Montreal Fringe 2013 with Maja. Alex Cross

Alex Cross and His Rise to Fame is a story rife with conspiracy theories, sex, drugs, and rock and roll. Yet, for all this, it fails to come off as edgy or sexy. Playwright and director Franco DeCrescentis gives us the story of Richard Dick (Kenny Streule), a talentless, pathetic boy who wants to be a rich and famous superstar. The devil, seeing a chance for gain, approaches him and, soon enough, he is transformed into Alex Cross, an ultra-famous front for the devil’s intentions, which revolve around controlling the world through the Illumanti and entertainment industry. That the story isn’t very original can be forgiven – it’s an interesting concept and one that has potential. Unfortunately, the play never quite lives up to its potential. It’s too long and the acting is too uneven to make a cohesive show- it bounces from a well put-together performance to something reminiscent of a high school play.

The script is not very clever or funny, though it tries to be both desperately. It just ends up being too obvious – Beelzebub records? Really? It could be trying to make a bigger point about the stupidity and blindness that comes with fame, but it just misses the mark. Instead, it comes off as a too obvious and very amateur effort. It’s a bit much to believe that Dick/Alex and his adoring fans could be so stupid as to be fooled. Having said that, the audience did seem pretty receptive to the show’s brand of humour, so, with some tightening up and reworking, the script and show does have the chance to be a fun night out.

Director and writer: Franco De Crescentis

The Cast
Kenny Streule	Alex Cross
Donald Shepherd	Baal
Franco De Crescentis	Gavin
Jason Yearow	Narrator & Various Roles
Anne-Josie Roy	Various Roles
Catherine Karas	Various Roles
Daphne Morin	Various Roles
Jenny Walker	Various Roles
Kathleen Glynn	Various Roles
Stéphanie Bijou	Various Roles
Yan Thivierge	Various Roles
The Creative Team
Franco De Crescentis	Playwright, Producer, Director