Rogue Reviews 2026: ‘Spilled Dictators,’ ‘Hot Flash Gospel,’ & ‘teaTIME’
By Casey Ballard
“Spilled Dictators,” UR Here Theater
Venue: The Grove at Veni’s
UR Here Theater, known for their staged readings with talk-backs, the next of which is “Gloria” directed by Karina Balfour on April 11th, and the third reading of their season is “The Secretary,” directed by me (disclosure!) on May 9th.
UR Here has offered fully staged Rogue productions the past few years, with Renee Newlove directing this year’s offering of Andrew Rodail’s “Spilled Dictators.” The political satire about a citizen detained for an apparent lack of genuine grief over the passing of the unnamed nation’s unnamed authoritarian president was inspired by North Korea, but it’s clearly not too much of a stretch to see our own nation’s current situation in the interactions.
Billy Jack Anderson makes a phenomenal maligned citizen, and Donna Halliburton has just enough “crazy-behind-the-eyes” as the primary inquisitor to make for a fascinating watch. Randall Kohlruss represents the silent muscle of the investigative duo. He clearly revels in being menacing; managing intimidation in something as innocuous as unwrapping a candy bar.
I do wish the pacing of the show had allowed for the necessary beats a bit more, and there could have been more sharpening and intentionality in the ebb & flow to help moments land more firmly, though I chalk that rushed energy up to the fact that they had to squeeze in time for a talkback at the end. Perhaps it would be worth considering the necessity of the talkback for fully mounted Rogue shows, which are on a tighter timeline than the usual staged readings.
None of that should dissuade you from seeing this absurd piece of satire so enthusiastically brought to life. It has two more performances at the relatively new off-Rogue space, The Grove at Veni’s.
“Hot Flash Gospel,” LadyK
Venue: The Lotus Room
LadyK – Hot Flash Gospel
Sometimes shows hit you at just the right moment. It’s that intangible quality of art. LadyK’s one-woman poetry-play, “Hot Flash Gospel: My Unconfirmed RSVP,” is one such show. Building on her poetry book, LadyK expounds on the plight of womanhood with amazing linguistic ability. LadyK is a Fat Black Woman going through perimenopause. As a Fat white Woman, much of what she laid out before us resonated with me, including the sheer number of fans a person has to carry just to survive our Fresno heat.
This is not to say those of you who don’t identify as Fat or Black or a Woman wouldn’t enjoy this show, as LadyK is an engrossing and captivating stage presence. She fills the Lotus Room with her voice, enveloping you in each moment with an energy that rallies you to whatever the topic is. All of her pieces work together to blend honesty, humor, frustration, and reverence for her body, which made me feel like I had permission to have reverence for my societally ignored body. It is so incredibly tempting to quote some of her lines, since I was scribbling like mad, but I don’t want to ruin the experience for you. She has two more performances, and I strongly encourage you to try and fit it in your busy schedule.
“teaTime,” Erika MacDonald
Venue: The Lotus Room
Erika MacDonald – TeaTIME
Erika MacDonald has a cult following here in Fresno, and I am now very much a member of it. Her one-woman show “teaTime” is an experience that in lesser hands would have fallen flat. MacDonald has created something so gentle and meaningful, while also being incredibly technically complex, and makes it all look effortless. It can be incredibly challenging to keep an audience with you, especially if they are unused to non-linear storytelling, yet MacDonald is such a positive presence and so infectious that when she smiles at you, you literally cannot NOT smile back. And I am fairly certain she managed to smile at each individual in the audience I was in.
The show itself has a lovely, slightly disorienting quality that puts me in mind of “Alice in Wonderland.” MacDonald is our guide, and everything about her demeanor lets us know we can trust her because she trusts us. We are safe with her and she trusts she is safe with us. Without giving anything away, plan on witnessing (and hopefully feeling) vulnerability and strength. “It doesn’t take forever, but it does take time” will become your rallying cry.
When you go (when, not if), try to sit in the front row. Also, if you are a tea drinker, get those pinkies up for an extra special treat. There are two more performances of “teaTime.”
Casey Ballard has read too many books and performed too much theater to not assume she knows how to write a review. This is her first outing with The Munro Review. You can find her haphazard book reviews on Instagram @bookishballard.
