Star Trek: The Next Improvisation is an improv show in which a group of talented improvisational actors in ST:TNG costumes act out a completely original episode of a Star Trek series set on the second-best Galaxy-class starship in the Federation. Because this is improv, every show will be unique so if you wanted to attend all five of their performances you would see a new episode each time. There’s no point in reviewing the details of an improv show, what matters is if the performers are good at improv or not. These are, not only were they all very funny, but what they produced actually would kind of work as a ST:TNG episode in a very silly version of that universe. If you are a Trekker, this is definitely a show to be sure and catch, maybe even more than once.
https://minnesotafringe.org/shows/2023/star-trek-the-next-improvisation-presented-by-huge-theater
Kill B: The Epilogue is a follow up to the Quentin Tarantino film, which is setting the bar awfully high. Can the script for Kill B. reach that level? No. Is the show still enjoyable? Yes. Some of the performers seem a little actorly, as if they have their lines memorized but hadn’t yet internalized their characters so it feels slightly off. However, they all have their fight choreography down, and special shout out to Mike Lubke for his fight direction on the show. The standout for me was the performance by Natavia Lewis as the daughter seeking revenge on Beatrix Kiddo for killing her mother in front of her as seen in Kill Bill Vol. 1. Also on the technical side, I enjoyed the sound design, some fun props and set elements make this a very interesting show. This isn’t for everyone, but for Kill Bill die hard fans like Mrs. Stages of MN, it’s a must see.
https://minnesotafringe.org/shows/2023/kill-b-the-epilogue
5 Prisoners is an anthology show presented by Ghoulish Delights, the company behind The Mysterious Old Radio Listening Society, which faithful readers will know I have a soft spot for. Filled with local favorites many of whom are appearing in multiple shows at Fringe this year. Gregory Parks, Ariel Pinkerton, Boo Segersin, Tim Uren, and The Stages of MN Fringe of the Day Award Winner, Duck Washington. As the title suggests, the show features five short stories all exploring the theme of being a prisoner in some way. Each of the individual stories is written by a different writer: Pat Harrigan, John Heimbuch, Pinkerton, Uren, and Washington. My favorite segment was the opening story titled “Suit the Action“, in which Segersin plays an actress arrested for performing as Hamlet in Mens clothing. Segersin’s dialogue is made up about 80% of the time from Hamlet. Her performance left me wanting to see a version of Hamlet in which Segersin takes on the role of the melancholy Dane.
https://minnesotafringe.org/shows/2023/5-prisoners
THE STAGES OF MN FRINGE OF THE DAY AWARD winner!!!!
Ha Ha Da Vinci Is a mixture of magic, dance, and music, show creator and star Phina Pipia is gifted in all three of these areas. There are a few magic tricks that really had me scratching my head at how Pipia accomplished them, but then magic always does that for me. I’m the magicians best friend as I’m not that interested in trying to figure out how they did it, and I’m not looking to spot the trick, I just enjoy magic for magic’s sake. The biggest thrill of the show though are the songs. Pipia has a sublime voice, in fact if there is one criticism of the show, it’s that there should be more songs. If the biggest problem your Fringe show has is that the audience wants more, you know you have a good show.
https://minnesotafringe.org/shows/2023/ha-ha-da-vinci
4 Bisexuals and 2 Guys Named John Kill Dracula is the show for anyone who also enjoyed this years H.G. Well’s The Invisible Man. This is also a retelling of a classic genre tale which also utilizes the fact that we all know it’s a play to generate laughs. While not as polished as The Invisible Man, it takes the adaptation even further by updating the story to modern times. By doing so, it has some real fun with modern perspectives on sexual orientation, gender identity, and themes that wouldn’t have worked in the 1800’s. Faithful readers will know that I appreciate transgender representation in theater and this show features a Transgender character and has several performers whose preferred pronouns are They/Them. I love that there is a Transgender character, that there is a joke about them being “trans”, which isn’t at their expense, but at the expense of the ignorant old world Count.
https://minnesotafringe.org/shows/2023/4-bisexuals-and-2-guys-named-john-kill-dracula
Yes No Maybe (please explain) is an off mix of video, music, humor, and reality that begins with a spot of audience participation. While all of the performers do a good job, there is just something about the show that didn’t click for me. The idea, which is that Kristina played by Kristina Fjellman, a middle aged woman whose subconsciousness is in the form of four people all named Amber, begin to delve into a pile of notes she received back when she was a teenager. This leads to the revaluation of her first romantic relationship with the benefit of adult hindsight. The idea has legs and a few of the songs are good, but hard to hear over the music and lacks a flow. The parts that work best are due to the undeniable charms of Fjellman whose sparkling eyes and welcoming smile make the audience long to just hangout with her singing songs and reminiscing about the good old days. We wanted more of that 80’s pop music video feel and less video of plastic toys.
https://minnesotafringe.org/shows/2023/yes-no-maybe-please-explain-
We Can Wish: a Beatboxing and Music Variety Show embodies what makes the Minnesota Fringe Festival so great. Variety and a sense of community. This is a show that begins as soon as the audience is let into the theater, where Skippy the creator and star of the show greets and talks with each member of the audience. He poses for selfies and discusses what shows he’s seen and recommends and asks for recommendations as well. By the time the show ends you feel like you are old friends, I even got a hug out in the lobby at the end of the night. The show itself involves different kinds of music, there is beatboxing, which is amazing. The sounds Skippy can make with just his mouth on a microphone have to be heard to be believed. He also does some rapping, some serenading, a rock song, and one of the sweetest songs ever “Dancing in the Room” written for his Grandmother. Oh and dancing, there will be dancing. The show itself is different from most every other Fringe show, but then within the show itself it’s filled with so many different genres of music. The one thing that is consistent throughout the program is Skippy’s openness and willingness to expose and confront his fears and encourages the audience to do the same in their own lives.
https://minnesotafringe.org/shows/2023/we-can-wish-a-beatboxing-and-music-variety-show
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