31 Days of Theater (You're Gonna Love Mayyyyy)

I don't need to tell you, loyal theatergoers, how important it is to support the arts and arts funding in these incredibly challenging times.

However, even as loyal theatergoers ourselves, we were delighted to see how incredible the theater offerings this May are, and reminded us what an amazing theater community we have here in the Twin Cities. (Naturally, check the website for dates/times.)

So without further ado, 31 Days of May Theater!

May 1: Fun Home at Theater Latte Da - A gorgeous production of the Tony-winning musical with a fantastic cast. (April 2 - through May 11)

May 2: Scarecrow on Fire at Illusion Theater - A take on the Oz story by Kevin Kling with another all-star cast: Dan Chouinard, Simone Perrin, Stephen Yoakam, and Kling. (April 25 - May 4)

May 3: The Nut, The Hermit, The Crow and The Monk at New Native Theatre - This comedy follows a zillennial brother and sister on a journey to heal from generational boarding school trauma, inspired by The Odyssey and Alice in Wonderland set to the soundtrack of Dark Side of the Moon! (April 16 - May 4)

May 4: Muyehpen by Exposed Brick Theatre - Written by Ehkhudah Zar, this is the first-ever theater production by a Knyaw playwright in the U.S. and shares the story of Muyehpen with a new generation. (performed in Worthington on May 4 only)

May 5: Sister Act at Lyric Arts - The entire run of this based-on-the-movie musical is completely sold out, which is a good reminder not to sleep on hot shows! (April 11 - May 11)

May 6: Joyful Noise at Bucket Brigade Theater - The unbelievably true tale of the unlikely origin of Handel’s Messiah by this charming theater, performed in an old church. (April 25 - May 10)

May 7: Sickle at Theatre Novi Most - A "pastoral apocalyptic" tale of four women attempting to survive a Russian-made famine in Ukraine. Amazing cast, includes Ukrainian supertitles. (May 1 - May 10)

May 8: The Lightning Thief at Stages Theatre Company - Musical based on the Percy Jackson books by Rick Riordan with a delightful young cast and ingenious staging. (April 11- May 11)

May 9: Waitress at Artistry - Production of the Broadway musical by Sara Bareilles with the usual Artistry artistry and skill. (April 17 - May 11)

May 10: Bart and Arnie by Melancholics Anonymous - Two pals making their way in the city. Existential dread and friendship. Puppets. Modern Dance. Whimsy. The financial difficulties of living in the big city and the highs and lows of art and commerce. (May 9 - May 18)

May 11: The Rainbow Connection: A Cabaret at the Hive Collaborative - It's time to play the music and light the lights with The Rainbow Connection - a cabaret of all things Muppety! Join us to laugh, cry laugh more, and sing along to your favorite Muppet tunes. Bring your Muppet Show knowledge to try and stump our expert! 

May 12: When We Are Found at Penumbra Theatre - Love’s newest fable is an achingly poignant and sometimes funny meditation on the passage of time and the persistence of love — and a hopeful prayer that what we seek finds us. (April 24 - May 18)

May 13: The Mousetrap at Guthrie Theater - Agatha Christie's murder mystery, the longest-running play in the West End. (March 15 -  May 18)

May 14: An Act of God at Six Points Theater - Four words: Sally Wingert as God. Also, written by the head writer of The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. (May 3 - May 18)

May 15: The Last Day of Pompeii: A New Musical at Gnarly Bard Theater - Road trip to St. Cloud and step into the shadows of history in The Last Day of Pompeii, a gripping new musical set in the heart of a city teetering on the brink of destruction. (May 5 - 18)

May 16: mixtape: adrift: true stories of being lost in the sauce by Wayward Theatre Company - An intimate collection of humorous to harrowing stories of folks who are looking for their way, delving for the answers and seeking a deeper understanding of themselves and this wild and weird world we all stumble through. (May 15 - 17)

May 17: & Juliet at Hennepin Arts - See the tour of the Broadway show that asks what would happen next if Juliet didn’t end it all over Romeo? (May 13 - May 18)

May 18: Three Sisters/No Sisters at Theatre Pro Rata - A new adaptation of Three Sisters by Anton Chekhov alongside No Sisters, a clever companion piece by Aaron Posner. Performed simultaneously! (May 9 - 24)

May 19: Puppet Lab Festival at Open Eye Theatre - A 2-week festival of radical, genre-expanding, boundary–pushing puppet work, the culmination of a 6-month development residency for emerging puppetry and mask artists.

May 20: The Nacirema Society Requests the Honor of Your Presence at a Celebration of Their First One Hundred Years at Guthrie Theater - Among the fantastic cast: Aimee K. Bryant, Joy Dolo, Darrick Mosley, Greta Oglesby, Regina Marie Williams. I mean, come ON. (April 20-  May 25)

May 21: Lolek by Open Window Theatre - Lolek brings to life the captivating story of Karol Wojtyla (later Pope John Paul II) and his heroic resistance to the Nazi Occupation of Poland as a young man during the Second World War. April 25 - May 25)

May 22: Berlin to Rugen at the Phoenix Theater - A new one-man show by Michael Rogers, writer and director of “As Above, So Below” (winner of Minnesota Fringe Artist Pick award and the What the Fringe!? - Best Drama award).  (May 21 - 24)

May 23: The Improvised Sword & Sorcery Campaign by The Bearded Company - In this award-winning improvised fantasy campaign, The Bearded Company will tell you a tale you won't soon forget. (May 22 - 24)

