Hugo & Maeve Join a Cult! is the brainchild of some very talented Ones to watch Alex Stokes, Brendan Nelson Finn, and Abilene Olson. Hugo and Maeve played by Finn and Olson are two best friends who are hiding in a broom closet deep under the Mall of America when the play opens. On the run from cult members whom they just witnessed performing a human sacrifice. Sounds chilling doesn’t it? Well, this is Fringe so of course it’s an Oompa Loompa cult and Hugo and Maeve are completely entitled, clueless, and naive. For about 40 minutes we watch Finn and Olson banter and try not to break out laughing thanks to a wig malfunction and a flubbed line or two. which honestly for a Fringe show, as long as it’s not egregious, which it isn’t here, only adds to the fun. The script is sharp if a bit short, the show runs about 40 minutes with the ending feeling a bit rushed. There is an audio cameo that will delight local musical theater hounds towards the end of the show so watch out for that. Finn and Olson play off each other well and Finn in particular showcases the type of character work that earned in a Twin Cities Theater Blogger Award for Best Comedic Performance in 2023.

https://minnesotafringe.org/shows/2024/hugo-and-maeve-join-a-cult-

PARTS is a solo show starring Mikala Bierma who at 40 decided to re embrace her love of performance and let go of the things that keep her from being happy. Bierma knows she has sex appeal and isn’t afraid to use it to set up her eventual humorous undercutting of the idea. For example, a cake that she starts licking a taste of frosting off her finger turns into face fisting the entire cake. Like her seductive cake setup she likewise teases a musical talent that blossoms at the end only to be cut short to get a self effacing laugh seconds after actually wowing us with some very solid vocal skills. These are all positives, Bierma knows she’s putting on a comedic show but it also lends itself to her message that in order to be happy we have to love ourselves. She’s demonstrating that quality so familiar to many of us that when we think we are doing well, we feel like we need to show others that we don’t think we’re really that good. By showing that she illustrates the behavior we need to let go off and embrace our skills at whatever level they are. Her’s comedically, vocaling, and in every other way are of a very high level.

https://minnesotafringe.org/shows/2024/parts

Yo-Ho-Hum: A Pirate’s Midlife Crisis is today’s winner of The Stages of MN Fringe of the Day Award! It is the story of Stede Bonnet a Gentleman in old England who wanted to be a Pirate. If you’ve seen the TV series Our Flag Means Death that’s based on the same historical figure. Stages of MN favorite Joshua English Scrimshaw, of the Mysterious Old Radio Listening Society fame, plays Bonnet. Natalie Rae Wass is his put upon first officer Tristram Shanty, clearly a play on the name of the protagonist of Laurence Sterne’s classic novel of digressions. Both veteran Fringe performers, Scrimshaw and Wass commit fully to the accents and over the topness of their characters. Madhu Bangalore plays the role of the pirate Black Beard who forges a friendship with Bonnet as he always wanted to be a gentleman. Yo-Ho-Hum Is a fun show filled with flashbacks and other narrative devices executed in very silly and creative ways.

https://minnesotafringe.org/shows/2024/yo-ho-hum-a-pirate-s-midlife-crisis

VILE is a solo clowning show by Francesca Montanile Lyons that is rather far out there. I didn’t hate it, but if there was ever a show that isn’t for everyone, this is it. I have a feeling I’m too old to appreciate everything that Lyons has packed into her 60 minute show, though I believe I grasped the overall message. For some, this will be the best show of the festival, for me it was fine, the question is how will you know if it’s for you or not. Without giving away the message if I can help it I’ll give you some examples of the content. There is some audience participation, some chewing of food and spitting it out again, Lyon gets nearly naked then wrapped in clear plastic wrap and proceeds to move around on the stage like a slug. There is also actual pizza eating with her feet, a rape sprite, and the show ends with Lyons reading a letter she has written to her butthole, who is played by a member of the audience. It’s performance art meets clowning, with a serious message at its core that feels uncomfortable to be laughing about. It’s challenging, and if that description interests you than you are probably the audience it’s aimed at and I’m glad to point you towards it.

