by Lorie Lewis Ham
Here are reviews of the two shows that I saw during the first weekend of Rogue Festival 2022! Over the next 2 or 3 days there will be several more reviews to come from Mallory Moad and Terrance McArthur. Be sure to head out to weekend two of this year’s Festival starting on Thursday! You will be able to find all of our Rogue Festival Reviews in our Rogue Festival Section here on KRL!
Due to the recent redesign over here on KRL all of our preview articles and our Rogue Festival event page have been posted over on KRL News and Reviews! You can find all of those articles, including some performer preview articles, by clicking here! You can find our Rogue Festival event page here. For more information be sure to check out the Rogue Festival website. Be sure to check out their website for their current Covid safety policies.
Jerk-Off Our Egos With Tommy Nugent and Shane Scurvy Spears
Review by Lorie Lewis Ham
If you are looking for a show that will make you laugh this Rogue Festival DO NOT MISS this show! And don’t let the title of the show scare you away. Jerk-Off Our Egos is like getting two shows for the price of one. We started the evening with Tommy Nugent on stage, and ended it with Shane “Scurvy” Spears.
It is hard to describe what this show is about as it is about so many things—it is about the pandemic, about storytelling, about anger, about pain, about love, and about the apocalypse we have all been living through the last two years. The most important thing I can tell you about this show is that it will make you laugh, and maybe at times even cry a little. You will leave feeling better than you did when you arrived, and you will most definitely be entertained! 
A big focus of Tommy’s portion of the show is about how the storytelling gods must have been mad at him when he decided to retire from performing six years ago because he has been through a lot of really rough stuff since then, and yet he manages to make us all laugh as he shares it. His interaction with a “storytelling god” at 711 is relatable and hilarious. Tommy is an amazing storyteller! I can’t remember the last time I laughed this much—and I think we all need that right now. I for one am extremely glad that he is back on stage!
Shane’s storytelling style is completely different, but still hilarious. He uses language that would best be described as poetic, even when describing the grossest things. His half of the show focuses on the dystopian times we have all been living through, with a bulk of it being what he described as a “dark sitcom” about a couple being stuck together 24/7 during the lockdown—something that could make anyone lose their mind!
This show is extremely relatable and very funny. Jerk-Off Our Egos is a dark comedy that manages to provide a lot of joy and a ton of laughter.
Be aware that this is an R rated show with adult content and language.
DO NOT MISS your chance to see Shane Scurvy Spears and Tommy Nugent back on stage again at the outdoor patio in back of Veni Vidi Vici.
The remaining show times are:
Friday, March 11 @ 8:30 p.m.
Saturday, March 12 @ 5:00 p.m.Tickets can be purchased on the Rogue Festival website or at the door, but they aren’t accepting cash at the venues.
My First Miracle—Adventures in Bipolar Disorder
Review by Lorie Lewis Ham
In My First Miracle—Adventures in Bipolar Disorder, Bennet Caffee takes you on a wild ride through his years of living with bipolar disorder before he finally got the treatment he needed. Most of the story involves his manic episodes, which had him traveling all over the world, dealing with a messiah complex that included thinking he made a girl walk again at a concert at a football stadium (the First Miracle), climbing through laundromat windows, chasing a girl he was convinced was the love of his life, and time spent in (and escaping from) psychiatric hospitals. 
Bennet doesn’t use any props; it’s just him and a chair. He brings his manic adventures to life very realistically and with a touch of humor. While this could be triggering for those of us who have loved ones dealing with mental illness, you can take heart that it does finally work out in the end. While he refuses to be called “normal” (what does normal mean anyway?), the fact that he finally got the treatment he needed has allowed him to share his story now with others.
If you are looking for a show that while it has funny moments, also makes you think, this one is for you. I applaud Bennet for being willing to share so openly about his own struggles and that he can do so in an entertaining story.
My First Miracle—Adventures in Bipolar Disorder performs on the patio behind Goldstein’s Mortuary & Delicatessen (so bring a warm jacket depending on the weather).
Remaining performances are:
Thursday, March 10 at 7 p.m.
Friday, March 11 at 7 p.m.
Tickets can be purchased on the Rogue Festival website or at the door, but be aware they are not accepting cash at the door.
Watch our Rogue Festival section for more reviews to go up over the next few days!
If you love local 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.
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