By Ernest Kearney — First Note: Hannah Leskosky is a wonderful ventriloquist.
Second Note: Her show is too short. (Wow! That is not a statement I am accustomed to articulating!)
There are nit-picks of course, which I’ll list here as references for her future shows.
Her puppet podium was too tall; it limited the audience’s view of her puppets and herself.
The puppet’s personas were too similar. Hannah’s own sweet and very winning personality could benefit from a hyper-sardonic foil. A ventriloquial figure is needed that is the polar opposite of Hannah herself.
And her history of ventriloquism, which is quite comprehensive regarding the Golden Age of Ventriloquism 1930-1970, could delve into some renowned moment “stomach-speaking” in man’s earlier history.
The “Voice” of the Burning Bush for instance, or the old Gallic tale of Philibert, the fifteenth-century French “gastromancer” who amused himself by using his ventriloquist’s art to screw with Joan the village airhead (“Joan, Joan, it is I, the Archangel Michael. Hey, girl, got a little something I want you to do for me….”)
As it is, The Unspeakable History of (Women in) Ventriloquism is a sweet and charming little show, but Leskosky has more potential than is conveyed in “sweet” and “charming.” All she has to do is pull the pin out of the grenade. Or let the unicorn do it.
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The Unspeakable History of (Women in) Ventriloquism
Onstage During Hollywood Fringe Festival 2024
Three Clubs (Three Clubs Stage Room)
1123 N VINE ST
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Saturday June 22 2024, 4:30 PM | 30 mins
Sunday June 23 2024, 6:30 PM | 30 mins
Thursday June 27 2024, 8:30 PM | 30 mins
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For More Information go to: www.hollywoodfringe.org
