A Jingle Jangle Morning By Spektakular Theatre is a science-fiction play inspired by the imagery of Bob Dylan’s classic song Mr. Tambourine Man. It’s lighthearted, whimsical and perfect for families with younger children. The show was created by Micael and Adam Gauger who also created the puppets, sets, and music for the show. It’s the puppets and sets that are the highlight of the show that tells the story of a young girl who ends up traveling to another world through a portal in an effort to rescue the moon. The most impressive single element is a large blue beetle type creature played by young actor Georgia McPherson. It’s a very fun costume and kudos to McPherson for scampering around on the ground and bringing the creature to life. While fun for the kids, it’s levels out at amusing for adults. While the story and performances are good, there’s a children’s show quality to the production that really makes its target audience the 10 and under crowd.

https://minnesotafringe.org/shows/2023/a-jingle-jangle-morning

THE STAGES OF MN FRINGE OF THE DAY AWARD winner!!!!

Fargo Allegro By Nightfall Productions is basically as near as I can tell a line for line reenactment of the Coen Brothers film Fargo. As a big fan of the film and having been raised in Fargo I had to make room on my schedule for this one. I was rather amazed at how complete this production was and how creative in execution. The one addition is a jem of a narrator in the persona of Paul Bunyan played by Reverend Matt himself, Matthew Kessen with Heather Meyer as his companion Babe the Blue Ox. A fabulous cast and crew brings Director Brad Erickson creative staging to life. A combination of clever props, set pieces, projection, lighting, and a wonderful live-musical score under the musical direction of Hawken Paul. The entire cast is spot on but stand outs are husband and wife duo of Jay and Justine Carroll Melchior, Jay plays Jerry and has that Minnesotan accent down perfectly (my apologies if you weren’t trying to do an accent Jay), and Justine as Marge who has to play straight man to the collection of goofballs that surround her. Also Jeffrey Nolan who has quickly made it onto my must see list of local performers, gives a performance completely different from yet just as good as everything else I’ve seen him in so far.

https://minnesotafringe.org/shows/2023/fargo-allegro

Lost In Bear Country: Birth, God, Death… and the Berenstain Bears this is a one man somewhat improvised show featuring the Berenstain Bear obsessed ADHD brain of Phil Gonzales. Created by Gonzales with his daughters Willow Piotrowski and Mitzi Gonzales Gravitz, each show features a wheel that Gonzales spins to determine which topics he will discuss, all of which he filters in some way through his encyclopedic knowledge of a certain bear family and their multimedia empire. This is a high energy and very funny show. Gonzales is a genuinely endearing performer who actually piqued my interest in learning more about the Berenstain Bears, whom I hadn’t thought about since my kids got out of first grade. Luckily, Gonzales has a Podcast which is about to hit its 400th episodes titled Deep In Bear Country – A Berenstain Bearcast .

https://minnesotafringe.org/shows/2023/lost-in-bear-country-birth-god-death-and-the-berenstain-bears#

OPERA PUNKS is a musical Improv show from Secret Cult Created by Kelly Shuda a former Music Director for The Second City in Chicago. Shuda plays the music in every imaginable genre and the five performers take suggestions from the audience and improvise songs on the spot. This has always been the most frightening form of improv for me to watch, I’m terrified for the performers as I cannot imagine the pressure of trying to be funny, rhyme and on key all at the same time. This cast is fearless though and I laughed out loud (with all the letters) many times.

https://minnesotafringe.org/shows/2023/opera-punks

Don’t want to miss a single review from The Stages of MN? You can subscribe and have every post sent directly to your email. 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/

I am also a member of the Twin Cities Theater Bloggers (TCTB), where you can read roundups of shows by my colleagues and I on facebook @TwinCitiesTheaterBloggers. Follow that group, It’s a great way to see reviews for shows I don’t get to or to get another blogger’s take on one I did. 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/ . We post biweekly longer form episodes that will focus on interviews and discussions around theater topics. There is also weekly shorter episodes in which we Bloggers tell you what we think you should get out and see as well as what we have on our schedules that we are most looking forward too.

