Minnesota Fringe Festival 2025: "Cabin Fever"

Day: 9

Show: 32

Title: Cabin Fever

Category: Comedy / Improv / Audience participation / LGBTQIA+ Content

By: Small Waves

Created by: Mikela Anderson, Naomi Brecht, and Katie & Della Christ

Location: Barker Center

Summary: The finale of a lesbian dating reality set in a cabin in the woods.

Highlights: I've never watched a reality dating show (except for the most recent locally filmed season of Love is Blind which I'm only halfway through), but it's a great premise for an improv show. Hosted by the drag queen Buttercream, the show is structured as a recap of the season, one-on-one dates with the bachelorette Ashleighy (Haley Methner) based on audience suggestions (skydiving, an improv show, being in a donkey costume, and jazzercize), the final "s'more" ceremony (instead of "rose," although there sadly were no actual s'mores), and of course the reality show confessionals. Within this structure, the cast (also including Mikela Anderson, Abigail Aune, Madison Lang, Misha Suarez, and Madison Wagner) improvises scenes and storylines, as ridiculous as "real" reality shows can be. On a set that's fairly elaborate by Fringe standards (designed by Della Christ), scenes take place in the living room setup on the right, with dates on the left, and a big sign surrounded by pine trees in the center. They've got one more show at 4pm today (Sunday).

Read all of my Fringe mini-reviews here. 

"The Wedding Singer" at Lyric Arts

I've never seen the 1998 Adam Sandler movie The Wedding Singer, and am unfamiliar with the 2006 musical adaptation (which was nominated for five Tonys). I went into Lyric Arts' new production of the musical with zero expectations, and found it to be a very fun, very funny show. It's not a particularly revolutionary story, boy meets girl, etc., but it's a whole lot of fun. The huge cast's energy, enthusiasm, and commitment to the campy '80s era is infectious, and the original score (by Matthew Skylar and Chad Beguelin, who also wrote the score for another super fun show, The Prom) is cute and catchy. The Wedding Singer might be just what you need to bring a little light and joy into these last dregs of winter.

"Xanadu" by Duluth Playhouse at the NorShor Theatre

I've been to the North Shore four times in the last 14 months. During a time when my two favorite things posed a serious health risk - theater and travel - I travelled locally, Minnesota State Parks permit in hand, or rather, on my car. Now that things are starting to look brighter (but only if we continue to vaccinate and follow masking guidelines), I was able to combine my two favorite things. Duluth Playhouse is back and I just happened to be in town for closing weekend of their production of Xanadu. It's such a fun show that's so silly and ridiculous, but its themes about "the human experience rendered comprehensible through art" and a magical place defined by love and creation are really quite poignant right now. This talented young cast fully embraces the joy and camp of Xanadu, making this a celebratory return to theater. This production has closed, but they've got a full schedule of shows planned both at the beautifully restored NorShor Theatre and at the smaller edgier Underground Theatre. If you're planning a trip to the North Shore, visit their website to see what's playing.