Squeamish
About the show
All For One Theater presents a new solo horror show about a New York City psychoanalyst and recovering alcoholic whose bloody quest for personal balance begins when she finds herself in Texas after her nephew's suicide. More…
The third play in Aaron Mark's cycle of Sit-Down Tragedies after 'Empanada Loca' and 'Another Medea,' 'Squeamish' is a grotesque tale of phobia and compulsion, a minimalist work of psychological horror about craving what terrifies us most. Starring two-time Tony nominee Alison Fraser.
"Ninety-five gripping minutes…The audience can’t look away…Mark and Fraser do an exquisite job of intricately describing scenes that might lead some audience members to experience bloody nightmares, but that’s a small price to pay for witnessing this engrossing piece of theater…‘Squeamish’ lives up to its name, offering plenty of squeamish moments, highlighted by a superbly nuanced performance by Fraser, who seems to be enjoying every bloody minute of it, along with us." Full Review
"Her story reveals the insatiability of human need and the lengths people will go to feel better...By placidly recounting gruesome events, she makes the audience uneasy and a bit queasy. Sharon purrs and coddles us while conveying dark secrets and some startling truths with equal parts humor, sex appeal, and downright creepiness...So effective, I left the theater feeling somewhat off-balance myself, and not a little squeamish.” Full Review
"The one woman horror show, directed cleanly and precisely by Mark, is very well served by the two-time Tony nominated actress, Alison Fraser. From the moment of her entrance, her presence and her performance draws us into her reality completely...Even though the ending is pretty predictable and there are moments when the story drags a bit, together, Fraser and Mark still manage to thrill us...Not a horror show in the traditional sense, but it is a bloody good time." Full Review
“Fraser gets deep under Sharon's skin, into her very veins, you might say, carving with scalpel-like precision a character who…soon sucks you into the reality of her nightmarish experiences…You have to suspend your disbelief for much of it, most especially the surprise ending…It's the creepy crawlies in Sharon's psyche that create the goosebumps; Aaron Marks's words and Alison Fraser's acting are all the special effects you need to crawl in there with them.” Full Review
“A voyeuristic experience…Fraser gives a deceptively charming portrait of a clever woman who would be the hit of any penthouse cocktail party, slowly revealing her seductive darker side. Her ability to remain engaging while being seated for the entire length of the play is a credit to the details of her acting skills and the fine pacing of the playwright/director's surprising story…Mark once again displays a sharp skill for descriptive and entertaining storytelling.” Full Review
“Aaron Marks’s ‘Squeamish’ is like an Alfred Hitchcock episode in the capable hands of Alison Fraser...She shines in this piece, as she layers Sharon’s quirks and idiosyncrasies, like the razor blade that allows her to finally free her inner turmoil. Frasier uses her voice and her subtle movements to convey every emotion and change of character. ’Squeamish’ is the perfect horror story and would make a great campfire fright night tale.” Full Review
"This play, as commendably directed by its author, delves into the dark and repressed areas of human behavior, but with enough funny moments to keep you both off guard and on board…Her complicated and purposely circuitous narrative is delivered glibly by Fraser and with more than enough mysterious detours to keep us wondering where we are being led...With her quirky, scarily quixotic performance, Fraser makes seamless transitions...The payoff will be a stunner." Full Review
“Fraser's terribly nervous and jittery as she starts to relay Sharon's somewhat convoluted story, gripping the arms of the chair with her hands or clenching her knees together--even as she says, ‘I really am calm now.’ She's been directed by the playwright with what might be aptly termed an exhilarating reserve. ‘Squeamish’ is definitely a ‘horror’ play that takes the genre to new and higher heights. It's hard not to recoil as the details of her story become more and more vivid.” Full Review
