Featuring Loretta

GO AND SEE THIS SHOW!!! Big shoutout to every actor who was in this show because all I can say is WOW. From the chemistry to the physical comedy to the line delivery, everything was a joy to watch.

This is the show that made me question everything I’ve done in entertainment! Tony and Rod have such a fresh perspective and a ridiculous way of drawing us into their world while doing the most peculiar things that somehow seem so necessary and obvious.

This show made me want to write better reviews too. GO SEE IT!!!

The direction of this production brings Walker's script to life in a brilliant explosion of high-energy comedy, supported by a fantastic cast of actors who are effortless to love. The show moves along relentlessly, but gracefully, and the audience feels that they are witnessing a true snapshot of everyday life. The amount of trust evident between all the actors invites the viewer also to put their trust in what they're seeing, and anybody who does so will be rewarded thusly. Professional, sleek, and witty in a way that most shows can only struggle towards. 10/10.

The play has a perfect balance of drama, humour & emotion that’s keep you interested from start to finish. All the onstage performances pull you in & eagerly you are riveted to know what’s going to happen next. All the performers are incredibly talented & the energy, pace & emotion was intense, believable and wonderful!!

This was a very play-y play, by which I mean it’s all frenetic dialogue from unusual characters thrown into a nonsensical situation that doesn’t really serve theme but just gives actors a chance to show off in scenes that kind of feel randomly pieced together. This is not necessarily a totally bad thing though because I do love seeing actors show off!! These performers really did the most with their physicality, their voices, everything. Genuinely shocks me every day to see so many young, talented performers in this town. And I’m so glad the performances hard carried the play because story-wise, it was not for me! I feel like the tense, fast-talking, quippy, almost Sorkinesque type of writing only works for me if it actually goes somewhere thematically, and I feel like it didn’t in this one.

That being said, I was very impressed with the blocking in this. I really loved how actors moved in the space. It felt dynamic and full of life without being distracting or artificial. The movement with the two men and Loretta near the end, twisting and turning with the telephone wire, caught in a web of their own foolish creation, really struck me as a very clever and effective visual metaphor! Seeing characters move through doorways and windows, too, was delightful. Even though I didn’t love the script, I thought what the artists did with it was a joy to watch.

Passion can be difficult to fake onstage, but in Featuring Loretta, it was impossible to miss. As my first show at the Fringe, Soapbox Players’ production of George F. Walker’s Featuring Loretta was a memorable introduction to the festival. Directed by Daisy Brazil, the production balanced outrageous humour with darker themes of independence and desperation, creating a show that was both entertaining and unpredictable.

At the centre was Elyse Roszell as Loretta, whose performance carried much of the play’s emotional weight. Roszell moved naturally between confidence, frustration, vulnerability, and humour, giving Loretta a convincing desire for independence.

The relationships between the characters were another highlight. Andreas Schroeder’s Dave and Sable B. Boltz’s Michael brought distinct personalities to the stage, while their interactions with Loretta created some of the production’s funniest and most tense moments. Their chemistry kept the story engaging. Holly Wandler also made a memorable impression as Sophie. Though not central to the plot, her mannerisms and accent gave Sophie a distinct presence.

Brazil’s direction tied these performances together effectively. The production felt energetic and purposeful, reflecting the passion she brought to the project. It embraced both the funny and uncomfortable aspects of Walker’s writing without losing sight of its characters.

As a first Fringe experience, Featuring Loretta was a great way to start: bold, entertaining, and memorable. If you’re looking for a show that is funny, unpredictable, and unapologetically chaotic, Featuring Loretta is well worth seeing!

This show had me in endlessly giggling. Every single actor was SO strong. Elyse is compelling as hell as the title character. The physical comedy in this show had me in stitches. A great way to kick off fringe- go see this!