THE STAGES OF MN FRINGE OF THE DAY AWARD winner!!!!

Audacious Ignatius: Lost in Atlantis Kyle Dekker’s new one man show takes the form of a cautionary historical lecture of 19th Century Politician, the second ever Lt. Governor of Minnesota, Ignatius Loyola Donnelly. Dekker’s entertaining and well thought out dissertation draws the portrait of a man whose ego drove his every action and reaction. A man whose speeches drew large crowds and whose course of action was always to attack his critics rather than take the high road. Throughout his life a land speculator, Congressman, Poet, and Science Fiction Author but his lasting legacy belongs to unhinged and science denying theories regarding the lost continent of Atlantis. Like, for real. Dekker makes the case with this look into the past that the more things change the more they stay the same. Instead of the lost continent of Atlantis, we have the lost election of Atlanta theories. Dekker, isn’t so on the nose about it, like a good teacher he gives us the facts and armed with them trusts in our ability to draw our own parallels. Like a good teacher he also makes the subject matter fun as well as informative.

https://minnesotafringe.org/shows/2023/audacious-ignatius-lost-in-atlantis

Baldwin’s Last Fire is a mystery play, featuring as it’s protagonist the real life celebrated black gay author James Baldwin, set towards the end of his life during his retirement in France. It’s fun to see a mystery play at Fringe especially one’s that’s played straight, no pun intended. When children of immigrant families begin to disappear and then turn up murdered, one of the parents comes to Baldwin asking for his help as the police are doing nothing because of the color of their skin. They know Baldwin is intelligent and that he understands being “invisible” to those in authority. Reluctantly, Baldwin encouraged and assisted by his caretaker Park, begins to look into the disappearances. Director and star Harry Waters Jr. creates some interesting visuals such as a restless night and a Butterfly motif that are well realized.

https://minnesotafringe.org/shows/2023/baldwin-s-last-fire

1992: Mistakes Were Made! is the new show from Jason Schommer. I enjoyed Schommer’s show last year about his relationship with Twin Cities comedic legend Louie Anderson and I liked this one even more. Schommer has a wonderful sense of storytelling pulling details together and fulfilling the promise of seeds planted earlier in the show. It helps that I’m roughly the same age as Schomer and all of his references from things like Days of Our Lives fall right into my pop culture make up as well. There’s a lot of audiences that will relate to his story of growing up overweight in “sensitive” small-town America, and of revisiting those feelings as an adult at high school reunions. Schomer also asks us to meditate on what makes a person a bully, a villian, or just a good person whose done a bad thing. And he does it all while making you laugh out loud.

https://minnesotafringe.org/shows/2023/1992-mistakes-were-made-

Grindr Help Desk: The Musical is one of the hottest shows at Fringe this year selling out performances, so if this is something you’re interested in it’s highly recommended that you reserve your seat early or prepare to be in line really early. That said, this show isn’t for everyone, nor does it really live up to the hype. I knew Grindr was a hookup app but I didn’t realize it was just for gay men, having no experience with the app, perhaps if you are a user it will be more up your alley. I expected the show to be raunchy, which I’m fine with, and I didn’t mean to imply that I have any sort of issue with it dealing with gay sexuality, faithful readers know that I always try and boost the signal of LGBTQ+ productions. My issue is that I thought the humor would come from more than just saying naughty things. It’s a show with a great title, a premise rife with potential that is far too willing to settle for the shock value laughs and thus under delivers on every other aspect. There are definitely enjoyable moments and the star Jeremy Johnson is engaging and commits to the material. Unfortunately, it’s the material that lets him down as the songs are really just music that accompanies sexually explicit terms, and most of the humor avoids anything meaningful. It may be that I’m just too old for this material, I’m sure I would have loved it at 18 but at 51, I expect more. So perhaps gauge your interest on where you fall between those age ranges of 18 to 51. So again in warning this is not for everyone, I suspect men who have used Grindr will relate to the humor involving the apps features than someone unfamiliar. Also, it uses a lot of sexual jargon which your Mother probably knows, but you want to believe with all your heart she doesn’t, unless you are super comfortable with all of that, don’t go to this with your Mom.

