F***ed Up Fairytales
Written by Michael Hagins; Directed by Akia Squitieri & Rachael Langton
The Rat NYC | 68-117 Jay St, Brooklyn, NY 11201
April 2-20
Theatre festivals are like a box of chocolates. You never know what you're going to get.
The FRIGID Festival reflects approximately 65 shows will run in rep at 5 different venues. Shows will run a bit under an hour. There will be one-acts and bits of longer works in progress; dramas, comedies and musicals.
I got to Brooklyn way too early, but hey, I found a prime parking spot. I must’ve subconsciously anticipated an exciting night. I’m an avid lover of fairytales. No, not the Disney versions. My bookshelves are stacked with collections of the originals written by The Brother’s Grimm, Hans Christian Andersen, and more.
As I opened the door to the crowded Rat room, excitement abounded and good vibes circled the air. This audience was loveable, which came in handy for the cast of players about to embark on an hour-long explosion of twisted fairytale re-telling where audience participation is needed.
As I got to my seat in the front row, a cast member warned me that I was in the “splash zone.” Was I about to get spit on? Sprayed with chocolate or breadcrumbs? My curiosity piqued, and the cast members made sure to keep us on our toes. They greeted and got to know a bit about as many audience members as they could before the play officially began.
When it did, we were immediately sucked into the world of The Brother’s Grimm. The Brothers themselves addressed the room to start this journey. The actors playing them had a way of making the audience feel comfortable and entertained, even while relaying some “house rules.” Don’t forget to tip your bartender, this is a 21+ show.
And it wouldn’t be a 21+ show without a drinking game. Yes, a drinking game. Every time one of the players said the F-Word, as instructed, we repeated it and took a sip of our 21+ drink. But the audience participation didn’t stop there. We were the ones who helped pick which fairytales would be retold; an element I really enjoyed.
One audience member was picked to roll a die of chance. For the next one, audience members faced each other in an impromptu game of flip cup. Lastly, teams were formed with audience members and the cast to play a new game that I found gloriously perfect. I’m not giving that one away. You’re going to have to see it for yourself.
What were the tales of the evening? First, we were granted the presence of a tale hardly told: The White Snake. What makes this one twisted? It’s presented as a slapstick comedy that left me giggling and laughing out loud with almost every second. The cast’s comedic timing combined with their improv ability made this story (and the show) one that took me away from the present.
The writing of this show by Michael Hagins is clever, stretching the bounds of the fairytale world to reach our modern enjoyment. The next tale was a re-telling of Rumpelstiltskin like you’ve never seen it before. I certainly never expected to see old Rumpel come so exquisitely to life in a film noir. I definitely didn’t expect musical numbers to be involved, either.
The last one picked for the hour was Little Red Riding Hood. Finally, a version of it that shows just how creepy, dangerous, mortifying, and traumatic this story actually is. What better way to tell it than as a horror story? One of our Grimm’s Brothers had a grand old time using a flashlight upon his face to set the mood.
The structure of this production was easy to follow, as the players were assigned and introduced (with fun entrance music, I might add) as general “roles.” There’s the Hero, the Princess, the Fool, the Villain, and the effervescent Enchanted Creature. Direction by Akia Squitieri & Rachael Langton brought new light to these old tales, including a cleverly placed chest with props galore.
There’re so many things I could speak highly about this show, including the admirable scripted/improv hybrid element, but this review can’t go on forever. If there’s anything to take away from F***ed Up Fairytales, it’s this: themes and lessons are everywhere, whether you’re seeing a story come to life on stage, reading it on a page or living a (hopefully) slightly less grim version of them. Our Brother’s Grimm remind us of that.
Get your tickets to unmissable, fun, endlessly laughable, cleverly crafted show here: www.frigid.nyc
Review by Amanda Montoni.
Published by Theatre Beyond Broadway on April 14th, 2025. All rights reserved.