Minnesota Fringe Festival 2023: "Monster Science's Greatest Hits: The Ecology of the Muppets"

Day: 9

Show: 35

Title: Monster Science's Greatest Hits

Category: COMEDY / SCI-FI / SOLO SHOW / SPOKEN WORD / HISTORICAL CONTENT

By: Monster Science Productions

Created by: Reverend Matt's Monster Science

Location: Augsburg Studio

Summary: The Monster Scientist known as Reverend Matt takes a deep dive into the beloved monsters that are part of Jim Henson's world of creation.

Highlights: I saw a Reverend Matt show on the first day of this year's Fringe Festival (The Very Model of a Modern Monster Scientist, in which he hires an assistant), and I saw another Reverend Matt show on the second to last day of the festival. Nice bookends indeed. Rev Matt's (aka Matthew Kessen) second show is a compilation of five of his most popular shows, pulled from his collection of deep dive power point-fueled explorations of various monsters, incorporating pop culture, mythology, and history. I chose to see the Muppets show, having grown up on Sesame Street and The Muppet Show, and made a reservation well in advance, since it was sure to sell out (it did). Turns out there's a lot about Jim Henson's creations that I didn't know, and Rev Matt covers it all. From some very violent early coffee commercials, to the only live action movie to feature only puppets (The Dark Crystal), to the beloved Sesame Street, and beyond. He walks us through Jim's life and career more or less chronologically, through his tragic and untimely death at the age of 53. The show is funny and touching and nostalgic, and nerdy in the best way. If you missed Rev Matt at the Fringe this year or want to see more of him, you can see his show at Bryant Lake Bowl the first Thursday of every month (see his website or follow him on Facebook for news on upcoming performances).

Read all of my Fringe mini-reviews here.

Minnesota Fringe Festival 2023: "Primary"

Day: 9

Show: 34

Title: Primary

Category: COMEDY / DRAMA / LGBTQIA+ CONTENT / POLITICAL CONTENT

By: Alex Church

Created by: Alex Church

Location: Augsburg Studio

Summary: A longtime Congresswoman loses her primary election and her family all in one day.

Highlights: This show is donating part of their profits to Women Winning, an organization dedicated to helping pro-choice women get elected to positions at all levels, but the story itself does not make a convincing case for anyone to run for elected office. Elizabeth Young has sacrificed everything for her political career, and has the accomplishments to show for it. But when her adopted daughter Anna comes out as gay during the campaign, and she's dating a political reporter, it brings all of the issues bubbling just under the surface out into the open. Elizabeth's marriage is in trouble, and her daughter wants nothing to do with her. Adding fuel to the fire, Elizabeth's seemingly racist but actually supportive mother left the crumbling house Elizabeth's father built to Anna, and the two disagree about what to do with it. The political gets very personal in this drama, coming to an explosive conclusion. The show is well acted (including an unforeseen appearance by the playwright as Elizabeth, which, not having read the program closely, took me a minute to realize), with a recorded video of a clever spoof of a political ad opening the show, and gets into some real thorny awkward discussions between various characters (Anna is having some relationship issues too). Like I said, not the best ad for running for office, but good theater.

Read all of my Fringe mini-reviews here.

Minnesota Fringe Festival 2023: "The Very Model of a Modern Monster Scientist"

Day: 1

Show: 3

Title: The Very Model of a Modern Monster Scientist

Category: COMEDY / SCI-FI / SPOKEN WORD / STORYTELLING / HISTORICAL CONTENT / KID FRIENDLY

By: Mermaid Productions

Created by: Reverend Matt's Monster Science

Location: Augsburg Studio

Summary: One of the top ten monster comedians in South Minneapolis, Reverend Matt steps out from behind the podium to interact with a human - his new assistant.

Highlights: If you've seen Reverend Matt (aka Matthew Kessen), you're familiar with his unique brand of comedy, pop culture, literature, mythology, and power point. Typically he deep dives into a specific monster (which he is doing in his other show Monster Science's Greatest Hits), but for this show, he speaks from his podium (or music stand) about various topics, including monsters at work. This is a transition to hiring someone to work with him at the "Monster Science Institute," and he steps out from behind the podium to interview a new science assistant (played by Elora Riley, and don't worry, she gets a promotion). Elora brings a new freshness to the usual Rev Matt schtick (which is still great), and their boss-employee interplay is charming and funny. We still get some power point presentations, and we also get to see the two monster scientists in the field, searching for monsters, doing experiments, and just generally nerding out about monster stuff. Monster Science is always a sure thing great show, and this version amps it up. But be forewarned: the first show, on the first night of the festival, sold out the small Augsburg studio space, so you might want to buy/reserve in advance.

Read all of my Fringe mini-reviews here.

Minnesota Fringe Festival 2023: "The Resilient Child"

Day: 1

Show: 2

Title: The Resilient Child

Category: DRAMA / MUSICAL THEATER / ORIGINAL MUSIC / SPOKEN WORD / STORYTELLING / LGBTQIA+ CONTENT

By: Fortune's Fool Theatre

Created by: Ariel Pinkerton

Location: Augsburg Mainstage 

Summary: Storytelling about resiliency, childhood, and parent/child relationships from four adults and three children.

