The Attack of the Big Angry Booty

Have you ever been on a diet ? If you have then you know that dieting isn't easy. Whether it's 5 pounds or 50 pounds the weight loss journey can be a challenging one. Come experience diet rollercoaster.

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Matthew Everett's blog review!
"And what was the reason you decided to take action today?"

Seeing one of Les Kurkendaal's solo shows is like hanging out with a good friend who knows how to tell a good story, and "The Attack of the Big Angry Booty" is no exception. This litany of Les' encounters with clients at his day job - program director for the Jenny Craig diet program - could have merely been an infomercial. But woven into the tales of others' struggles is the story of Les' own battle to get his weight, and health, under control. Les knows how to portray these people with dignity, because he was reaching for that same dignity himself.

Les' job is as a floater, which means he moves from office to office, never in the same place for very long. This means he gets a lot of the beginnings and middles of people's stories, but rarely the end. This creates a challenge for the larger show in some ways. Les' own personal payoff is almost the only one we get. If Les weren't as good as he is at creating the rogues gallery of characters he meets along the way, things might get confusing or repetitive. This could have spiraled down into just making fun of fat people, or over-sentimentalizing the struggle with diet and exercise. But Les has a good instinct for knowing how to balance the ridiculous with the heartfelt, and nice attention to personal detail. It feels like the production could use just a bit more of a driver moving the story forward, beyond Les' personal progress. Whether that's more time with fewer clients, or more of a sense of Les' career trajectory - in or out of the day job - I'm not sure where the solution might lie. However, "The Attack of the Big Angry Booty," strikes such a basic chord with so many people crossing the threshold of the theater that, overall, it's a very satisfying experience.

If you want to have a good time, just kicking back and taking in a good story, "The Attack of the Big Angry Booty" is an attack you to which you should willingly submit.

You can find more information at www.myspace.com/leskurkendaal

Very Highly Recommended
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Showtimes

[A] Thu., Jul. 31 @ 7:00 p.m.
Sat., Aug. 2 @ 2:30 p.m.
Wed., Aug. 6 @ 7:00 p.m.
Thu., Aug. 7 @ 5:30 p.m.
Sat., Aug. 9 @ 8:30 p.m.

KEY:
[S]=ASL interpreted
[A]=Audio described

Show details

Venue: Interact Center for the Visual and Performing Arts

Duration: 60 minutes

For ages 12+

Written by Les kurkendaal

From: W. Hollywood, CA

Website: myspace.com/leskurkendaal

Genres: Solo, Queer Content, Spoken Word, Audio described

Warnings: Adult language

Overall rating

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User reviews

My reason for taking action today
by ess bea Follow this reviewer
Rating 5 kitties
Days after seeing his performance, elements of of his skillfully told story are still resonating. Whether or not you can relate to the literal struggles of losing weight, you can probably relate to something in the struggles of these characters, even as you laugh at their antics or feel familiar knots in your stomach for the challenges they face.

Mr. Kurkendaal's technique is low-key and personable, without an effort to dress up the performance unnecessarily. His exaggerated portrayals of his clients are well-illustrated caricatures which retain a laid-back feel of recounting a story rather than inhabiting a variety of roles. I love this comfortable, relaxed approach and really felt that it made his own personal story all the more compelling.

Taking his own advice
by Fringivitis Vulgaris Follow this reviewer
Rating 3 kitties
The show is a set of anecdotes linking work and personal life. Les is personable and low-key. There were some stage lighting issues that intruded on the magic.

He Keeps Getting Better
by Dan Bernitt Follow this reviewer
Rating 5 kitties
With a friendly stage presence and easy-going storytelling style, Kurkendaal's "The Attack of the Big Angry Booty" disarms an audience's aversion to talking about weight gain or loss. I've seen the show in many venues, and what is so strikingly beautiful is Kurkendaal's ability to embolden an audience: in this hour he creates a space where we all can laugh and relate to the absurdities people take to better their bodies. Pulling on the common thread in all his solo shows, Kurkendaal once again proves that one's best medicine and best method of perseverance is found in hearty laughter.

There's something about Les
by Kristi Lawless Follow this reviewer
Rating 5 kitties
He is such an engaging storyteller. I found myself wrapped up in what he had to say. But, not just what he said, but how he said it. I saw his show last year, and I'm glad I saw this one too. My only problem was that I had a craving for tacos after the show.

This is his best script ever!
by Steven LaVigne Follow this reviewer
Rating 5 kitties
Gay storyteller Les Kurkendaal has, in the past several years, become something of a Fringe Festival staple. His latest piece, The Attack of the Big Angry Booty, focuses on his job as a floating program director at Jenny Craig, which Kurkendaal says he got because he gives “good phone.” Kurkendaal’s done research on the Baby Food diet, detoxing with the Master Cleanse, as well as diets including gelatin or cabbage soup. Collecting material from clients, coworkers and from eavesdropping, Kurkendaal rarely gets to see the end results, but he tells us about a few, such as Mary, who was angry when she only lost 1.5 pounds in a week. Helen, an unhappy woman, lost weight and dumped her jerk of a husband. However, he’s his own best subject, integrating his experiences into the script. When he put on 20 pounds after a festival tour of shows, parties and eating, he goes on the program himself, only to find a cancerous, but benign tumor. Applying the concepts of the program helped him recover. The Attack of the Big Angry Booty is the best show Les Kurkendaal has presented, and I look forward to his continued participation in future festivals.

yes!
by sharon baker Follow this reviewer
Rating 5 kitties
i really enjoyed the show! the way in which other people's stories with your own was hilarious and awesome!

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