May 24: Violet at Ten Thousand Things - A young woman embarks on a cross-country bus trip in search of a televangelist she believes can cure a scar on her face. Always inventive, always inclusive, love TTT. (April 23 - June 1)

May 25: Whoa, Nellie! The Outlaw King of the Wild Middle West at History Theatre - Tells the rip-roaring musical tale of Nellie King, the “wily and scandalous female cowboy detective” whose countless criminal exploits and penchant for male attire made her an 1800s Minnesota media icon. (May 17 - June 8)

May 26: Between Riverside and Crazy at Park Square Theater - Pulitzer Prize-winning dark comedy from Stephen Adly Guirgis, this play explores family bonds, resilience, and the harsh realities of life in modern New York City. (May 14 - June 8)

May 27: NOOMA, An Opera for Babies at Ordway Center - NOOMA is an invitation into a vocal circus, a space where sounds, words, gestures and objects are offered, mimicked and transformed as we delight in the joy of making music together. Part of the Flint Hills Family Festival.

May 28: Ode to Walt Whitman at Open Eye Theatre - Bart Buch’s acclaimed ODE TO WALT WHITMAN is a tender, silent puppet poem that uncovers a dialogue between Walt Whitman and Federico Garcia Lorca

May 29: Matt & Ben at the Hive Collaborative - Before Good Will Hunting. Before J-Lo (both times). Before all those f*cking Bourne movies. They were just two best friends... (May 30 - June 30)

May 30: Significant Other at Lyric Arts - Directed by Max Wojtanowicz and diving into the complexities of modern relationships with humor and heart, SIGNIFICANT OTHER is a candid and charming exploration of all types of love. (May 30- June 22)

May 31: Sixpack at Jungle Theater - With a backdrop of the competitive world of Hmong volleyball, SIXPACK explores if a friendship can withstand the harms, betrayals, and messiness that happen when you feel your life pulling away from the future you envisioned. (May 31 - June 29)

Tis the Season for SPOOKY - October 2019

There are literally one million fun things happening this October for those who want to see something spoooooky.

We've got movies, theater, learny things, and even an occasional immersive experience. (I know! EEK!)

In Theaters and Museums ...

Night of the Living Dead! The Musical! - Minneapolis Musical Theatre (Phoenix Theater)

October 4 - 27 (times vary)

It's a musical! Based on a classic horror film! And the title alone has two exclamation points! MMT does a beautiful job with campy musicals, so this is a must-see.

Reverend Matt's Monster Top 20 - Strike Theater

October 13 at 7:00 p.m.

"After years of detailing monsters of every variety, Reverend Matt finally presents the definitive list of the 20 best ones!"

Café Scientifique: Deciphering Dinosaur Lives - Bryant-Lake Bowl

October 15 at 7:00 p.m.

"From exciting discoveries in the field in Madagascar, to new information gleaned from microscopic investigations of sauropod bones, Dr. Kristi Curry Rogers will fill us in on the new and improved sauropod."

The Latest Night: An Anthology of Terror - Strike Theater

October 17, 18 at 7:30 p.m.

"A Night of Terror hosted by your resident ghouls Simone Suspiria and Alistair Absentia." (improv)

The Mess in Murder Manor - Strike Theater
October 19, 25, 26 at 7:30 p.m.
"On a blustery and spooky October evening, six guests arrive at a stately manor for the reading of a will and an evening of chills...." (improv)

Reverend Matt's Late Night Monster Science: The Call of the Shadow of the Horror Out of Space - Phoenix Theater

October 19 at 10:30 p.m.

"A complete history of the monsters of H.P. Lovecraft – one of the most admired, imitated, and totally misunderstood creators in the entire horror genre."

Twin Cities Horror Festival VIII - Southern Theater

October 24 -November 3 (times vary)

TCHF is a "juried, horror- themed, live-performance arts festival spanning the two weekends surrounding Halloween." And we love it, so look for more coverage soon. But here's a look at last year's festival to whet the appetite.

Social Science: Spooky Science - Science Museum

October 24 at 6:00 p.m.

"Haunt your way through the Science Museum with special activities, stargazing, a chance to meet local scientists, and more. And don't miss a special drag show and costume contest, presented by Flip Phone."

The Ghostly Garden - Bell Museum

October 25 at 6:30 p.m.

"Please join us for a slightly creepy evening in the darkened galleries of the Bell Museum, with special surprises lurking around every corner." 

Reel History: Movie Monsters - Edina Historical Society

October 25 at 7:00 p.m.

"Join filmmaker and historian Alex Weston for a night of film clips exploring the cultural history behind some of the most famous monsters of filmland."

The 26th Barebones Puppets Annual Halloween Puppet Extravaganza - Hidden Falls Regional Park

October 25, 26, 31 and Nov 1 at 7:00 p.m.
"If you’ve never seen a show, perhaps THIS is the year you experience the joy, the awe, wonder and suspense while the shear visual majesty of this multimedia presentation comes to life in an unfolding of community storytelling." Well, okay then. Also, sheer.

Ladybrain Presents: Ghouls Gone Wild! - Strike Theater

October 25, 26, 31 at 9:30 p.m.

"Ladybrain takes on Halloween! We're coven atcha with a slew of new sketches, plus a few fan favorites. This Halloween sketch party extravaganza features special guest Jenna Cis!" (sketch)

Transmission Presents: Halloween 1986 - Hell's Kitchen

October 26 at 9:00 p.m.

"Inspired by Stranger Things, Transmission, Surly & Hell's Kitchen Present: HALLOWEEN 1986. Similar to the show, there will be a vibe like you're walking back into 1986 with 100% era appropriate music and videos."

