Eating Raoul: The Musical at Minneapolis Musical Theatre was an unexpected delight! Based on the film and set in the swinging 60s, this musical walks a narrow line between period kitsch and sincerity. The tunes were catchy, with clever lyrics, beautifully delivered by a small but talented cast. The direction of Ryan McGuire Grimes hit the perfect tone, which must have been difficult in a musical featuring a faltering marriage, serial murder, and a dominatrix. This is what MMT does best: presenting shows that don't otherwise get seen in the Cities and showing that there is more to musical theater than the old warhorses.
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Last, but definitely not least, the new play Colossal by Andrew Hinderaker, directed by Will Davis, was part of a rolling world premiere from the National New Play Network at Mixed Blood Theatre. The fantastic script concerns a football player injured on the field and his love for one of his teammates. The main character, Mike, was played by two actors: Torsten Johnson as the football player in his prime and Toby Forrest as the the post-injury player, now in a wheelchair. The playing space was a football field with a scoreboard counting off four 15-minute quarters, and as the audience entered, the team was already running drills. This was an amazingly physical production, with Mike starting out as a dancer, like his father. The football scenes were beautifully choreographed, complete with instant replay, and the action rarely let up. There was even a halftime dance show. But the play was much more than a gimmick, showcasing beautiful performances and a touching story.
Now it's time to look forward to all the great shows coming up in November and December!