https://minnesotafringe.org/shows/2023/grindr-help-desk-the-musical

Butts in Seats: How to Get People to Attend Your Shakespeare Production by Having Musical Settings for the Lyrics in His Plays. Numerous Examples Included has a very noble goal which aligns with mine and my fellow Twin Cities Theater Bloggers. Creator Ken Takata is trying to devise ways through music to make Shakespeare more accessible to audiences and thus more successful. The problem with the show itself is that it just isn’t polished enough or clear and precise enough in it’s execution. The artists who perform Takata’s songs are all fantastic singers and many of the songs themselves are very good, I was particularly taken with his song for The Tempest. Tanaka primarily needs to work on scripting the moments between the songs so the production as a whole reflects the quality of the musical performances.

https://minnesotafringe.org/shows/2023/butts-in-seats-how-to-get-people-to-attend-your-shakespeare-production-by-having-musical-settings-for-the-lyrics-in-his-plays-numerous-examples-included-

Gilda: A Tribute to the Beloved Comedienne Gilda Radner created and performed by Helena K Cosentino shows Cosentino’s affection for the late Gilda Radner. Alternating between giving biographical information about Radner’s life and career with reenactments of some of her best routines. Cosentino’s performances as Radner are all pretty good, not so good that you’d mistake her for Radner, but good enough that many of the routines instantly brought back memories of seeing them performed by Radner on TV when I was a kid. You’ll see all your favorites from Roseanne Roseannadanna to Emily Litella and Baba Wawa. The show pays loving tribute to Radner and was a fun way to spend an hour, remembering the brilliant entertainer that she was.

https://minnesotafringe.org/shows/2023/gilda-a-tribute-to-the-beloved-comedienne-gilda-radner

Let Me Say This About That is an improv show starring Raffi Jarvis, Heather Meyer, and Danna Sheridan. Like the other improv shows in the festival this is a show you could see multiple times as each performance will be unique. The question with improv shows is less about what happens, because it’s always different, than whether the performers are funny or not. These performers are funny. The show is structured so that at every performance they improv three fake podcasts complete with commercials suggested by the audience. It’s a fun idea and these performers had me laughing quite a bit which is something of a feat for the 22nd show in four days that begins at 10:00 PM on a Sunday. If you like improv, you are in safe hands with the team behind this show.

https://minnesotafringe.org/shows/2023/let-me-say-this-about-that

Hey faithful readers for more Fringe fun follow Minnesota Fringe on Instagram at mnfringe where members of the Twin Cities Theater Bloggers will be taking over the Fringe’s instagram account through Monday August 7th, which is the day The Stages of MN takes control!!

Don’t want to miss a single review from The Stages of MN? You can subscribe and have every post sent directly to your email. 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/

I am also a member of the Twin Cities Theater Bloggers (TCTB), where you can read roundups of shows by my colleagues and I on facebook @TwinCitiesTheaterBloggers. Follow that group, It’s a great way to see reviews for shows I don’t get to or to get another blogger’s take on one I did. 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/ . We post biweekly longer form episodes that will focus on interviews and discussions around theater topics. There is also weekly shorter episodes in which we Bloggers tell you what we think you should get out and see as well as what we have on our schedules that we are most looking forward too.

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

Hey faithful readers for more Fringe fun follow Minnesota Fringe on Instagram at mnfringe where members of the Twin Cities Theater Bloggers will be taking over the Fringe’s instagram account through Monday August 7th, which is the day The Stages of MN takes control!!

