Shenda Tanchak

The Astros is a fully-realized play with something to say. It’s the sort of show that makes you feel clever for having found it in the Fringe program because you are so glad you saw it.

The (mainly) non-male cast highlighted the banal toxicity of the locker room banter (or what passes for banter in a locker room), nicely enhanced by the contrast with the sole male-presenting character.

The suspense builds at a perfect pace and the resolution could easily have been predictable, but took a different track. It was moving and believable.

All the performances were strong, but none of my party could take our eyes off Emma Cuzzocrea. Their Scott captured our sympathy while we waited in trepidation for them to explode.

Tyler’s final scene was terrific, but the one change I’d suggest in the script is to work just a bit more on that character’s internal consistency. Their hesitation made sense, but the way it was portrayed (why carry the others’ bags?) did not always seem like a perfect fit. No notes for the costume, lighting and set design. Bravo.