Marry Me a Little, rescheduled from earlier in the summer, is a show featuring songs by Stephen Sondheim that were cut out of or from as yet unperformed musicals. It’s a strange little show perfectly at home in the Crane Theater’s intimate space. A dialogue free musical revue, it is not however plotless. To some extent we are left to our own devices to extrapolate the details. Basically a love story about two single people living alone who meet, fall in love, marry a little, and then break up. The songs follow the arc from two lonely people to the first hints of romance and on to the decline. Most of the songs I was unfamiliar with but I enjoyed nearly every one of them. A few favorites were “Marry Me a Little“, “All Things Bright and Beautiful/Bang“, and “Pour Le Sport“. It ends with “Being Alive” from Company which is of course a favorite.
The reason to see this show is to bask in the glow of it’s talented performers Bergen Baker and Max Wojtanowicz. Two gifted musical theater talents that know how to tell a story through song. In their hands, the lack of dialogue goes unnoticed. Their body language and expressions convey to us as much as the lyrics themselves do. Is there a more warm and welcoming face in all of the Twin Cities musical theater community than Wojtanowicz? He has an instant communication with the audience as if he’s singing directly to you. Bergen and Wojtanowicz are accompanied on piano by Musical Director James Barnett and the production was directed by Nikki Swoboda. The show runs just about an hour so it doesn’t have to be a late night. It only runs one weekend with the final performance Sunday 8/11/24. Don’t miss your chance to hear Bergen and Wojtanowicz signing Sondheim. For more information and to get tickets go to https://www.skylarkopera.org/home
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.
Jeffrey Nolan (RUPERT) and Jeremy Bode (GRANILLO) Photo by Alyssa Kristine Photography
Gremlin Theatre has a crackling thriller titled Rope running through August 4th. If this title rings a bell you may be thinking of the Alfred Hitchcock film which was based on this play by Patrick Hamilton. I am more than familiar with the film as Hitchcock is one of my top 10 film directors. Many of you may be saying to yourself, “I’m not sure I can name 10 directors”. In your circles that may be strange, but believe me for cineastes it’s difficult to narrow down to just 10. The film was one of Hitch’s experiments with form, he made the film with the appearance of one unbroken take. Of course in 1948, when the film was made, that was impossible as the camera could only hold 10 minutes worth of film in each cartridge. So he had to devise a way to make the cuts invisible, such as a close up on someone’s back for example. It was also Hitch’s first film to be shot in color and his first of four with James Stewart. It’s considered lesser Hitchcock by many, which means it’s better than most films, so if you enjoy the play I highly recommend it to you. There are enough changes to the script to keep even those who know the film by heart engaged. If you’ve never seen the film, the play will be a special treat. If you have there’s plenty here to recommend it, particularly two knockout performances, and very effective direction by Peter Christian Hansen.
But first an idea of what to expect. The play opens in darkness there is a faint light given off by a fireplace and we have the general lay of the land from seeing the set before the lights go down. Two characters just prior to the start of the play have murdered a man and stuffed the corpse in a trunk that sits center stage. They are Brandon and Granillo, in order to calm Granillo down, Brandon recounts what they have done and why, as well as what they have planned for the rest of the evening. The corpse’s father has been invited, along with his Aunt, for dinner and to look over some books that Brandon recently inherited. They have also invited a young woman whom they are friends with, as well as a young man, and lastly their old teacher Rupert. They have done all of this just to say they could, they kill their young friend to see what it felt like and because they feel superior to him. They invite his father and the others for the sick thrill it gives them. Rupert, they almost asked to join them in the killing based on conversations they had with him about murder and morals, but didn’t because they didn’t think he had the nerve to follow through with it. Their arrogance might be their undoing though that or the fact that Granillo isn’t quite the sociopath that Brandon is and starts to crack a little under the pressure. Only Rupert seems to be observant enough to start picking up clues, will he figure it out before it’s too late and if he does, will he join them or turn them in?
