Reviewed by Amalisha HuEck
Keeper, written and performed by Michelle Murphy is another mesmerizing life story performed at the Hollywood Fringe Festival in the Actors Company's Little Theatre on 916 N. Formosa Ave. Fringe Festival is packed with amazing solo performances, yet this show clearly shows what theatre is at its best.
Michelle is like a tornado, swirling and steaming with emotions, you want to see every move, every moment, every tangible instance is a time of excellence. The performance is brilliant, strong, and totally fulfilling. From smiling to crying is just a step for her. She easily and so suddenly gets us into, 'How did I get tears in my eyes'.
The opening of the story wheels around the summer camp, the greatest place on earth where the greatest stories are told. A little girl full of excitement about what was supposed to be the greatest week of her life soon experiences uncontrollable weeping and homesickness. The first heartbreak is the worst and not meant for children.
Then many others followed. An innocent girl, full of joy, enthusiasm, and eagerness to experience life through protection and love soon experiences years of abuse and waits for her dad to leave, so her mom and she can be a family again. On top of all that, she has been bullied by other girls whose dreams of being a happy kid were already stolen. But her mother fought hard for her and saved her.
Michelle Murphy grew up in Dearborn & Detroit, MI. She graduated with her BFA in Liberal Arts from The University of Detroit Mercy and was part of a thriving Metro-Detroit theatre scene, where she earned both her AEA and SAG cards with Jeff Daniels' The Purple Rose Theatre Company.
Keeper is directed by Juliette Jeffers, an award-winning Caribbean-American actor, writer, director, producer, and teaching artist. On-screen, she has appeared in twenty-two films, forty TV shows, and over sixty national commercials. Juliette's direction perfectly align with Michelle's talent. What they created together is outstanding.
Keeper was a Best of Fest favorite at Whitefire Solofest in the Winter of 2023.
This show is - MUST see. It's like a piece of a jewel, so unbelievably shining with many incredible colors, you don't want to let it slip through your fingers and lose it.
Performances: Sunday, June 4th at 5:30 pm | Saturday, June 10th at 8:30 pm | Sunday, June 11th at 12:30 pm | Friday, June 16 at 7:30 pm & Sunday, June 25th at 11 am
Tickets are $15. For more information and to purchase tickets, please visit:
https://www.hollywoodfringe.org/projects/9753?tab=tickets