The Yellow Wallpaper and Other Things That Scare Us - Umbrella Collective

October 28 at 7:30 p.m.

"Join Umbrella Collective for an intimate fall house concert as we uncover what scares us, and what we’d save ourselves from, if we could, featuring music from Leslie Vincent, Keith Hovis, Annie Enneking, Peter Morrow, The Dino Birds, and other special guests."

Horrific House of Macabre Movie Madness - Bryant-Lake Bowl

October 30 at 8:00 p.m.

"Come join us for a ghoulish cinematic celebration of Halloween!! The movie will remain a mystery until it rolls on the big screen! One night only!"

Frankenstein: Two Centuries - Ghoulish Delights at Bryant-Lake Bowl

October 31 at 7:00 p.m.

"The Mysterious Old Radio Listening Society celebrates two hundred years of Frankenstein with two original stories inspired by Mary Shelley’s iconic tale, each written and performed in the style of a classic radio series, including commercials, live music and sound effects."

And if you are VERY VERY BRAVE:

Haunted Basement - Rosedale Center

October 3 - November 2 (times vary)

"Since 2005 we have been terrifying the Twin Cities with absurdist psychological horror.  Before inching downstairs, you must sign a waiver and present valid ID. Prepare yourself for immersive theater, created by a community of avant-garde artists and horrible creeps who will…

terrify you." Even the website scares us, so ...

Spooky Movies In Movie Theaters:

(Key: A - Alamo Drafthouse Woodbury, T - Trylon Cinema, P - Parkway Theater, H - Heights Theater)

Sunday, October 13

11:15 Teen Witch (A)
3:00 Beast from 20,000 Fathoms (T)
5:00 Basket Case (T)
7:00 Brain Damage (T)
7:30 Dr. Jekyll & Sister Hyde (A)

Monday, October 14

7:00 The Mummy – 1999 (A)
7:00 Beast from 20,000 Fathoms (T)
8:45 Beast from 20,000 Fathoms (T)

Tuesday, October 15

6:30 Shocker (A)
7:00 Beast from 20,000 Fathoms (T)
8:30 Soul of the Demon (A)
8:45 Beast from 20,000 Fathoms (T)

Wednesday, October 16

6:00 Zombieland double feature (A)
6:30 A Nightmare on Elm Street (A)
7:00 Blood Surf (T)
7:30 Don’t Look Now (A)

Thursday, October 17

7:00 The Thing (T)
7:30 Dead of Night (H)
8:00 Poltergeist (P)

8:30 Harpoon (A)

Friday, October 18

7:00 Carrie (T)
9:00 Christine (T)

Saturday, October 19

1:00 Nightmare Before Christmas (P)
7:00 Christine (T)
7:30 Horror of Frankenstein (A)
9:15 Carrie (T)

Sunday, October 20
11:00 Teen Wolf (A)
3:00 7th Voyage of Sinbad (T)
5:00 Carrie (T)
7:00 Christine (T)
7:45 The Host (A)

Monday, October 21
7:00 7th Voyage of Sinbad (T)
7:00 Ghostbusters (A)
7:30 The Amityville Horror (A)
9:00 7th Voyage of Sinbad (T)

Tuesday, October 22
7:00 Night of the Demons (A)
7:00 7th Voyage of Sinbad (T)
8:30 The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (A)
9:00 7th Voyage of Sinbad (T)

Wednesday, October 23
7:00 The Rocky Horror Picture Show (A)

Thursday, October 24
6:30 Monos (A)
7:00 The Hitcher (T)
7:30 The Others (H)
8:00 Hellraiser (P)

Friday, October 25
7:00 The Hills Have Eyes (T)
9:00 Ravenous (T)

Saturday, October 26
1:00 Dismember the Alamo marathon (A)
1:00 Ghostbusters (P)
7:00 Ravenous (T)
9:15 The Hills Have Eyes (A)

Sunday, October 27
11:00 The Witches (A)
3:00 Piranha (T)
5:00 The Hills Have Eyes (T)
6:30 Scars of Dracula (A)
7:00 Ravenous (T)
7:30 Phantom of the Opera (H) 

Monday, October 28
7:00 Craft (A)
7:00 Piranha (T)
9:00 Piranha (T)

Tuesday, October 29
6:30 Dracula – 1931, SP (A)
7:00 Piranha (T)
8:30 Halloween III: Season of the Witch (A)
9:00 Piranha (T)

Wednesday, October 30
7:00 Tremors (A)
7:00 Hausu (T)
8:00 The Exorcist (P)
8:30 The House of the Devil (A)
9:00 Hausu (T)

Thursday, October 31
7:00 Halloween (A)
7:00 Hausu (T)
8:00 Halloween (P)
9:00 Hausu (T)

HAPPY HALLOWEEN SEASON, FRIENDS!

Why We Can't Have Nice Things - The Recovery Party at Bryant Lake Bowl

Why We Can't Have Nice Things is the first show I've seen by The Recovery Party. Playing through November 6 at Bryant Lake Bowl, the show is sharp social satire with occasional flights into the absurd.

This collection of comic sketches is formally titled Why We Can't Have Nice Things (or: The Peril of Choice), and this theme recurs throughout the show, from complaints about the excessive variety of Oreo cookies available to the number of names for the devil. Mostly, the humor revolves around modern life in today's United States, not shying away from the deep divides we are experiencing.

