Rasputin: Twin Cities Horror Fest XII

Show: 
Rasputin

By: 

Four Humors

In Short: 
Four Humors presents Rasputin: a bloody and hilarious investigation of all three true versions of Rasputin’s gruesome death and the uncertain fate of Mother Russia.

Selected Cast/Creative:
Written and performed by Ryan Lear, Brant Miller, Matt Spring, and Allison Vincent. Moody cello music performed live by Christa Rübsam. The lovely costumes are by Mandi Johnson. Very effective lighting by Jon Kirchhofer. Informative projections and evocative sound by Brant Miller. Stage Manager Corie Casper and Fight Consultant Annie Enneking round out the creative team. 

Our Thoughts: 
As I struggle for words to describe the utter genius of this show, I can't help but be reminded of what the great Ed Grimley said when he was preparing to meet Pat Sajak: "Like I suppose you could do better than that." 

Like I suppose you can do better than the brilliant Four Humors putting their own unique spin on a historical event too wild not to be true: The Murder of Rasputin. 

Three men meet for dinner with a hidden agenda: Kill the fourth guest, the mysterious monk who has gotten too close to the Czar and Czarina. A little poison should do the trick, but when it doesn't, the would-be murderers have to improvise. Our tale begins with said would-be murderers being questioned about Rasputin's death. Then, with a bit of Rashomon, a hint of historical anachronism, and a whole big bunch of amazing comedic talent, we see each man's retelling of the story.

This show is PERFECT. It's hilariously written and acted, every element is beautifully designed, and the performers of Four Humors play off each other beautifully. They pack SO MUCH into the one-hour running time. And they make it look so easy.

You Should See This If You Like: 
History and humor, a little blood, a fair amount of swears, and excellent work from a stellar ensemble. Oh, and LAUGHING. SO MUCH LAUGHING.

TCHF VI: Harold by Four Humors

Show: Harold


Theater: Four Humors

Genre: Horror Comedy

What's It All About:
"Based on the best of campfire ghost stories, Harold is a horrific comedy that delves into the deepest fears of our own imaginations and the animal instincts of the human psyche. Two brothers drive their herd deep into the mountains to graze. Isolated from the outside world, they build a scarecrow for their amusement; Harold. They show Harold amazing kindness and they show Harold amazing cruelty, until one day, Harold starts repaying the favor."


What We Thought:
Here are the things you should know: It's Four Humors, directed by Jason Ballweber, and starring Brant Miller, Matt Spring and Ryan Lear. It's crazy funny and the Four Humors really know how to tell a spooky story. Misdirection, jump scares and amazing sound design add up to an extremely fun campfire story. It's also crazy dark (no, not that way, but lightwise) and made me really think about the use of light in theater. It's wonderfully claustrophobic and hilarious at the same time.  And there's a scarecrow. See it.

Twin Cities Horror Festival V: Ubu for President by Four Humors

What's It About: "Ubu is a disgusting creature. Ubu is going to be president. Come celebrate the worst of humanity with Ubu!"

[Eeee, this was not my jam. I'll let my less delicate and prudish sister tell you about it.]

Jules says:
Four Humors returns to the Horror Festival with a new and timely show that casts a harshly cynical light on our political and electoral system, with occasional jabs in the direction of a particular large target in this year's race. The show depicts a slightly alternate universe version of the United States in which a politician conspires with big business, the military, and the church, all portrayed in outrageous caricatures.

Ubu for President is based on the Alfred Jarry play Ubu Roi, which opened and closed on one night in December 1896. According to this Paris Review story:

It lives in the annals of drama because it offended almost everyone who saw it. In this, it prefigured modernism, surrealism, Dadaism, and the theater of the absurd.

By that measure, Four Humors' adaptation is a success. It's definitely profane, and the humor is a little too close to reality, which makes more scary than funny at times. So though it's not in the conventional "horror" genre, it's definitely unsettling.

If You're Sensitive and/or Delicate: There is a lot of swears and it's pretty dang profane, if you mind that kind of thing.

In Short: If you're a huge Four Humors fan, you'll love it. The audience certainly did.

Hot Tip: Loved last year's Four Humors TCHF show Mortem Capiendum? You can catch it in New Prague at the lovely Daleko Arts theater on November 11 and 12. I highly recommend both the show AND Daleko Arts.

Twin Cities Horror Fest IV: Mortem Capiendum - Four Humors

Did I mention that I heart Twin Cities Horror Fest, now in its fourth year?  Cause I really do.

Mortem Capiendum - Four Humors

"A tonic with seemingly miraculous properties; Three con-men beginning to believe their own pitch; And a perfectly ordinary trunk containing...? A traveling medicine show from Four Humors."

Seeing this show first on our four-show day raised the TCHF bar to crazy heights. Mortem Capiendum makes me wish that theaters were more like movies, where you could just stay for the second show. 

From the first moment that Brant Miller walks out on stage with his banjo to the last chilling minutes, this play is hilarious, chilling, suspenseful and completely delightful. 

Matt Spring plays Prof. Johnathan St. Miracle, a huckster who is selling the eponymous immortality tonic. The utter waterfall of words that tumble out of St. Miracle is stunning--it's a perfect depiction of the Depression-era, fast-talking hustler. Brant Miller, as Eustis, his right-hand man, has an open, guileless face that make his deadpan comments even more hilarious. And as Lloyd, Jason Ballweber creates a fascinatingly complicated character.

With minimal staging, props and lighting, this show is all in the writing (by Ballweber, Miller, Spring and Matt Ryan) and the acting. Each of the actors goes through some serious character transformations, which is pretty amazing, given the short length of the show. (Of course, they have been working on it for a while.)

I love that the Twin Cities Horror Festival gives me the opportunity to check out theater companies whose work I haven't seen before. And it's SHAMEFUL that I've missed Four Humors so far--I'm embarrassed to say it. I won't make that mistake again. And I'm definitely putting their next production: The Ingenious Gentleman Don Quixote of La Mancha (May 13 - May 22, 2016 at the Dowling Studio at the Big G.) on my calendar.

If You're Sensitive and/or Delicate: Don't forget to check out Twin Cities Horror Festival's handy genre and ratings guide.

In Short: Go see it!

PS: Dear theater companies: Giving a treat/bribe as Four Humors did for filling out a survey?  Works for me!