No One Finer Than Frank Shiner

If you thought celebrity stalking was a recent phenomenon, meet Marla and Kate. In the late 1950s, they were 22-year-olds with nothing better to do than have daily picnics on the grounds outside the gated estate of Frank Shiner, a combination singer and broadcast chef famous for his seven-cheese lasagna and gimlets with a touch of lemon basil. The girls (in prom dresses and crinolines, yet) moon about their idol as they strain for a rare, distant glimpse of Frank in the flesh—not his decoy, please.

In Sinead Daly's 40-minute two-person play, Marla escapes from this obsession into marriage and motherhood. Kate never does, and 30 years later, when the gruesome twosome meet up again outside Frank's place, she's still stalking. Thanks to the intensely felt acting by Aja Nisenson and Anne Troup and the clear-eyed direction of Danielle Kourtesis, this adds up to a touching portrait of life choices, missed opportunities, and living in refracted glory.



Presented by the Ladies of Caos as part of the New York International Fringe Festival at the Studio @ Cherry Lane Theatre, 38 Commerce St., NYC. Aug. 16–28. Remaining performances: Thu., Aug. 19, 5:45 p.m.; Mon., Aug. 23, 6 p.m.; Fri., Aug. 27, 9:45 p.m.; Sat., Aug. 28, 1:45 p.m. (866) 468-7619 or www.fringenyc.org.