3rd
Annual New York International Fringe Festival  **Fringe
Excellence Awards given out August 29th**"Heaven Knows" At the WOW Café Reviewed by Melissa Anelli for for Theatre Reviews Limited I know for damn sure that if God came to me and sounded like both "Three's Company"'s Mr. Firley and "Frasier"'s Daphne, I would convert to atheism. Kate, "Heaven Knows"' leading lesbian thespian, does not. After going to an audition expecting a curmudgeonly casting agent and finding God (well, 2/3 of Him) instead, she goes along with His ultimate self-help plan. What ensues is strikingly similar to the Dickens' classic "A Christmas Carol." The bittered and thwarted protagonist finds herself realizing that her life has had meaning, and she has made impact on people she barely knew. This protagonist's problem, however, isn't her crabbiness -- it's her inability to rely on others. For the first forty-five minutes, things are wickedly predictable. The plot hooks on the back fifteen, though once the initial curve is thrown the destination is clear in sight. Still, there is an unmistakable sense of satisfaction with the outcome, the same way we cheer when the hero gets the girl, even though we knew it was coming all along. Though John Long and Anna Fitzwater prove the extent of their acting ranges through various roles (the latter's best scenarios don't involve an accent), it is Nicole Taylor's Kate that shines brightest. Every assertion either He or she makes about Kate peeks through her independent exterior, resulting in a character chock-full of nuances. Lighthearted and gratifying, "Heaven Knows" will make you think twice before uttering an "oh God." As Kate finds out, you just never know when he's listening. Reviewed on Monday, August 23, 1999 "HEAVEN KNOWS" A new comedy by Beth Robbins. Directed by Heather de Michele. Stage manager, Emily Burton. Presented by On the Verge Theatre Company at the WOW Café, 59-61 East Fourth Street between 2nd and 3rd (Bowery) Avenues. In August at the New York International Fringe Festival on the following dates: Tuesday the 24th at 8:00 p.m.; Wednesday the 25th at 6:00 p.m.; Friday the 27th at 7:00 p.m.; Saturday the 28th at 11:00 p.m. All tickets are $11.00. For information and reservations visit http://www.fringenyc.org WITH: Anna Fitzwater (God, Mother, Becky, Laura, Meg), John Long (God, Calvin, Mr. Black, Jessie, Brain, Rick), and Nicole Taylor (Kate). |