It’s a very strong cast, every role including the Servant Sabot, who is played by Matthew Saxe, has few lines and exits the play well before intermission is well cast. There are two that really stand out, the first is Coleson Eldredge as Brandon. He has the charm and charisma that are key to understanding how this character with such a lack of morality can be the popular host. When he goes toe to toe with Rupert in the final scene it’s believable that he may convince Rupert to join them. Secondly, but honestly firstly, is Jeffrey Nolan, who is the Gene Wilder or Peter Sellers of the Twin Cities stages, he plays Rupert in a turn so different from what James Stewart did with the role as to seemingly be from a different planet. It’s such a bold swing for the fences, that in the first minute or so I wondered if it was too out there, but it works, it really really works. This is the seventh performance I’ve seen Nolan give, plus I briefly chatted with him at Fringe last year, and I’ve never seen the same person twice. I know acting is becoming other people, but most actors find things within themselves to bring to a part. Nolan seems to create a distinct personality for every role and if he’s using any portion of himself between roles I’ve yet to see it. I don’t know if I was certain if he could “not” be funny, but there are moments when he is debating with Brandon at the end of the play that prove he can do anything. Maybe he can’t sing? I don’t know, but I’m curious to find out. Here’s the thing, It’s worth seeing this play just for Nolan’s performance. The great news is, even if he wasn’t in it, it’s still worth seeing.
Rope runs through August 4th at Gremlin Theatre for more information and to purchase tickets go to https://gremlintheatre.org/rope/
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 never has to 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.
Running through July 28th at Sociable Cider Werks is The Gray Mallard Theater Co.’s Shakespeare at the pub production of Romeo and Juliet. It’s free to all, best to bring your own chairs but if you get there early enough they have some provided. There is a food truck onsite and a wide range of beverages both with and without alcohol. I came to the show for two reasons, Shakespeare and Em Rosenberg, who is playing Romeo, in the production. Faithful readers will remember that Rosenberg has been on my ones to watch list for sometime now. Listeners to Twin Cities Theater Chat may remember hearing me interview them for one of our episodes around the Guthrie’s History plays in which they played multiple roles in each of the three plays. Once again Rosenberg doesn’t disappoint, headlining a very well paced production directed by Gray Mallard Artistic Director Amanda Fuller. It’s a little like a less controlled version of a Ten Thousand Things performance very bare bones in terms of costumes, props, and set, just what is needed to tell the story. It’s rough around the edges but also extremely fluid, giving it a dangerous and lively energy that works really well in this nontraditional performance space. The focus is on the performances and the language
The truest sign of a good Shakespearean actor is how well a modern audience can understand the language. A great performer will be able to communicate the text to the audience, whether we know the words or not, they will make the meaning clear. There is a lot of use of hand gestures and physical work being done to communicate the meaning of the lines and frequently bring added humor, some of it delightfully risque. There are a lot of wonderful performances starting of course with Em Rosenberg’s Romeo. I think this was my fifth Shakespeare play with Rosenberg in the cast but certainly the largest single role. They are as natural a communicator of Shakespeare’s work as I’ve ever seen, whether wooing Juliet, joking around with his friends, or shouting at the stars their performance is always captivating and precise. Caiti Fallon and Kamani Graham start the show off on the perfect note. Letting the audience know from their movements, costume, and tone of their line readings that while certainly this is a tragedy, we are still going to have some fun with this production. Alessandra Bongiardina as Juliet is a nice fit with Rosenberg’s Romeo, they have a chemistry that helps a modern audience accept some of their choices as natural responses given their connection and maturity. Davis Brinker as Benvolio comes across as one of the guys but the one with the cooler head on his shoulders, while Zach Lerner’s Tybalt and Cooper Lajeunesse’s Mercutio are entertainingly hot headed. I really enjoyed Tony Larkin and Cathleen Fuller as the lovers co conspirators Friar Laurence and the Nurse, being the two adult characters that seemed to have more than a little common sense when trying to temper Romeo and Juliet’s impulses.
A very enjoyable production of Romeo and Juliet, a fun way to spend a summer evening out of doors and you can’t beat the ticket prices. For more information about the show which runs through July 28th or to make a donation to The Gray Mallard Theater Co. go to https://bit.ly/TheGrayMallardTheaterCo
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 never has to 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.
Bill Arnold, Michael Pearce Donley, and Bob Stromberg Photo by Camille Branham – BTE Media!
