A Christmas Carol Continues to Enchant as it Celebrates 50 Years at the Guthrie Theater

Cast of A Christmas Carol Photo by Dan Norman

Every year come November and December we are exposed to multiple version of of A Christmas Carol. From films to episodes of TV series that use it’s plot to stage productions. I’ll likely see at least three stage productions this season that are based off of it. This was the fourth production of the Guthrie’s latest adaptation of Charles Dickens’ classic A Christmas Carol and also marks it’s 50th Production overall. I’ve seen all four years of this current incarnation which was adapted by Lavina Jadhwani and first performed in the 2021 season. This years production is directed by Addie Gorlin-Han based on the original direction by Guthrie Artistic Director Joseph Haj. After spending time with so many versions of this story year after year I’m amazed at it’s capacity to captivate me each time. There is something so enduring about Dickens tale of reflection and redemption, and its familiarity to audiences, which accounts for its adaptability. It’s core plot and themes can be seen in so many different works. Even that other mainstay of the holiday season It’s a Wonderful Life shares DNA with it. In it, we see George Bailey’s past, then his present, and then an alternate reality which is what the Ghost of Christmas Future shows Scrooge, a possible future, but one that may not come to pass. Like Scrooge who changes his ways and embraces life, George changes his mind deciding it’s better to live and we get a happy ending for all.

What struck me this year is how fresh the production felt and a lot of details or moments that I either didn’t remember or are new. Being the fourth year in a row, knowing it was the same adaptation with the same sets, I admit I did entertain the idea of giving it a skip this year. So glad I didn’t. Now I’ve reviewed nearly 200 productions since I last saw A Christmas Carol at the Guthrie last fall, so I struggle to remember last years in detail. Are the things I noticed this year new or have they just slipped my memory? This year it felt like there were some different songs and more choreography between scenes, but that may not be the case at all. There is a scene before the Ghost of Christmas Past visits when the ensemble is forming the hands of the clock on stage as the hour between Midnight and one A.M. passes. This struck me as a really creative touch from Choreographer Regina Peluso, but was it new this year? I don’t know. The only change I am certain of are those of casting. There are a lot of the same actors but many of them have changed roles this year. After years in the role of Bob Cratchit, John Catron has been promoted to Fred, Scrooge’s nephew. This was due to former Fred, Eric Sharp moving into the role of the Ghost of Christmas Past. It also led to Tyler Michaels King taking on the role of Bob Cratchit leaving his role as Collector 1 and Dick Wilkins. That in turn leads to the addition this year of Max Wojtanowicz to the cast in those vacated roles. It’s very interesting to notice the changes that each performer brings to the roles and how that subtle changes the play as a whole and giving it a breath of fresh air. The biggest cast change this year is the replacement of Matthew Saldivar, who was very good in the role, but always struck me as a little too young, with David Beach who feels very age appropriate, is fantastic.

The things that wowed me in previous production continue to do so now. The Ghost of Christmas Future portrayed by Nathan Huberty in a costume created by Toni-Leslie James is still effectively nightmarish and might give the very wee ones in the audience a genuine fright. The moment when the Ghost comes out of the darkness engulfed in fog to tower over a cowering Scrooge is truly a heart pounding moment. The set design by Matt Saunders in conjunction with the Lighting design by Yi Zhao manages to be both detailed and expressionistic. Sound Designer Mikaal Sulaiman and Musical Director Jason hansen also contribute greatly to the tone and atmosphere of the work whether through Composer Jane Shaw’s score, traditional Christmas carols, or well times sound effects. The one scene that has always been a head scratcher for me is when Scrooge and the Ghost of Christmas Present observe the ship out at sea. I know it’s from the book, I know many adaptations include it, I understand there is a point to it. But it’s so short and requires elaborate, and very effective projection, a separate set piece that has to be built and wheeled on and off the stage. I wonder if what it brings to the show ultimately justifies that build out and expense.

