Fantasy Artists - La Mama etc.

The Fringe is now over but i have 2 more plays to review. I think Fantasy Artists may have been my favorite play out of the 5 i saw at the Fringe this year. It was a well written, well acted comedy drama, by James Ryan Caldwell and directed by Javierantonio Gonzalez, about a phone sex operator who struggles with love and a meddling a sister. I really enjoyed it on so many levels: Mary Jane Gibson was excellent as Mare, the fantasy artist who takes on a slightly more naive yet very quick learning study / new hire, Lorraine, played by the also excellent Lauren Currie Lewis. Together, they make answering a phone sex line look like a vaudevillian cabaret directed by a psychology major. It's quick and slow, funny and sad, and keeps you engaged right to the poingnant finish. Meredith Hozman is also good as Parry, the TV personality sister, who shows up to "rescue" Mare out of her reclusive life. The two couldn't be any more different and that difference is brought to life as they play off each other very beautifully. One scene is especially hilarious in which Mare answers a call in front of her sister, looking over at her after certain things are said. And lastly, Miguel Govea portrays Shorty, the house cleaner hired by Parry for Mare, with gentleness, suave and fun double speak on the word filth. I recommend.