Triple Espresso is a show I’ve seen signs and ads for seemingly my entire adult life. But, I’ve never seen it until now. Many of you will have seen the show, at one point it played annually for 13 years at The Music Box in Minneapolis. It hold records in cities across the world as the longest running show, it’s earned over $50 Million dollars in ticket sales and been seen by over 2 million patrons. How am I just seeing it now? Whatever the reason I’m glad I finally had the opportunity to sample the beans. For those in the dark, roasted the plot is a reunion of three guys who as far as I can tell never really even had an act, they just wound up in one disaster after another together. As they reunite on stage, they tell the story of their misadventures which we see played out in flashbacks. There is a fair amount of audience participation, get seats in the back corners if you you don’t want to run the risk of being part of the show. What I really enjoyed about Triple Espresso is that it’s the kind of show you can bring the whole family to. It’s clean humor, the jokes are nonstop and wide ranging from comedic magic tricks, songs, and even shadow puppets.
The show is being performed for the majority of the run by the original creators Michael Pearce Donley, Bob Stromberg, and Bill Arnold. John Bush, who has performed the role in Des Moines Iowa, will take over the role of Bobby in the third week and then be joined by his fellow Des moines castmates Patrick Albanese and Paul Somers on select dates. All six of the performers have done the show thousands of times all over the world, so if you can’t make it to the first three weeks, I’m sure you’ll be a good hands. It’s the sort of show that some people will laugh all the way through and then say that was sort of stupid. Well you know what? Try it. The jokes are funny because they seem to flow naturally and sure many are corny and seem like obvious plays on words. It’s like when a magician reveals how a trick is done, you are wowed as it’s happening and then once you know how it’s done you scoff at it because it seems so simple. So don’t ask how it’s done, enjoy the wonder and amazement you feel as it’s happening. Enjoy the laughs as they come and get caught up in the thrill of joining in with a group having a great time. If the jokes feel obvious once you stop laughing, don’t forget the part where you were laughing. It always looks easy when someone does something effortlessly, but believe me it takes creativity, wit, and practice to write and perform a show like Triple Espresso. It is the kind of show that everyone can enjoy and laugh at, but if having fun isn’t you cup of tea, skip it. I for one wish I’d brought all my grown children, siblings and parents with me. Or a group of friends, what a fantastic night out with loved ones this would be.
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 never has to 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.
So I wouldn’t ordinarily take the time to write up a post for a show that you faithful readers cannot see, but Protest, A Revolutionary Rock Opus is kind of a unique beast. Also, it was so damned good that I wanted to do a little more than a facebook post about the fact that I enjoyed it. Performed in concert last weekend at Chanhassen Dinner Theatres (CDT) Protest, A Revolutionary Rock Opus is a tribute to women activists throughout the 20th and into the 21st century. The program consisted of 16 new songs by fourteen composers and lyricists as well as six existing protest songs. What was astonishing about the songs is if you were not familiar with the existing songs and if the performers didn’t tip you by way of introductions, you’d be hard pressed to tell the difference. The new songs run a wide range some sounding as if they were created in the late 60’s early 70’s while others feeling very modern, the unifying aspect of all being the quality of the compositions.
I had listened to a download of the concept album once around the time of it’s release last fall. But I listen to music only in the car so it was broken up over several car rides while driving. I remember enjoying it all, but not really getting the opportunity to wrap my head around it entirely. Now sitting in CDT’s intimate Fireside Theatre almost close enough to touch the performers, I was completely caught up in the songs and their messages. There is a plan in the works for a performance at The Parkway Theater in September, and one can only hope that the musicians and performers remain the same. The singers, several of whom also played instruments and wrote or co-wrote some of the songs, were Janely Rodriguez, Ashley DuBose, Linnea Mohn, Barbara Cohen, and Kymani Kahlil. Each performer was given their moments to shine and then provided backup and support for the others. Whether pastiches of songs from bygone times or hip hop influenced cries for change the entire evenings worth of songs share a unity not only of theme but in the emotional response of the audience. The songs touch a place within our cores that decry the inequities and human tragedies that are the subject matters of the compositions. The performers voices full with meaning and soul carry these messages beyond our minds and into our hearts.
