5 STARS GLOBAL NEWS. 5 STARS WINNIPEG FREE PRESS.
One of 18 worldwide ‘Best of’ shows selected to participate in the Fringe Encore series, Off-Broadway, at the historic Soho Playhouse in New York City in 2019. Sell-out run. Finalist for Offies OnComm award, Edinburgh, 2022. An inspirational true story about overcoming obstacles, pursuing passions and the healing power of music. A heartfelt passion project that began as an idea after a devastating life event caused Keith Alessi to think differently about his future. “Alessi’s inspirational and compelling tale will pluck at your heart strings, claw hammer style”~Rob Williams-Winnipeg Free Press
Content Notes: Mental Health references to depression.
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https://apt613.ca/fringe-review-tomatoes-tried-to-kill-me-but-banjos-saved-my-life-2/
Great show, good story, honest, raw and funny.
Wonderful show! Keith Alessi is a natural storyteller, and punctuates his performance with many jokes and banjo licks. He tells of people and events that have shaped his life, and how banjos and bluegrass have given him focus and a sense of community, and it is just delightful to listen to him share all of this. Highly recommend this show!
Get past the title, and the requisite banjo jokes, this is serious stuff. Serious can be good, and in this case very, very good. Keith Alessi has a story to tell, it is his, and it is quite something. From humble, Italian family beginnings to financial success, to midlife banjo crisis. Who hasn’t been there? Throw in a life threatening – altering medical fork in the road and here we are. Alessi is an affable, approachable straight-shooting story teller, lover of terrible jokes, and a not too bad string plucker. It is impossible not to get caught up in his riveting ride. Warning, there may be clapping, foot stomping, singing, and all the feels.
– hipCRANK