If you’ve never seen A Christmas Carol at the Guthrie it’s something you are required by the State Constitution to do at least once if you’ve lived her more than five years. If you’ve seen it before, even this very adaptation, I promise you it rewards on multiple viewings. I think the cast changes do shift the whole piece enough that you are going to find it remarkably fresh and entertaining. A Christmas Carol runs through December 29th at The Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis. For more information and to purchase tickets go to https://www.guthrietheater.org/shows-and-tickets/a-christmas-carol/

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Steel Magnolias Moved Me to Laughter and Tears at Yellow Tree Theatre

Maggie Cramer, Jane Froiland, Tara Borman, and Tolu Ekisola Photos by Alex Clark

Steel Magnolias is the kind of play women will want to go to with their girlfriends, daughter, mothers and in a pinch drag their husbands and boyfriends to. And they are going to love every second of it, with the possible exception of the husbands and boyfriends. Am I saying men will not like it, no I am not, I loved it. If your husband or boyfriend has ever cried at a movie, or as in my case every movie and the odd very special episode of iCarly, those are the ones to bring with you and they will likely thank you for it. Know your man, and then plan accordingly, if he’s emotionally available to the arts, bring him. If he isn’t, then only bring him if he’s been bad. For those without available girlfriends/sisters/daughters etc. call my wife she’ll go again, in fact so would I but I think I’m scheduled to see other shows every single night of my life. This is my second production of Steel Magnolias, still haven’t seen the film, but that will be rectified sooner or later. My take away this time is much the same as when I saw it at the Guthrie in 2019 just after starting The Stages of MN, damn this is a well written play! Also, as with that production I am blown away by the cast. Six actors that know how to pull out every ounce of humor and tug every heartstring without pandering to the audience. The emotions we feel whether laughter or tears come freely and honestly based on the connection we have formed with these characters. That only happens when you have actors of quality investing their roles with truth.

The story centers around the hair salon run out of her home by Truvy, who keeps Saturday just for the neighborhood woman. As the play opens, she’s just hired a nervous young woman named Annelle to help out in the Salon. It’s a big day as one of the regulars, M’lynn’s daughter Shelby is getting married. The Saturday regulars also include Clairee, who was recently widowed when her husband of almost 50 years died, and Ouiser who comes off as the old grump of the group. These women are not just the regular Saturday morning customers, they are a group of true and caring friends. Shelby’s wedding is a celebration for all of them, as are all the moments that happen throughout the four scenes that comprise the play. Each scene jumps ahead in time and follows important times in Shelby’s life starting with her wedding day and continuing to her pregnancy and on. Though it’s not just Shelby’s story, it’s the story of all of these woman and the community and support they provide one another. It’s beautiful, it’s very funny, it’s very truthful, and at times very very emotional.

We usually play a game on the ride home after a play called who was your favorite? It gets the ball rolling, when there is a consensus it tells me my instinct is right and so and so did something special, when we have a disagreement it sparks me to think about what an actor did that worked for me. Tonight, the consensus, all of them were our favorites. I went in knowing most of the cast from previous work so I knew there was talent on stage. Some like Tara Borman, who plays Shelby, has been making a strong impression over the last couple of years, having become one of those performers whose name alone puts a show on my calendar. Tolu Ekisola, who plays Truvy, just earned her place on that list as well with this performance combined with her recent roles in Once Upon a Time…Josephine Baker! and The Most Spectacularly Lamentable Trial of Miz Martha Washington. Laura Esping’s performance as Ouiser is a perfectly modulated balance between loveable crumudgen and dry wit. Maggie Cramer’s turn as Annelle captures the characters growth from timid and lost newcomer to one of the group of close knit woman, with each scene change we see her come bit by bit into her own. Jane Froiland as M’lynn, Shelby’s mother is always calm, always even keeled, making her final moments of the play all the more powerful. Nora Targonski-O’Brien who plays Clairee embodies the Southern Woman who has lived and learned and grown wise and compassionate, there is such a spark in her that one wishes she were their Aunt.