I could write a paragraph on each song but I want and hope you will get the opportunity to experience them for yourself. So I will content myself to comment briefly on one song “How Can We Win” written by Timothy Levy which explicitly illustrates the impact of the entire program. The song is inspired by the viral Youtube speech that Kimberly Jones recorded while standing in front of a burnt-down Minneapolis bank in the wake of the communities response to the murder of George Floyd. Everyone who lives in or near Minneapolis will forever remember that day and the days that followed. As a white man I cannot ever fully comprehend what that moment felt like for the black community, but the song reminded me of my emotions at the time. I spent much of that time at Children’s Minnesota in the Abbott Northwestern Hospital with my son, not far from the riots. The hospital was surrounded by the National Guard, it was a surreal moment. I was angry and outraged at the police. I felt helpless in the shadow of the overwhelming immensity of institutional racism. I was frightened for the safety of myself and my family. I was disheartened by the destruction I was seeing, but I also understood it. The song addresses all of those aspects of an event that clarified the disparity that has always existed in our country. It brought back all of those feelings and it brought back some of the tears as well.
I don’t know what the future holds in store for Protest, A Revolutionary Rock Opus but I assure you, I’ll be covering whatever it does. Whether you are socially conscious minded or not, you’ll be impressed by the songs and performances. Watch for a heads up for upcoming performances and developments and listen to the album containing all 16 tracks created for this work at the following link https://www.buffalogalproductions.com/protest
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 never has to 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.
Tolu Ekisola, JoeNathan Thomas, and Austene Van Photo by Alex Clark
Delayed from opening by a week, due to a medical issue with the artistic team, Once Upon a Time… Josephine Baker! faces is a shortened run which is a shame. This new work written by and starring the hardest working woman in Twin Cities Theater, Austene Van as Josephine Baker is a bold unflinching look at a legend. There is a line from the film The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance that goes “When the legend becomes fact, print the legend”. As portrayed in Van’s new play, or is this a musical? (more on that later) Josephine Baker takes the Orson Welles approach to personal history. Take an anecdote from your life and embellish to your heart’s content, repeat often, until even those who know better begin to believe it and thus the legend becomes fact. Deciphering what is true and what is fiction is one of the themes explored in Once Upon a Time… Josephine Baker!. Whatever the reality is, when it comes to the details, Baker led a fascinating life making her an ideal subject matter. The story is told through the conceit that Baker is writing another autobiography and that the publishers has sent a young woman named Mac to assist her. Through their conversations we learn many things about Baker’s story (including the discrepancies), along with her temperament. Through the interactions with her band member Douglas, we get clarifications that we assume are closer to the true story. A few of the remembrances are played out for us, usually with the assistance of local legend Jim Lichtscheidl playing Baker’s Manager, lovers, husbands, and even Walter Winchell.
This show began and ends with Austene Van whose script is complex yet clear in it’s exploration of this legendary woman. The question of whether this is a musical or not is a difficult yet also irrelevant one. There doesn’t seem to be enough songs to be considered a musical, the songs that are performed are sometimes instances of Baker performing for an audience, and other times the characters singing to each other. The reality is, I’d guesstimate that less than 20% of the shows running time is spent musically. Ultimately it doesn’t really fit cleanly into either category but it succeeds because it is it’s own thing. Van understands exactly how much music it needs and doesn’t try and add music unnecessarily. I’d say Van’s performance was a revelation but did anyone ever seriously have a doubt that she would be amazing? I didn’t and of course she is, with her background as a Choreographer as well as Actor, Director, Artistic Director of Yellow Tree, Writer, Time Manipulator, (I am speculating on that last one, it’s either that or insomniac) it feels like a role she was born to play. Dramatically, vocally, and movement wise she is flawless, she allows Baker to be difficult and unsympathetic at times but earns our empathy as the facades begin to fall away. The script is peppered with generous amounts of humor, that come from the characters naturally, not feeling like quick one liners. Director Maija García understands the script and how it functions creating transitions between the scenes and indeed times and places seamlessly. Staging everything on Sarah Brandners well designed two-level set with Baker’s living quarters above the club in which she performs.
