Prinze: The One-Man Show
About the show
A one-man show about the extraordinary life of the late actor/comedian Freddie Prinze – the half-Hungarian, half-Puerto Rican pioneer that paved the way for future Latino entertainers. More…
The time is October 1976. The place is the Improv comedy club. Freddie Prinze is giving one of his last performances, just a few months before his death. Jose Sonera takes us on an journey that boldly addresses issues of race, culture and socio-political topics of that era that are still at the forefront of our conversations today.
"Pays homage to the star in an insightful, intimate, funny, and heartrending one-man show...His high-energy tour-de-force performance is perfectly nuanced, timed, and calibrated...If you’re a longtime fan of Freddie Prinze and his pioneering career, this homage to an unforgettable virtuoso of comedy and a life ended too soon is a must see. If you haven’t yet been exposed to his groundbreaking work, 'Prinze' is the perfect introduction." Full Review
“Sonera proves to be a far more dynamic performer than his subject, landing more laughs than he has any right to with this aged material...It's not a criticism to say that Prinze's routines aren't very funny; they are fascinating...Sonera meticulously charts Prinze's descent into furious self-destruction with enormous skill....The piece could benefit both from a bit of trimming and an infusion of details...Still, Cardello-Linton's direction highlights the piece's strong dramatic arc.” Full Review
“Sonera's ‘Prinze’ is stronger on biographical data than emotional heft. He is a talented actor, slipping from the spotlight Prinze to the backstage Prinze with ease, as well as acting several of the important people in his life. As directed by Melissa Cardello-Linton, the show runs smoothly as the facts tumble out swiftly-depressing ones following happy ones-yet what drove Prinze to suicide remains a mystery, its agonizing secrets not revealed either by Sonera's Prinze or his ‘Prinze.’” Full Review
"The only problem is that Freddie Prinze is so precious in Sonera’s vision, that the script is compromised to telling a story that any moderate Prinze fan already knows. Sonera’s faithfulness to his hero doesn’t allow him to go deep. There are still reasons to like this show. The acting is incredible...Sonera gives us Prinze’s pain, the addiction, the loneliness. We empathize as it fills his eyes and his body." Full Review
for a previous production "A performance that’s as nuanced as it is riotously funny. Sonera’s Freddie exudes charisma, and his energy and charm keep the audience begging for more...By the time Freddie’s life starts to come off the rails, the actor has earned true empathy, from the audience, one that’s difficult to cultivate and highly worthy of praise...That ability to surprise, even in moments of immense tragedy, is ‘Prinze’s’ finest quality...A must-see if ever there was one.” Full Review
for a previous production "With an amazing, perfectly coifed Freddie do...combined with a mustache and dimples he must have stolen from Prinze himself, Sonara casts a likeness nothing short of striking...He completely owns every square foot of the stage, swigging wine, popping pills, and crushing up the perfect lines...If there’s anything I would suggest Sonera do, it’s slow down...The energy sometimes gets the best of him...Under Linton’s direction this beautifully crafted work of art is as funny as it is heartbreaki... Full Review
See it if A brilliant, touching, funny tribute to an groundbreaking but overlooked comedian. Sonera is nothing less than phenomenal.
Don't see it if You’d rather see a musical or a big splashy show. Even so, consider seeing this remarkable one man show, I loved it!
See it if If u interested seeing a great solo performance about life of famous comedian,who discusses race,culture, rise&fall of an Hollywood persona
Don't see it if You are not a fan of solo play, small theater, shows about 70s, culture crash
Also Stellar performance about 2 hours, with so much action, different char... Read more Read less
See it if you are a Freddie Prinze fan, want to learn more about the late comedian, enjoy well-acted stand-up comedy
Don't see it if you aren't interested in the life of Prinze, don't care for one-man stand up comedy, are offended by profanity and racial jokes & drug use,
Also Through stand-up comedy sets and backstage talks with the audience, Pr... Read more Read less
See it if As far as one person shows go, it’s hard to find much better. Jose Sonera completely embodies Prinze. Riveting performance. Tad slow at end.
Don't see it if You don’t like one person shows.
See it if you want to see a very talented actor perform a one-man show that is very entertaining.
Don't see it if Can't think of a reason why.
