Review: ‘My Brother’s Room’ at Hollywood Fringe Festival 2026

Part of this year’s Hollywood Fringe Festival and performing at the Broadwater Second Stage, “My Brother’s Room” — co-written by Angus Leslie and William MacDonald — is about estranged brother Bobby returning into his younger brother Carson’s life, only it turns out he’s not the hero Carson wants him to be.

Set design is intricate and thoughtfully put together, bringing to life the brothers’ shared bedroom. The production clearly took its time creating a bedroom that feels specific and lived-in, and that attention to detail helps establish the world of the play.

The staging of the room, aided by tasteful lighting, supports the play’s themes of family, memory and communication. Moments involving a Rubik’s Cube and an acoustic guitar are both strong and memorable choices, adding texture to the production and helping reveal character in a more intimate way.

Actors Luka Salib and MacDonald carry their weight as the brothers, but the chemistry felt lackluster in key moments during a recent performance. While the actors do have their individual moments throughout the show, the actor playing Carson is the standout performer, bringing a dimension and presence that helps anchor the production.

Direction by Leslie is solid overall, with some moments that work well and show clear intention. Blocking is efficiently managed, especially within the confined bedroom setting. That said, the pacing felt rushed at times during a recent performance, and several scenes moved too quickly for the emotional weight of the material to fully land. Fringe shows work under time constraints, but I would like to have seen more moments given space to breathe and develop naturally, such as having the actors sit in tension longer and allowing those moments to develop more organically.

Overall, though, “My Brother’s Room” is an entertaining show that explores both the positive and negative influences family can have on one another when communication and vulnerability are missing. While some of the performances and pacing could use more time to settle, the production has a lot of potential and offers a thoughtful look at the complicated dynamics between siblings and family.

For tickets to this and other Hollywood Fringe Festival shows, visit HollywoodFringe.org.