"Glory" at Theatre in the Round

Similar to The Wolves or Flex, Glory is a play about a women's hockey team that's about so much more than hockey. These athletes are referred to as hockey dolls, sportscasters talk about how they look in their uniforms, when they're strong and tough and powerful people say they must be men, they get paid less and have less access to the things they need than male athletes, and people in power claim women are soft and weak and therefore aren't qualified to do hard things like play hockey (or serve in combat). Was this the 1930s or last week? The answer is both, which is perhaps why the cast and creative team of Theatre in the Round's production of this beautiful play made me cry about hockey, I sport I've never watched and care nothing about. This play (based on a true story and premiering in 2018) deals with sexism, anti-Semitism, war, poverty, and discrimination in a way that's unfortunately still incredibly relevant today. Go see Glory at the oldest theater in Minneapolis, continuing weekends through February 9.

"Lincoln's Children" by Fortune's Fool Theatre at the Crane Theater Studio

'Tis the season for political plays. First, the inspiring story of Texas governor Ann Richards, reminding us that the government works for us and we need to hold them accountable. Next, Fortune's Fool Theatre's world premiere production of Lincoln's Children, historical fiction about arguably our greatest president (but not without flaws), reminding us that we need to be constantly vigilant in the ongoing fight for justice and equality that Lincoln (and countless others) gave his life for. It's a well-written play (that would be a great 90-minute-no-intermission show, if not for the intermission) that ties history to the present, well executed by Fortune's Fool in the intimate space of the Crane studio theater. They've only got a handful of performances left, so get your tickets soon (because "intimate space" means sellouts!).

"A Wrinkle in Time" at Theatre in the Round

Madeleine L'Engle's 1962 novel A Wrinkle in Time won many awards, as well as many hearts. It's been adapted several times, including a 2018 film. I remember loving the book as a kid, but no details about it, so I went in almost blind to Theatre in the Round's production of the 2010 stage adaptation. I found it to be a sweet story about the triumph of good over evil, of love over fear. A timely message indeed. TRP's production features an ensemble cast playing many roles, led by a trio of talented young actors, and a charming design utilizing low-tech theater tricks. It's a magical story and production that can be enjoyed by the grown-ups as much as the many youngsters in the audience (continuing through July 14).