It's been way too long since I've been to the longest running comedy theater in America - our very own Brave New Workshop, currently performing at the Dudley Riggs Theatre (named after BNW's founder) on Hennepin Avenue, operated by Hennepin Arts. Specifically, I haven't been there since last year for
their annual holiday show (not counting
a couple of shows I saw in
the first floor theater, which HA also uses for
comedy programming). But I made up for it by attending opening night of their brand new show,
The Algorithm is Gonna Get You, which is one of their best in recent years. The way that it taps into, and exploits, and makes fun of the way that we're addicted to our phones and the effects of AI on... everything, is very clever. And, as always, hilarious. I literally laughed until I cried. So if you're in need of a live in-person laugh with other humans in a room together, put down your phone for a couple hours and get more Brave New Workshop in your algorithm (
playing weekends through November 7).
This show features five writer/performers who have been core BNW cast members over the last several years, including the longest reigning cast member Lauren Anderson (20+ years), along with Denzel Belin, Isabella Dunsieth, Doug Neithercott, and Taj Ruler. They're joined as always by director/writer Caleb McEwan, who introduces the show and gets us ready to laugh, and for this show picks out a lucky audience member so that the show can be tailored to them the way algorithms are. This provides an opportunity for some improv in this mostly scripted sketch comedy show, with Gabe the mandolinist from Woodbury woven into the bits in really clever ways. Along with Jon Pumper on keys and Matthew Vichlach on everything tech, this group really is a comedy dream team, and works together so well, the years of experience evident in the tightly run show that also allows for a bit of play (and cracking each other up).
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Denzel Belin, Doug Neithercott, Isabella Dunsieth,
Taj Ruler, and Lauren Anderson (photo courtesy of BNW). |
BNW's shows are typically comprised of a series of sketches, some accompanied by music and/or illustrations displayed on screens on either side of the stage. But in this show, I noticed a definite change of pace, in which the sketches are shorter and faster, with greater use of images on the video screens that they literally "swipe" between, intentionally mimicking the way that we consume content on our phones. Yes, there are still longer sketches, like a Minneapolitan (Denzel) visiting his mom (Taj) in Milwaukee to find she's consumed by a right wing podcast, a sequel to the recent film
Obsession in which a man (Doug) can't get away from his needy algorithm (Isabella) giving him sloths and other things it knows too well he wants, the way AI has inserted itself into a couple's (Doug and Denzel) relationship (and also everything), and my favorite - two record store bros (Taj and Lauren) who break into song and riff about the multiverse. But this definitely feels like a faster paced show that really leans into the algorithm feel.
And we also get a glimpse into each performer's specific algorithm. Lauren's is elephant videos, vintage jewelry, boots and cats, and cats and boots. Gen Z Isabella's is all over the place because she's unknowable (prompting a cute Little Mermaid spoof), Doug's reminds him of his age (I relate to this one - I'm older than him, and I get lots of "makeup for mature skin" ads) that results in a recurring song I still can't get out of my head, chronically online Taj curates videos for her analog wife, and Denzel's algorithm is all Broadway and Drag Race. Each one of these specific and personal stories morphs into a longer sketch about a particular facet of this digital world that consumes us.
Watching this show was the hardest I've laughed in a long time, from the vaguely ethnic opening song (that hints at the inspiration for the title) to the full circle finale moment.
Join the fun on Hennepin Avenue!