Highlights: Ariel Pinkerton is a veteran Fringe storyteller, frequently sharing stories from her life and travels in solo shows. This time she brings along her daugher Fiona, her "fellow" Aaron Henderson and his children Toad and Eli, and grown-up #TCTheater artists Denzel Belin and Katie Starks. Each one of them tells a story of resiliency from their life - growing up in a bubble, the death of a beloved pet, a difficult or rewarding relationship with a parent, or rolling with the changes of life. The kids are brave and vulnerable and sweet, the adults funny or poignant or both. The stories are tied together with songs (accompanied by Aaron on steel guitar) that are appropriate to the topic, like "If Only You Would Listen" from the musical School of Rock and "Parents are People" from the album Free to Be... You and Me. The show is an interesting twist on the Fringe staple storytelling show, sweet and heart-warming and engaging, from experienced artists and young stars in the making. As Ariel says in her concluding piece, maybe kids are the strong ones.

Read all of my Fringe mini-reviews here.

Minnesota Fringe Festival 2018: "Rejection"

Day: 10

Show: 34

Title: Rejection

Category: Comedy / Drama / LGBTQ+ Content

By: Theatre Corrobora

Written by: Hailey Colwell

Location: Augsburg Mainstage

Summary: A relationship dramedy about a group of friends whose relationships change when they take part in a study about relationships.

Highlights: Based on the title of the play you know someone's going to get rejected. But it's a story well told by the strong cast in this entertaining , if not particularly revelatory play. After discussing her relationship with the researcher, Sadie begins to doubt it, and confesses her fears to girlfriend Jade, who doesn't share her same fears. Their (seemingly) happily married friends Penny and Steven also talk to the researcher, revealing some cracks in their relationship as well. Single friend Margo is happy being solo (especially observing her friends' relationship troubles) but tries dating anyway. In the end everyone's life is changed by the study, which really just made clear the issues that were already festering (moral of the story: talk about your feelings). Perhaps a little predictable, but still enjoyable, and bonus points for the thoughtfully chosen instrumental soundtrack of love songs.

Read all of my Fringe mini-reviews here.

Minnesota Fringe Festival 2018: "Proof! An Alien Abduction Pop Musical"

Day: 7

Show: 27

Title: Proof! An Alien Abduction Pop Musical

Category: Comedy / Musical Theater / Original Music

By: Sister Shakes

Written by: Anna Olson and Mark Schirmacher

Location: Augsburg Studio

Summary: The title says it all: it's a musical about a woman abducted by aliens.

Highlights: This show has been selling out the small studio space, and it must be because it's fun and well-done. Admittedly the 10pm timeslot didn't allow me to be as engaged as I'd like to be (note to self: don't see 10pm shows), but what I managed to catch was quite enjoyable. A talented four-person cast (playwright Anna Olson, Bill Williamson, Don Maloney, and Tynelle Marschall), fun poppy songs (by Mark Schirmacher), and an amusing plot about an alien sent to harvest a human soul who falls in love with said soul, and then they end up saving the world (or something). Just one show left on the last day of the fest, so plan accordingly if you want to catch this funny, poppy, clever show (with aliens!)

Read all of my Fringe mini-reviews here.

Minnesota Fringe Festival 2018: "JEANNETTE RANKIN: CHAMPION OF PERSISTENCE"

Day: 5

Show: 18

Title: JEANNETTE RANKIN: CHAMPION OF PERSISTENCE

Category: Drama / Storytelling / Historical Content

By: Crone Productions

Written by: J. Emily Peabody

Location: Augsburg Studio

Summary: A solo piece about the first woman elected to Congress: pacifist Jeannette Rankin from Montana.

Highlights: With a hole in my schedule, I made a spontaneous (note: I am not a spontaneous person) decision to see this show, and I'm glad I did. I had never heard of Jeannette Rankin before, and now I know she's an American hero (although she could learn a thing or two about intersectionality, but in her defense that was not a thing 100 years ago). Despite a few stumbles over lines, J. Emily Peabody gives a convincing performance as the first persistent woman in congress. The story covers the better part of a century and is well-constructed, with a slideshow of historical photos and costume changes as we progress through the years. Jeannette started her career as a social worker but soon decided that social reform was needed to solve the problems from the root. She joined the women's suffrage movement and was a successful speaker, traveling all over the country. Soon after women's suffrage was passed in her home state of Montana, she used that notoriety to run for Congress and win. She was one of 50 congress members to vote against WWI, and when she was reelected 20 years later, she was the only one to vote against declaring war on Japan after Pearl Harbor. Emily brings Jeannette to life in this brief summary of her long life. Imagine, Jeannette was elected to congress in 1916, and 102 years later women make up only 19% of the house and 23% of the senate. But that could change this November: honor the legacy of Jeannette Rankin by voting!

Read all of my Fringe mini-reviews here.