I want to say a word here about Yellow Tree Theatre and it’s Artistic Director and Director of this play Austene Van. Yellow Tree provides a vital role in today’s theater scene. In a world of shrinking audiences Yellow Tree brings Professional Theater to an area outside of the Cities. For folk who don’t want to travel into Minneapolis or St. Paul, come on, we all know those people who just hate to drive in the city, it provides exposure to the magic and power of theater. This is a key link in the chain that leads to what needs to be the prime objective of all theaters today, creating new audiences. That is done by producing work that moves people, whether it be to laugh, cry, or think and to do so in a way that makes them want to repeat that experience. Yellow Tree does that time and time again. Austene Van’s name can be found in programs all over the Twin cities and nationally. She directs and acts at the Guthrie as well as other theaters besides Yellow Tree, she choreographs, she writes, she sells concessions, she probably sews costumes and vacuums up the lobby at the end of the night as well. She makes a living doing theater, but she also dedicates herself to running Yellow Tree to keeping it going through sound system failures and those aforementioned shrinking audiences. She is tirelessly working towards that prime objective of creating new audiences while creating great theater. You don’t get six favorites performances in one show without a hell of a Director at the helm guiding all that talent to create a singular vision.

So there are two things I’d like to ask you to do aside from attending Steel Magnolias, which I already know you’ll do because it’s such a rewarding show. Please bring a friend who doesn’t often or hasn’t gone to the theater before with you. Expose someone new or remind someone of how thrilling and moving life theater can be. Secondly, give to the Max day is almost here please consider donating to Yellow Tree Theatre to help keep quality theater in the outer ring cities. There are a lot of theaters that can use your support and I encourage you to donate to all of your favorites, but maybe an extra $5 to Yellow Tree for fighting the fight out in the sticks away from the draw of the bright lights of the big city. Let’s keep the porch lights on for these smaller theaters who are catering to less frequent theatergoers and hopefully moving them to come back again and again. Here is the link to donate to Yellow Tree https://ci.ovationtix.com/35626/store/donations/39012

Steel Magnolias runs through December 22nd at Yellow Tree Theatre for more information and to purchase tickets go to https://yellowtreetheatre.com/steel-magnolias .

McAdo a Hilarious New Adaptation of The Mikado From Gilbert & Sullivan Very Light Opera Company

Mary Kettlewell, Brandt Roberts, and Graham Remple Photo by Stephen Hage

McAdo is the fourth Gilbert & Sullivan Very Light Opera Company (GSVLO) production I have reviewed and it is my favorite. I’ve written before about the accessibility of Gilbert and Sullivan, how it seems like the bridge between traditional opera and musical theater. All of that is true here, if you like musicals, you’ll enjoy this. Yes, there will be some lyrics you will not catch, this is particularly true when a large portion of the cast all sings at once. But it’s in English and for the most part if you tune your ears in you catch more than enough. What you don’t catch you simply enjoy the beauty of the voices singing and the wonderful full orchestra performing Arthur Sullivan’s music. There are two completely different casts for the main roles for the show that alternate nights. I saw the Sullivan cast, I’m sure the Gilbert cast is great as well, but for myself, if I had time in my schedule to see it again, and I wish I did, I’d see the Sullivan cast again. There are Performers in roles that I cannot imagine anyone replacing them.

The Gilbert Cast and the Sullivan Cast Performance Schedule:

The Gilbert Cast	The Sullivan Cast
Friday, November 1^st, 7:30 pm	Saturday, November 2^nd, 7:30 pm
Sunday, November 3^rd, 2:00 pm	Saturday, November 9^th, 2:00 pm
Friday, November 8^th, 7:30 pm	Sunday, November 10^th, 2:00 pm
Saturday, November 9^th, 7:30 pm	Friday, November 15^th, 7:30 pm
Saturday, November 16^th, 2:00 pm	Saturday, November 16^th, 7:30 pm
Sunday, November 17^th, 2:00 pm	Friday, November 22^nd, 7:30 pm
Saturday, November 23^rd, 7:30 pm	Sunday, November 24^th, 2:00 pm

