"The Birds" by TheatreX at the Hive Collaborative

Irish playwright Conor McPherson's play The Birds could be a series in The Walking Dead Universe, but with birds instead of zombies. Like the ever-expanding TV world, the real trouble comes from the humans, not the dangerous creatures that have launched humans into a post-apocalyptic world. The play is based on the same short story that the 1963 Hitchcock movie is, but from my understanding (never having seen the movie), the characters and plotline are different. This story is an intimate, almost claustrophobic, one, focusing on just four characters and how they react to this new world order. This is the first production I've seen by new-ish #TCTheater company TheatreX, which launched in 2018 with an adaptation of the novel The Haunting of Hill House, staged in St. Paul's own Hill House, which I somehow missed. I'm happy to have finally caught one of their productions, the slow build tension filled examination of the human psyche that is The Birds. See it at The Hive Collaborative through April 27.

"Tolkien" at Open Window Theatre

Five years ago today, I landed in New Zealand for my second visit to this magical land that I fell in love with (as many of us did) watching Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings trilogy. A story that I first encountered when my aunt gave me The Hobbit for my 12th birthday. For nearly 40 years I have continued to read and re-read J.R.R. Tolkien's masterpiece, finding new inspiration in it every time. Open Window Theatre was scheduled to produce the U.S. premiere of Tolkien, by Canadian playwright Ron Reed, shortly after my return from New Zealand in the spring of 2020. We know how that story goes, but happily, they are finally bringing this beautiful story of Tolkien and his friendship with C.S. Lewis to their intimate stage. It's a must-see for fans of Tolkien and/or Lewis, but even if you've never read The Lord of the Rings or The Chronicles of Narnia, you still might enjoy this play about friendship, faith, loss, literature, myth, and inspiration. Tolkien plays weekends through the end of March at Open Window Theatre in Inver Grove Heights.

"Striking 12" by Minneapolis Musical Theatre at Gremlin Theatre

If you're already sick of Christmas music, endless holiday parties, cheesy Hallmark movies, and other so-called festive signs of the season, then Minneapolis Musical Theatre's Striking 12 is the holiday show* for you. The main holiday here is New Year's Eve, by which time our protagonist is sick of the holidays and ready to retreat to his NYC apartment alone. Taking inspiration from Hans Christian Andersen's story "The Little Match Girl," this original musical is funny, clever, and surprisingly poignant, but in a not treacly way. Which makes it perfect for this scrappy company whose tag line is "rare musicals, well done," and who perfectly performs this show in a way that feels both irreverent and earnest at the same time. Striking 12 is truly unique in the #TCTheater holiday space this year, an unexpected take on the holiday season that acknowledges the pressures and disappointments that go along with it, but in the end is a sweet story about finding connection. Striking 12 continues for two more weekends only at Gremlin Theatre in St. Paul (conveniently located next door to Lake Monster Brewing and their daily food trucks).

"Love Comics" by Minneapolis Musical Theatre at Bryant-Lake Bowl

Confession: I've never read comic books (unless you count the graphic novel Fun Home, because theater). I didn't even know there was such a thing as love comics, which apparently were love stories in comic book form, popular in the mid last century. But I know about it now, thanks to Minneapolis Musical Theatre. The musical Love Comics plays loving and playful homage to the tradition of romance comics. Big emotions, melodrama, love lost and found, and fun '50s era costumes. It's a clever and cute little show playing on Bryant-Lake Bowl's cute little stage through March 2.

"Gilligan's Island: The Musical" by Minneapolis Musical Theatre at Illusion Theater

I topped off my four-musical weekend (which also included the ridiculously fun Xanadu at the Chanhassen, the classic Bernstein musical Wonderful Town by Skylark Opera, and a reading of the new musical Heading East by Theater Mu and starring Tony-winner BD Wong) with  Minneapolis Musical Theatre's Gilligan's Island: The Musical. It was like the whipped cream on top of the ice cream sundae that was my weekend: light, airy, and fun, not a whole lot of substance but a pleasant ending to an incredible weekend. In addition to being a theater junkie, I'm also a TV junkie and grew up watching classic sitcoms like Gilligan's Island, so this show is right up my alley.

Gilligan's Island: The Musical is pretty much exactly what you would expect (which isn't surprising considering it was written by the creators of the TV show). The same seven castaways, the grass huts, the familiar outfits, the sitcom predicaments. Only with music! The cast is great; everyone is perfect for their roles and gamely jumps in with both feet. Ryan Levin is appropriately adorable as the well-meaning but not so smart Gilligan, and Ryan Grimes is very Skipper-like. Joe Hendren is perhaps my favorite character, the Professor, who has a solution for every problem, except how to get off the island. Rebecca Gebhart is the sweet Kansas farm girl, and Angela Fox is the sexy, slinky movie star Ginger. Finally, Marlin Rothe and Joyce Norman have the accents and attitudes down pat to play Mr. and Mrs. Howell.

I know I often complain about movie and TV show adaptations taking over Broadway, but this isn't Broadway. And this show doesn't try to be more than it is - a fun, nostalgic homage to a classic sitcom. If you loved watching Gilligan's Island, you'll love this show (playing now through June 24). Surprisingly, this is the first Minneapolis Musical Theatre production I've seen. For whatever reason I've never quite made it to any of their shows. Now that I've "discovered" them, I'll definitely be back!

the castaways