Day: February 8, 2025

The Gin Game a Two Hander Featuring Two Great Performances at Park Square Theatre

Terry Hempleman and Greta Oglesby Photo by Rich Ryan

As a veteran Gin player my first thought as the characters began playing Gin was, what about the up deck? Is that just a variation that I grew up with or were they simplifying the game for the sake of the audience? Gin has always seemed to me like a game older people play. Maybe it’s because my Grandfather taught me the game and now about the only time I play it is with my Aged P once a year when we get together for a marathon Chex Mix baking and Gin Rummy Tournament. The Gin Game a Pulitzer Prize winning play by D.L. Coburn centers around two seniors, Weller played by Terry Hempleman and Fonsia played by Greta Oglesby, who are fairly new to a retirement home and begin playing Gin together. Weller teaches Fonsia the game as she had played a variation of it but when she was much younger. From the start Fonsia wins every hand which slowly makes Weller more and more frustrated. As they play they reveal little bits about their lives though in both cases, as in real life, they share their public version of themselves which isn’t always the truth. Throughout the four scenes the tone changes from that of two people getting to know each other and possibly becoming friends, to something darker.

I loved the performances by Hempleman and Oglesby they make it an enthralling show. I’m less enthusiastic about the script itself. I’m not sure if I see much in it other than as a showcase for two Actors. It gives both of these gifted performers a lot of emotional highs and lows to play. Frankly, it’s worth the price of admission to watch these two connect and spar. They find the humor in the script, they play the moments of heightened emotions perfectly, but the greatest thing they do, is to completely disappear into the roles. There was never a moment that didn’t feel true and honest, and believe me that is rarely the case. If you enjoy seeing two actors bring genuine truth to the stage, you must see this show. A couple of recommendations though. Get your seats in the center section, if that is full and you have to choose a side choose House Right. It really shouldn’t matter where your seats are, a show should be directed so that the blocking works for the entire house. That’s the one element that I would criticize Director Faye M. Price for. I was seated in the first seats on the second row of House Left and had Hempleman back to me for almost the entire first Act. The side wasn’t very full so we moved all the way to the end of the section at intermission, so almost level with where the stage begins and that was a much better view. The more I think about it, it’s an odd choice to stage a show that for most of it’s running time the characters sit across from each other in their basement thrust stage instead of their main proscenium stage.

The set design by Joseph Stanley is very well done. It’s a nice representation of the sun porch of the nursing home. For a play like this that really requires that we view these two as real people, a design that tries to emulate reality works to that end as well. Assisting to that end was Brandt Roberts’ Prop designs. I also want to point out the Lighting Designer Kurt Jung and Sound Designer Katharine Horowitz, particularly for their work in the scene when there is a thunderstorm. Their lighting flashes followed seconds later by thunder were perfectly timed to add a realism. Props as well to Stanley’s set in that scene when the roof begins to leak.

The Gin Game runs through February 23rd at Park Square Theatre in St. Paul. For more information and to purchase tickets go to https://parksquaretheatre.org/

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.

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Grease is the Joyous Final Word of Michael Brindisi at Chanhassen Dinner Theatres

Kasano Mwanza (Teen Angel) Katemarie Andrews (Frenchie) Ensemble Photo by Dan Norman 2025

Grease is a musical I’ve seemingly known all my life. I saw the famous film adaptation in the theater at age six, and watched it constantly on cable and VHS over the next decade. I was even in my high school production as a member of the ensemble. Grease and a healthy dose of being my father’s son contributed to my love of the sounds of the 1950’s and 60’s. Grease in the original nostalgia musical, on the surface it’s a love story between Danny and Sandy but it’s really a love story between the audience and the 1950’s. This isn’t Shakespeare in fact if I wasn’t so familiar with the plot I might be confused as to whether there really is a love story between Danny and Sandy. But you know what? That doesn’t matter, it’s all just an excuse to perform a bunch of 1950’s song pastiches. You had me at 1950’s songs. Grease is pure fun distilled into a idealized version of a simpler time. It’s the escapist entertainment that we all need right now. Do yourself a favor and take a trip to the past for a rockin’ good time.

Grease is jam packed with great songs, a couple of which are favorites that never made it to the film “Freddy My Love”, which I still find myself singing from time to time and “Mooning” which gets a great performance in this production. It also wisely imports three of the songs that were unique to the film version “Hopelessly Devoted to You“, “You’re the One That I Want“, and “Grease is the Word“. The latter is used as an encore after the cast has taken their bows and features Kasano Mwanza who plays Teen Angel. When asked who was their favorite, everyone in the theater would likely say Kasano Mwanza. His performance Of “Beauty School Dropout” is the showstopper! Mwanza holds the entire theater captive to his entrancing voice and magnetic stage presence. Always amazes me when five years in, I’m still coming across talents like this that have been around “but I never heard them singing” (The Music Man was another childhood favorite). The entire cast is solid, Sam Stoll makes a great Danny, but isn’t quite matched by Dayle Theisen’s Sandy. There are some real standouts in the Pink Ladies and the Burger Palace Boys. Anna Hashizume is spectacular in the role of Rizzo, she steals the spotlight in every scene she’s in, She plays Rizzo with a tough exterior taking no crap from anyone, making her vulnerability during “There Are Worse Things I could Do“, all the more effecting. She also has one of the best voices in the company. The last actor I want to single out is Evan Tyler Wilson, not just because he’s a magnificent singer and his performance as Roger, particularly in “Mooning” is a lot of fun. But also because my wife would kill me if I didn’t, she loooooves him!

As always the case at Chanhassen, the band sounds great under the direction of Andy Kust. Nayna Ramey’s set design feels like a 50’s inspired animation background and set the tone for this trip down memory lane. They even have a working Greased Lightning car that drives on and off stage a few times. Sue Ellen Berger’s lighting design deserves a shout out as there are several queues that help focus the audience where they need to be looking when there is a stage full of activity. Rich Hamson’s costumes perfectly represent the time period without solely relying of the standard jeans, white t-shirt, and leather jacket. His Teen Angel outfit is fantastic and works beautifully with the choruses pink outfits. Highest praise goes to Tamara Kangas Erickson’s choreography. Wow moments occur throughout, but especially during “Greased Lightnin“, “We Go Together“, and “Born to Hand-Jive“. Including a nice variation on the traditional kickline.

It wouldn’t feel right to end my review without noting the untimely loss of longtime Chanhassen Dinner Theatres Artistic Director and co-owner Michael Brindisi who passed away suddenly on February 5th. I had the honor to conduct a talkback with Michael and members of the cast after a production of The Prom in 2023. It was, and will always be a highlight of my life as a Theater Blogger. Before a production either of Jersey Boys or Beautiful, I stopped by Michaels table and we reminicesed about that event and I was touched to hear that it was a special memory for him as well. Michael has left us one final gift with his direction of Grease. It was a show that meant a lot to him, and that comes through in the pure fun and joy of this production. Michael didn’t know this would be his last show, but it seems like an appropriate bookend to his long and influental career. You’d be hard pressed to find anyone who’s been in the Twin Cities Theater Community for long who hasn’t felt the impact of Michael Brindisi. To many of us, Michael was synonymous with Chanhassen Dinner Theatres. Michael is gone, but his presence will be felt for years to come in the continued work at CDT and in the performances of the artists he directed and cheered for.

Grease runs through October fourth at Chanhassen Dinner Theatres. For more information and to purchase tickets go to https://chanhassendt.com/grease/

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.

But that’s not all! You can also read some of my reviews syndicated on the MN Playlist website https://minnesotaplaylist.com/ from time to time. 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.