McAdo is Gilbert & Sullivan’s The Mikado transplanted from Japan to Scotland thus removing a lot of troublesome and dated material. The adaption actually began with Gilbert and Sullivan Austin, as in Texas. Director Joe Andrews added some of his own tweaks including a hilarious prologue that was pure genius. This isn’t pure G&S, it’s possibly better, certainly for our times. The program contains a synopsis which I highly recommend you read before the play, it allows you to relax and enjoy the proceedings without worrying if you are catching everything. I’m not going to go into the plot here, it’s absurd, imagine Monty Python wrote an opera, well it’s not quite that silly, but it’s pretty damn silly. What is really great about it, is the two people you assume are the villains of the piece really aren’t. They play against the stereotypes of the Government official and the young lovers rival.

If you have never seen a Gilbert and Sullivan show, this is the one to see, it is so much fun and that is due to the wonderful direction of Joe Andrews, musical direction of Randal A. Buikema, and an energetic and playful cast. I can’t mention them all so I’m going to just give a nod to a couple of favorites. First off is Brandt Roberts as Coco, who is the guardian and fiance of Wynn Somme, the young love interest, we assume he’s going to be a villain, considering he’s also the town’s high Executioner. But no, he’s harmless and fairly good intentioned. Roberts is magnificent, his body language in itself creates a fully formed comedic character. He has the tone, the exact level of absurdity down, but he also has a great singing voice, that adds a sweetness to the character. Joe Allen plays Pubagh a town official…actually the only town official, he holds every office except that of the High Executioner. Here again is a character that we assume will be a villain, but by the end you really like him. I’m not sure we are really supposed to have that reaction, I think we are supposed to be indifferent at best, but I think this works better. Allen plays up the comic elements of the character his ambition and snobbery, but when the going gets rough and heads might roll, he’s in there with the rest of the characters trying to find the happy ending. Other performers that caught my eye and that were doing something special to draw the audience in or give us that extra laugh or surprised us with another dimension to their characters were Mallory Rabehl, Therese Kulas, Deb Haas, and Scott A.Gorman.

McAdo is a show I cannot recommend more highly, it’s such an enjoyable night at the theater, when I wasn’t laughing I was sitting there with a grin all over my face. The prologue really sets the tone on this one and I think will perfectly key those new to G&S into the vibe of the show. McAdo runs through November 24th at The Conn Theater in Minneapolis. For more information and to purchase tickets go to https://gsvloc.org/

The Turn of the Screw Prolongs That Halloween Atmosphere at Gremlin Theatre

Peter Christian Hansen and Julia Valen Photo by Alyssa Kristine

The Turn of the Screw by Henry James is one of the great classic ghost stories, it was most famously adapted into the film The Innocents (1961) starring Deborah Kerr and most recently as the second season of Mike Flanagan’s Netflix horror anthology as The Haunting of Bly Manor. Jeffrey Hatcher who seems to have a play being produced at every theater in town this year, has fairly faithfully adapted the story into a play for two actors. Julia Valen plays The Woman while Gremlin Theatre Artistic Director Peter Christian Hansen plays The Man. Following the plot of James’ story, Valen primarily plays the role of narrator and Governess of two children Flora and Miles at Bly Manor. She has been hired by the children’s Uncle and guardian to take charge of them and under the strictest instructions never ever to bother him for anything. Hansen plays the Uncle and then every other character that comes into the play, mainly the housekeeper Mrs. Grose and Miles. Flora in this play is very timid and completely silent. Not long after assuming her post at Bly Manor, she begins to see what she comes to believe are the Ghosts of the former Governess and the Caretaker. She believes these ghosts are attempting to influence the children and that she must do everything in her power to severe any connection between the ghosts and her charges.

