3rd
Annual New York International Fringe Festival 
**Fringe Excellence Awards given out August
29th**"Can't I Not Like It: Theatre Criticism As Theatre" By Wordplay At The place formerly known as Dixon Reviewed by Melissa Anelli for for Theatre Reviews Limited With further sharpening of its verbal claws, Wordplay may have discovered a goldmine of untapped comedic material: the theatre critic. For all the complaining actors, playwrights, and producers have done about those who publicize their flaws, no one has ever thought to turn the tables. Until now. With a dozen vignettes constructed around a set of reviewer's guidelines, Wordplay gently wags its finger at the critic's possible personal prejudice, mean spiritedness, and, lest we forget, wistful longing for the 'good old days' of the theatre. Along with their impeccable comic timing and choral movement comes the brisk air of the classic critic stereotype: all-knowing, all-seeing, and all-hating. Yielding little red notebooks, they speak as if reciting their columns aloud - one can almost see their words materializing in tomorrow's Times. For all of their in-synch irony, the group's punch softens when the stories lengthen and the satire trips over its own words. They miss some golden opportunities, chances to take quick, sarcastic jabs. However, they do have their gems. One almost perfectly played scene runs like a revival meeting, complete with an evangelist's proclamation of the strict Do's and Don'ts of the theatre. When the "priest" condemns any work overtly parading the author as protagonist, it's a challenge not to toss out your own "amen." The piece teeters on the edge of hilarity, only to have its purposefully loquacious script send it hurtling into missed opportunity. Yet, with just a bit of tightening, Wordplay may tastefully be able to reverse the natural order of things by sending their own chuckling critics home to lick their wounds. "CAN'T I NOT LIKE IT: THEATRE CRITICISM AS THEATRE" By Wordplay. At The Place formerly known as Dixon, 258 Bowery Street between Stanton and Houston. At the FringeNYC Festival in August: Saturday the 21st at 10:30 p.m.; Sunday the 22nd at 9:15 p.m.; Tuesday the 24th at 4:00 p.m.; Thursday the 26th at 9:00 p.m.; Saturday the 28th at 2:45 p.m.; and Sunday the 29th at Noon. $11.00. For information and reservations visit http://www.fringenyc.org |