Joshua Will

It's a little odd in 2016 to see a show dealing with contemporary issues featuring such a homogenous cast, but the group leans into the choice, spending most of the show in identical black slacks and white shirts. They do have the grace to acknowledge that today, it's a little uncomfortable to be seeing five "old white guys" putting on a show. But they are very talented and funny guys who workshopped Joshua Will's script into a swift and entertaining evening.

Writer Will, who also directed, presents a snappy series of highly literate sketches. As a grammar nerd, I was particularly entertained by jokes about language and etiquette. Will reminded me a bit of Saturday Night Live's Seth Meyers, not a bad reference for a comedy show.

Jim Robinson and Dennis Curley

Dennis Curley provides musical accompaniment and cheery original songs, as well as a recurring portrayal of the devil as a man frustrated by the difficulty of finding reliable minions to do his bidding.

Jim Robinson is convincing both as a disgruntled biology teacher forced to teach alternatives to evolution, and a guy no one wants to be in the steam room with. In another comedy reference, he bears an interesting resemblance to Fred Willard.

Eriq Nelson

Jeffrey Cloninger

Photos: therecoveryparty.com

Eriq Nelson showed a sly wit, often providing an unexpected twist on the proceedings. Even when things go slightly wrong, he keeps it funny.

Jeffrey Cloninger commanded the stage whether complaining about cookies or accidentally losing his soul by not reading the fine print.

Throughout, we are reminded, not-so-subtly, that we all have a choice to make in November and the show's viewpoint is fairly obvious. But it's not didactic or preachy. Running a tight and sharp 90 minutes, ... Nice Things has a lot of laughs about things that are on all of our minds. And it's good to laugh when we can!

Le Switch by Philip Dawkins at the Jungle Theater

If you are looking for the perfect play to celebrate Pride, to follow Two Boys Kissing, or even to see where the anger from The Normal Heart finally got the GLBTQIA community - Le Switch at the Jungle Theater is the one. In fact, in my view, Le Switch may be a perfect play. I know that is a LOT of pressure to put on a play, and on a review, but here are my thoughts.

The plot is fairly simple. David (played by Kasey Mahaffy) is commitment-shy, and not sure what he makes of marriage equality. He falls back into the comfort of his home of unopened, antique books and his deep friendship with his roommate. Frank (played by Patrick Bailey) is a father-figure, activist, and grieving the loss of his longtime companion. David's best friend Zachary (Michael Wieser) is getting married, and is holding the bachelor party in Montreal. When David gets to Montreal, he is swept off his feet by a gorgeous, young florist Benoît (Michael Hanna). In the months that follow, David and his non-traditional family, including his sister Sarah (Emily Gunyou Halaas), have to figure out what commitment and marriage really mean to them, while also realizing what it means to be queer.

David is a librarian who is focused on classification, and cataloging. He likes things being where they should be. He knows who he is as a queer man of a certain age, and what he believes about marriage. At the same time, he collects books and leaves them unopened because then there is a mystery about them, they could be anything and he can believe them to be anything. There is a fantastical aspect of David. I think the cross-cultural romance helped bring this out even more. After all, when we travel aren't we usually able to be more ourselves? Free from the roles we have imposed on ourselves back at home?

Michael Hanna & Kasey Mahaffy
Photo by Dan Norman

The script, written by Philip Dawkins, is fast-paced, funny, smart, honest, timely and real in so many ways. He knows how to tell a story that affects multiple generations to a multi-generational audience. The question of marriage equality has many responses from the personal to the political. There are some in an older generation who are against marriage equality because it is a heternormative institution that "queers" should never want to follow. They pride themselves on being and staying different. There are others who fully accept and want equality because they are finally allowed something they never thought they would be allowed. This script shows all of these sides while never sounding preachy, yet keeping it honest and real. Along with that there is the question of what does it mean to be queer? If you have been feeling different all your life but suddenly you are no longer different...how do you deal with that? (there is a perfect line for this that I wrote down...but might have had the cap on my pen...darn.)

David goes on a journey, not only to Montreal, but to a different person. In the same way, the set (by the always amazing Kate Sutton-Johnson) goes on a journey as well. It starts very realistic but suddenly walls are rotating during transitions, jutting out for new locations, furniture sliding on and off stage - all with great lighting by Barry Browning, perfect sound design by Sean Healey, and fantastic projections by Daniel Benoit. What starts as one thing, ends as another. David starts as one thing and with a great magical realistic ending...well...go see for yourself.

I may say this too much but I can't think of a better cast. Emily Gunyou Halaas (looking like a young Patti LuPone) plays David's twin sister Sarah practically perfectly. There is a comfort between she and Kasey Mahaffy in their conversations and interactions onstage. Kasey is...well my initial notes say 'I can't even" so that says something. He is funny, moving, honest to the character, truthful and open. David's best friend Zachary is played by the extraordinary Michael Wieser. He is funny, stunning, sassy, and though his character may be on the outrageous side, he is solidly grounded and so clearly loves David. Patrick Bailey as Frank is also grounded and grounding. He seems to be a touchstone for David, someone who has been there for a long time and has helped David grow into the person he is. Bailey is wonderful and funny. Bringing magic to the stage is Michael Hanna as Benoît--brilliant in English and French--challenging David and yet remaining totally true to his character. Hanna and the rest of the cast are perfect really. Part of the perfection is the direction by Jeremy B Cohen. He kept the show moving, consistently real and truthful, finding time and place for humor and emotion helping make it a perfect production.

Le Switch plays at the Jungle Theater through July 31. Go see what I consider to be a perfect play in a fantastic production.

