by Mallory Moad
& Terrance McArthur

Here are two more Rogue Festival show reviews–these are for Father, Daughter & Holy Ghost, and Rosegold, with more to come soon! 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.

Father, Daughter & Holy Ghost
Review by Mallory Moad

Whaddya think about that? This is a recurring phrase in Father, Daughter & Holy Ghost. In her one-person show, Barbara Brady tackles family, faith, and physics. As she shares her memories, she uses her posture and voice (not just speaking – her singing is lovely) to portray a variety of characters who have populated her life. Her interpretations are affectionate and subtle – these are real people, not caricatures.

Her story is one that many of us can relate to. There is sibling conflict (she describers her sister as one who “thrives on chaos”), questioning of religion and coming to terms with the transformation of an aging parent (in this case her father, a man “with a head full of information and details” but whose love was “silent and deep”). This may sound like heavy material, and although Barbara doesn’t shy away from moments that are far from cheery, she is adept at revealing the positive.

With her relaxed, warm presentation, a tale that could have become melodramatic and maudlin remains surprisingly humorous. Her first experience at Mass at age 8 is laugh-out-loud worthy, as is her delightful description of her father’s ritual preparation for a road trip. Make sure you listen for the hidden plays on the words “holy ghost.”

Father, Daughter & Holy Ghost is sweet and poignant. I recommend it to those of you who are looking for a Rogue experience that is more gently paced than manic. Whaddya think about that?

Father, Daughter & Holy Ghost is playing at the VISTA Theater, 1296 North Wishon Ave, on Friday, March 11 at 10:00 p.m. and Saturday, March 12 at 6:30 p.m.

Mallory Moad is a visual/performance artist, vocalist in the jazz band Scats on The Sly and a proud Central San Joaquin Valley native.

Rosegold
Review by Terrance McArthur

When you enter the VISTA Theatre, you see her. She’s seated, nervous, her foot popping up and down to a rhythm found only in her head. She sips from a travel cup. She doesn’t make eye contact. She raises her hand. Introduces herself with the usual: “My name is Jamie, and I’m an alcoholic.”

She tells the tale of a life with a dysfunctional family, and it seems all-too-familiar until she goes on a camping trip with friends from work, and suddenly…we’re not in Kansas anymore, Toto.

Paranormal, bloody, horrifying, unbelievably weird, that’s what Rosegold is…and Donna Kay Yarborough brings it all to startling life. Is it possession? Psychotic serial killer? Alien attacks? Edgar Allen Poe? H. P. Lovecraft? Stephen King? Clive Barker? “They,” and what do They want?

I have seen this show live and Zoomed, and it still mystifies and intrigues me. I have seen Yarborough as a country singer with romantic obsessions, and as Frank Sinatra doomed to Purgatory in a woman’s body, and I am always fascinated by whatever form she is in…and by whatever is in her form.

This is a show you should see…but you might not want to walk alone when you go back to your car.

Rosegold’s final performances at the VISTA Theater are Friday, March 11, 7:00 p.m., and Saturday, March 12, 3:30 p.m. Tickets are $12.

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.

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.