Sunday, June 19, 2011
SUPER SIDEKICK, Fringe Family Entertainment
It’s the story of Inky (Scott Sharma), a mild-mannered super hero’s assistant, and his determination to rescue both his boss Blackjack (Noah Butler) and Princess Penelope (Hannah Nawroth) when they are captured by the evil Sorcerer Slurm (Shawn Cahill).
Crafts’ story contains the perfunctory lessons about believing in yourself and overcoming your fears, and Shapiro’s music is light and simple enough to keep the kids engaged. There are even some sweetly comic moments that work very well, especially when the actors speak directly to the children in the audience.
Unfortunately SS quickly loses its charm due to Jenn Scuderi’s overly-melodramatic direction and under-rehearsed actors. Dance steps are haphazard and scenes at times played out in the shadows by a hesitant cast not always able to find their light (one of the challenges of fringe shows that jump into a space without much prep time). Some manage better than others with the material but for the most part the characters feel clumsy in the hands of inexperienced actors. The lone exception is Cahill, who finds just the right blend of Snidely Whiplash humor and exaggerated performance style without pointing at himself saying – aren’t I funny?
Remaining Fringe performances are June 25 and 26 at The Actor’s Circle Theatre, 7313 Santa Monica Blvd., West Hollywood, 90046. All performances are pay-what-you-can. For more information go to www.hollywoodfringe.com/project/view/346.
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Labels: hollywood fringe festival
