Homo Sapiens Interruptus (FringeNYC) NYC Reviews and Tickets
About the Show
A FringeNYC Encore: Join Carlos Dengler in an intimate setting as he talks about heavy metal, human origins, and the road from pizza delivery to rockstardom.
Read more Show lessShow-Score Member Reviews (11)
See it if you would enjoy a storyteller journey through the music of the 90's and 00's, peppered with personal and scientific tidbits.
Don't see it if you just want to know how to make it into a band; this will be, potentially, in a future show...
See it if You want to hear an intelligent, multi-layered story told simply and evocatively. Dengler is so good he makes it look deceptively easy.
Don't see it if You want Big. Dengler's at a desk. There's in-and-out music. Light cues. He displays some pictures. That's about it. But the story sings.
See it if you're a big music fan, you don't mind it being like a college lecture at times, or if you enjoy seeing someone share their life story.
Don't see it if you want to be in a fancier venue than a basement bar, or if the loud, abrupt music cues would freak you out too much (I jumped a little!).
See it if You are an affionado of heavy metal or identify with the period when it was popular.
Don't see it if You are not a fan of one man shows or are not vonversant with the heavy metal or grunge scenes.
See it if you are interested in philosophy and heavy metal...and don't mind a storyteller who sits at a desk and reads from his script.
Don't see it if you're expecting a deep-dive into Dengler's life, anthropology, or philosophy...all discussed/loosely tied together, but on a basic level.
See it if You want to experience an evening of an interesting journey
Don't see it if You don't care about insights and growth
See it if You enjoy a heartfelt exploration of life
Don't see it if You don't like one person shows.
See it if you enjoy sweeping intellectualism and existentialism peppered with the awesomeness that is the cult of Carlos D.
Don't see it if you've got it all figured out.
Critic Reviews (5)
"Those expecting a tell-all memoir will be disappointed: Mr. Dengler acknowledges the influence of the Mötley Crüe biography 'The Dirt' on his behavior in Interpol, but is coy about his old shenanigans. Somewhat predictably, the narrative hangs on father issues, but Mr. Dengler is a genial raconteur, and we rarely encounter his kind of experience at the theater."
Read more
"Endearingly dorky and highly articulate, the bearded Dengler spends all 70 minutes seated behind a desk, employing a smattering of visual aids and often reading from his notes. But while it's low on theatrics, 'Homo Sapiens Interruptus' is high on evocative ideas. Dengler connects personal progress to the evolution of our species as he shares anecdotes both humorous and harrowing, and makes insightful points about the perpetual search for satisfaction."
Read more
"This solo show’s narrative, which edges at times on the overly complex, is ultimately saved by the simplicity of its telling...Much of what Dengler lacks in theatricality he makes up for in his absolute likability and writerly manner...What makes this play so worthwhile: the brilliant flashes of larger-than-life thinking, arrived at through the unpredictability of a single man’s amazing life. It’s a show that will make you think...hard."
Read more
"Directed with quiet introspection and deliberateness by Cole, Dengler delivers his monologue of self-discovery in a format more akin to an academic lecture than a dramatic performance...He is thoughtful and reflective, making connections between his life, the defining choices we all face, and the grand scheme of things...While the show seems a bit long...the keen intellect and acute self-awareness of Dengler’s 'Homo Sapiens Interruptus' shine brightly through it all."
Read more
"It is so refreshing to see a show that simply tells the story. Carlos D sits at a table and tells his compelling story of growing up a headbanger, then a philosopher and then the co-founder of the New York-based band, Interpol using the evolution of man as thread and metaphor. As a metalhead, I was easily transported to my youth...What a beautiful trip down memory lane under the guise of intellect...Open, raw, concise under the direction of Scott Slavin with light design by Leslie Smith."
Read more