The Extraordinary Fall of the Four-Legged Woman (FringeNYC)

See it if You want to experience the feelings of a troupe of odd circus people expressed with unusual music and dance. You are afraid to fall in love.

Don't see it if You are looking for plot surprises, more traditional music, or a bigger production.

See it if the idea of an a capella musical written and performed by earnest theatre majors sounds appealing. You like simple, serviceable music.

Don't see it if you're expecting something as dark and incisive as Side Show. Or if you don't like simple romances without much depth or conflict.

Also I really struggled with this one. Its heart is in the right place and I wanted to be supportive of the young talent on stage and on the creative team but if I'm being honest, it just wasn't that great. The story is simple and shallow and probably as bearable as it is because the show only runs about an hour long. I do still think you should go support it if you can but I would be lying to say there was some great effort here. Mary Stewart Evans who plays the title character Myrtle Corbin is the only one who comes across as a professional actress with a fully realized performance. The melodies are unremarkable and unambitious. The lyrics are mostly middling. You know when you write one lyric and then you think of an easy one-syllable rhyme and you just go with it even if it's not the most meaningful lyric? There's a lot of that. Also false rhymes and non-rhymes. The costumes were OK. The choreography was a chaotic mess. Enjoyable for an hour if you adjust your expectations.... Read more Read less

See it if like Acapella performances and enjoy smaller Fringe type shows. Unique take on a side show and the people that are involved.A love story

Don't see it if Don't like Fringe shows or only like big flashy shows. But still, go see it, as it may change your mind of what a Fringe show really is.

See it if you like acapella singing, shows about circus & sideshow characters, you're in the mood for a short, straightforward romance plot.

Don't see it if you're expecting much plot, great writing, or great acting. The acapella singing is great, and the main draw.

See it if You like acapella, shows with promise, and truly incredible musical performances. You don't mind if the staging/book is a little rough.

Don't see it if You can't stand awkward staging. You don't like when the story takes second place to the music (which is truly amazing.)

See it if You want to see a gentle romance about a carnival show featuring a 4 legged woman (& all the other oddities). When sung, its done acapella.~

Don't see it if You would be un-moved by the sweet lead character and other misfits of society peopling this traveling freak show. It is a short play-1 hour

See it if You enjoy Fringe shows. You enjoy a capella singing and original songs, interesting staging, and real potential for something bigger.

Don't see it if You need a story. The plot was practically non-existent, the characters (but one) were banal and pointless. I wanted more.

See it if You like a show that looks like it's being performed in someone's garage. I thought it was different, entertaining.

Don't see it if You don't like a capella musicals. There were elements I wouldn't have thought of mixing

See it if you enjoy seeing a show with a light plot, a mild romance & a happy ending. You aren't expecting a serious drama.

Don't see it if you are expecting a lively, circus-like atmosphere with real circus acts.

Also The show is based on the life of a real-life circus performer.

See it if U like to support the Fringe/new work/new writers.You don't mind just enjoying the singing,staging and some nice snippets of dialogue/lyrics

Don't see it if You want a story. Minimalist musically is OK but barely there plot is unacceptable. Sung repetitive syllables get annoying after a while.

See it if You like something different. You like simple staging. You want to see a love story unfold. You like singing in a production.

Don't see it if You need a big production. You can't relax and enjoy a show. You don't like something different. You don't like singing in a production

See it if you like unusual romantic stories about people who are different and you enjoy a capella singing.

Don't see it if you are not comfortable with circus like environments and the unusual people in them.

See it if you want to see a show where the concept is excellent, the performers give 100%, and you like creative, small musicals.

Don't see it if you want the execution of a concept to be perfect, i.e. concept A-/execution B-. Also if you don't enjoy acapella singing and no sets

See it if you like-docudramas-American Horror Story TV series-acapella performances-musical dramas-period pieces

Don't see it if you want-live orchestra-comedic musical. you don't like-love stories-vocal harmonies in place of orchestra

See it if you want to see a sweet yet edgy bit of the purest theatre, a reminder that the magic of light&shadow &the human voice are what move us most

Don't see it if you don't like circus, sideshow or carney; musicals solely sung; layered harmonies; oddities; or can't deal with magic made from spirit.

Also A wonderful, sweet & haunting show built with the simplest of elements that call back our childhood sense of wonder & play.
Simple props & costumes, light, shadow & evocative songs accompanied only by gorgeous vocal harmonies & background vocal sound effects remind us of the possibility of theatre when laid bare.

The fully committed ensemble cast fully inhabits the world they present, and Mary Stuart Evans is terrific as the Woman in question. Lily Ali-Oshatz's book, lyrics & music (with Mark Galinovsky) are stunning and evocative, & her performance as the Ringmaster, M, completely seductive. Madeleine Walls's inventive staging and direction makes the most use of space, bodies & music, and creates an impressionistic style reminiscent of Fellini and Bergman, but totally her own. The other characters & Roustabouts add much,each having their moments, making the most of them.

This show may not be for everyone — certainly not for the calcified, but should be seen & is highly recommended.... Read more Read less

See it if desire a unique, human, acapella experience handling issues of identity, choice, acceptance & image with a capable cast singing beautifully

Don't see it if you can't be immersed in issues of identity, choice, acceptance & self image

See it if You love side-show type shows and accapella music.

Don't see it if You don't like acappella shows.

See it if you enjoy circus/side-show musicals (Side Show, Pippin, The Disappearing Man), a cappella, or are wanting something different and creative.

Don't see it if you would be turned off by an entirely a cappella musical.

See it if You enjoy a cappella, sweet love stories, creative productions and fringe theater makes you smile

Don't see it if Big, slick productions and racing narratives is what gets your heart racing

See it if Do you like small shows shows

Don't see it if You want to see something perfect they are still developing

See it if you are interested in new and fresh musicals developed and performed by talented young artists. An impressive performance by all!

Don't see it if your looking for a classic musical with grand designs and a large cast. This production is very simply done, but it works for the space.

Also The musicality of this cast is stupendous! Each actor gave 100% throughout the entire performance. A captivating plot. Very entertaining. Worth seeing!... Read more Read less

See it if you'll enjoy an unconventional romance that will make you want to know more about the real Myrtle; if you want to see charming performances.

Don't see it if you find a cappella music and sound effects to be cheesy and you would laugh in the wrong places.

See it if You enjoy a colorful cast of talented actors. The music is lovely, the story charming. The performances are very entertaining. Thumbs up.

Don't see it if You like instruments accompanying the lyrics - this is sung a cappela. If you're not into an off off broadway experience.

See it if you like catchy a capella performed by what seems to be a high school troupe, but slightly better

Don't see it if you're looking for a fully formed story or something exciting

Also the show doesn't pick up until 45 minutes in. Before that it is painfully slow. All of the story is in the last 15 minutes. The music is catchy but not sung terribly well. It is not bad by any stretch but not fantastic either. Intriguing and solid characters but none so well fleshed out, and some fleshed out too much for no good reason. The worst performance comes from the ringleader character. Not paced well, and a story that's interesting but eventually only halfway there. Really kind of a disappointment. It's on the verge of actually being good and original and solid, but just doesn't get there. Really needs to push to be great. Needs a ton of work but they really should do that work because it's not a lost cause, it's a halfway decent concept.... Read more Read less

See it if You want to see freak-show difference shed in a slightly more idealistically-modern light and want to see some killer acapella realness.

Don't see it if You don't like acapella or one-act musicals. This is a great little nugget of art with a bright future.