See it if You enjoy good acting and the life and times of Freddy Prinze
Don't see it if You dont like one-man show
See it if you were a fan of Freddie Prinze and want to have some more insight into him as a person.
Don't see it if you don't like one-man shows (though this will not disappoint).
See it if you like cultural and ethnic caricature, and want to learn more of the life of a legendary entertainer.
Don't see it if you don't like solo plays, and are not interested in bi-racial struggles.
See it if You remember "Chico and the Man" and want to know more about the tragic life and death of Freddie Prinze.
Don't see it if If you don't care for solo shows, about tragic characters brought to vivid life.
See it if you knew and loved Prinze, you lived through the 70's in NYC or you want to see what was groundbreaking, "ethnic" humor of the 70's.
Don't see it if you can not open yourself to this time period. Humor that was groundbreaking and inclusive at that time is now offensive.
Also Jose Sonera has done an incredible job writing and acting in Prinze's ... Read more Read less
See it if you enjoy one-man shows plus stand-up comedy. Based on Prinze's incredibly short young life, unprecedented rise to fame, & meteoric fall.
Don't see it if you offend easily. It's a biopic play that includes much of 1970s Hollywood/TV reality: racial humor, profanity, recreational drug use, etc.
See it if you are interested in the short life of Freddie Prinze and want a thought provoking experience about his life.
Don't see it if you are offended by the thought of suicide, recreational drugs, and racism or not into the rise and fall of a young star.
See it if You have an interest in the subject or the time period
Don't see it if You are looking for something current
See it if you are familiar with Freddie & liked his comedy - much of it is shared here from remembered appearances and done well in this one-man show.
Don't see it if you do not like plays that bounce back and forth between funny onstage performances and mostly troubled offstage real-life situations.
See it if A look at Freddie Prinze’s life through an exceptionally absorbing solo performance.
Don't see it if Do not see if you are not a fan of solo shows or the realities of a difficult life.
See it if Peek behind the curtain of the personal & performing reflection of the genius taken & forgotten too soon.Sonera's delivery rivals subject's.
Don't see it if Structured to showcase live routines, but w/o a fledged-out play, a solo piece can't do justice to the artist's ultimate demise. Gen adm.
See it if you want to delve into a more personal side of Freddie than before. This story takes a lot of energy and courage to perform.
Don't see it if you don't like raw truth and one man shows.
See it if You like one man shows and was a fan of Freddie Prinze
Don't see it if If you want a lively musical
See it if you enjoy solo portraits. Reveals a singular, terrific talent whose path was inspiring & heartrending & who so deserves to be remembered.
Don't see it if prefer splashy set design or brisk pace. Actor's exits/entrances flow awkwardly; at times you feel embarrassed if you don't clap or laugh.
Also PS: Ignore playbill—oddly overrun with typos.
See it if you are old enough to have seen Freddie Prinze, a cutting edge comedian , who died way too young
Don't see it if you never saw him perform at clubs or on television, or if you don't want to watch the sad demise of a shooting star
Also The solo show was quite masterful as I felt that Mr. Prinze was in the... Read more Read less
See it if You are or were a Freddie Prinze fan, enjoy one-man shows, or want to learn more about Freddie Prinze.
Don't see it if You want to see a musical or play with many actors, want to see a lavish production or are offended by profanity.
Also The play was an hour and 45 minutes with no intermission: too long!
See it if U like 1 man/woman shows, like to learn about diversity
Don't see it if You need multi-cast show, need a liner story line
See it if U want to know more about Freddie Prinze, whose stand-up & TV career soared. Like Icarus, he flew too close to the sun & he was gone at 22.
Don't see it if U don't like 1 handers. Prinze made stereotypical jokes about Puerto Ricans-par for many "ethnic" comedians of the day. It felt flat...
Also ...like another layer of sound, perhaps audio and/or video of Prinze, ... Read more Read less
See it if If you want to know more about his life.His ups and downs and the true love in his life.It had too many ethnic simplifications of Black folk
Don't see it if If you need a more opulent stage and more people in this play.This is a solo performance non-stop.Sometimes funny but many times kind of sad
See it if ... you're a Freddie Prinze fan. But be prepared for repeated annoying mannerisms and shallow writing.
Don't see it if ...you don't like solo shows, or not a Prinze fan
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