KC Fringe "Hexing Hitler" review by WatchNSee

Hexing Hitler puts a spell on you

Rating: 3

Hexing Hitler

KC Fringe Festival

Another exciting year kicks off for this 2011 KC Fringe Festival. Watching folks wander toward their chosen shows and events with an air of excitement and eagerness couldn't help but make the swirling crowds feel charged with electricity, surging out to connect with the many creative outlets.

This year's first review took me to a Fringe favorite of many seasons, Bryan Colley and Tara Varney. And this year's presentation, "Hexing Hitler", has proven the writing talents of Colley and Varney to entertain and make you think. What would happen if a group of dabbling occultists decided to try and help out the war effort? Could a hex be done if the right words are chanted and enough rum consumed? "Hexing Hitler" tries to recall what happened on that cold winter night in 1941, when a "Life" magazine photographer takes photos of a drunken writer, his worried for his well being wife, a sly socialite, and her well meaning but egocentric boyfriend call upon mystic powers to bring the downfall of Adolf Hitler.

While the performance was enjoyable to watch and the story entertaining, I couldn't help but watch Melody Butler as Ruth Birdseye bring a life and depth to her character that drew the audience to her performance much like the "mystic power" to cast the hexing blow against the Reich. Her interactions with the rest of the cast seemed to draw out a deeper "mojo", making the scenes almost ebb and flow at her command.  Kipp Simmons as William Seabrook made me hearken back to old black and white monster movies where the in the known professor shares back story and direction to drive the story forward. His presentation of his adventures could have been overdone, making the B-rate film feel of the piece fall apart, but Simmons gave it a life and focus that kept the cheese out and texture in.

Off-Center Theatre at Crown Center was a perfect location for this show. Being close enough to the performers lets you feel almost a part of the circle of magic cast by characters and actors alike, but not cramped and uncomfortable to distract you from the story. Another plus of the location is the fine bar available to patrons wanting to get in. But one of the best parts of this show was the swag you could buy. For $5, the crew was selling miniature Hitler voodoo dolls. These micro-dictators are a sure to be sold out fast but not as fast as tickets to these performances. Be sure to catch one of the six more performances at the Off-Center Theatre at Crown Center. Times and dates can be found at www.kcfringe.org or at Fringe Central.