“We know it’s a really weird time right now, so we really are grateful that you would choose to spend an hour of your time with us.”
My hands and voice both shaking through the pre-show announcement. Something that I should be able to do without skipping a beat, as I’ve done hundreds of blurbs like this in my life. What can I say… times feel even weirder than ever, and not in the fun weird way. So to compensate, many people make weird art! The good & fun kind of weird! Although not every show you see at Fringe will be both good and fun, you might only get one of those, or even (tragically) neither. I’ll try not to bother you with those in the latter category, because who has time for all that?! Not me! I’ll be trying my darnedest to go for quality not quality, while still giving time and energy to stand-out artists who are new to me, not just the ones I already love. We will be sure to check in with all of our Jacket Off favorites as well though, fear not.
One of my favorite parts of Fringe is how circles of friends and collaborators start to overlap and merge. Every June in Hollywood, second degree connections become first degree connections, and I think that’s beautiful. I’ve been attending and assisting Hollywood Fringe shows since at least 2018, which incredibly means half as long as the festival has been in LA, as 2025 marks the 15th one! This year I’m helping produce and promote a wonderful comedian’s solo show, Titi Lee: Good Girl Gone Baddie. Have you heard about it? But to the point of this site, I’ll also be attending & reviewing shows as Jacket Off, well as myself really, but then posting it here on the Jacket Off, Stack-It-Off. And with that, we’re off to the races. Here’s how my preview weekend went.
Line-Up & Links
Day 1 - Existential Solo Clown Double Header
Soft Animal - George Aivaliotis - The Broadwater
Highly anticipated, and I’m so pleased to say, lives up to the hype!
How Can I Keep From Singing - Camirin Farmer - The Activist Kitchen
Spoiler Alert: Camirin has a beautiful voice.
Day 2 - Group Efforts
Music Talks - Andie Paradis & Austin Schauer - The Yard Theater
Goofy & Great. What can’t this duo do-oh?!
Girl Blood - Zanni Theatrics - The Broadwater
REAL THEATER, and real good theater at that.
Detailed Reviews
Soft Animal - George Aivaliotis
I really liked it, so much so that I might even say I loved it. It made just enough sense where it needed to, but otherwise left room for lots of absurdity. George is SO captivating, from the very first glimpse of his eyeball. Incredible physicality in so many different embodiments. He holds in balance the duality of being both a charismatic cult leader, and just a scared little worm. Pains that anyone with an overactive ego are all too familiar with. There was heart and depth, but more over there was silliness and whimsy. The crowd was engaged and generous.
I left the theatre feeling imparted with a warm and wistful feeling. I loved the image I was left with of the stage at the end, covered in all the debris from the journey. There were noteworthy moments all through out the show, from strong sound design work, to incredible costuming, fun props, multiple invitations for participation, and a few more costume changes. Just some of the small details that really put this work over the edge into not just a must see show, but a must have experience.
How Can I Keep From Singing - Camirin Farmer
Cam is an amazing singer! And their smile, grinning ear to ear behind a collar of orange tule that they kept adjusting. I can’t get the image out of my head! The show was beautiful, lovely staging, so fun and silly – but then so deep and transcendent. A few of the lines totally stuck with me. Singing bowls were great, and so was standing up and stretching. Audience was very generous, and it was a very reciprocal exchange. I also may have liked if the looping video had some different imagery or was turned off at some point (but perhaps it’s meant to be part of the message/vibe of cycle of life repeating rapidly.)
A great experience, especially in the midst of busy Fringe times.— People like to invoke his name a lot but like, I really do wish David lynch got to meet Cam , cause he would’ve loved them, then again they probably hang out together in the unified field regularly.
Music Talks - Andie Paradis & Austin Schauer
Very silly and fun – surprising talent hilariously buried under a whole lot of intentional badness. All wrapped up in a simple high stakes narrative. Cute and left me smiling. Speaking of, they both have such great smiles! Ho! Hey!
I loved all the different genres, and fitting outfits. (and quick changes oh my!) I was genuinely cracking up several times. Andie specifically is such a star, just so magnetic and present, and of course goofy. Austin is a star too, but I’m an Andie super-fan, can’t help it. I loved the live special guest on our showing, she was so hilarious and fun, and really rolled with the punches. Another excellent layer of the production was all of the video cameos, featuring several icons of the LA clown-munity (clown community). They really built a whole mythology for this fake duo, and then multiple new fake duos to be guests for themselves. Absolute Comedic gymnasts!!!
Girl Blood - Zanni Theatrics
I’m still totally blown away. So so so thoughtfully created from top to bottom. Down to pad shaped flyers, an era specific playlist linked on the program, and custom song covers for all the transitions. Not to mention the staging, gorgeous, stark, versatile. Unbelievable that they put it together and get it back down in the tight time constraints. Truly would love to see this staged again at The Odyssey or some larger theatre. It was that solid.
One of the best new works of genuine theatre I’ve seen in a long time. It had a cast of 7, some women, some nonbinary, all fantastic. The actors were tight and powerful, they moved us all to laughter and a few to tears, as they moved through the ages of adolescence, and motherhood. They process the aching that comes from coming of age, and have tender and gentle explorations of gender and sexuality. A few moments had me feeling overwhelmed, like the chorus of girls screaming in The Crucible vibes, but like … girls going through puberty are insufferable… that’s the whole point.
If you can only make time to see one *serious* piece of theatre this June, after all Fringe is a theatre festival, make it this one.
Closing Thoughts
With over 400 shows included in the festival this year, it can be so overwhelming to even know where to start. In the coming days, I intend to post a watch list of shows I’m recommending, or trying to see, or think are worth a shot. If a show isn’t listed, it truly bears no marking on the artists behind it. There are so many talented people in this small but mighty city. If the graphics I see online are right, our city alone has more residents than several different states entire populations. Woah. Theres no possible way to take it all in, so just let yourself indulge in what calls to you. We need your authenticity. Perhaps now more than ever. I’m pushing every day to let myself be all that I am. A lover AND a hater, a smart ass AND a dumb ass, all at the same time. Because, say it with me… people contain multitudes!
Speaking of being yourself, (all of them)… Are you coming to see Titi Lee: Good Girl Gone Baddie? Audiences loved our preview this weekend. I won’t “review” the show I worked on, because that seems gauche. However, I will share my tiny blurb/pitch, that at it’s core, the show is heartfelt, queer, and hilarious. All of the things that I personally want to see more of in the world.
Take care of yourselves and each other. We are all that we have!