Fringe Fest 2014: The Hatter has a big heart

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      A charge of genuine feeling runs through The Hatter, but the entertainment’s structure is too ad hoc to take full advantage of it. The Hatter isn’t really mad—he knows we’re in a theatre—but he wants to get back to Wonderland. In other words, he wants to return to a land of irrationality that feels safe to him. Once that’s established, the show faffs around in less than engaging territory: using condiments and spices, the Hatter makes awful tea for an audience member; he improvises a song—unimpressively on the afternoon I attended. Then he explains the whole back story, and the play goes from too vague to too tidy. The pain-filled heart is great; the body needs work.

      At Studio 16 on September 5 (10:30 p.m.), 6 (4:30 p.m.), 7 (12 p.m.), 8 (6:45 p.m.), 11 (8:30 p.m.), and 13 (8:15 p.m.)

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      1 Comments

      Shawn

      Sep 6, 2014 at 7:45pm

      I was impressed by Mr. Wade when I saw him in last winter's flop Floyd Collins. I found his performance the most engaging in that show, and so despite Colin's review had to see this when I recognized Andrew in the photo. Yes, the show is a bit weak - as might be expected from something written by someone so young who hasn't yet had a lot of life experience, but acting wise this is a boy to watch. We are a bit spoilt right now in the city with young actors who talents will likely drag them out of this shithole and onto better things - like Ben Elliott & Anton Lipovetsky: both at Bard this past summer and either one would be amazing as perhaps Elder Price on Broadway. Andrew Wade's talents are perhaps not as commercially appealing as those two, but it will interesting to see what he does next.

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