[NoHo Arts District, CA] – A NoHo Arts 2026 Hollywood Fringe Festival review of We Are All Burning, a powerful new play by Travis Tobis that explores the human cost of technological change.
The last Hollywood Fringe show I was privileged to experience was We Are All Burning, written, directed, and produced by Travis Tobis. As much as I love the variety of solo shows, musicals, and performance art, sitting down to see a full-length play from beginning to end warms my heart. This play poses the question that is as relevant today as it was during the dawn of the industrial age. Where does man fit in when new technology is introduced?
We Are All Burning takes place in the early 19th century in the English Midlands during the protest between the mill and factory workers and the mill and factory owners as new technology was forcing workers to give up their livelihoods.
This play would not have been as successful if it were not for the writing. Travis Tobis, who also plays the character John Booth with great compassion, gives us a play that balances the thin line between preachy exposition and emotional gravitas. That is to say that the play informs as the audience connects with the characters on the stage. Which brings us to the casting of these wonderful and nuanced characters. Every character is rich in detail and specificity. The show moves at an even clip with plenty of cliffhangers between scenes.
It’s an emotional play at its core, but it is an emotional ride as well. One must thank the direction for this. Each movement is motivated and each character has at least their one moment. We cared about each of the players’ fates while we were at the edge of our seats. The lighting and sound design and set dressing kept us in the trenches with the protestors.
As wonderful as all the actors were, Rodolphe Le Feutre, who plays Benjamin Walker with great enthusiasm and a contagious charm, proves to be a rising young star. As our narrator, Benjamin Walker fills in the gaps and moves the story along just enough to let the tale unfold. Other standouts include Zachary Mondin as George Mellor, who is played with an intelligent intensity. Elle Shaheen plays Mary Cartwright, with a heart of gold and fierce loyalty. Sean O’Shea plays both Frank Booth and William Cartwright, sides of the same coin. Michael Alva also plays two characters, Thomas Smith and Joseph Radcliff, and is convincing and intriguing to watch.
We Are All Burning was a great way to close out the 2026 Hollywood Fringe Festival. Great acting, deft direction, and writing that is good and to the point is a recipe for a grand time and an enjoyable evening.
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