https://minnesotafringe.org/shows/2024/vile

That’s the reviews from Day Two of the Minnesota Fringe Festival. Be sure to check back daily for new reviews and if you are Fringing and you see me, be sure to stop and say hi! Also for reviews of shows I might not see or for another opinion on ones I have, follow M’ Colleague Jill Schafer at http://www.cherryandspoon.com/

Tired of missing reviews from The Stages of MN? Do you find yourself left out when all your friends are talking about that great new play that you didn’t even know about? Never fear, that need never happen again. Now you too can subscribe and have every post from The Stages of MN sent directly to your email box. No more hoping the algorithm works in your favor and you actually see a post on facebook or Instagram. No relying on so-called friends to tip you to the best shows in town. To subscribe on your computer: from the home page on the right, enter your email address and click subscribe. On your mobile device scroll to the bottom of the page and do the same. You can also follow me on Facebook, @thestagesofmn click follow and on Instagram thestagesofmn. You can also read some of my reviews syndicated on the MN Playlist website https://minnesotaplaylist.com/ from time to time.

But that’s not all! Think I may have steered you wrong on a show? Well, I am also a member of the Twin Cities Theater Bloggers (TCTB), where you can read roundups of shows by m’colleagues and I when you follow us on facebook @TwinCitiesTheaterBloggers. We also produce the podcast Twin Cities Theater Chat!! which you can access through this link or wherever you enjoy podcasts https://twincitiestheaterchat.buzzsprout.com/ . Now you too can be in the know about all the fabulous theater happening in and around the Twin Cities.

Buckle up and hold onto your Hot-n-tots it’s that time of the year when I pretend I have no family or other obligations and devote myself solely to theater. The Minnesota Fringe Festival began July first and runs through July 11th. There are 105 productions and over the 11 days of the festival it is possible to see just over half of them. Last year I saw 50 of the 56 possible if you saw a show in every time slot, a feat I vowed never to attempt again. My tentative schedule for this years festival is a much more reasonable … 51 shows. Oops! I will likely drop a show or two based on feedback and add others for the same reason. The dilemma is always what to see and what to skip. That’s where I try and be of service by posting brief reviews after each days theatergoing. I’ll try and steer you clear of shows best skipped and make sure you know about the ones that are not to be missed. So if you are heading there this year hopefully these reviews will give you some sort of guide. Plus, every day I award The Stages of MN Fringe of the Day Award, to the best show I saw on any given day. If you’ve never Fringed before I highly recommend it. You can go to the Minnesota Fringe Festival website to get all the details here https://minnesotafringe.org/about.

Without further ado here are the reviews from day one of the Minnesota Fringe Festival.

Secrets Under the Christmas Tree: a Deedee Wallaby Mystery, as you may have guessed from the title, is a mystery play set at Christmas. Three couples have gathered to celebrate Christmas, when five mysterious presents turn up, Deedee Wallaby is on the case to determine who they are from and what they all mean. The mystery is surprisingly engaging and satisfactorily solved by the plays conclusion. There are clues sprinkled throughout so that when Deedee explains the solution it all holds water. There are some chuckles along the way as well mostly from Dylan Ward who plays Deedee’s boyfriend and provides most of the comic relief. Writer Brandon M. Prosek has created an enjoyable script and while it’s not the most polished show, fans of mystery’s will enjoy it. I’d definitely be up for another Deedee Wallaby mystery at future Fringe festivals, or perhaps an investigation into a haunted house for the Twin Cities Horror Festival.

https://minnesotafringe.org/shows/2024/secrets-under-the-christmas-tree-a-deedee-wallaby-mystery

