by Lorie Lewis Ham
Here are more of our Rogue Festival show reviews! There will be many more to come! We also have several Rogue Performer Preview articles that have been going up over the last few weeks. You will be able to find all of them, along with a preview article about the Festival itself, in our Rogue Festival category and you can find more info on our Rogue Festival event page over on KRL News and Reviews. Tickets for the Rogue Festival can be purchased on their website and you can find this year’s schedule.
Every Good Story Ends With One
Review by Lorie Lewis Ham
I am not exaggerating when I say that I would pay to watch Martin Dockery read a phone book—he is just that good! (for those who don’t know what a phone book is, it was a book where you could find people’s names and phone numbers back before the internet) When I saw he was going to be at this year’s Rogue Festival I knew I had to be there. During the pandemic, Martin performed many stories on YouTube and I caught as many of them as I could—now I was finally going to be able to see him again in person.
Every Good Story Ends With One is a true story. Martin share’s a bit about it in his preview article for KRL and I will share a snippet of that with you here:
“What’s it about? Well, while in Australia, I was touring a show that was failing spectacularly — a show that gave me insight on what it might be like to die, as I was doing it nightly on stage.
And so it was particularly surprising — no, mind blowing — I began to receive complimentary letters and gifts from someone who secretly admired what I was doing. It was like receiving love letters in Hell. As the notes began to pile up, I found myself in something of a relationship with the person writing them: a woman named Erin. It was a most strange relationship because we never met. Nor could I directly respond to her letters. I could only talk to her from the stage and assume she was hearing me from out there in the audience. Eventually, we would meet, of course. Wouldn’t we? And then… what? Who was this mysterious woman? What did she want? And what did it mean to know someone only through what she wrote to me – most of which were her thoughts on who I am?”
Martin is an amazing storyteller. The way he uses his voice and hands to bring a story to life is amazing—he will draw you into the story and have you on the edge of your seat wondering what will happen next! There is a big twist at the end of this one, and you will never guess the meaning of the title LOL. As I said, I would listen to him read a phone book, but you don’t have to do that, instead, you can listen to him tell an intriguing and funny story.
This is a must-see show! And his shows tend to sell out so I recommend either buying your tickets online or getting there early.
Every Good Story Ends With One performs at LAByrinth Arts Collective, 1470 N. Van Ness Ave.
The remaining performances are Thursday, March 9 at 7 p.m., Friday, March 10 at 5:30 p.m., and Saturday, March 11 at 2 p.m.
Benjamin’s Passion
Review by Lorie Lewis Ham
I had no idea what was in store for me when I decided to see Benjamin’s Passion, but the description in the program intrigued me. It says, “What happens when a ballet director from the Soviet Ukraine lands in Boise and is instructed to have a football team perform in his Nutcracker? Intrigue…the KGB…Murder?”
The story is told from dancer Elizabeth Du Val’s point of view. She is an aging dancer (33) who auditions for this company in Boise because she is finding it hard to get work in New York now that she is older. Elizabeth switches back and forth from her character to those of the other players in the stories—other dancers, Benjamin the director from the Ukraine, and others involved in the Company.
I assume this is a true story from her past, but fact or fiction it was very interesting. It does include all of the things promised in the description, even murder! Elizabeth does an excellent job of telling the story using changes in voice and posture to bring the other characters to life, and she even provides us with some dance. If you enjoy intrigue, dance, and a good story, be sure to check out Benjamin’s Passion.
Benjamin’s Passion is performed at Dianna’s Studio of Dance, 826 North Fulton Street
The remaining performances are Thursday, March 9 at 8:30 p.m. and Saturday, March 11 at 5 p.m.
Bully Love
Review by Lorie Lewis Ham
In her brand new show Bully Love Katherine Glover tells the story of how she adopted a dog she named Cookie during the pandemic when she found herself all alone in her tiny apartment during lockdown. Unknown to Katherine, Cookie was a Pit Bull mix and she wasn’t prepared for what that might mean (such as possible issues with the landlord). The only thing the shelter told her was that the dog she was rescuing wasn’t good with other dogs—which she didn’t think would be a problem since she didn’t have any other pets. Sadly, they also wouldn’t let her meet the dog first due to Covid restrictions—Katherine compares this to dating online. But when she saw Cookie, it was love at first sight, and with that love came all the problems and rewards one can have in any relationship. 
Katherine shares all the bumps along the way that come with loving a dog who came with baggage, as many rescues do, but also all of the joy. This is a heartwarming story of love and boundaries, with a lot of laughs along the way. Being her first time owning a dog as an adult, she found she had a lot to learn, but she was determined to make things work. Not only did Katherine learn more about dogs, and Pit Bulls, but also about herself.
If you have pets, and especially if you have ever rescued one, this is a very relatable, sweet, and funny story. While there aren’t any more performances at Rogue this year if she brings it back again be sure to check it out.
Check other local arts & entertainment articles in our Arts & Entertainment section. You can also find more theatre coming up on KRL’s Local Theatre event page.
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