The Knight of the Burning Pestle - Theatre Pro Rata at Dreamland Arts

The Knight of the Burning Pestle - sounds crazy, no? To be honest, it was a bit crazy, and clever, and funny - oh so funny. Written by Francis Beaumont in 1607, yes, you read that correctly - 1607, this play is known to be one of the first English Parody's - mainly making fun of Elizabethan theater. According to the vast knowledge on the interwebs (and yes, I am talking about wikipedia), the play satirizes chivalric romances, and parodies two other plays from that period: The Four Prentices of London (written by Thomas Heywood in 1592) and The Shoemaker's Holiday (written by Thomas Dekker in 1599).

Rachel Flynn, George Dornbach, Ben Tallen.
Photo by Charles Gorrill

I was a bit concerned thinking that the language and story would be hard to follow. After all, Shakespeare can be tough with some of his language play so I imagined that a parody of Shakespeare could be more tough. Wow - I was so wrong. The show starts with the cast of 'The London Merchant" coming on stage, walking around, warming up, making sure everything is in place. This takes place as the audience is coming in as well...or as most of the audience is seated. David Schlosser, Grant Henderson, Julie Ann Nevill, Andrew Troth, and Becca Hart take this time to do what they need to while in full view of the audience. Becca Hart (playing the Musician and Apprentice - but NOT a boy) really makes the most of it. She is on the floor picking up bits of dust, cleaning the legs of chairs, etc. It seems that they are all waiting for all the audience to get seated. When this happens, Becca blows a horn and the Prologue begins....at which point three more characters enter. George (a citizen played by Ben Tallen), Neil (his wife played by Rachel Flynn), and Rafe (their apprentice played by George Dornbach) all enter late and disrupt the prologue. George pulls out a bag of money, tells Prologue (David Schlosser) that he wants his apprentice Rafe to be on stage in a heroic role, gives him money and tells him to make it happen.

The remainder of the show is a very funny clash of needs. The cast of "The London Merchant" just want to perform the play they have been asked to perform and be done with it. Yet at every step, every scene - George and his wife either interrupt, or make demands to see Rafe do a certain bit. This combustion of desires plays out so well on the stage of Dreamland Arts. The casting is perfect, as is the direction. Every humorous moment is played seriously (which makes it more funny), and yet never milked for laughs. The frustration of the "London Merchant" cast slowly becomes more evident as George and Neil keep making demands and portraying truly bad audience behavior (but nothing you haven't seen in the current theater scene). Though the show was written in 1607, there is still plenty for a current audience to get out of seeing it. Theater and art have truly not changed as much as we may think it has - often time art is at the beck and call of those who fund it.

Ben Tallen and Rachel Flynn as George and Neil are fantastic. George Dornbach as Rafe...well, perfect...boyish and charming, has great skill with vocabulary, and really knows how to work his hair. The cast of "The London Merchant" is also...perfection. David Schlosser in all three roles (Prologue, Venturewell, and Michael) is great. His playing Michael is note-perfect, and a bit Oedipal. The chemistry that he and Grant Henderson (as the dashing and handsome Jasper) have shows that this acting troupe performing "The London Merchant" have been working together for a while. There is love there but also a bit of friction that is played so well. Julie Ann Nevill (as Lucy and Mistress Merrythought) is everything you could want for this role. Playing each character so differently, yet maintaining the classic Elizabethan acting style (as did the rest of the "LM" cast), and giving such great reaction faces...and singing! I have seen Julie Ann in a few things but was not aware of her charming singing voice. And speaking of singing - Andrew Troth (plays Humphrey and Master Merrythought) is also very funny. All of Master Merrythought's lines are sung and Andrew makes the most of them - playing to the audience of George and Neil, taking their demands in stride...so good. Finally Becca Hart is incredible. She plays the Apprentice so downtrodden - looking down, cowering almost, knees turned in; and yet the minute the Apprentice steps on stage in a character part - she is a different person. And such skill playing a variety of small instruments. So many moments that she made me laugh just by a small gesture, or look.

Honestly, a very funny, timely and smart comedy. This is one you may not ever see again so take the chance now. It plays at Dreamland Arts through June 19th. It is a small house so get your tickets early. And if that doesn't convince you - 90 min, no intermission. Our favorite.

The Book of Mormon - Touring show at The Orpheum - Guest Post

Candace Quarrels and Cody Jamison Strand
Photo by Joan Marcus

If anyone at The Book of Mormon (showing now until May 29th at the Orpheum) didn’t already know they were attending an evening of cutting satire, “filthy gags” and an irreverent takedown of organized religion, they were quickly informed. But I can’t imagine that anyone there didn’t know at least a little of what to expect. The Book of Mormon opened on Broadway in 2011 (is still playing) and this is its third run in Minneapolis so it’s no secret who the intended audience is (and is not). The young hipsters, forty-something professionals and cool seniors who filled the diverse audience had already been exposed to almost two decades of Trey Parker and Matt Stone’s South Park and did not seem put off or surprised by this Broadway version of their particularly biting sermon. The sharply talented, energetic cast was ready to preach to the choir. The choir was very appreciative of their efforts.

The show is damn funny and wonderfully performed. Ryan Bondy and Cody Jamison Strand effortlessly lead the cast through sharp choreography, biting humor and catchy songs referencing both the traditional Broadway and African music. The set is bright and beautiful and the actors have fun breaking the fourth wall, playing for laughs and taking everything to the nth degree. Candace Quarrels shines as the innocent and naïve Nabulungi.