The first The Stages of MN Fringe of the Day Award goes to 5 X 5 from Transatlantic Love Affair. This is without a doubt the “Must See Show of the Festival” and the one to beat for the Best in Fest Award. Five stories are told, one chosen by each of the five performers who are Mark Benzel, Cristina Castro, Derek Lee Miller, Allison Vincent, and stepping in as understudy for a Covid stricken Peyton McCandless is Leslie Vincent. The show will probably be as good once McCandless is able to return, but I doubt it could be any better, there were undoubtedly a couple of very funny bits that written in to take advantage of Vincent’s unplanned presence. The actors all stand together within a 5′ X 5′ square and act out the stories using only their bodies and voices, no props, no costumes, no set, though they do have some wonderful musical accompaniment by Mason Tacke. I don’t really want to divulge what stories they tell, but I will say that the way in which the first 4 are told is very creative, very physical, and very very funny. And then, with the final story, they completely change tactics and they break your heart, with the shortest of the tales, but perhaps the most sublime. It’s Castro’s story and her narration is imbued with such exquisitely crafted emotion. It was the perfect way to end a perfect show that at its heart is as much about the art of storytelling as it is about telling stories. *** Warning, the first performance sold out. So, I highly recommend getting your tickets early and reserving a spot. I would be shocked if this show doesn’t sell out every single time slot.

https://minnesotafringe.org/shows/2024/5-x-5

The Brothers Dangus Vol. 3: Wealth and Hellness tries to raise scatalogical humor to an artform and truth be told, they are more or less successful. But warning, when I say the show is full of toilet humor, I’m not implying the jokes are lowbrow. The show is literally about poo. Not metaphorically, literally. It’s nonstop and it’s beyond all limits of good taste. What it does have is extremely creative and witty wordplay, some political commentary, and yes laughs. The performers commit fully to the theme and their success at executing the furiously paced and tongue twisting script is nothing short of astonishing. But again, this is not for everyone, and probably not for anyone directly after a big meal. If you are someone who loves their humor the cruder the better, this is going to be one of your favorite shows. That’s what it is intending to be and it does so masterfully.

https://minnesotafringe.org/shows/2024/the-brothers-dangus-vol-3-wealth-and-hellness

Minnesota Tonight is local comedy God Denzel Belin’s late night style talk show. Each performance Belin will have different guests, so each show is different. Assuming there will be a mix of the same elements count on each performance consisting of a combination of stand up, guest interviews, sketch comedy, and a musical performance. The show I saw featured the very funny stand up comedian Rita Joy, and an interview with local writer, performer, and comedian Josh Carson. Belin has done an excellent job of booking his guests, a glance at the upcoming performances shows an impressive lineup including Rev. Matthew Kessen, Duck Washington, and Ariel Pinkerton to name a few. Belin also shows himself to be a natural for the format. In the interview he gives Carson room to answer the questions the whole exchange having a very natural and fluid flow to it. Carson is also a great subject for the interview, naturally funny with a Zach Braff story that is really entertaining. It’s the kind of show I wish they would have everynight in an 11:30 PM time slot so I could justify seeing each episode.

https://minnesotafringe.org/shows/2024/5-episodes-of-minnesota-tonight-4-minnesota-fring3-it-s-minnesota-2night-s-1st-time-at-minnesota-fringe-

That’s the reviews from Day one of the Minnesota Fringe Festival. Be sure to check back daily for new reviews and if you are Fringing and you see me, be sure to stop and say hi! Also for reviews of shows I might not see or for another opinion on ones I have, follow M’ Colleague Jill Schafer at http://www.cherryandspoon.com/

Tired of missing reviews from The Stages of MN? Do you find yourself left out when all your friends are talking about that great new play that you didn’t even know about? Never fear, that need never happen again. Now you too can subscribe and have every post from The Stages of MN sent directly to your email box. No more hoping the algorithm works in your favor and you actually see a post on facebook or Instagram. No relying on so-called friends to tip you to the best shows in town. To subscribe on your computer: from the home page on the right, enter your email address and click subscribe. On your mobile device scroll to the bottom of the page and do the same. You can also follow me on Facebook, @thestagesofmn click follow and on Instagram thestagesofmn. You can also read some of my reviews syndicated on the MN Playlist website https://minnesotaplaylist.com/ from time to time.

But that’s not all! Think I may have steered you wrong on a show? Well, I am also a member of the Twin Cities Theater Bloggers (TCTB), where you can read roundups of shows by m’colleagues and I when you follow us on facebook @TwinCitiesTheaterBloggers. We also produce the podcast Twin Cities Theater Chat!! which you can access through this link or wherever you enjoy podcasts https://twincitiestheaterchat.buzzsprout.com/ . Now you too can be in the know about all the fabulous theater happening in and around the Twin Cities.