FALLOUT FRINGE FESTIVAL 2026-Day 4

By Erik Engman

Author, Clown and Improvisation Teacher, Theatre Critic EatMoreArtVegas.com

IG: ErikReviewsVegas

It’s already day four of the Fallout Fringe Festival, and I saw three new plays, all written by women! We have ants, snakes, piñatas, and stimulating theater throughout. Here is the next batch of reviews. You can access the full schedule at www.falloutfringe.org/schedule.  

Eusocial by Lucy Berger    

Still hungry ★★

Two teenagers lament the scheduled demolition of their beloved mall, while architects work to optimize a new structure destined to influence how society moves forward. Meanwhile, the ants arrive… “Eusocial” refers to the highest level of social organization in the animal kingdom, primarily seen in ants, bees, and termites, resulting in a single “superorganism” in which the colony acts as one. And in this play, if I understand it correctly, we see the chilling plans to force humans into a dictated society, resulting in the loss of their individuality. This is an ambitious play. Writer/Director Lucy Berger gives us a surprisingly short 20-minute piece that mixes video, audio, and brief scenes to discuss the concept of eusociality. And herein lies the major problem: most of the audience has no idea what “eusocial” means. I had to look it up on my phone halfway through. Another problem is that the scenes went by too quickly and felt more like ideas than relationships. They made little sense without other context, or didn’t lead to anything further at all. I love the concept and ideas, and I can tell a lot of thought went into this, but it just isn’t communicated well. At only twenty minutes, I think Berger has plenty of extra room to explore the concepts and express them through the relationships, which are the only way we’re going to be interested in what she’s trying to say. In the short term, I suggest adding the definition of “eusocial” to the screen at the beginning and adding the words to the audio dialogue screen, which was muffled and hard to digest. That said, I loved the wonderful ant puppets, which are amazing. I think with some work, this could be a very powerful piece. I think the message is valid and necessary in our times.

@ Vegas Theatre Company: June 9

DENTATA by Julia VanderVeen and Lucy Smith  

Scrumptious ★★★★

A beauty contestant, luring sirens, a sex educator, a Shakespearean poet, Medusa, and a puppet vagina are some of the women brought to life in this powerful one-woman show. Julia VanderVeen shines as she embodies these multiple characters, each expressing different aspects of femininity portrayed throughout history and literature. It’s a celebration of, as they put it, “feminine ferocity.” I greatly enjoyed this show from beginning to end. VanderVeen commands the stage easily as she explores the myths of our culture regarding the female of the species, giving us a wide range of characters to examine those ideas.  I especially liked Medusa, which was brilliantly realized, and the beauty contestant Beth Anne Skyrmes, who broke my heart with her story. This is a great, thought-provoking play and something not to be missed. VanderVeen is simply amazing.

@ Vegas Theatre Company: June 8, 12 and 13

Surprise devised by Marylene H. Cameron & Shannan Calcutt  

Scrumptious ★★★★

It’s Johnny’s birthday, and his steadfast girlfriend, Eileen, has organized a surprise party! But he’s late. And while we wait anxiously for his arrival, Eileen entertains us with games, music, and a piñata. We get to know this woman who has given all of herself to an uncaring man, and we become a part of her journey of self-discovery and empowerment. I would have liked to see more of that journey throughout the play, which would have had more impact later on in the story. That said, it’s incredibly beautiful and speaks to each and every one of us who feels they must be something they’re not for the world around them. Cameron is delightful and hilarious, and brings a warmth to the stage that will quite possibly bring you to tears by the end.

@ Vegas Theatre Company: June 18 and 20