Monica L. Patton, Ryan Bondy, Cody Jamison Strand
Photo by Joan Marcus

The story follows two mismatched missionaries, the self-focused and self-righteous Elder Price (Bondy) and the bumbling but sweet Elder Cunningham (Strand) in a classic Odd Couple buddy pairing. The young missionaries leave Salt Lake City with dreams that their two year mission abroad will end in a slew of successful baptisms into the Mormon faith. They quickly discover that the simple platitudes of the "word" and their naive hopefulness are no match for the violence and despair of the villagers in Uganda.

The Book of Mormon Company 2;
Photo by Joan Marcus

With the constant threats of genital mutilation, a population that’s 80% HIV+, maggot infested scrotums, raping babies, screwing frogs, gun violence, etc., the show pulls no punches about the reality of life and the ridiculous notion that simply believing in a particular religion can cure such massive problems. But as my companion said, “It’s offensive, but you don’t take offense.” There is a big and very important message in The Book of Mormon about the danger in blindly following the church - any church - without question, faith versus religion, growth, acceptance, and breaking the rules to do what you know is right.

In short, see this show. It’ll be good for your soul. It is also good for your wallet as there is a lottery for $25 tickets for most performances.

(guest post written by Michelle St. Hilaire)

Bullets Over Broadway - Ordway Music Theater

What do you do when you want to turn a very funny Woody Allen film into a Broadway musical? You take Bullets Over Broadway, add songs from 1914 through the 1930s and turn it into a fantastically fun evening. Bullets Over Broadway, now playing through Sunday at the Ordway Music Theater, tells a good story in the best way possible. I mean really, how can you resist chorus girls, garter belts, flappers, and tap-dancing gangsters?

The story, in case you haven't seen the film, is about a struggling playwright (David) who finally has a chance to get his play produced on Broadway. The one hitch? The gangster (Nick Valenti) who is putting up the money is requiring that his no-talent chorus girl girlfriend (Olive) plays a part. Add to this the playwrights girlfriend (Ellen), a drunken diva (Helen) as leading lady, fighting between two mob families, and...well to paraphrase a theater god (Sondheim)...what happens then, well that's the play and you wouldn't want me to give it away. Suffice it to say that you will have a great night.

Production Photos by Matthew Murphy

The set has a false proscenium (the four edges of the stage) which helps to shrink the enormous Ordway stage. It also has two other prosceniums, one which moves up and down to help create other locations. At the top of the show there is a curtain hanging from the back proscenium. This is all in reds, black, and off-white - it shows a very 1920's style jazz scene. Cheech (played by Jeff Brooks) comes out with a tommy gun and shoots the title of the show into the curtain. Curtain up and we are in a club with show girls singing a song called "Tiger Rag." This song is one that I have never heard and that was one of the great joys of this show - being introduced to some new oldies! Sure, I have heard "Let's Misbehave", and "Gee Baby, Ain't I Good To You" - but there were quite a few that I didn't know and now love! The music was fantastic. Every song was perfectly selected and used. Glen Kelly adapted and wrote additional lyrics to these songs and they were great! Add to that the amazing choreography by Susan Stroman and there is nothing more I could want in a show. 

The show has a classic musical style with some small changes. Sure, I'm a sucker for shows like "42nd Street", "Crazy for You", "Nice Work if You Can Get It", "Ain't Misbehavin'", all these shows with old classic tunes, and a classic old-school style story. If you take those style shows, add a bit of swearing and some hints of burlesque (mainly in comedy and double entendres), you get Bullets over Broadway. Honestly I can not say enough about the choreography and direction. Each scene had such a smooth transition into the next, the characters were true and believable (even if they were truly over-the-top) and each dance step was perfect. Stroman has a way of moving that is so smooth and beautiful, yet can turn on a dime in an energetic forcefield. Take, for an example, the number "Tain't Nobody's Bizness If I Do." This is performed by Cheech and the gangsters....and it is a tap dance. Nowhere have I seen a tap dance like this - gorgeous, yet perfectly suited to the characters of gangsters - angular, angry, full of machismo. It was performed on the 68th Tony Awards, and when it was finished last night - it received a long applause. It didn't reach an ovation, but it certainly stopped the show. 

Another stand out number was "Tain't a Fit Night Out for Man or Beast" - also in Act One. This number show a mob fight between the two opposing families - and it was all told through dance. Parts of it reminded me of West Side Story, but it was such an energetic feast for the eyes and ears. It also highlighted a slight issue with the large space that is the Ordway. There are times where the lyrics get lost - either because the space sucks up the sound, or the band is a bit too loud. I noticed this mainly in the group numbers, especially the women's chorus. It may have been just the higher voices fighting with the band. Honestly, it happened rarely and certainly had no effect on my enjoyment of the show. 

There are some amazing performances in this show. I already mentioned Jeff Brooks as Cheech. Michael Corvino as the gangster Nick Valenti was great - especially when he gets a chance to sing in the finale. What a voice!! Jemma Jane played Olive Neal - the gangsters talentless girlfriend - and got every single laugh possible out of her character, while not milking them, nor winking at the audience at how dumb her character was. She played it with all her heart and was fantastic. She and Bradley Allan Zarr get a chance to shine in "Let's Misbehave" - one of the funniest numbers I've seen. Hannah Rose DeFlumeri (Ellen) has two great moments to shine - Act One's "Blues My Naughty Sweetie Gives to Me" and Act Two's "I've Found a New Baby." What a fantastic voice. This show would not be what it is without the incredible (and local) Emma Stratton as Helen. She played the Diva leading lady with a heart and a drinking problem perfectly...filling the stage as only that character could, and making the most of playing a Diva while also staying true to the characters heart. She couldn't have done that without the skills, and talent of Michael Williams playing David. Michael plays him with such sweetness, naivete, longing, and determination that even though David cheats on Ellen, we are still rooting for him. Michael has some incredible moments of pure comedy genius and timing. Along with that, he knows how to sell a song and dance. All of these actors, along with an amazing ensemble really created a perfect cast.  Don't miss your chance to see them in action. You won't regret it.

