Fringe NYC: THE SWEARING JAR

In my last post I said I had three short reviews. Well, I lied, because I wanted to put this review of a Fringe show in a separate post.

THE SWEARING JAR by Kate Hewlett. August 14, 2010

I saw two earlier workshop readings of this play, and it has been an amazing experience to see the evolution of this play from that first reading. THE SWEARING JAR has evolved into a tender, funny, sad, and silly play that I'm so glad to have experienced in all of the phases. Kate sings beautifully, and these are songs that she has written specifically for this play. All of the actors are vibrant and funny and the characters are human and wonderfully flawed. These are people you would know. They are worth seeing.

Carey and Simon both have news to share with each other--and so starts the emotional roller coaster that dips backwards and forwards through time. The audience is treated to the truly simpatico relationship between Carey and Simon, the songs sung by Carey at Simon's 40th birthday party, and the odd friendship between Carey and Owen that couldn't possibly be what it seems...could it? The play explores the nature of trust in relationships and how it is possible to do the wrong thing for the right reasons.

Though Fringe is over, I think that THE SWEARING JAR will have a life beyond Fringe and I look forward to another New York production!