[NoHo Arts District, CA] – A NoHo Arts theatre review of Atypical Grace at the Hollywood Fringe Festival 2025.
There is nothing typical about the one-woman show, Atypical Grace. Performer Maria Fagan Hassani, who also created and wrote the show, brings us a subject rarely presented on stage. Mainly, the trials and tribulations of parents and professionals who work with children with learning disabilities. Ms. Hussani brilliantly performs a dozen different characters to simulate a parent’s group meeting. The group’s leader is Marilyn. She herself is dealing with some issues concerning her daughter and granddaughter. All these situations swirl around us from the stage and three carefully placed chairs. The inhabitants of each of these chairs forward the story and introduce the audience to people we may not understand fully at first, but by the end of the show, we are fully on their side.
Ms. Hassani does a wonderful job inhabiting these characters. We can also tell that she seems to know them very well. I was not confused at all by any of these many very different people, for Ms. Hassani speaks in each of their unique voices and in some cases, their own very specific body language. I found Atypical Grace to be very well written and the pace and variety of the character ensured that not a dull moment was to be had.
A special shout-out has to be given to the director, Heather Dowling, and the producer, Jessica Lynn Johnson, both of Soaring Solo Studios. Their work with many other solo artists is to be applauded and hailed. Atypical Grace is yet another success story. On the subject of family dynamics, I must say that there were moments in the show that spoke to me on a very personal level and the way Ms. Hassani handled those moments was with great care and grace.
This is a wonderful show and Maria Fagan Hassani is a rare talent. There are still a couple of performances I would urge you to experience. There is something in this show for absolutely everyone.
Tickets:
https://www.hollywoodfringe.org/projects/10815?tab=tickets
When:
Saturday, June 7 at 5:45 PM
Sunday, June 22 at 4:00 PM
Friday, June 27 at 7:00 PM
Where:
The Zephyr Theatre
7456 Melrose Ave, West Hollywood