Notes:

The Ordway has done some great articles that I want to share from their site. There is an article with Jemma Jane, and an interview with our hometown girl Emma Stratton. There is also an article about the amazing costume designs by the incomparable William Ivey Long. Also I wanted to mention that this is a non-equity tour. If you are wondering why I bring that up, check here. 

Buyer & Cellar - Hennepin Theatre Trust at New Century Theater

All photos by George Byron Griffiths

If you are looking for an amusing, humorous, witty, satirical, charming, laugh-inducing show to see some night, then I have a show for you. Did I mention it is funny? Buyer & Cellar, now playing at the New Century Theatre and presented by Hennepin Theatre Trust, is a one-person show about an actor who finds himself working for Barbra Streisand...sort of. The play is written by Jonathan Tolins (who has film/tv experience as well as some Broadway experience) and was inspired by Streisand's book "My Passion for Design." This 2010 book was written by Streisand, with photographs by Streisand and is all about her home in Malibu. The inspirational part is that Streisand has a barn on her property and in the basement of this barn are most (if not all) of her collectibles. However instead of just storing them, she has them set up in various shops - a doll shop, an antique clothing store, a candy store with frozen yogurt and popcorn, etc. THIS fact is what inspired the play Buyer & Cellar. The actual plot of the play is all fiction.

We are brought into Streisand's world as soon as we step into the theatre as the pre-show music is all her. The set is perfect and simple - a blank stage with a backless sofa/bench on one side, and a table and chair on the other. Behind each of these set pieces are screens which have projections of cityscapes (of California, and Malibu) along with photos of the locations the scenes take place. Some of the location photos were taken from Streisand's book (which is featured on the table, along side a glass of water), though some of the projections were blurry giving them a dream-like feel.

Another simple facet of this show is that there is one actor. Now one person shows can be very tricky to pull off. You must have a talented actor who can convincingly play all the parts, but more than that you need an actor who has a voice, energy, and a look that makes the audience want to spend time with them, and who enjoys spending time with them. Sasha Andreev has all of that in spades. Directed by Wendy Knox, Sasha plays at five or six characters. In my mind, there are more because it came across to me that Sasha played a flamboyant actor who sets the stage (reminding us that the mall is truth but the rest is fiction), then this same actor became Alex.

Alex is open and wanting to share his life and bring you along on his journey about working in the mall. Along with Alex, Sasha portrays Barry (Alex's boyfriend) who has a gruff, Fierstein-esque voice, a strong New York accent and rough mannerisms. We meet Sharon, the gum-chewing judgmental manager, along with James Brolin (a perfect interpretation) and finally the lady of the house. Andreev does not impersonate Streisand. As Alex states in the script - there are plenty of Streisand impersonators out there, some of them are even women. Because of that Andreev gives a portrayal of Streisand without impersonation - gestures, the voice, the speech patterns and slight accent, the facial looks that are given...perfection.

I won't give away any story. I will say that the script has a fantastic eye for detail. It is witty, a bit catty, and is funny through out. Jules and I were laughing almost non-stop. The script also makes some great observations on how people think of stars, and how stars think of non-star people. It speaks to the bitterness that can arrive from a tough childhood, as well as diving into some Streisand films and pointing out that they always seem to be about her getting with the person who says she is pretty. Through out the show there was fantastic underscoring made of great orchestral hints of Streisand, yet with no vocals. Musical hints to keep you in the Streisand frame of mind. I felt there was one misstep when the underscore changed to Portishead, however the more I think about it, the more it fit that specific moment. It sticks out because it was so different from the rest of the underscoring.

Needless to say, if one very small underscoring moment is all I can remember that was "negative" - well, who cares. The show did one thing that I love from theater. It makes me interested in going back to watch some Streisand films (and Judy Garland's Summer Stock). It had a wonderful story and message. This intermission-less (100 minute) show is fantastic - script, set, production and most of all the actor. Sasha Andreev is charming, smart, funny, has some incredible moments on stage, and creates magic.

Plays through April 24th, 2016.

An Adult Evening of Shel Silverstein / Table 12 - Freshwater Theatre

We all know the work of Shel Silverstein. His quintessential book "The Giving Tree" is known world-wide, and most of us grew up with some of his kids poetry books. What some people may not know is that Silverstein was also a songwriter."A Boy named Sue" was one of his songs, and I first heard his music via 'The Ballad of Lucy Jordan." All this to say that when I heard that Freshwater Theatre was going to do "An Adult Evening of Shel Silverstein", well, I was intrigued. Beyond "The Giving Tree", I had always found his poetry to be amusing but with a touch of the fantastic, and troubling. I was not disappointed.

