Number’s Up!

Written and Performed by: John Leo
Director (or Directorial Consultation {depending if you read the Festival Program or John’s Post Card}): Audrey Crabtree
John’s Co-Star: Machopeachu or Pinochle (Not Credited: in the festival program or John’s post card.)

Knowing that Audrey Crabtree – also one of the main festival directors, directed John Leo and from seeing John last year and concluding with an excellent director this performer and John’s show can really be spectacular, I was prepared for a treat. With Audrey’s hands directing – all of those dead moments would be alive and active. John has the possibility of achieving greatness with his show – and it is a nice show. John has the ability of achieving much, much, much more than this audience saw. His ideas are excellent – but the performance lacks a punch, pushing of the envelope, at moment’s quietness that is needed and a further extension of this physicality. There was an over all feeling that part of the show seemed lost and undirected. There were magical but it was spotty moments that happened through out the show. Of course the best moment and part of the show that got the most laughs was with John’s co-star Pinochle. Pinochle is always 100% in the moments. Pinochle doing what Pinochle does best. Pinochle spends the right amount of time on stage and would love to see more of Pinochle. For me one of the important things for a performer is to believe that they are 100% there. Pinochle achieved this, Pinochle’s co-star did not. In the show “Party Of One” with Noël Williams in her Saturday night late show she left everything on stage. When she finished she was totally drained. Would love to see John come off stage like that, leaving everything on stage. That does not mean he must run around as fast as he can to get tired. You can pour out all your energy just standing on stage being very still.

As to the direction – from speaking with Audrey after the show - she was surprised that she was credited. She did do some directing of John Leo but from what I understand not that much and they have not worked together in something like 2 months. If you choose to have a director or a director/developer/co-creator of your show, it is someone that you should trust and you should put your show in their hands, trusting what they say and follow their direction or at least try it out in performance, developing your working relationship between you. Finding the right director for you is important. Do one or two sessions to see if you like working together. I have no idea the details of this performer creator and director relationship - but with strong direction John and his show or a new show can be a great powerful show. I look forwards to seeing the developement of John Leo and Pinochle's show but only if there is real direction.


John and Pinochle has two more shows. (Thursday 9/25 at 7 PM and Saturday 9/27 at 7 PM) but sometimes the program is wrong so check the web site or call the box office