REVIEWS FOR "DOLORES" --The one-act production at the 2014 Hollywood Fringe Festival

"I am so happy I was able to see you in Dolores last night. You were fantastic! A really powerful performance. Congratulations on being chosen for Pick of the Fringe." Paul Langh, Producer

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"You confirmed last night what I expected- you are an honest, sensitive, terrific actress. Really nice work. It was nice to see. Now go be a big star. You got what it takes." Thomas Calabro, Actor

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"Oh Michelle you were wonderful. I couldn't take my eyes off you! So truthful and interesting and poignant." Ian Tucker, Acting Coach

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"You were amazing, such a completely etched character. Play was excellent. Impressive work, very moving. I watched what you were doing even when you weren't talking and it was special. Seriously impressed." Amit Mehta, Director

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"You were really good. Played that Italian girl just like the ones back east that I grew up with." Tony Defrancisco, Actor

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"Serious, you were great. Loved the accent. You stole the show with your opening scene." Dave Waite, Creative Director

DANIEL ROSS, actor and voice over artist  (June 21, 2014)

certified reviewer
I’m an avid movie-goer. I enjoy big budget stage and musical productions, and generally approach my entertainment with the expectation that I’m going to be getting the most BANG for my buck at all times. I typically don’t seek out one act plays, but word on the street was buzzing about this one particular show at the Asylum Lab Theater, so I was compelled to give it a try- and I’m very glad I did.

The material in this lively, yet dark story written by Edward Allan Baker was elevated by the performances and interpretation of the script which had me intrigued and invested from beginning to end. Director Jeneffa Soldatic coaxed such nuanced performances out of her actors, which gave my mind no time to wander away from the situation at hand. Two sisters, struggling with their own domestic issues, clash and bend as Dolores brings to light many dark aspects of relationships and society as it was a few decades ago. Michelle Campbell, playing the title role of Dolores was as natural on stage as any film actress, yet twice as good, and able to convey all of her character’s quirks with as much gusto as I would expect during a live show. I simply haven’t been as captivated or moved by a live performance such as hers in a long time. Leah Patterson, playing the more mature sister contrasts and compliments Michelle’s character perfectly. Her hard exterior gives way towards the underlying love these sisters have for each other while maintaining credibility under mired circumstances and history.

I truly felt like a fly on the wall during the show, never once feeling like I was being “talked to” or “performed at” by actors. Much like getting lost in a good book or movie, I was delighted to find a gem at the Hollywood Fringe Festival like Dolores. For those that enjoy true escapism crafted with smart and vivid performances, it’s a must watch!

SEAN CANNON, director and writer (June 20, 2014)

certified reviewer
Watching DOLORES in the Asylum Lab Theatre, is a fitting venue for what is an intimate portrait into two sisters in crisis, one consciously, the other in subconscious. Its thin running time of forty-five minutes, betrays a bulk of content being digested, from start to finish. In the opening minute, we’re thrust right into the crux of the narrative, which doesn’t let up until its bittersweet conclusion.

Both LEAH PATTERSON, and MICHELLE CAMPBELL, provide ample range, and depth to these characters. Commanding a stage for the entire duration, the play hinges not on the narrative, but the characters being portrayed. In lesser hands, this content could have easily been derailed, however, both Leah and Michelle inhabit a believable Meisner-like method in this madness.

Director JENEFFA SOLDATIC deserves praise for hitting the right beats, at the right time. The sisters’ moments of silence, are quite striking, for instance, when folding bedsheets, coming together when they are (emotionally) coming together. It’s little touches like these, seen and unseen, that elevate this more from a great actors’ piece, into a realistic window of a dysfunctional family.

But are they dysfunctional? By the end, these sisters’ roles have nearly reversed, until the final revelation. It shows how similar they really are, deep down, and how small choices in our lives, ripple into our grander futures. Whether or not “we all form the basis of our futures when we’re nine-to-twelve”, as the script says, it’s that small window of time- the small choices we consciously, and subconsciously make- that have both great, or in this case, grave consequences, in our futures. DOLORES is a thoroughly enjoyable production, with strong female characters that feel real, act real, and should be commended to all those involved

These reviews can be found here: https://www.hollywoodfringe.org/projects/1816? tab=reviews

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DOLORES was selected for the 2014 PICK OF THE FRINGE AWARD. It was chosen as one of 20 out of 290 shows. This was the first year that the HOLLYWOOD FRINGE FESTIVAL put on the award. In Edinburgh, Scotland— the birthplace of the original and largest FRINGE FESTIVAL, the PICK OF THE FRINGE AWARD is a huge honor.

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