Mars: Population 1 - Reviewed by MITCH MONTGOMERY

Clever and well-maneuvered, this solo adventure to Mars says more about life on Earth than its straightforward premise would suggest.

SOURCE: Backstage at 5:58pm on May 25, 2015☆⚑

Powerhouse - Reviewed by NICOLE VILLENEUVE

The cartoons and superficiality of the 1950s are cleverly fused with the depth and inner turmoil of a forgotten genius.

SOURCE: Backstage at 5:58pm on May 25, 2015☆⚑

Two on the Aisle, Three in a Van - Reviewed by DAVID A. ROSENBERG

This lively farce mixes battiness with feeling in a story about the travails of a quirky summer theater operation.

SOURCE: Backstage at 5:58pm on May 25, 2015☆⚑

Victoria & Frederick for President - Reviewed by DAVID SHEWARD

A fascinating if slightly uneven history lesson.

SOURCE: Backstage at 5:58pm on May 25, 2015☆⚑

His Greatness - Reviewed by ERIK HAAGENSEN

A bracing look at Tennessee Williams at the end of his life.

SOURCE: Backstage at 5:58pm on May 25, 2015☆⚑

The Receptionist - Reviewed by Dany Margolies

This is a fascinating glimpse behind the scenes of darkness.

SOURCE: Backstage at 5:58pm on May 25, 2015☆⚑

38 Witnessed Her Death, I Witnessed Her Love: The Lonely Secret of Mary Ann Zielenko (Kitty Genovese Story) - Reviewed by DAVID A. ROSENBERG

The famous murder of Kitty Genovese in view of 38 apathetic witnesses makes for sincere but less-than-thrilling theater in this solo drama.

SOURCE: Backstage at 5:58pm on May 25, 2015☆⚑

And Sophie Comes Too - Reviewed by ANDY PROPST

Promisingly brisk initially, this comedy is ultimately a leaden queer version of "Crimes of the Heart," with pretensions of exploring the nature of the 21st-century family.

SOURCE: Backstage at 5:58pm on May 25, 2015☆⚑

Viral - Reviewed by MARK PEIKERT

A fearless and very funny black comedy about life, death, and the people who watch both from the sidelines.

SOURCE: Backstage at 5:58pm on May 25, 2015☆⚑

A Time to Dance - Reviewed by LISA JO SAGOLLA

A sparkling one-woman show about dance therapist Elizabeth Polk makes for absorbing drama.

SOURCE: Backstage at 5:58pm on May 25, 2015☆⚑

Live Broadcast - Reviewed by MARK PEIKERT

A tedious, pretentious look at how celebrities are unable to speak their minds without being crucified by the public and the press.

SOURCE: Backstage at 5:58pm on May 25, 2015☆⚑

America's Next Top Bottom: Cycle 5! - Reviewed by LEONARD JACOBS

More of an extended cabaret sketch than Fringe theater, at least these game performers know the drill-very, very well.

SOURCE: Backstage at 5:58pm on May 25, 2015☆⚑

The Fall of the House of Usher - Reviewed by ERIK HAAGENSEN

This naive musical nevertheless gives it the old college try.

SOURCE: Backstage at 5:58pm on May 25, 2015☆⚑

The Boys Upstairs - Reviewed by ERIK HAAGENSEN

This effective sitcom could be so much more.

SOURCE: Backstage at 5:58pm on May 25, 2015☆⚑

Notes on the Land of Earthquake and Fire - Reviewed by ERIK HAAGENSEN

A talented writer goes amiss in Hollywood.

SOURCE: Backstage at 5:58pm on May 25, 2015☆⚑

How Now, Dow Jones - Reviewed by ERIK HAAGENSEN

The songs are fun; the show is silly.

SOURCE: Backstage at 5:58pm on May 25, 2015☆⚑

...Another Man's Poison - Reviewed by DAVID SHEWARD

A potentially fascinating examination of race, class, sexuality, and gender is given the soap-opera treatment.

SOURCE: Backstage at 5:58pm on May 25, 2015☆⚑

Life Could Be a Dream<br> Reviewed by Les Spindle

The title neatly sums up the euphoric charge generated by this feel-good musical.

SOURCE: Backstage at 5:58pm on May 25, 2015☆⚑

A Lifetime Burning - Reviewed by DAVID SHEWARD

This sharp and sophisticated new play examines the blurry line between truth and fiction in our pop culture-driven world.

SOURCE: Backstage at 5:58pm on May 25, 2015☆⚑

The Columbine Project - Reviewed by ERIK HAAGENSEN

This labored attempt at a docudrama about the deadly high school shootings is earnest but inert.

SOURCE: Backstage at 5:58pm on May 25, 2015☆⚑

Al's Business Cards - Reviewed by ERIK HAAGENSEN

This slight, unsurprising comedy accomplishes little.

SOURCE: Backstage at 5:58pm on May 25, 2015☆⚑

<cite>On the Eighth Day...</cite>, reviewed by David Sheward

This one-hour play opens with an old joke and goes nowhere fast.

SOURCE: Backstage at 5:58pm on May 25, 2015☆⚑

Summer Shorts 3: Series B, reviewed by David Sheward

This collection of one-acts is a mixed bag but features some on-target acting and staging.

SOURCE: Backstage at 5:58pm on May 25, 2015☆⚑

<cite>After Luke</cite> and <cite>When I Was God</cite>, reviewed by David Sheward

A pair of Irish plays examines father-son relationships with a minimum of blarney.

SOURCE: Backstage at 5:58pm on May 25, 2015☆⚑

Reviewed by Jason Fitzgerald

Charles Mee conveys struggle without regret in his ennobling and lively re-creation of Brooklyn's multicolored streets.

SOURCE: Backstage at 5:58pm on May 25, 2015☆⚑