made me crave cupcakes!
Miss Fitts is fun! She obviously is a skilled ballerina. When she dances ballet style intertwined with spastic motions and weird facial expressions, she’s hilarious. When he juggles more and more objects, finally reaching 7, it’s obvious that he too is really skillful at that, as well as being a dancer. Their silliness and humor are delightfully creative.
The last of KRL’s Rogue Festival reviews are up! This time we added “Dancing On My Own”, “Attention Seeker”, “Dammit, Jim, I’m a Comedienne, Not a Doctor!,” “Hi. (Jean-Luc Godard)”. I hope you check out all of our reviews and go out and enjoy the last weekend of Rogue Festival you won’t regret it! http://kingsriverlife.com/03/02/rogue-reviews-2019/
TRIPTYCH! WHAT A SHOW! I genuinely enjoyed the way Triptych moves through the soundscape of the mind, teasing you with the delightful imagery of Mariah Bosch’s poetry and expanding on those images through the musical interpretations. I saw it twice and enjoyed it thoroughly both times. EJ Hinojosa’s musical canvas is broad, allowing the listener to sink into certain chords and timbres in a way that a lot of musical experiences and composers are afraid to linger in. Rather than shy away from it, some repetitions are meant to be contemplated, not just witnessed and dismissed. The solo and duet performances by the musicians were also really well done, especially the string duet in the 2nd movement. I was impressed by the virtuosity of the performers, as well as the level of challenge rhythmically and musically that was given to them in this 45 minute feat of concentration and expression. Do yourself a favor and check it out before the festival is over! It is not to be missed!
Confessions of a Church Organist: Tony is funny and wise, and he plays wonderful Baroque music on the organ as well as relating tales of a dysfunctional family, organ jobs, health issues, alcoholism, and love & lechery in church.
Great time at Effing Robots by Giant Nerd Productions. Loved the discussion on AI and progress with developing it. Be careful how you talk to computers… it may shape our future with the machines.
Blood Harmony – what a great show! As a fellow singer, I can tell you that many of these harmonies feel funny to sing and do not always come naturally, yet they hit every note flawlessly with seemingly little effort. There were sad songs and hilarious songs, each with a story. But every song, even aside from the lyrics, captivated me because of the rich voices. Please go see the last one Saturday!
Tolerance?! Is a technical and precise anatomy of Kat’s complicated navigation through the thick fog of misogyny that shrouds her position as the lone woman machinist among her 400 male counterparts. Leaving nothing unsaid, she does right by herself and her fellow woman at each turn. Compelling, inspiring and damn impressive!
Brain Cloudy Blues always puts on a good show. They are polished musicians and singers. I love that they include some history of the music they play. You have one more chance to see them at 8:00 p.m. today (March 9th) at Spectrum.
Last Pioneer – Excellent show. Great story, fantastic musicianship, and folks gettin hit by lightning. My kind of show.
#Me Too Monologues – Brave, well done, timely show. My hat is off to these performers and everyone who worked on this show.
Jaguar Saves America – Someone has to do it, Why not Jaguar. Thought provoking, laugh provoking, walk-out provoking show. Two shows on Saturday, including a special 3 pm show at Fulton Street Art.
Last night I saw Effing Robots and Apocalypse Songs 2.0 at Hart’s Haven. We went for Effing Robots, which was enjoyable and thought provoking, but Apocalypse Songs wasn’t even on our radar. It was amazing and fun, with great audience participation and a story running through the songs.
Loved The Do Over! The actors did an incredible job portraying such moving, poignant stories! Paula Balekian did an awesome job writing and directing, and all of the actors were incredible! I am honored that my story was part of the show!
The first thing I want to say is that if you have never attended the Beatdown Slam between the Rogue Festival performers and the local Inner Ear Beatdown Slam poets you should really try to catch it next year. It is only on one night, but it is some of the most thought provoking, touching, and sometimes hilarious stuff you will ever hear. These are some seriously talented people. Plus, the audience votes and it is generally just a lot of fun.
Adventures while Black in Great Britain is Les Kurkendaal doing what he does best – taking the adventures in his life and relaying them in the most insane way possible. He has the craziest things happen to him and meets the nuttiest people – and his unique perspective on situations he ends up in will leave you rolling on the floor. I must say, although I did not get a chance to meet him, it was nice to see Les’ husband at the show this year. We’ve been hearing about him for a while now. Nice to be able to put a face to the name!
Lies My Father Told Me is a totally engrossing show. Marcel Nunis started the Rogue Festival in Fresno and for this show he invited everyone to his home and set up this HUGE tent in the back yard where we all sat. He is a fantastic storyteller, and the tales that he tells are magical in more ways than one. Excellent shadow puppet type addition for illustration, the crew who made that happen is really good. Loved the whole thing!
The Do-Over made you reflect on your own life. The actors were so believable in telling such intriguing stories.
The Do-Over was fantastic! The actors were excellent, and you felt like they were telling their own stories. The venue was nice and quaint, which made you feel like you were part of the play. It was very well done!