A tricky review to write, and only a three-star rating. Whilst most shows at the Fringe this year will be some good, some bad, this show is certainly at the extreme end, it is both very good and the very bad. Let me explain.
First, the very good. Two-time NAACP (US based National Association for the Advancement of Coloured People) award winner Kacie Rogers provides an acting masterclass. A one-woman monologue extraordinaire. She does not put a single step wrong in this dense script, playing multiple characters to a tee. It is an authentic, emotionally charged performance.
The story is a coming-of-age tale which follows a young aspiring American actress as she tries to make her way through the acting maze, whilst trying to handle her personal relationships and put money in the bank, with numerous side hustles, including the titular window selling gig. So far, so La La Land.
As Katie explained in a recent interview, one of the things we always say at Bottle Tree is “No sorries,” which is a reminder to tell stories unapologetically and without fear or need to hide or be less of anything because it gives our audience, our community license to be themselves – to walk through the world from a place of joy and truth. (Hintonmagazine.com)
Now the very bad. The script is dense to the point of concrete, airless like this subterranean venue. Despite Rogers’ best efforts I found myself drifting, bored, in a sea of verbosity. Of course, there are moments of light and dark, but for the most part it is vanilla. Where is the drama. Seriously?
My biggest problem though is the tech on this show. I sit on the left-hand side of the seating, one in from the end of the row. It’s a bad choice. I find out too late that there is a shadow puppetry screen around the corner from where I’m sitting, and for the duration of the play I cannot see it at all. In fact, I count six seats that cannot see it at all, and that’s about 12% of the potential audience. I don’t need to add that that is totally unacceptable. I don’t know how they fix this, but fix it they need to, and fast!
Whilst the rest of the audience is chortling at what I can only imagine is excellent shadow puppetry by Brittaney Talbot, enjoying the visual toy that invites the audience into our protagonists’ dreams, her therapy sessions and childhood memories – and undoubtedly makes the whole show a lot more watchable, I’m in the dark.
Oh well, on to the next show.
16:00 Daily Till 25th August 2024 (every day except 7th and 13th), https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on#q=%22I%20Sell%20Windows%22
Note: 14+
Reviewer: Greg Holstead
Reviewed: 3rd August 2024
North West End UK Rating:
Running time – 1 hr