Don’t want to miss a single review from The Stages of MN? You can subscribe and have every post sent directly to your email. 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/

I am also a member of the Twin Cities Theater Bloggers (TCTB), where you can read roundups of shows by my colleagues and I on facebook @TwinCitiesTheaterBloggers. Follow that group, It’s a great way to see reviews for shows I don’t get to or to get another blogger’s take on one I did. 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/ . We post biweekly longer form episodes that will focus on interviews and discussions around theater topics. There is also weekly shorter episodes in which we Bloggers tell you what we think you should get out and see as well as what we have on our schedules that we are most looking forward too.

THE STAGES OF MN FRINGE OF THE DAY AWARD winner!!!!

In My Only Hope for a Hero, Duck Washington’s entrancing performance begins in a place of innocence, of childhood memories and boyhood obsessions and culminates in a call to action. Along the way you will laugh, nod in recognition, and be moved to tears. An exploration of the concept of heroism, what it means to be a hero, and the fear that stands in our way of being the heroes we want to be. Duck bravely shares the moments where he let fear hold him back and the times he rose above it. This autobiographical show traces his journey as he learns what being a hero means to him from his love of Star Wars and G.I. Joe to the examples of his parents. Inspirational is the only word to describe both the honesty and vulnerability of Duck’s Performance and his message. Thank you Duck Washington, your show resonates on such a personal level, It may be cliche to say but I laughed, I cried, it was a part of me. Do yourselves a favor and reserve your spot for this show, if this doesn’t start selling out I’ll be very surprised and you can guarantee your spot for as little as two G.I. Joes.

https://minnesotafringe.org/shows/2023/my-only-hope-for-a-hero

Pearl and Eugene: One Last Shtick is a wonderful showcase for veteran performers Nancy Marvy and Robert Dorfman. The story of two retired actors who used to be partners in a song and dance act that decide to try and put on one final show to raise money to save the retirement facility they live in. Marvy as Pearl, begins the show to gasps of surprise and delight by doing the splits. Dorfman’s performance as Eugene reminds me of the great Groucho Marx in the way he throws out what appear to be comedic ad libs. There’s a quality of the production that gives a sense that it might be a little under rehearsed, or is that by design? If it is a case of being under rehearsed it doesn’t matter, because the performers ability to run with it and make it part of the show adds to the laughs. If it’s by design, it’s a brilliant ploy that works like gangbusters. Either way the play is a delight.

https://minnesotafringe.org/shows/2023/pearl-and-eugene-one-last-shtick

H.G. Wells’ The Invisible Man is a devilishly clever take on the classic sci-fi story. Much of the humor is based on the knowing acknowledgement that this is a theatrical production. Doni Marinos plays the Invisible Man while Courtney VonVett, Tucker Brewster Schuster, and Brendan Veerman play all of the other characters of which there must be a couple dozen. Writer-Director Jake Sung-Guk Sullivan uses the ingenious set, props, and costumes to suggest everything from a staircase ascent to a montage of reports of sightings non-sightings of the invisible man. A great script, inventive direction, and wonderful comic performances from the ensemble cast make this a must see show.

https://minnesotafringe.org/shows/2023/h-g-wells-the-invisible-man

Funny, Like an Abortion by Rachel Bublitz is a political science-fiction play set in the not too distant future, one that unfortunately it’s not hard to imagine coming to pass. In this future, it’s illegal to have an abortion or even discuss it and women have no rights when it comes to their own bodies, including contraceptive prevention. Monroe played by Olivia Dubiel after learning she’s pregnant plans a surprise abortion party and invites her best friend Jade, played by Stephanie Kahle, to help her choose the best do it yourself abortion method, none of which are good. The play uses touches of humor to help the audience digest some very disturbing themes. It’s an important message and the performers expertly deliver it, finding the tone that perfectly fits the, ‘it’s so horrible you have to laugh or you’ll cry’, subject matter. There are several moments throughout where the performers break character and speak as the actors to the audience, including some truly sobering facts at the plans end. It’s a play with a powerful cautionary message that manages to be entertaining rather than just didactic.

https://minnesotafringe.org/shows/2023/funny-like-an-abortion

Hey faithful readers for more Fringe fun follow Minnesota Fringe on Instagram at mnfringe where members of the Twin Cities Theater Bloggers will be taking over the Fringe’s instagram account through Monday August 7th, which is the day The Stages of MN takes control!!

