Rogue reviews: ‘Emil Amok,’ ‘Tales of Being Fired,’ ‘Marty’s Turn’
The Munro Review had several correspondents on the ground in the opening weekend of the 23rd annual Rogue Performance Festival.
Here’s our report from Heather Parish:
The Rogue Festival typically hosts a wide variety of comedy acts each year, whether that be clowning, improv, drunk Shakespeare, or personal narratives. My favorite, however, is the solo show that has its roots in stand-up, but goes beyond the standard “chuckle-shack” brand of comedy.
Jaguar Bennett’s show “How to Be Wicked” is representative of the philosophical stand-up he brings to the Festival each year. I will not review that show here because, as his wife, he already knows my views of his work. Intimately.
There are two others on this year’s Festival that may be worth your consideration for Festival’s second weekend:
“Emil Amok, Lost NPR Host” is a comedic storytelling show featuring Emil Guillermo (former NPR host of “This American Life”) throwing together a recipe of race, ethnicity, and personal experiences in an American Filipino pot. Guillermo offers an energetic–even frenetic–delivery and an expert blend of humor salted with poignant social commentary. The show addresses microaggressions, identity struggles, and historical injustices through the lens of his “white-voice privilege,” all of which makes for a rich, complex, and satisfying stew.
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Guillermo’s background as a pioneering Asian American journalist adds depth to his perspectives. His narrative meanders occasionally, however, Guillermo’s engaging storytelling offers insight into lesser-known narratives of the Filipino experience in American society, providing a refreshing and worthwhile hour for audiences.
Details: “Emil Amok, Lost NPR Host: Married to Peta and Other Untold Tales from an American Filipino Life,” performed by Emil Guillermo. 5:30 p.m. Thursday, March 7; at 5:30 and 5 p.m. Saturday, March 9, The Lotus Room (behind Component Coffee). $15
Susan Jeremy delivers a downright funny memoir in “Robert Will Show You the Door (Tales of Being Fired),” offering a twisty career journey recognized by anyone who has morphed through multiple professions. Through laugh-out-loud anecdotes, Jeremy shares her coming of age journey, seamlessly embodying various characters as she reflects on her career journey, from grade school aspirations to fast food to stand-up comedy and to teaching in a psych ward.
Jeremy has a natural stage presence and her character skills are superb, filling out the world of New York City and Los Angeles without the need of added theatricality. The show’s structure is cleverly simple and leaves room for more drollery than one might expect from most resumes. While this may come across as a run-of-the-mill personal narrative show, Jeremy’s skill with the character-driven narrative and with landing a punchline makes it a must-see for anyone seeking a funny and entertaining storytelling experience.
Details: “Robert Will Show You the Door (Tales of Being Fired),” performed by Susan Jeremy. VISTA Theatre (Fresno Arts Academy). 7 p.m. Thursday, March 7; and 12:30 p.m. Saturday, March 9. $15.
Here’s the report from Donald Munro:
Local actor/director Marc Gonzales offers the original script “Marty’s Turn,” a bittersweet and sentimental tale about the last night in the long life of a family business. Marty (Billy Jack Anderson, in a well-acted turn) is the third generation-owner of a local toy store. As he shuts the place down after 47 years, he muses on what could only be described as a tentatively lived life.
Alas, that tentativeness extends to the writing and direction. The show starts slowly, with Marty “chatting” with lingering customers. (It doesn’t help that he focuses his attention offstage, which in this case is a wall, cutting the audience off from the exchange.) It gets better when the storyline turns more nostalgic. But the core of the play – an unrequited teenage crush that lingers to this day for Marty, seems incomplete. Sure, we learn that his tentativeness quashed the romance. But you don’t both remain in the same small town all those years without the relationship evolving in some way. Did she get married? Did he get married? The play offers introspection, but without enough information, it somehow feels incomplete.
Details: “Marty’s Turn,” 5:30 p.m. Friday, March 8, 3:30 p.m. Saturday, March 9, Hart’s Haven. $10.
For more information on the Rogue, read Heather’s preview story, which includes tips and recommendations. The festival runs through Saturday, March 9.
Heather Parish is the former Executive Producer of the Rogue Festival who has turned to the dark side and is now writing reviews. She also has a show “on the Rogue” called “Radical Domesticity: The Leftovers Show,” a reading of essays, stories, and poetry exploring how we find belonging and make connections at home.
Donald Munro is publisher of The Munro Review.
Jackie Ryle
In addition I’d like to offer a couple of recommendations. I’m not married to Jag, but I do love both him and Heather! He is, as always, both very funny and seriously thought provoking. Outstanding as always. Andrea Barello doing Tonight! a clown who just wants to be loved? (at Vista Theater) made me laugh more than I have in a very long time, then brought me to tears! It’s real fringe and I really loved it. And hearing Tony Imperatrice play his original and new organ music at Hart’s Haven is always a treat! It’s a great year for Rogue! Hope everyone can catch at least one show!