"George" at Bedlam Lowertown

Grilled cheese, fries, a beer, and zany, topical, funny, original theater. Is there a better way to celebrate the independence of this great nation? Our foremothers and fathers fought the British and won our freedom 239 years ago so that someday, their story could be told in a light-hearted and irreverent way in front of an audience enjoying good food and drinks. I'm joking of course, but in all seriousness one of the great things about this country is that we can freely make fun of ourselves and use theater and art to entertain and make commentary. George does exactly that and makes for a fun and festive night out.

I had been in Bedlam Theatre's newish space, the restaurant/bar/performance space known as Bedlam Lowertown (located in St. Paul's Lowertown neighborhood, obviously), but this was my first time actually seeing a show there. It's a similar idea to the Bryant Lake Bowl, with full menu and bar service before, during, and after the show, except that the layout is a little more friendly and its primary focus is theater. The menu's interesting, the beer selection is good, and it's kind of fun to eat while watching a show, although I did feel a little awkward chomping my fries a few feet away from the actors doing their thing (note: this is an exception to my no eating at the theater rule). After the show a musician took the stage, and with events happening just about every night, this is definitely a place you should check out.

On to the show. Written by Joey Hamburger and directed by Michael Hugh Torsch, both of whom also appear in the show, George tells the story of Independence Day in a slightly, well, different way. Part Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson (it's not a musical, but there is music accompaniment by John Hilsen), part Weekend at Bernie's, part Drunk History, it reimagines George Washington (played by the playwright with a bit of Andy Samberg zaniness) as a hapless, clueless, but good-natured fellow. When an accident caused by his two "squires" Thomas Jefferson (Michael Rogers) and John Hancock (Kevin Callaghan) leaves him dead, they prop him up and carry on the business of wooing heiress Liberty Freedombell (Laura Hickey) and defeating King George (Patrick Latterell, pompous and spoiled), hoping that an electrical trick they learned from Benjamin Franklin (a scene-stealing Jacob Mobley) will bring him back to life.

George is funny, clever, and irreverent, with jokes about the many things America is best at (giving speeches, celebrating) and how it's OK to lie if it's for the good of the country (which seems to be the motto of most politicians and the entire cast of Scandal). Unfortunately the short run concludes this Friday, so go soon if you're going! You can also catch this writer/director team at the Fringe, and keep your eye on the Bedlam Lowertown website for future events

"The Big Lowdown" by Bedlam Theatre on the streets of Lowertown

When was the last time you played Red Light Green Light? Or told ghost stories at a slumber party? Or searched for eggs in a park? It's been more than 30 years for me, but playing Red Light Green Light in a parking lot in St. Paul's Lowertown neighborhood with a bunch of strangers, mostly adults, I was immediately taken back to when I used to play it with my cousins on the sidewalk outside my great aunt's house. And that's the idea behind Bedlam Theatre's walking theatrical experience The Big Lowdown - giving adults the space to play like we did when we were children, but which most of us stopped doing as the concerns of the real world began to weigh us down. The Big Lowdown attempts to awaken that childlike spirit again, and while it was a bit too interactive and participatory for my comfort level (perhaps I would have felt more comfortable if I were wearing a mask and told to be silent), I do appreciate the spirit of the evening, and enjoyed some really cool and unique performances.

BodyCartography Project

The adventure begins at Bedlam's new bar/ restaurant/performance club, Bedlam Lowertown. Participants are divided into groups led by "rovers" in character - from wizards to aliens. I followed the Peanuts character Lucy, along with about ten other adventurers, to seven stops in Lowertown, mostly outdoors in odd and interesting spaces. In addition to Red Light Green Light and the slumber party (where I was hoping to play "light as a feather, stiff as a board" like we did at slumber parties in the '80s), activities include a Unity parade, er, strut; a really cool robotic and fluid dance performance; a couple of bellhops whose actions are narrated by a bearded man, that hits just the right mix of audience participation and performance, and is oddly delightful; and my favorite stop - a fascinating performance by The BodyCartography Project. Six people dressed in orange meld their bodies onto the concrete and metal surfaces of an alleyway, and get absolutely filthy because they are literally rolling around on the ground with their faces and bodies pressed into the concrete, hanging on anything and everything. I could have watched these amorphous beings creating strange and beautiful shapes for hours.

The adventure culminates in lovely Mears Park with a few more games and the announcement of the winners (did I mention it's a competition?). In the end it was a fun evening, despite the awkward moments, and is a great way to see some of the interesting spaces of Lowertown. I appreciate Bedlam's mission to get the audience involved in their art, but after this and the recent Fringe fest, I'm ready to go back to sitting comfortably behind the fourth wall in a darkened theater. At least for a little while.

The adventure continues this weekend only, so get there fast to take part in the playing. It's especially fun for kids, who are a little more connected to their playful spirits than us adults.

"The Big Lowdown" on the streets of Lowertown St. Paul, by Bedlam Theatre and Live Action Set

I had an interesting new theatrical experience last night. It's called The Big Lowdown and it's put on by Bedlam Theatre and Live Action Set on the streets of Lowertown. Rather than sit in a theater and be entertained by what's happening on the stage in front of you, the audience walks around from stage to stage to view various short pieces, so that you're actually walking in and moving through the theatrical universe. It's pretty darn cool. There are only three performances (I attended a preview) and I highly recommend you check it out this weekend if you're looking for a fun and unique adventure that's part theater, part neighborhood tour, and part community gathering.

The adventure begins at the beautifully restored historic Union Depot in St. Paul, where the audience is divided into 12 small groups (I was told the max size is 40, but there were only five in my group which was a great size for us all to get to know each other a little bit). Each group is given directions to their destination where they meet their "roamer," or tour guide for the night. You are then led to various locations in St. Paul's Lowertown neighborhood (a neighborhood with which I was not very familiar, but of which I am now a fan) to view short pieces. It's almost like a mini-Fringe Festival, in that there's a great variety of work presented and you're never sure what you're going to see next. I will refrain from telling you any details about any of the performances because I don't want to ruin the delightful surprise of it all. Suffice it to say that I experienced many different kinds of theater, including but not limited to: music, puppetry, storytelling, dance, folktale, circus, painting, poetry, and things I'm not sure have a name. The pieces were in turn odd, funny, beautiful, creepy, delightful, sad, silly, moving, fun, trippy, and fascinating. They took place in locations as various as the bright and open waiting room at the Depot, a darkened room, a rough and unfinished basement, an alley, and a lovely park. Walking around the dark and deserted streets with a small group of companions and only a lantern to light our way, it was as if we were on our own private adventure, with everything happening around us seemingly a part of the show.

My group attended seven of the nine performances going on that night (according to the program, which also includes a handy map), and we were just one of 12 groups. I don't really get how that math works (and I'm good at math), but it's an impressive logistical feat by director Noah Bremer and team to make it all work! Since I attended the first and only preview performance, there were a few moments of extra time here or not enough time there, but in general it all ran remarkably smoothly. And it's an adventure, so it doesn't have to be perfect, that's part of the fun.

I just can't recommend this highly enough; it's the best adventure you can have for $15! Wear your walking shoes, dress for the weather (i.e., hot and and humid), carry a water bottle (although there are a few water stops along the way), bring your adventurous spirit, and be aware of what's happening around you, for around each corner is a new wonder to explore. The adventure begins this Friday, Saturday, and Sunday at 8 pm (but they ask that you arrive by 7:30 to allow time to be sorted into groups and take care of logistics). Be sure to visit the Facebook event page for details on location, parking, and ticket info. Have fun!

the Union Depot and light rail stop

one of the locations, inside artists lofts