Don’t want to miss a single review from The Stages of MN? You can subscribe and have every post sent directly to your email. 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/

I am also a member of the Twin Cities Theater Bloggers (TCTB), where you can read roundups of shows by my colleagues and I on facebook @TwinCitiesTheaterBloggers. Follow that group, It’s a great way to see reviews for shows I don’t get to or to get another blogger’s take on one I did. 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/ . We post biweekly longer form episodes that will focus on interviews and discussions around theater topics. There is also weekly shorter episodes in which we Bloggers tell you what we think you should get out and see as well as what we have on our schedules that we are most looking forward too.

5-Step Guide to Being German is Paco Erhard’s one man show that normally runs about 80 minutes but to conform to the MN Fringe format it’s been crammed into the 60 minute time allocation. Erhard talks fast, I’m not sure if it’s to cram everything into the shortened time frame or if it’s his natural rhythm, either way he delivers a fast paced and hilarious show. It’s basically an hour of stand up comedy which examines our cultural differences. He pokes fun at Americans and Germans in equal measure. Underneath the humor there is definitely layers of well thought out social commentary. There is adult language to be sure, but beyond that it’s all good clean nationalistic fun.

https://minnesotafringe.org/shows/2023/5-step-guide-to-being-german

Reception from Downton Productions is a comedy written by Dennis Johnston set at the reception after a Star Wars themed wedding. It plays on it’s Star Wars themed humor in just the right proportion without hammering it in, leaving room for other types of humor and some drama. It’s well written and performed with fun costumes and the perfect amount of set design. It delves into themes of maturity, fatherhood, and parental expectations. I could see this fleshed out into a 90 minute play where the resolution can land a little more emotionally. I really enjoyed the performance of Kayleen Barlow as Mirabelle, the best man’s wedding date, who’s flakiness and cluelessness steals every moment she’s in. This is one of those thoroughly entertaining Fringe shows that give character actors a chance to shine. You don’t need to have seen any Star Wars films to enjoy the show, but for those familiar, it’ll be an even more rewarding experience.

https://minnesotafringe.org/shows/2023/reception

Climbing My Family Tree is Les Kurkendaal-Barrett’s one man show in which he tells two stories simultaneously. The first is about meeting his 99 year old Grandfather for the first time who tells him the story of the time he killed a man. The second is about tracking down and meeting up with unknown relatives through the Ancestory.com DNA test and website. Kurkendaal-Barrett builds suspense in his grandfather’s story by telling that story until he reaches a new revelation and then like an old cliffhanger serial, stopping that thread and telling about the next relative he met through Ancestry.com. Sprinkled throughout are stories of his familial history that he learns from his new found cousins. Kurkendaal-Barrett is an engaging storyteller whose charm and humor instantly connect with the audience. I enjoyed his show last year The Real Black Swann and this one was even better as he’s so open about sharing the details of his personal journey of discovering who his family is.

https://minnesotafringe.org/shows/2023/climbing-my-family-tree-

THE STAGES OF MN FRINGE OF THE DAY AWARD winner!!!!

A Girl Scout’s Guide to Exorcism by Melancholics Anonymous is the best show I saw on Day 1 of the Minnesota Fringe Festival. Thus, it wins the uncoveted and reasonably unknown, Stages of MN Fringe of the Day Award! This fantastically realized comedic play has something for everyone. It begins with the cast enthusiastically performing the Girl Scout song and from the first lyric until the final cry of a hawk, everyone commits 100% to their performance. It begins as a story of a girl scout troops last summer camp trip before junior high, with all the changes and insecurities that time of life brings with it. Friendships shifting, romantic awakenings, and concerns about one’s social status and infatuations with pop culture figures. By the end, a camper will have been possessed by the spirit of dead environmentalist Rosalie Barrow Edge, several hawk attacks, and the girls will learn some important lessons about friendship, ouija boards, and sexial orientation. The play co-written by Rachel Ropella and Timothy Kelly, and Directed by Ropella has a tone all it’s own that is an astonishingly successful blending of comedy, horror, and adolescent authenticity. The entire cast is committed but a special mention goes to Claire Chenoweth who at every turn shows us something new from the panic and pain of fearing you’ve lost your BFF to a BFFL, to the physicality of being possessed. Also because he’s one to watch in everything he does. Jeffrey Nolan appears as The Hawk in what is the first dramatic role I’ve seen him in. If playing a puppet hawk can be called a dramatic role, and honestly, I think it can.

