[NoHo Arts District, CA] – A NoHo Arts theatre review of Rag Doll on a Bomb Site at the Hollywood Fringe Festival 2025.
The date was August 31, 1928. The place, Berlin’s Theatre am Schifftbauerdamm. The event was the premiere of Bertolt Brecht’s Three Penny Opera. Minutes before actress Lotte Lenya was about to portray Jenny Diver, Kurt Weill, Lotte’s husband, bursts in and demands that the performance be cancelled because Lotte’s name was somehow omitted from the playbill. Lotte protests and so begins the play.
But, we are not in Berlin. We are at the Hudson Guild Theatre 97 years later and we are watching a solo show called Rag Doll in a Bomb Site with the incredible Shelly Cooper as Lotte Lenya. I had the great privilege to see Ms. Cooper portray Maria Callas a few years ago at the Hollywood Fringe. In Rag Doll in a Bomb Site, Ms. Cooper once again transforms into another diva of sorts by bringing Lotte Lenya’s raw humanity and her painful past.
The show is so well done, with a minimalist set that allows Shelly Cooper to possess the stage with her dance movements, her beautiful voice, and her complete commitment to the character. Fine work indeed. Lotte Lenya’s troubled and abusive upbringing is presented with great compassion and great reverence. Ms. Cooper shows us Lotte’s strength and perseverance, but allows the vulnerability of Ms. Lenya’s countenance toshine through.
Solo shows are not easy and even a good one, like this one, can fall apart unless a solid team of collaborators are on board. Fortunately for Ms. Copper, she was in the good hands of director/developer Kelsey Miller and the producer Jessica Lynn Johnson of Soaring Solo Studios. Together this team could do no wrong. My only complaint was that I wanted more!.
One last mention has to go to the songs of this solo musical show. I was happy to read that the music from Rag Doll on a Bomb Site will be available for streaming on Spotify and Apple Music. This show was one of my favorites so far this year at Hollywood Fringe, and I have already recommended it to many of my Fringe friends!! Bravo indeed!
Ticket:
https://www.hollywoodfringe.org/projects/12077?tab=tickets
Where:
The Zephyr Theatre
6539 Santa Monica Blvd, West Hollywood
When:
Sunday, June 15 at 6:30PM
Wednesday, June 18 at 7PM
Saturday, June 21 at 8:30PM
****
Don’t miss a Hollywood Fringe Festival 2025 #HFF2025 show >>