The art of oral storytelling is a dying one. The natural grace and easy that monologist Dylan Fresco has sharing the intimate details of his personal life, and the heartaches and triumphs of his family history with an audience of complete strangers, is truly a gift. Domino’s Pizza Saved My Life, Fresco’s latest solo show is making it’s first appearance in the DC metro area at Goethe Institut – Main Stage as a part of the Capital Fringe Festival, after being a sold-out hit at the Minnesota Fringe Festival – the nation’s largest, for the last two years. The assured confidence and skill that Fresco entranced the audience as he shared his biographical yearnings is touching, comforting, and pleasantly, amusing.
Dylan Fresco.
The show begins in the dark. Little is seen but a dim spotlight in the center floor, but we hear the beautiful strumming of guitar setting the mood and filling the room with romantic Russian folk music. Enter, Dylan Fresco, as he begins to sing in Russian. He tells the audience that he is not from Russia, but his family who left in in late 1800′s is … And so begins the journey of self-discovery as Fresco, a Jewish boy growing up in New York, explores the intriguing tales of family lore, summer camp, and his personal encounters with global events.
I laughed, I sighed, and came close to the brink of tears in this 60 minutes of authoritative, emotional reflection. The honesty, and passion of Fresco’s odes connected by moments of uplifting song and guitar gave me everything I look for in a fulfilling, unique Fringe experience.
How Domino’s Pizza saved his life, motivated change, and deepened his outlook on the world is just one of the funny, heartfelt stories you will take away with you in this soulful, mesmerizing performance from a natural born storyteller.
Dominoes Pizza Saved My Life is a rare treat of personal nostalgia, song, and wit. It’s so good, I want another slice. This is one Fringe show you don’t want to miss!
Four shows remain you to get your piece of the pie!
Get more information and purchase tickets by reading our Fringe Preview.
About Author Sydney-Chanele Dawkins
Sydney-Chanele Dawkins is an award-winning feature filmmaker, film curator, film festival and theater producer, and an impassioned advocate for the Arts as a Commissioner for the Arts for the City of Alexandria,VA. Fearless.Tenacious. Passionate. Loyal. These characteristics best describe Sydney-Chanele's approach to life, independent filmmaking, her cinephile obsession with world cinema and independent film, and her addiction to live theater and the arts Her successful first film, 'Modern Love is Automatic' premiered at SXSW in Austin, Texas, and had its European debut at the Edinburgh Film Festival. She recently completed her second film, the animated - 'The Wonderful Woes of Marsh' - which is readying for the film festival circuit. Sydney-Chanele made her theater producing debut, 'Someone Who'll Watch Over Me' in May 2012 with Port City Playhouse, in Alexandria VA. Her next theater producing effort will take her to McLean, VA. for Neil Simon's 'Rumors' for Alden Theater's upcoming 2012-2013 season. Co-Chair of the Film Program with Artomatic 2012, and Programmer of Cinema Art Bethesda, Sydney-Chanele is the past Festival Director of the Alexandria Film Festival, the Reel Independent Festival , and Female Shorts Film and Video Showcase. She is active with DC Metro area film festivals, including programming and leadership positions with FilmFest DC, the Washington Jewish Film Festival, Arabian Sights Film Festival, DC Shorts, Rosebud Film Festival, and AFI's SilverDocs.