https://minnesotafringe.org/shows/2023/a-girl-scout-s-guide-to-exorcism-

Hey faithful readers for more Fringe fun follow Minnesota Fringe on Instagram at mnfringe where members of the Twin Cities Theater Bloggers will be taking over the Fringe’s instagram account through Monday August 7th, which is the day The Stages of MN takes control!!

Don’t want to miss a single review from The Stages of MN? You can subscribe and have every post sent directly to your email. 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/

I am also a member of the Twin Cities Theater Bloggers (TCTB), where you can read roundups of shows by my colleagues and I on facebook @TwinCitiesTheaterBloggers. Follow that group, It’s a great way to see reviews for shows I don’t get to or to get another blogger’s take on one I did. 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/ . We post biweekly longer form episodes that will focus on interviews and discussions around theater topics. There is also weekly shorter episodes in which we Bloggers tell you what we think you should get out and see as well as what we have on our schedules that we are most looking forward too.

Godspell is another of those shows everyone knows and I’m embarrassed to admit I had never seen before. Well, I’ve seen it now and after a rocky start I really came to enjoy it. The first song in the musical is “Tower of Babble” which is exactly what it sounded like. It’s a song with nearly every member of the cast sings different parts simultaneously, couldn’t distinguish one voice from another and was really struggling to make sense of what was being sung and happening. I think a listen to a cast album ahead of time might have been helpful. After the first song, things got better and Act II vastly improved when I moved from my rear stage right seats to empty center of the row seats. Let that be a lesson to you, if you are planning on attending choose your seats carefully, it made quite a difference. From the second song on it was very clear that there were some excellent vocalists in the house, by the end of the show it was clear they were all excellent vocalists. The wonderful thing is, essentially every performer gets a solo, when that’s the case you have to cast the best, and Artistry certainly has.

Godspell was first performed Off-Broadway in 1971, the same year Jesus Christ Superstar, the combination of which may be responsible for the Christian Rock genre, but don’t hold that against either of these landmark shows. The show is created as being conceived and directed originally by John-Michael Tebelak with music and new lyrics by Stephen Schwartz. For a show over 50 years old, I was surprised at some of the lines but suspect someone has done a little tinkering with the script since it’s debut. The story is a series of parables taught by Jesus to his disciples as we also trace Jesus’s journey to the cross. It’s the sort of religious show that nonreligious people can be comfortable with, as it teaches the lessons of love and treating each other with understanding and charity. Thus, it’s also the kind of religious show that causes controversy with religious types as it seems to completely side step their core beliefs revolving around zombies and hate crimes. None of that Jesus intolerance here, just the love thy neighbor stuff, so pretty blasphemous. If you’re not religious but do believe in spreading the message of love and being good to each other, don’t let the title or plot turn you off.

Since every cast member gets a moment to shine and they are all brilliant I’m just going to highlight a few performers that had a moment or two that really thrilled me. From the moment the second song began “Prepare Ye” featuring Jordan Leggett as John the Baptist, and later in the show as Judas, my hopes soared, having him enter from the back of the theater created a moment that drew us to him and his song. It was followed by the appearance of Jesus played by John Jamison II singing “Save the People”. At that point, I knew if I never fully understood all the lyrics when the entire cast sang together, I’d still have an evening to remember. Jamison, brings a quality of serenity to the role, you can sense his joy in teaching his message, he seems above it all, but also completely a part of everything and everyone. Other highlights include what my wife refers to as one of her All is Calm boys, Ben Dutcher, who as always wowed with his vocal gifts. The showstopper song belongs to Wariboko Semenitari singing “By My Side”, wow, just wow!

