What: Midlife Catharsis
Where: Under St. Marks
94 St. Mark Pl.
New York, NY
Who: Recommended for Ages 17 and Up
When: Through April 7, 2026
Midlife Catharsis is one of several shows from this year's New York City Fringe Festival that we will be covering over the next several weeks. This show is Kelly Dwyer's one-woman musical about a pivotal point in her life when she reevaluated her life and began to make changes, even taking up surfing. She does not consider it a midlife crisis, but more a purging not only of negative emotions but also of the negative aspects of her life, and she named her show accordingly.
The show starts with Ms. Dwyer singing to very loud background music, which pretty much drowns out her vocals, but luckily, this issue disappears after the first song. Her voice is loud and clear thereafter. The singing is not always the best, but it seems stronger and more melodious on songs she is particularly passionate about, including a song about her loyal husband. The latter is a highlight of the show. Kelly's brave and clearly devoted husband actually makes an appearance in the show, even though he is allegedly not a performer. He does not sing, but he does dance a little.
The songs on the whole are not especially memorable. They are mostly very specific to Ms. Dwyer and her life. A few are more relatable, however, and thus more enjoyable. One of the best is a particularly relatable song about how you can't outrun your problems.
The show skips back and forth in time quite a bit, occasionally making it hard to follow. The subject matter, which includes sex, out-of-wedlock pregnancy, and abortion, is not appropriate for children, and anyone ultra conservative will not enjoy it either. However, others may find it comforting to learn that there is a way to get through midlife without a full-blown crisis but rather with a quiet reckoning.
And that's our view. For more about Midlife Catharsis or to purchase a ticket to the remaining performance, visit tickets.frigid.nyc/event/6897:1354.
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We received complimentary tickets to Crosswords for review purposes. Any and all opinions expressed here are our own.
What: Crosswords
Where: Chain Theatre
312 W. 36 St.
New York, NY
Who: Recommended for Ages 16 and Up
When: Through April 11, 2026
Crosswords is another show from this year's New York Fringe Festival. The show is purportedly about a couple who find that a serial killer's cypher has been printed in their newspaper, and they set about solving it, hoping to help the police expose the criminal and end the killing spree. And it is about that, but that is only a part of it. Mostly, the show is about the disintegration of a marriage. Therefore, if you are interested in the mystery aspect, you will likely be disappointed, as that is never delved into beyond the solving of the cipher.
If you are more interested in learning about the couple at the center of the story, you still may be disappointed. You never really get to know enough about them to care. Also, the two actors lack any chemistry. Thus, it might have been better and more interesting if the show had actually been more related to the serial killer mystery. The story as it currently exists isn't really that interesting at all, just kind of sad and depressing.
For more about Crosswords or to purchase tickets to one of the remaining performances, visit tickets.frigid.nyc/event/6897:1340
Tune in tomorrow for Tips for Tuesday.
All pictures used in this post are our own. Address any concerns regarding image usage here.
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