
Fringe Review: Trick Boxing
US theatre ensemble Sossy Mechanics gets Fringe Festival Praha off to a fighting start
Curiously compact, with one actor playing a handful of characters, the show tells the story of Dancing Danny David, apple-seller, romantic and the greatest boxer to walk this earth…or so his promoter would have us believe.
The real story revolves around the promoter (and narrator), the boxer-to-be and, of course, the girl. Call it a love triangle with a twist.
Throughout the hour-long performance, the main actor plays the part of the shifty promoter, the immigrant apple-seller, the bookie, the announcer and the swindler. The charm of this piece lies in the carefully composed transitions between each of the charismatic characters.
Brian Sostek does a beautiful and effortless job of moving from promoter to immigrant to bookie and back again. The ease of the transitions is considerably aided by the wonderful dance sequences inserted intermittently throughout the show. It's clear from watching these sequences that both actors are, first and foremost, polished dancers. Their routine is exuberant and light-hearted, embodying all the adrenaline and grace of the swing era. Even more delightful, however, are the training sequences that display the symbiotic nature of dance and boxing to excellent effect.
Given the polished portrayals of the male characters, one would hope to see the same level of characterization happening with the female lead. This dance hall girl who tutors the apple-seller in the art of dance, boxing and love, lacks the same vibrancy as the other characters. Perhaps, it is because she is more of a dancer than an actress. Still, her character is a minor one in many respects and her movements are what carry much of the dance and training sequences.
Furthermore, despite the polished nature of each of the male characters, the storyline itself did not live up to the characters within it. This is partially because we (or at least I), as the audience, are not led to care about the main characters. I felt a lack of connection that would move me more simply to a place of emotional involvement with the characters. In some ways, the strengths of this piece are also its weaknesses, as the constant shift from persona to persona does not always allow for a more intimate involvement with the protagonists.
All in all, the show comes recommended. The minimal stage design and the very compact nature of the show lend it a fluidity and light-hearted grace that moves the viewer to applaud its fairy-tale ending, despite its triteness.
Trick Boxing is playing every day at 7pm at the Nosticovo divadlo theatre until Sunday, June 6th. There are also extra shows on Saturday, June 5th and Sunday, June 6th at 2:30pm.
For more information see the Fringe Festival Praha website.
- Share your opinion on this article in the PTV Discussion Forum
-
A Day Trip To Some Of The Best Castles Shaun O'Banion
The results are in and the most popular Czech castles (based on the number of visitors) have been announced by the Czech state.
-
The upcoming TEDxUNYP event: Inspiration in a complicated world Paul Lysek
What is TEDxUNYP? Who is invited? Why would one attend? These were the various questions going through my head when I spoke to Mark Anderson , TEDxUNYP Organizer & Licensee.
-
Films to Watch at this Year’s One World Festival Brad McGregor
-
HBO’s The Sleepers Takes You Back to Prague 1989
If you’re familiar with award-winning HBO’s Chernobyl, then you will love HBO’s new mini-series The Sleepers.
-
JOJO RABBIT, shot in the Czech Republic, receives six Academy Award nominations (including Best Picture) and six BAFTA nominations! Shaun O'Banion
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced the nominees for the best in cinema for 2019 and among the nominees was Taika Waititi’s JOJO RABBIT which stars Scarlett Johansson, Sam Rockwell, newcomer Roman Griffin Davis, and Thomasin Mackenzie.
-
WATCH: Hungarian PM Victor Orbán Booed at Reopening of Prague State Opera House Caroline Marcela
On Sunday Evening, Hungarian PM Victor Orbán was received with jeers and boos from protesters as he attended the reopening of the State Opera House gala event. Protesters shouted out ‘hanba’, meaning shame in Czech as he exited his private car.
-
'Movie Barf Monday' - a weekly English friendly film night Ryan Keating
Movie Barf and Edison Filmhub are thrilled to present 'Movie Barf Monday' - a weekly English friendly film night dedicated to screening a diverse variety of award-winning contemporary and classic films in the new Edison Filmhub cinema and bar located in Prague's old town.
-
The Prague Orgy - a new Czech film in English in Czech cinemas Michal Kráčmer
LESS LIBERTY, BETTER FUCKS
-
Festival 4+4 Days in Motion Eliška Míkovcová (4+4 Festival)
Festival 4+4 Days in Motion to start in Desfours Palace, this year’s slogan is Nobody Has Anything
-
Lunchmeat Festival 2019—Dark Stars on the Horizon Tony Ozuna - (Photo Lunchmeat Festival)
Lunchmeat Festival returns to Prague at the end of September as the leading arena for cutting-edge electronic music and with more audio-visual punch than ever before. Their new motto is a challenge to the mainstream: “obsessed with audio-visual mindf**cks— & those who question the status quo.”
Authentic Italian cuisine in Prague
Best Irish Pub in Prague
Discover the history of Prague’s famous Charles Bridge
Trabant Museum @ STK Motol
Armádní muzeum Žižkov
Národní památník hrdinů heydrichiády

Prague’s # 1 source for Czech news in English…
.png)
Digital lifestyle magazine platform promoting life in Prague.