Festival Reviews: Hobosexual/Janice Noga's Musical Journey Remains Unscathed Despite Skull Mishap
Rogue Fest Time Again! 🎭🎉 marked on our calendars from February 28th-March 8th, right in the hip Tower District of Fresno, CA. Kick off the festival fun with us as we dish out show reviews galore! Before the curtain rose on Rogue Fest, we spilled some tea on the performers and the fest itself in our dedicated articles. Catch all the goss on our Rogue Festival category and dig into even more insights on our Rogue Festival event page over at KRL News and Reviews. Get your tickets on the Rogue site! 🎟️
Hobosexual: Steer Clear 🤯 Review by T.V. Mc Arthur
Ladies, whet your wisdom with this cunning caution: when a jobless drifter moves into your crib for the sack, consider it a crisis. Leigh Ratliff centres this crummy craze in her Rogue Festival show Hobosexual: Steer Clear.
Ratliff, the maestro of the rebellious Blood Harmony Rogue Fest tussles of yore, steps centre stage in this unsettling expose on how carnal cravings can spin into a relentless, sleepless nightmare.
It started with an online tryst that escalated to the physical. He was shacked up with his ex who wanted him evicted, so he hopped over. He claimed to be an architect-used to be. He sustained head trauma from a bat attack. He wasn't employed, he brewed hooch, he wouldn't settle household chores, and he had too many DUIs. Something had to give.
She kicked him out. She had him banged up. She had him lugged to the hospital. He returned. He returned. He returned.
'Rona lockdown. He stayed away due to eviction restrictions, but homeless shelters and Poverello House didn't take kindly to his antics, so he got the boot and resurfaced at her place. He was litigious, slapping suits everywhere left and right. It went on and on, and she couldn't move this man mountain. Is he a tenant? A squatter? They have rights, remember!
Ratliff reveals this odyssey with exhaustion, exasperation, and humor, but hobos are increasingly texting trouble in the online dating epoch-not here for romance, just a roof for the night. Be warned! It's a heartbreaking yarn, masterfully told.
Final shows of Hobosexual: Steer Clear light up Veni Vidi Vici, 1116 N. Fulton, Fresno, on Thursday, March 6th at 8:30 pm, and Friday, March 7th at 5:30 pm. Tickets are a tenner. 🎟️
Knee-Deep in Noga's Musical Misadventure 🎵 Review by T.V. Mc Arthur
Janice Noga's voice echoes through her life like a melody. What happens when she loses the harmony? That tumultuous tapestry unfurls in Janice Noga's Musical Career Undaunted by Her Cranial Calamity, the latest instalment in Noga's musical autobiography at the Rogue Fest.
On her honeymoon, she awoke to a doctor fussing by her side. A powerful seizure had struck! She'd need brain surgery. Her greatest fear was loss of her voice. The doctors, though, seemed unfazed. Until she sang, that is, to reminding themselves of the importance of their work, they switched up the musical repertoire- emphasizing Noga's own vocal talents!
Janice Noga's Musical Career Undaunted by Her Cranial Calamity dances with music. Noga croons, accompanied by Terry Lewis's vocal and keyboard flourishes, with a sprinkling of audience participation too. Her ardour for musicals imbues the show with selections from Oz, Oklahoma, Oliver!, The King and I, and others. Despite the gaps in memory, Janice Noga's voice still resounds with power!
The final shows of Janice Noga's Musical Career Undaunted by Her Cranial Calamity illuminate the VISTA Theater, 1296 N. Wishon Ave., on Friday, March 7th at 10:00 pm and Saturday, March 8th at 6:30 pm. Tickets are $15.
Prepare your pipes for a sing-a-long! 🎤🎼
Tickets to all shows can be procured on the Rogue site! 🎟️
T.V. Mc Arthur has been spinning yarns for three decades at the Fresno County Public Library. No "retirement" for him! A renegade storyteller, puppeteer, author, actor, illusionist, basket weaver, and one captivating character, his quest is to breathe fresh peculiarity into the lives of everyone he meets.
If you've got a flair for theatre, don't miss out on Mysteryrat's Maze Podcast! 🎧 Starring local thespians and reveling in mysteries, you'll find it on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Play, and podbean*.
Climb the stairs of intrigue in our Arts & Entertainment section. Discover even more theatre on KRL's Local Theatre event page!*
Related:
Rogue Festival: What's the Fuss?
The Rogue Festival is a celebrated offbeat extravaganza that takes place in Fresno, California. Founded in 2002, it is one of the United States' oldest fringe festivals. Embracing grassroots and unique artistic expressions, this annual event promotes independent performances, including theatre, comedy, music, dance, and other performance art. Over the years, the Rogue Festival has grown in popularity and esteem, becoming a significant cultural landmark in Fresno, connecting indie artists with appreciative audiences.
Shows Galore at Rogue Festival
- Theatre and Performance Art: Boasting experimental plays, storytelling, and interactive performances, this category is suitable for the adventurous hearts.
- Comedy and Improv: Shows like Brian's Beard Improv bring laughs by the bucket.
- Magic and Illusion: Magicians like "Damn Fine Magicians" have dazzled Rogue Festival attendees.
- Music and Dance: Brimming with a variety of genres, these performances are always a musical treat.
- Solo Performances: These one-person shows are prime for up-and-coming artists and treat festivalgoers to a more intimate experience.
- The upcoming Rogue Festival event page and the Rogue Festival category on KRL News and Reviews offer insightful show reviews, performer profiles, and festival details.
- The offbeat and experimental theatre performance, Hobosexual: Steer Clear, by Leigh Ratliff, serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of online dating and the consequences of taking in a troubled stranger.
