Posted by AugustIsWriting on Sep 21, 2026
Last year I saw 50 shows over the course of the entire year, hitting 52 by the end of December. This year, thanks to Fringe, I will crack 50 by October 1st. We're not out of the woods yet, ther'es still a lot to see, and I'm looking forward to seeing people in October, after we've all had a nice nap. (You're all taking naps, right?)
What I Saw
Best Odd Girl Out - A marathon of horny psycho lesbian spoken word that, admittedly, I am 1000% the target demographic for. I loved the desperate lyricism Adrienne tapped into throughout; there is a tenderness behind the full-body obsession our love stories are known for, expertly performed with full sincerity. An hour of well-written monologues broken up with clever bits (a gossip hotline and sexy mad-libs), I've been thinking about the hands monologue, "I'm not as lucky as her glass of water," since I heard it. See it for: an ode to the whirlwind, full-body yearning, and intense levels of sustained eye contact.
Notice Me, Gwyneth - "Matthew" might not like cute or sweet, but I do, and this was so sweet, and so cute! A funny and tender show, Matthew's performance kept us dazzled while something bigger was building underneath. I was impressed by how much this show managed to hold over the course of a tight 60 minutes. There's some great character work around a simple concept (1 room set with business while monologuing), well-handled by Matthew and director Jack McManus. See it for: the boss-employee relationship of my nightmares and a great use of food props.
Ideas of Grandeur - Imani is a magnetic performer, jumping between characters, moments, and monologues with ease. It's easy, as artists, to forget about the self-care ritual, but Imani gives it it's necessary due. I found myself wanting for a program or dramaturgical note; it felt like there was a lot of external material supporting the show, and I wanted to see even just a list what informed Imani while developing this piece. It was a great introduction to a writer and performer, and I'm excited to see Imani's next show! See if for: Bubbles, fantastic clothing rack choreo, and a Nina Simone pep talk.
Bride to Be - A great closing performance! Meg Milane sparkles, and it's not just the jumpsuit she had on. A solid hour of wedding-centric standup, from catching the bouquet to walking down the aisle and everything in between. Meg reminded me of so many of my own friends across different points of the wedding industrial process, lovingly skewed and delightfully performed. For those of us in our Wedding Attending era, this show is a balm for an itchy, prickly undertaking. Catch it next time for: penis straws, a top-tier dance break,
Jane Eyre Wasn't a Whore - Happy closing! Performer Carly Polistina clearly knows her stuff, and while I might not know Wuthering Heights by heart, it was a smart use of a classic text to heighten what could be just another situationship. I can think of several Bronte fans and several more theater people who would love this; catch it next time for: hoop skirts, well-performed Bronte monologues, and a hilarious Lin Manuel-Miranda jumpscare.
What I'm Seeing This Week