"The Hobbit" at Theatre in the Round

In 2019, Children's Theatre Company commissioned Greg Banks to adapt J.R.R. Tolkien's novel The Hobbit, and he did so using just five actors to play all of the many characters, and added original music. Unlike the bloated movie trilogy, it's a charming, playful, and succinct version of this classic hero story. Now Theatre in the Round is bringing us their version of this same script, but with ten actor/musicians, and a framing story. It's a clever and inventive take on this beloved tale of adventure, courage, and friendship. I've read The Hobbit and the Lord of the Rings trilogy countless times over the last 40 years, and have even visited New Zealand twice (not because of LOTR, but also not not because of it). This is a story and a world I love very much, and will take any opportunity to spend a little time in. I found TRP's version of The Hobbit to be fun, playful, inventive, and very satisfying. Check it out through the end of the month - if you can get tickets.

Minnesota Fringe Festival 2025: "GUNS! the Musical "

Day: 2

Show: 3

Title: GUNS! the Musical 

Category: Comedy / Drama / Musical Theater / Original Music / Physical Theater / Puppetry / LGBTQIA+ Content / Political content / Religious content

By: Kalal Productions

Created by: Bryce Kalal

Location: Theatre in the Round

Summary: A musical satire about a gun-loving town in "The States of 'Merica" that reacts to an epidemic of people being shot in the knees by banning knees and other bending parts.

Highlights: This spoof of American gun culture is a laugh a minute. It's so silly and ridiculous and fun, chock full of bad puns and finger guns and "pew-pew" sound effects. It doesn't hit you over the head with politics, but it's not too hard to draw current parallels with this town that solves all their problems with guns, and billionaires control politicians (the modern remake of Schoolhouse Rock's "How a Bill Becomes a Law" is sadly hilarious). The entire cast (Aura Bafna, Erin Clarkin, Terra Eberle, Krista Hauseman, Maycee Klein, Emma Johnson, Justin Johnson, Phillip Schramm, Sandesh Sukhram, and Glen L. Dawson in what feels like a continuation of his Detective character from the Buttslasher franchise, and that's a good thing) leans fully into the campy sincerity of the show. There are several songs in the show that continue the tone and theme of the story, accompanied by a three-piece on-stage band. They make good use of the in-the-round space, even poking fun at it with calls for "stage... north?" There are some clever props, puppets, and costumes, but not a single gun.

Read all of my Fringe mini-reviews here.