Carl Schoenborn is listed as both the Set and Lighting Designer which makes perfect sense as the lighting seems to act as part of the set. What does exist in a physical sense is a staircase towards the back of the stage, there are no other elements aside from the performers and the lighting and sound designs. This minimalist approach works well when you have two actors playing all of the characters but are not going the comedic route. We are already suspending our disbelief to the extent of accepting Hansen as multiple characters of different genders and ages the idea of a detailed set that tries to emulate some semblance of reality feels out of place. This lies somewhere between physical theater and theater of the mind and the design perfectly reflects that. I responded strongly to this shadowy production, which builds mystery and tension throughout and ends with an unexpected revelation, that works really well within the framework of James’ story. Both Valen and Hansen are well cast, with Hansen successfully navigating the difficult task of performing as a 10 year old boy without being childish or annoying.

I love a good ghost story and Gremlin Theatre’s production is a great way to extend Monster Month. The Turn of the Screw runs through December 1st at Gremlin Theatre for more information and to purchase tickets go to https://gremlintheatre.org/

Helen, Ten Thousand Things, Need I Say More?

Liv Kemp, John Jamison II, And George Keller Photo by Tom Wallace

Helen, the latest production by Ten Thousand Things (TTT) and the last under the purview of exiting Artistic Director Marcela Lorca, ends soon. I was able to squeeze in a late run performance but if you are going to catch this one you’ll want to act fast as the final performance is November 10th. That being said
I’m going to keep this short and sweet. My experience with Greek tragedy isn’t abundant, my first exposure was in Jr. High seeing something at the old Guthrie Theater, this would have been mid 1980’s, my second was actually Helen during my first year of college at NDSU either Fall 1991 or Spring 1992. Both of those were amazing looking productions, but If I remember correctly they put me to sleep. I’d say two out of three Greek tragedies have put me to sleep. I bring that up to point out that in my limited experience, and as is the case with Shakespeare, TTT is how you want to experience it.

They have a way of making centuries old works feel fresh and invigorating. Surely the adapters of Euripides classic John Barton and Kenneth Cavander have something to do with that, but I’ve seen enough TTT productions now to know they bring their own source of magic to the works. Marcela Lorca directs the play and choreographed the movement. She leaves the companies helm on a high note and we hope that the new incoming Artistic Director will be able to carry on with the extraordinary quality of TTT work. Working here with Composer and Music Director JD Steele, they have added an element of soul to that of the traditional Greek Chorus, which usually jarringly taking us out of the play. Here it makes the narrative sing. George Keller is fantastic as Helen but then everyone in every TTT production I’ve ever seen has been amazing. So just a couple of others to single out and then I’ll let you click on the link and see if you can score tickets for one of the last remaining shows. Lynnea Doublette, John Jamison II, and Bradley Greenwald all play a named role but also form the chorus, they all bring something special to their characters but also shine vocally.

For more information about Helen and to purchase tickets go to https://tenthousandthings.org/helen/

Twin Cities Horror Festival XIII Day 8 Review: Schaulust

With this final show I have attended all of the TCHF XIII productions and yet somehow I still didn’t get a Bingo. Oh well, sometimes it just isn’t in the cards. Besides I think the prize was a toothbrush and who the hell wants that, am I right? We want candy!!! I have to say that for the first time in my TCHF attendance which began in 2019, there wasn’t a single show that I had to write a bad review about. Hey they weren’t all great, but there wasn’t a bad one in the bunch. The more amazing thing, and what shows that this years producers were real risk takers, is that Allison Vincent wasn’t in any of them. Last year that was the one ingredient that guaranteed a hit show, so for no one to have cast her in a show was a very ballsy move. You can read my reviews of everyone of the productions in this years festival which continues through 11/4/24 at The Stages of MN. For more information and to purchase tickets to the remaining shows go to https://www.tchorrorfestival.com/

