schedule
Dante' Pirtle
WORD
Sat., Aug. 1 @ 1:00 p.m.
Tue., Aug. 4 @ 5:30 p.m.
Thu., Aug. 6 @ 10:00 p.m.
Sat., Aug. 8 @ 1:00 p.m.
Sun., Aug. 9 @ 5:30 p.m.
Warning! Adult language, Strobe lights
Venue U of M Rarig Center Proscenium
For ages 17+
Written by Dante Pirtle
Web site www.myspace.com/pirtlean
genres Musical theater, Hip hop/rap
subjects Multicultural, Political
features Multimedia, Original script/choreography, Original music, First-time Minnesota Fringe Festival producer
Overall rating
User reviews
Word. . .what?
by Cody Stewart Follow this reviewer
Rating 2 kitties
8-4-09 @ 5:30pm
Rarig Proscenium
This felt like a work in progress. The plot was very loose and jumped from topic to topic. The show does have potential. The cast really knew how to hip hop and if this show would have been a hip hop showcase, the show would have been much more cohesive and entertaining. I rate it a 2 out of 5.
They Spin on Their Heads!
by Ben Thietje Follow this reviewer
Rating 3 kitties
This show was clunky at times, but holy crap was the dance cool. The crazy hip-hop sections at the beginning and end is what this show needs more of. Wow!
Exuberant and fresh
by Pat Lindgren Follow this reviewer
Rating 4 kitties
I don't know why I liked this show so much, but I did. I will assume the story line held together because it was really hard to hear with the canned music playing in the foreground. Please find either your diaphragms or the joys of mobile mikes. The dancing was much fun and the vignettes were well done. I never did find out what happens at the end of hip-hop but apparently they turned to writing and singing fresh, new show tunes :-)
A good effort
by Meaghan DiSciorio Follow this reviewer
Rating 3 kitties
This show was a bit different than I expected, but I couldn't help but be taken in by the obvious joy these young performers took in their work. The break dancing is great, however, the plot could use a little work. At times it was a little difficult to hear the actors over the recorded music, and the staging needed work, but overall a good show!
A Hip/Hop Embarassment
by Barb Hagg Follow this reviewer
Rating 1 kitty
I went to WORD expecting to see a hip/hop and rap musical, but got nothing but a parade of boring ballads. The two songs that actually had "rap" in them were poorly written and completely inaudible.
The acting was terrible as well. It was impossible to hear and the blocking (or lack there of) was insulting.
The shows saving grace was its dancing. I did see some very impressive moves, but only from three of the performers. However, even these three dancers had a limited repituar and constantly repeated the same steps over and over and over.
A promising work-in-progress
by Erika Klein Follow this reviewer
Rating 3 kitties
WORD is a little rough, but I definitely saw some glimpses of greatness. The stage came alive during the dance floor scenes and when the music was more hip-hop/rap influenced. PLEASE turn down the backing music--it was impossible to hear some of the kids at times. The breakdancing was SICK!
Cute show.
by Cole Sarar Follow this reviewer
Rating 3 kitties
Spotty plot, but definitely worth seeing. The performers are young, and sometimes could not be heard over the recorded music, but the dancing was HOT (were there two guys there, that all they did was dance? it would have been good to see them act more), and there were definitely moments of strong talent. I can't wait to see what these kids bring in the future.
more dancing please!
by Rachel Flynn Follow this reviewer
Rating 3 kitties
i went into this one hoping to see some breakdancing. the show starts with the promise of some really impressive dancing from these young performers before it moves into the story. after we're introduced to some genuinely interesting characters the story got pretty muddy for me. there are some good seeds planted, and some real talent in the cast; but i only sometimes felt like i was in the world of the b-boys and b-girls that the show was supposed to be about. The performance ends with a display of some awesome breakdancing moves (how did that one chick do that thing with her handstand? and OMG! check on the air on the jump-flip that guy does!!) and i would say that it's worth checking out just for that.
Hey Mr. DJ! Where's the Hip-Hop?
by Christopher Kidder Follow this reviewer
Rating 1 kitty
This little musical had nothing to do with its description, nor the program notes that theoretically explained the show.
For more in depth review: Fringe By Numbers
Break dancing FTW
by Damon Runnals Follow this reviewer
Rating 3 kitties
This show was not what I expected. I had gone in thinking it was a look at the world of hip hop through the years. What I got was a high school type musical with break dancing. The Dancing was awesome, and the songs that were more hip hop or rap style were fun, but the rest of the songs were a little campy. Unfortunately the scored sound levels were louder than the singers and so I lost a lot of what was being sung. Great effort and hopefully as it plays through the week things will fall more into sync.
Go for the dancing
by Stef B. Follow this reviewer
Rating 4 kitties
The premise of the show was very good, the actual plot was cute (predictable, but cute), and the actors were so earnest - I could see their visible desire to do so well! And largely, they did do well. The dancing was awesome (check out the video here), the speaking parts were good, but the singing was "just okay" - and MUCH too soft. I'm glad the plot WAS predictable and easy to follow - because I honestly couldn't hear much of the show itself. The actors seemed to lack confidence, and it showed on stage. Actors, please be more confident - OWN the stage! - and the end result will be terrific; and you'll probably have a lot more fun, too. Thanks for the show!
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