The Extraordinary Fall of the Four-Legged Woman (FringeNYC) NYC Reviews and Tickets
About the Show
A FringeNYC Encore: In the dusty desert, Myrtle Corbin, the four-legged curiosity, meets her match. Can this veteran performer make a life outside the tent?
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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 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 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 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 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 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. Read more
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 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. Read more
Critic Reviews (5)
"The small cast weaves stirring harmonies with the finesse of a professional a capella group. Yet, this choice occasionally backfires, leaving periods of dead air onstage…Ali-Oshatz’s plot touches on some complex issues which beg for deeper exploration...I’d love to see an extended version of the piece...Nonetheless, 'Four-Legged Woman' offers us a tantalizing peek behind the big-top’s curtains, revealing the darkness underneath each spectacle and the humanity in every 'freak.'"
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"Evans plays the titular character with charming effortlessness and has a crisp, chill-inducing voice. Wall’s direction is inventive and offers just the right balance of reality and magic...Raises questions about fetishism, gender fluidity, self-acceptance, and fear. This show is a brave and touching exploration of humanity and the courage it takes to fall in love...This ensemble and direction team deserve no less than the applause and admiration their characters surely received a century ago."
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"An intriguing side show show…All the songs are delivered a cappella, making it all the more compelling...The cast rises to the occasion generally quite ably. In the large Flamboyan space, not all words sung by all soloists were always distinguishable...This was a pity, as the words were often worthy and artful…We see, but don’t get to individually know, the individual personalities or problems or even unique physical/performance talents of some of the members of the side show."
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"It’s the timeless tale of boy meets four-legged girl. However, who’s the freak? Fans of 'Side Show’ and ‘American Horror Story: Freak Show’ will love this a cappella musical…Directed by Madeline Wall, the talented ensemble cast of six tell this simple story on a mostly bare stage. A string of lights represents the circus tent and a handful of props are used to navigate scene changes and new locations…Definitely catch this unique and experimental piece of art."
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"Although the show has holes in it, the way it examines what it means to be 'other' is powerful…This 55-minute musical, sung a capella in its entirety, is an impressive endeavor. There are haunting melodies that are hard to forget. The cast of five all have a strong musical sense and individual singing styles and vocal qualities…Despite the flaws, the overall concept, vision, and music are good enough to win plaudits for Ali-Oshatz’s maiden effort."
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