by Terrance McArthur

It is Rogue Festival time again! This year’s festival takes place from February 28-March 8 in the Tower District of Fresno, CA. This is the first of many show reviews coming over the next few days! Before Rogue opened, we published several Rogue Festival Performer Preview articles, as well as an article about Rogue itself.
You will be able to find all of our coverage in our Rogue Festival category, and more info including some performer press releases on our Rogue Festival event page over on KRL News and Reviews. You can purchase tickets on the Rogue website.

Hobosexual: How to Avoid
Review by Terrance McArthur

Ladies—when a man with no home or job moves into your life in exchange for sex, you have a problem. Leigh Ratliff chronicles that problem in her Rogue Festival show Hobosexuals: How to Avoid.

Ratliff, leader and mother of the Blood Harmony shows of past Rogue Festivals, goes solo in this exploration of how pleasure can transform into a nightmare that never seems to end.

It started as an online connection that quickly turned physical. He was staying with his ex-wife in the house he had built, and his ex wanted him out, so he moved over. He was an architect—was. He had brain damage: hit in the head by a thrown baseball bat. He didn’t have a job. He drank. He didn’t help around the house. He had multiple DUIs. Something had to give.

She threw him out. She had him arrested. She had him hospitalized. He came back. He came back. He came back.

Covid lockdown. He stayed, because evictions weren’t allowed. Homeless shelters and Poverello House—he caused problems, so he was sent back to her. He was litigious, sued people left and right. It went on and on, and she couldn’t get rid of him. Is he a tenant? A squatter? They have rights, you know.

Ratliff tells this all with exasperation, frustration, and humor, but hobosexuals have become a problem of the online dating world—people who aren’t looking for love, just a roof over their heads. You are warned. It’s a horrible story, well told.

Final shows of Hobosexuals: How to Avoid are at Veni Vidi Vici, 1116 N. Fulton, Fresno, Thursday, March 6, 8:30 pm, and Friday, March 7, 5:30 pm. Tickets are $10.

Janice Noga’s Musical Career Undaunted by Her Cranial Calamity
Review by Terrance McArthur

Janice Noga sings. That is a constant in her life. How do you react when the music in your life stops? That is part of the story of Janice Noga’s Musical Career Undaunted by Her Cranial Calamity, this year’s continuation of Noga’s musical autobiography as played out in the Rogue Festival.

On her honeymoon, she woke up to find a doctor attending her. She had experienced a Grand Mal Seizure! She needed brain surgery. Her greatest fear is that she wouldn’t be able to sing any more. The doctors didn’t seem to think that was important . . . until she sang to them. To remind themselves of the importance of what they were doing, the surgical team changed their musical choices; instead of rock. They played Janice’s CDs of her own singing!

Janice Noga’s Musical Career Undaunted by Her Cranial Calamity is awash in music. Noga sings, aided by the voice and keyboard stylings of Terry Lewis (and some sing-along audience participation). Her love of musicals fills the show with selections from The Wizard of Oz (the oddly appropriate “If I Only Had a Brain”), Oklahoma, Oliver!, The King and I (everybody whistled along . . . or were issued a kazoo), and other show tunes. Janice Noga may rely on a script to overcome moments of memory gaps, but her voice still rises in power!

The final shows for Janice Noga’s Musical Career Undaunted by Her Cranial Calamity Friday, March 7 at 10:00 pm and Saturday, March 8 at 6:30 pm at the VISTA Theater, 1296 N. Wishon Ave. Tickets are $15.

Come prepared to sing along!

Tickets to all shows can be purchased on the Rogue Festival website.

Terrance V. Mc Arthur worked for the Fresno County Public Library for three decades. He is retired, but not retiring. A storyteller, puppeteer, writer, actor, magician, basketmaker, and all-around interesting person, his goal is to make life more unusual for everyone he meets.

If you love theatre, be sure to check out Mysteryrat’s Maze Podcast, which features mysteries read by local actors. You can find the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Play, and also on podbean.

Check out more theatre reviews & other local entertainment articles in our Arts & Entertainment section. You can also find more theatre coming up on KRL’s Local Theatre event page.