"Perfect Arrangement" by Walking Shadow Theatre at the Crane Theater

The day after seeing Lyric Arts' regional premiere of the British comedy Home, I'm Darling, about a modern day couple living the facade of the perfect '50s lifestyle, I saw Walking Shadow Theatre's production of Perfect Arrangement, about two couples in the '50s living the facade of the perfect '50s lifestyle. But this time it's hiding the fact that the two women and the two men are the actual couples, and the facade is necessary for these State Department employees to survive the Lavender Scare during the era of McCarthyism. On a set that's a neat replica of I Love Lucy, the play has a sitcom feel, perfected by the direction and performances of the talented cast, that turns into something darker when the direness of the foursome's situation is revealed. June Pride Month is a perfect time to revisit this time in queer history, when people could be fired from government jobs based on the mere suspicion of homosexuality. Perfect Arrangement plays at the Crane Theater through June 21.

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Category: COMEDY / SCI-FI / SPOKEN WORD / STORYTELLING / HISTORICAL CONTENT / KID FRIENDLY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 2019: "How To Come Back From The Dead"

Day: 2

Show: 7

Title: How To Come Back From The Dead

Category: COMEDY / HORROR / SCI-FI / SOLO SHOW / SPOKEN WORD / STORYTELLING / HISTORICAL CONTENT

By: Monster Science Productions

Created by: Reverend Matt's Monster Science

Location: Mixed Blood Theatre

Summary: Reverend Matt educates and entertains about zombies, vampires, ghosts, and other ways history, mythology, and stories have told us we can come back from the dead.

Highlights: Reverend Matt (aka Matthew Kessen) performs regularly around town (at the Phoenix, your local library, and elsewhere), so if you've seen him, you know the drill. It's basically the same format, but with a new topic every time, and this year he added an assistant (Elora Riley), like the sidekick of a late night talk show. Rev. Matt's lessons are always funny, clever, nerdy, and take a deep dive into the subject at hand, accompanied by power point of related images. This year we learned all about vampires (sadly, no photos of my favorite vampire Alexander Skarsgard, but that's what Google is for) and zombies. Beginning with mythology from various cultures around the world and continuing through modern pop culture, we see how the legend has grown and the different forms it takes. Rev. Matt's droll delivery of his thoroughly researched and well organized lecture is always a fun, nerdy, nostalgic good time.

Read all of my Fringe mini-reviews here.

Minnesota Fringe Festival 2019: "Xena and Gabrielle Smash the Patriarchy"

Day: 2

Show: 5

Title: Xena and Gabrielle Smash the Patriarchy

Category: COMEDY / DRAMA / SCI-FI / POLITICAL CONTENT

By: Mermaid Productions

Directed by: Katy McEwan

Location: Theatre in the Round

Summary: Xena and Gabrielle (from the '90s TV cult hit series) are transported from ancient Greece to a modern day comic con.

Highlights: Confession: I've never seen Xena: Warrior Princess and don't know anything about it, so I probably only caught about half of the references. (I am a nerd, but only about a few specific things, including theater). But while Xena fans might get more out of this show than I did (and the audience certainly seemed to), you don't have to be a fan to relate to and enjoy this fun, fierce, feminist show. At the comic con, Xena and Gabrielle encounter sexism from men, as well as women cutting each other down, an issue that real live comic cons face (I've also never been to a con). But with the help of a little magic and music, we all learn to be better. And the speculation about the two characters' relationship is finally, satisfactorily, resolved. Producer Ariel Leaf and playwright Nissa Nordland Morgan are perfectly cast as Xena and Gabrielle and surrounded by a strong supporting cast, including Elora Riley and Katie Starks as two very different comic con women, Matthew Kessen, Nicholas Nelson, and Richard "Doc" Woods in the thankless roles of the jerky men, and Heather Meyer in a hilarious turn as.... well, I won't spoil it here. A must-see for comic con goers and fans of Xena: Warrior Princess (my friends at Minnesota Theater Love, fans of the series, loved it), but you don't have to be either to enjoy the show.

Read all of my Fringe mini-reviews here.