"'Squeamish' is ultimately, too shaggy and in need of greater restraint. But Fraser, slipping smoothly in and out of a half-dozen smaller characters besides Sharon, never loses command. Though we see the play’s considerable gore — and its hard-core-niche sexual situations — only through the mind’s eye, 'Squeamish' is probably not for the squeamish. But to grown-ups who like to celebrate the season with frightful tales, happy Halloween. Mark has a fresh horror for you." Full Review
"There’s something unsettling about watching a solo show that’s been expressly written for its star and yet thinking she may be miscast, or at least under-rehearsed...Fraser doesn’t land most of the laughs as our neurotic narrator in the play’s first half, which is all setup. But once Sharon starts to lose herself in addiction, Fraser delivers real chills. As we watch this sophisticated and stylish New Yorker gleefully transform into a monster, her gory self-discovery is utterly horrifying." Full Review
"Aaron Mark, the playwright and director, has quite a ghoulish imagination...It’s a constant output of free flow chatter...Unfortunately, with Alison’s unique speech pattern, she’s sometimes difficult to understand and the results sound like mumbling. Don’t get me wrong, Alison Fraser is a top notch actress as she tackles the several characters with subtle voice changes, all the while remaining in the chair...This is all very nightmare-ish and, as my show buddy described, it’s Hitchcock-ian!" Full Review
"Alison Fraser interprets with vocal acrobatics. Fraser’s posture is active and forceful in its sudden shifts. She inhabits several characters to interact with in her storytelling. The frenzied jumps from one idea to the next make the first half of Aaron Mark’s full-length monologue crackle with character development, giving us new information from every angle, feeding us breadcrumbs...It’s a haunting journey of one’s own imaginings in the semidarkness. Vivid dreamers beware." Full Review
“It's easy to feel one step ahead of the narrative—and impatient to get on with it...If Mark hasn't provided a sufficiently gripping narrative, he has found the right woman for the job...In contrast to the rather contrived and mechanical shocks that mark the plot, Fraser's performance conveys an animal-like terror that cannot be dismissed...Her unswerving commitment and intensity in the face of a difficult script once again proves that she is a class act, no matter the circumstances.” Full Review
“There Fraser is, taking on an actor’s challenge that’s also a challenge for the audience. Squeamish is right... As she goes on in a piece that has the flavor of something a leering camp counselor might import to trembling youngsters around a campfire, it’s a challenge for auditors to hang in...Fraser clings on to the telling as Dracula might after having sunk his teeth into Lucy’s neck. She’s committed to the script whether or not the audience is beginning to lose patience.” Full Review
for a previous production "A horror-laced monologue about the aftermath of a suicide that will likely twist your innards...That’s the play—for 100 straight minutes Sharon talks nonstop, reflecting, parsing, digressing...Fraser is masterful at presenting the character as both contemptible and sympathetic. That said, 'Squeamish' is not for the squeamish; some of the sexual predilections and social encounters will likely turn many a stomach. It’s theater at its most provocative. Consider yourself warned." Full Review
See it if You want to hear a one-sided psychoanalytical talk about funny family vampirish issues but so revel ant. Very humorous and dramatic
Don't see it if Not into solo shows or psychoanalytical issuses
Also This show was fabulous Alison Fraser was fantastic. She kept you glued... Read more Read less
See it if you want to be enraptured by this woman's dark, terrifying descent into madness. Fraser is a masterful storyteller. Absolutely spellbinding!
Don't see it if the graphic description of blood makes you... squeamish. None of the gore is shown on stage. Great writing. Fraser is chill-inducing.
See it if You want to watch true Talent on the stage
Don't see it if You have a weak stomach or lack
See it if You are a fan of Alison Fraser or works of Aaron Mark. If you prefer simple presentations that focuses simply on a perfectly performed story
Don't see it if If you are not into a solo act performance.
Also Allison was so engaging - she was so in command that she lets you stay... Read more Read less
See it if you like the dark spooky themes. This was great Alison Fraser is FANTASTIC. The plot twist made me gasp! Disturbing content perfect title!
Don't see it if you do not like dark, disturbing themes. The title really is perfect. If you are not into one women shows.
