Fringe Festival impresses with eclectic short plays

The fourth annual Vegas Fringe Festival is back at Las Vegas Little Theatre with an eclectic selection of short plays that range from sketches written on a cellphone to a musical. Here are my favorites:

■ Fringe theater should push boundaries, and Porcelain Bomb’s production of “The Humble Assessment” (written by Kris Saknussemm and directed by Jason Defreitas) does. Job applicant Richard Humble, played with mounting desperation by Mark Brunton, suffers the job interview from hell when he is interviewed by the giant red lips of Interviewer 1, brilliantly voiced by Erica Griffin. Humble’s moral shortcomings, which at first seem venial, are further revealed under his relentless interrogation by the white-bearded lips of the even more diabolical Interviewer 2, voiced by the truly frightening Jim Earp. Grade: B

■ “Moil Beside the Rock” is set in San Francisco at the start of the Civil War. This powerful play about two men’s conflicting visions of life was written by Ernie Curcio and directed by Maggie Winn-Jones for Mountain Mama Thespians. Curcio plays Albert, who dreams of sailing away in the ships he guides to port as a lighthouse keeper. But the pig farmer Peter, movingly played by Taylor Hanes, points out that most of the sailors on those ships yearn for home. The conflict is as old as Odysseus, but Curcio makes it new. Grade: A

■ Curcio is a playwright in residence at Cockroach Theatre, and he shows his versatility in Cockroach’s presentation of his short musical, “Sudoku” — with lyrics by Jolana Adamson and music by Jolana Adamson and Angela Chan and directed by Will Adamson with musical accompaniment by Alec Bart. Glenn Heath plays Clint, a man tormented with anxiety disorder and obsessed by the titular number puzzle. His wife, Jocelyn, gracefully played by Jacquelyn Holland-Wright, wants him to come with her to a family gathering, but will he have the courage to make it out the door? Heath’s torment as Clint is palpable. The play’s stirring songbook is well sung. Grade: A

■ “Two Wrongs,” written by actor Scott Caan (“Hawaii Five-O”) and directed by Ryan Balint for APK Productions, is a story about a lonely man and a neurotic woman who happen to meet at their therapist’s office. Or is it happenstance? The therapist faces an uncomfortable ethical dilemma when he appears to be living out his own fantasies through his two patients. This contemporary comedy features Paul Cieslewicz as an adorable though ethically disturbing Julian with Dustin Sisney and Penni Paskett delivering their dialogue as the attractive Terry and Shelly with flawless timing. Grade: A

■ “The Exhibition: Scenes from the Life of John Merrick,” by Thomas Gibbons and directed by Gus Langley for Olde English Productions, features Shane Cullum as the infamous Elephant Man and J.J. Gatesman as Sir Frederick Treves, his conflicted mentor who can see John’s interior beauty but cannot bring himself to touch his repulsive body. Both actors are sensitive and intelligent. Grade: B

■ An audience favorite is back this year with “Dick Johnson 2: Private Eyes.” This spoof of old-time radio presented by Poor Richard’s Players was written by Maxim Lardent and Mark Valentin and directed by Lysander Abadia. Onstage sound effects and the talented cast make the slapstick great fun. Grade: B

■ “Candidate Burton,” written by Adam Harrell and directed by Amy Leigh for QuadraNine, is a comic morality tale that is surprisingly touching thanks to sensitive portrayals by Lucas Burton and Amanda Bennett as the young lovers. Bob Gratrix is scary as the Judge of Time. John C. Hughes, Brandon McClenahan and Kim Glover make amusing heavenly court officers. Grade: B

■ Among the outstanding performers at this year’s festival, Mary Alice Brunod Burack received a well-deserved ovation as the aging actress in Robert Anderson’s “The Last Act is a Solo,” directed by Phil Randall for Speeding Theatre-Over 55 in the Black Box. Grade: A