The production was directed by Vanessa Brooke Agnes with musical direction by Bradley Beahen. Agnes does a wonderful job of staging the action, frequently using the auditorium for exits and entrances or just to have the character walk through. It’s particularly well used in the song Turn Back, O Man, which features Grace Hillmyer trying to be the center of attention even chasing the spotlight – part of Lighting Designer Kyia Britts cheeky contributions. Beahen gets the great sound we’re used to at Artistry from his band, and even gets a little moment to sing and perform, which was a nice little touch. I enjoyed Kyle Weiler’s choreography, there’s some really good group moments that seemed perfectly aligned to draw our focus to a specific character or space on stage. The scenic design by Katie Edwards was a little bit of a mixed bag. I didn’t love it or dislike it, I was sort of confused by it. The setting is clearly not biblical times, but when is it? It looks like a cross between a 1970’s era talk show with the band on stage, mixed with the Brady Bunch house and the Bronx.

Godspell runs through August 13th at Artistry in Bloomington. For more information and to purchase tickets go to https://artistrymn.org/godspell

Don’t want to miss a single review from The Stages of MN? You can subscribe and have every post sent directly to your email. 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/

I am also a member of the Twin Cities Theater Bloggers (TCTB), where you can read roundups of shows by my colleagues and I on facebook @TwinCitiesTheaterBloggers. Follow that group, It’s a great way to see reviews for shows I don’t get to or to get another blogger’s take on one I did. 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/ . We post biweekly longer form episodes that will focus on interviews and discussions around theater topics. There is also weekly shorter episodes in which we Bloggers tell you what we think you should get out and see as well as what we have on our schedules that we are most looking forward too.

There was a period in December where it felt like every show I saw was the one of the best shows of the year. There was Christmas at the Local, two Christmas at Pemberley plays, and A Christmas Carol at the James J. Hill House, to name a few. Now it feels like it’s Christmas in July. I swear every show I’ve seen lately has been a must see. Theater Mu continues the streak of must see shows with their World premiere of Saymoukda Duangphouxay Vongsay’s The Kung Fu Zombies Saga: Shaman Warrior & Cannibals. But saying it’s a must see show in this case, actually means two things. Firstly, it’s so good that you do not want to miss it. Secondly, it’s so unlike anything you’ve ever seen in a play that you have to see it for yourself. The title, doubles as plot description. It is as advertised, you may have thought there would be some bait and switch at play, there isn’t, everyone was kung fu fighting.

The play is really two stories set in the same world. Act I follows Arun, a young woman from a village in Laos, who is destined to be a Shaman like her Grandmother. Disaster strikes when sun fire rains down upon the earth creating destruction and raising the dead. Arun must reconnect with the powers she tried to deny, save her sister from the evil Mara as well as zombies and cannibals. Act II follows Sika who travels from Minnesota to Laos during this same period to bring the ashes of her parents to the village they came from. She struggles to deal with the memories of those she couldn’t save while finding a way to move on. This apocalyptic world of The Kung Fu Zombies Saga: Shaman Warrior & Cannibals is filled with metaphors, but like the best metaphors it can be enjoyed without making all of the connections. A multi-layered script from Saymoukda Duangphouxay Vongsay deals with heavy issues but it does so indirectly dressed in the clothes of a action horror dramedy. It’s wildly entertaining while also touching on issues of mental illness, colonialism, and generation trauma caused by the still clear and present danger caused by undetonated bombs dropped on Laos by the US military.