Mac, the young journalist assigned to assist Baker with her book is played by Tolu Ekisola who nails the balancing act that Mac has to perform of humoring Baker and giving into her own “let’s cut the bullshit” world view. Ekisola is becoming one to watch having caught our attention this spring in The Most Spectacularly Lamentable Trial of Miz Martha Washington at Mixed Blood. She can next be seen as Motormouth Mabel in Hairspray at the Burnsville Community Summer Theatre, given her vocals here, I’ll likely try and fit in this production if I can. JoeNathan Thomas as Douglas utilizes his deep rich voice to emphasize the comedic effect of his combative exchanges with both Mac and Baker. There is something about his low vocalization combined with the booming power he puts behind it in contrast to the others that draws the audience immediately to him. It adds a sense of authority and wisdom to his dialogue that leads us to assume what he says is based on fact, whether it is or not, that is certainly what the character believes and thus so does the audience. It’s the kind of voice that can sway you to believe anything and Thomas utilizes it skillfully almost surgically to cut through the chaos of Baker and Mac’s arguments. Lastly, I do want to point out the wonderfully realized costumes by Samantha Fromm Haddow. From Baker’s Classic performance outfits, the banana dance costume and her feathered dance costume to the 1970’s period outfit worn by Mac, they are all beautifully realized.
Once Upon a Time… Josephine Baker! runs through June 30th at Yellow Tree Theatre in Osseo for more information and to purchase tickets go to https://yellowtreetheatre.com/onceuponatimejosephinebaker . And I don’t usually do this but if you’ve seen a show at Yellow Tree Theatre you probably know the quality work they produce. It’s a small theater in the suburbs that produces top-notch shows, and I believe they’re an important step on the path to creating new theater audiences. If you care about the future of live theater please consider a donation to Yellow Tree Theatre so they can continue their mission. https://yellowtreetheatre.com/support-us-2
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 never has to 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.
August Chaffin, Tara Borman, and Katie Tuminelly Photo by Rich Fleischman
Eleemosynary is the first offering from a new theatre company Spacetime Theatre and it is an auspicious beginning to be sure. Written by Lee Blessing in 1985 nearly 40 years ago, it was new to me and felt as timely and relevant as anything I’ve seen written in the last five years. The big question is whether this is a comedy or a drama or the all encompassing “dramedy”? I laughed quite a bit, but there were also moments that were very powerful and not meant to be laughed about. It’s a story told across decades in the life of three women in the Wesbrook family, the grandmother Dorothea, her daughter Artie, and Artie’s daughter Echo. Dorothea is intentionally eccentric, so much so that her daughter Artie wants nothing to do with her, she is however raising Artie’s daughter Echo who has won the National Spelling Bee and is something of a genius. The truth is all of these women are very intelligent though some lack an emotional intelligence to rather their intellect. It’s a story about the relationships between mothers, daughters, and grandmothers and the ways in which they can sometimes hurt each other deeper than they could every have guessed. Their intelligence, part of which is reflected in they way in which Artie and Echo’s memories work account for why the wounds of past injuries never heal. It’s a very well written script that leaps forwards and backwards in time without ever leaving the audience untethered to the characters timeline. It reveals itself at the perfect pace always giving us the next piece of their story, the next explanation just when we are ready to receive it.
Directed by Spacetime Theatre’s Executive Artistic Director Christopher Kehoe against a scenic design by M Curtis Grittner which is abstract and gives us a sense of flowing in and out of the narrative stream. Kehoe has the actors coming on and off stage constantly from all corners of the theater as their characters come in and out of moments from their memories. The cast is really something special and look as if they really were from the same family. As Dorothea, Katie Tuminelly times her more outrageous lines perfectly to catch the audience off guard and forcing spontaneous guffaws. Tara Borman, whom I keep seeing playing young women who have unplanned pregnancies, has the most grounded role, but also the most closed off emotionally, while simultaneously being the most fragile of the three. It’s a tricky role, at times unsympathetic, but by the end she has shown us under the surface of the character and we have come to understand her issues. Last, but by no means least, August Chaffin as Echo proves to be an actor to keep an eye on. I love coming across young actors for the first time knowing that I’ll get to see them take on new roles over the coming years. Chaffin, is fantastic as Echo and I can’t wait to see what they do next.
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 never has to 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.
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