See it if you can handle graphic descriptions of gross, gory moments, and if you want a thrilling theatre experience in time for Halloween
Don't see it if you don't like horror, especially psychological horror
See it if A twisted and absorbing tour-de-force performance by Alison Fraser. The story is tight and horrifying. Wonderful one person show.
Don't see it if You don’t like horror as a genre. You want action. This is all words... haunting words.
See it if You like suspenseful, dark, storytelling. This one person Show is a fine example of how to weave a great story.
Don't see it if You don’t like kind of creepy stories. I wouldn’t call it scary but, we’ll, the title is very appropriate.
See it if Alison Fraser is phenomental in this superb one-woman show full of twists, turns, and nice dashes of horror!
Don't see it if While never shown, there are descriptions of gore that might not sit well with the... well... squeamish.
See it if you are looking for a good old-fashion story telling experience with a shocking conclusion you DON’T see coming!!!!
Don't see it if you live in a bubble and believe that there is only goodness inside of all of us.
Also Sometimes what’s brings us to an experience turns out to be even more ... Read more Read less
See it if you enjoy being pulled in and captivated by a story completely. I forgot my own life entirely.
Don't see it if you have a weak stomach or are sensitive to talk of blood.
See it if You like well acted intense, engrossing plays
Don't see it if You don’t like solo shows. However this play is so well performed... if you don’t mind feeling squeamish
See it if Like storytelling and can use your imagination to see what is not shown to you
Don't see it if You can’t follow a lot of monologue with little break in content or if you need to see all of the action to follow it
See it if You want 90 minutes of master acting. Alison Fraser is masterful and griping.
Don't see it if You dislike stories of blood, death and high anxiety. The story and the theatre is very, very dark.
See it if You like these two words: Alison Fraser. And crisp, edge-of-your-seat writing. This is a dark, dark comedy dressed up as a macabre thriller.
Don't see it if You like your theater conventionally peopled with people and moving sets. With easily digestible plot arcs and monotonal thematic shades.
See it if Manhattan therapist with problems goes on a journey to the dark side. Delicious triumphant black comedy. Plot twists. Great acting.
Don't see it if You don’t like vampire stories. You don’t want to hear graphic descriptions of blood gorged events.
See it if You like horror, solo shows, emphasis on story-telling over action
Don't see it if You don't like bloody descriptions, horror, or solo shows
See it if You enjoy horror w/a bit of camp ala "Tales From the Crypt". You want to see a captivating acting turn from Alison Fraser.
Don't see it if You are, as the title, squeamish, & uncomfortable w/hearing a horror story. You dislike one-performer shows. You prefer more serious horror.
See it if You want to be blown away by acting. Allison Fraser was amazing in this performance.
Don't see it if You don't enjoy a dark storyline or if you are looking for an uplifting experience.
See it if You like new works by young visionary playwrights and enjoy unconventional and outside the box theater
Don't see it if You can't stand the Sight or even the mention of blood
See it if You are interested in mesmerizing one person shows with great acting and absorbing story lines.
Don't see it if You feel claustrophobic in dark theatres, or are frightened by stories of violent death.
See it if She was great, she didn't stop talking, amazing! Albeit slightly sleepy in the beginning, when it kicked in I was mesmerized!
Don't see it if If you are therapist and can't stand patient's 'stories'. If you don't like sexy gory.
See it if you're ok w/being equally enthralled & disturbed by the plot that unfolds. If Alison Fraser isn't nominated this season awards mean nothing.
Don't see it if you're alarmed that two people left w/nausea, brought about simply by Fraser's ability to fully immerse the audience in this garish tale.
See it if You want to see a seamless & engaging tour de force by Fraser, fully on, committed & inventive, to the smallest gesture, & in total control.
Don't see it if You have no patience, don't like monologues, solo plays or the dark — literal or figurative.
Also Alison Fraser delivers a quiet, subtle and thoroughly engaging tour de... Read more Read less
Cast & Creatives (5)
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