It’s an impressive cast many of them making their Theater Mu and professional mainstage debuts. Hannah Nguyen is one of those, she plays Arun in Act I. I was impressed by her transformation from the the pre-catastrophe girl to the Shaman Warrior she has become by the end of the Act. Michelle De Joya plays Sika, the hero of Act II, the physicality and intensity she brings to the role is one of the greatest joys of this fantastic production. Other standouts include Sandy Agustin as Mae Thao (Arun’s Grandmother the Village Shaman) in Act I and as the old Woman in Act II. Soudavone Khamvongsa who in Act II plays what at first seems like an antagonist but later becomes Sika’s Ally in another amazingly physical performance. Finally, a shout out to Enormvs Munoz who plays Arun’s father in and I believe the Monkey King in Act I and Slim,. a Buddhist Monk in Act II, each character distinct, so much so that I had to consult my program to be sure I was correct in assigning him to all of those roles. Payton J. Woodson as Principal Butcher and the Buddhist Monk Loc in Act II. Woodson’s delivery in both roles is wise, but also deadpan funny, his and Munoz’s handshake routine is a showstopper.

The production is being staged in the Luminary Arts Center in Downtown Minneapolis in the North Loop area. Somehow in 4 years of blogging I had never been there, which is shocking because it’s a beautiful space, why it isn’t used more is a mystery. The space is needed as this show is epic. Director Lily Tung Crystal fills the space with Mina Kinukawa spralling set onto and around which Miko Simmons adds his brilliant projections to create a real sense of place and a larger world. I was really amazed at the scope of the entire production. I’m used to Theater Mu’s more modest productions, this felt like we were in Guthrie territory budget wise. Every aspect of the show from the lighting by Karin Olson and sound Design by Akiem Scott, which had a hip-hop crossed with a Quentin Tarantino movie vibe, worked perfectly together under Crystal’s sure handed direction. Lastly, the Fight Choreography by Allen Malicsi with assistance from Laura Anderson was off the hook. Act I was super cool with the fights much more physical and frequent than I was expecting. I was looking forward to more of the same in Act II, and then Act II began and well that’s part of where the “Holy F*cking Sh!t!!!!!” comes from in this blog title. I’ve never seen such prolonged, frequent, and well executed combat in a stage play before. Lily Tung Crystal has harnessed every tool at her disposal to create a theatrical event unlike anything I’ve seen before and that fully realizes the ambitious script by Saymoukda Duangphouxay Vongsay.

Theater Mu’s world Premiere production of The Kung Fu Zombies Saga: Shaman Warrior & Cannibals runs through August 13th at The Luminary Arts Center. This is one of those productions that you really will regret not seeing. People who see it will be referencing it for years to come. You don’t want to be left out in the cold two years from now when someone says, “Somehow, they all know motherf*cking kung fu”, and everyone laughs except you. For more information, to purchase tickets, and to learn more about Theater Mu, which is celebrating its 30th Anniversary this season as one of the countries largest Asian American Theater companies go to https://www.theatermu.org/kfz-saga. In these days when all theater companies are struggling there are some theater companies that particularly need our support because of the unique role they play in our community. Theater Mu is one of those, one that gives a voice to an underrepresented segment of our society. They are telling stories that celebrate and expand all of our understanding of the Asian American community. It’s important, and so I encourage you, if you have the means to do so find the donation button on their website and help ensure they are around making great theater for another 30 seasons.

***checkout the latest episode of Twin Cities Theater Chat where Blogger Laura Van Zandt chats with playwright Saymoukda Duangphouxay Vongsay and actor Michelle de Joya about the play you can find it by clicking here https://twincitiestheaterchat.buzzsprout.com/2150807/13149765

Don’t want to miss a single review from The Stages of MN? You can subscribe and have every post sent directly to your email. 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/

I am also a member of the Twin Cities Theater Bloggers (TCTB), where you can read roundups of shows by my colleagues and I on facebook @TwinCitiesTheaterBloggers. Follow that group, It’s a great way to see reviews for shows I don’t get to or to get another blogger’s take on one I did. 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/ . We post biweekly longer form episodes that will focus on interviews and discussions around theater topics. There is also weekly shorter episodes in which we Bloggers tell you what we think you should get out and see as well as what we have on our schedules that we are most looking forward too.