Out of the ten short plays included in the script for "An Adult...", Freshwater did two of them. Directed by Ariel Leaf, they started the evening with "The Best Daddy." This short piece deals with a father who bought his daughter a pony for her birthday. He presents it to her covered up with a blanket. After she guesses that it is a pony, he then tells her that he shot it.....and that it isn't a pony but her younger sister....who he may have also shot..... Absurd and troubling, yet John Zeiler and Lacey Zeiler played the humorous aspects perfectly. Lacey knows how to play the child, while also providing a touch of the adult "what the ..." John also plays the father fantastically. Allowing his daughter to enjoy the surprise of a pony, then shocking her with the truth, then backpedalling to the next truth, etc. Always being true to what is being said and fully believing in his actions.

The second short Silverstein play was "One Tennis Shoe." Again John and Lacey Zeiler played both parts - a husband and a wife sitting down for coffee. The husband brings up that the wife is starting to become a bag lady - and things start to unravel from there. This is a great two-hander that played to the strengths of both actors versatility and their commitment to the action. Never did it seem that they were rolling their eyes at how crazy these two seem but they played the characters truth...and it was funny!!

After a ten-minute intermission, "Table 12: A Play at a Wedding" by Ruth Virkus started. The setting is a wedding reception, specifically that one table where all the riffraff is seated. You know the table - the friends of the brides parents who the bride is forced to invited, the loser friend of the bride, the grooms boss, the stalker ex-boyfriend of the bride, etc. Add to this a waiter who is being paid to babysit the stalker (by the stalkers mother) and you have the perfect combination of people for a really wild, fun ride of a show. Directed by Nicole Wilder, the cast of eight were perfectly cast. The table starts with Christophe (Ben Layne) and Leroylyn (Katie Starks) as the next door neighbors. Add the grooms boss Mave (Rachel Flynn), then the waiter (Michael Terrell Brown - playing him with just the perfect amount of flame/flair) bringing in Charlie, the ex (perfectly played by Scot Moore) and you are off to a great start. The waiter laying down the rules for Charlie was a great bit, and well written. Finally, add to the mix Amy waiting for her blind date (Mame Pelletier), Saul - the ex brother-in-law to the bride (J. Merrill Motz) and The Other Guy (Michael Postle) and you have a fantastic recipe for fun, laughs, philosophical insights on relationships, and a totally charming work. The whole evening was 90 mins and thoroughly enjoyable. I look forward to seeing more new work from Freshwater Theatre.

Playing in reportory with We Just Clicked at the Phoenix Theater through April 3

Seldom done Shakespeare - Pericles at the Guthrie

front of program - krl

Pericles is a seldom performed Shakespeare (maybe - see note) that is playing at the Guthrie Theater. It is the first production directed by the new Artistic Director of the Guthrie - Joseph Haj. He had previously directed this at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, and this production is a done in association with that Festival. The casting was done via the Oregon Shakespeare Festival as well so while it is the directorial debut at the Guthrie of Joseph Haj's, I get the sense that it is the same production he directed in Oregon.

And it is a great production worth doing again!! The set is a multi-level set in shades of grey and black. The back of the stage has a cyclorama that is used for projections. There are also clouds set across the top of the cyclorama. When the lights go down, the stage and backdrop are covered in stars. The stars slowly move up to the cyclorama and spread out in circles. At times through out the play, the stars come back in an actual star shape - giving the idea that certain events that take place are fate and written in the stars.

Pericles (Wayne T. Carr) is the story of the Prince of Tyre (not based on the historical Pericles), who decides to try to marry a certain Princess, the daughter of the King of Antioch. To marry her, he must first answer a riddle. However the answer to the riddle speaks to the fact that the King of Antioch is in an incestuous relationship with his daughter. When Pericles realizes that, he also realizes that he can't answer the riddle out loud, nor can he continue living in Antioch without fearing for his life. He leaves via the sea. A storm takes down his ship and he is washed ashore in Pentapolis. Here he is found by fishermen who tell him the King of Pentapolis is holding a tournament for the hand of his daughter. Pericles wins the hand of Thaisa (Brooke Parks), and within a verse or two from Gower (the narrator), time has passed and Thaisa is expecting.

view from bridge - krl

The rest of the story - well, I don't want to give it all away. The story is told in a very episodic manner, with Gower (Armando Duran) telling us where we are in the narrative and whose story line we are going to see next. The play itself starts with "To sing a song that old was sung..." and so there is quite a bit of music by Jack Herrick in this work. Some of the verse is sung, and often there is underscoring to scenes. I found the music and singing to be very good, yet at the same time I thought perhaps it wasn't as necessary. The show is 2 hours and 20 min. long, and while it was very good - I also think the singing extended it longer than it needed to be. That written though, it was very enjoyable. The costumes and set were at the usual Guthrie standards - simple effects to show the ocean, storms, near-drowning, etc. Each actor in the cast was very good. They were all making their Guthrie debuts and it was good to see new faces on the stage, especially some actors of color. The cast was far more mixed than the audience - though there were some school groups which were good to see on a Wed. night.

The play is a comedy. Traditionally this means that no one dies at the end instead of the newer meaning of being a laugh-riot. The play is also one of Shakespeare's Romances so it has some fantastical aspects, including the goddess Diana. This helps provide a great ending that is simply gorgeous and moving. So should you go? Of course!! The quality of work that is done at the Guthrie is incredible, and this comedy is not done that often so you should certainly give it a shot. Personally, I would rather see a "new" Shakespeare than another Hamlet or Midsummer. As good as his plays are to read, they were written for the stage and so they should be seen when possible.

note: according to the notes in the program, there was a prose narrative published in 1608 by George Wilkins. Since Pericles is generally dated around 1607-1608, some scholars believe that Wilkins collaborated with Shakespeare on this work. Others believe that he just drew heavily on the play to write his own version.