The Extraordinary Fall of the Four-Legged Woman (FringeNYC)
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? More…
Step right up and take a peek under the Big Top at the lives of a few unique people. Flights of Fantasy East's a cappella musical is written by Lily Ali-Oshatz and Mark Galinovsky, and inspired by the real life of Myrtle Corbin, who was born a dipygus.
"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." Full Review
"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." Full Review
"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.'" Full Review
"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." Full Review
"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." Full Review
See it if you want to witness a nontraditional cast of talented actor-singers tell a truly unique story!
Don't see it if you're looking for a conventional commercial musical.
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... Read more Read less
See it if You question what "different" means
Don't see it if You don't like beautiful music
See it if you like great singing, committed acting and an interesting story
Don't see it if you don't like outsiders
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% throug... 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 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.
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 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-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 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 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 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 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 like accappella with strong voices, romantic shows, solid musical numbers (the best singing I saw at Fringe)
Don't see it if you're not interested in a romance and are looking for something utterly unique in your storytelling
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 a cappella and tangential explorations of what it means to be "other"
Don't see it if you want a deeper exploration of identity, you don't like plot expressed in song
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 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 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 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 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 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'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.
Cast & Creatives (18)
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