Schaulust written and performed by Keith Hovis is part musical, part horror show, and all character study of an unstable mind. Hovis plays Wyatt a man who likes to watch, not in a creepy sexual way, but in a creepy everyday kind of way. He describes how it led to his break up with his boyfriend, though it wasn’t the watching part, the boyfriend was fine with that, it was something else, his need to not be needed. After the break up he finds a couple of people online who need money and agree to install a camera in their homes so he can watch them in exchange for money. Again not in a creepy sexcam way, just watch them playing video games, cutting their nails, sleeping on the couch. I’m not sure who to credit with the scenic design but it’s extremely well done. Wyatt’s home is a window into his fraying and disintegrating mental health. You can see the benefit of Schaulust playing in the Studio space, it has allowed for a fairly elaborate design, which really does inform our understanding of the narrator. It’s also one of the handful of shows that has some real horror elements, which I always think is a nice touch at the horror fest. It’s well written and acted, Hovis’ performance is all in and his songs were perfectly suited to the material. It’s one of the most polished and effective shows of the entire festival and I can say that because I saw them all!

Terrified of missing reviews from The Stages of MN? Do you find yourself afraid and all alone in the dark 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.

Mauritius a Tense Edge of Your Seat Production From Stage North of Minneapolis

Sarah Dickson and Peter Moore Photo by Toni Solie

The best way I can think of to describe Mauritius is to say if the Coen Brothers wrote a pla, this is likely what it would be. A great script by Theresa Rebeck that ratchets up the suspense scene after scene. Filled with characters of questionable morals, the audience is kept off balance as you are never sure who can be trusted or what they are capable of. Not a comedy by any means despite an opening that feels like it could go that way, it does contain a dark vein of black comedy running through it. In fact, this script is so good and it’s relatively simple to stage that I’m amazed I hadn’t heard of it before and that it isn’t performed more frequently. Peter Moore, who directs as well as performs in Mauritius, has staged the show in the round with minimal set. For those familiar with Ten Thousand Things productions, it very much has that feel. Moore uses the space very effectively and the minimal set and proximity of the audience to the performance space allows us to really focus in on the performances which are outstanding. I attended a matinee performance on opening weekend which was at best 1/4 full. It reminded me of one of the reasons I write this blog, to try and shine a light on shows that the average theatergoer hasn’t even heard of. This is one of those shows that should be playing to sold out houses, you couldn’t ask for a more rewarding and entertaining thriller to attend.

The play opens when Jackie, a young woman whose mother has just died, enters a stamp collecting store to ask the owner Phil to look over a stamp collection given to her by her mother who thought it might be worth something. This innocent inquiry puts her into contact with Dennis who hangs out in the store as a lookout for a wealthy but dangerous collector named Sterling. It turns out she has a couple of stamps that are quite valuable and she needs the money. But the ownership of the stamps is disputed by her half-sister Mary, who despite not having been around for decades wants to claim ownership as they came from her Grandfather on her father’s side which is of no relation to Jackie. The tension arises and builds as we watch to see if the stamps are genuine, how much they are worth, whether Jackie will be able to sell them, if she’ll get fair value, or if she will even survive to the end of the play.

Sarah Dickson leads the superb cast as Jackie bringing an intelligence to the role that believably cracks into damaged desperation at times. It’s raw and genuine and generates an empathy for the character that leads to real concern for her characters well being. Peter Moore, is chilling as Sterling, who in one scene takes off his suit jacket revealing a shoulder holster. He never pulls the gun out or even mentions it in the scene but, the audiences awareness of its existence ratchets up the feeling that things could go horribly wrong at any moment. Corey DiNardo as Dennis is charming as any conman and one is never sure where he stands and how far he is willing to go. Bill Schoppert is Phil the stamp expert, whose dry and sarcastic responses to Jackie’s initial inquiries makes the first five minutes of the play worth the price of the ticket. Mary, who could easily have been named “Karen” is played with the perfect air of entitlement by Bonni Allen. This whole cast is just perfect and brings this brilliant play into sharp focus, and is one not to be missed!

Mauritius runs through November 17th at 480 arts in St. Paul. For more information and to purchase tickets go to https://www.eventbrite.com/e/mauritius-tickets-1007942421917