"The Hired Man" by Theatre Pro Rata at the Crane Theater

This fall, Theatre Pro Rata is bringing us a new play by local playwright/ actor/ improvisor Heather Meyer that feels like a modern Sam Shepard play, with some Greek tragedy and a little bit of soap opera mixed in. It's gorgeously designed to evoke that Western feel, well directed and acted, and cleverly scripted. It's the kind of play I wish I had time to see again, because all of the clues for the big twist are right there, if you know what you're looking for. The Hired Man continues through October 10 at the Crane Theater in NE Minneapolis, which has recently taken possession of the gorgeous red velvet seats from our dear departed Jungle Theater, for extra comfort and nostalgia.

"Conscience" at Theatre in the Round

On a day when some 200,000 people gathered at our State Capitol to stand up for democracy, joined by millions more around the country, I saw a play about Senator Margaret Chase Smith, one of the few Republicans who stood up to Senator Joseph McCarthy in the 1950s. Conscience, written in 2020 by Tony-winning playwright Joe DiPietro (for book and lyrics of the musical Memphis), resonates deeply with today's world. It tells of a time when one personality has overtaken the Republican party, whipping up support amongst voters by preaching fear of outsiders, fellow politicians afraid to cross him because of the power he seemingly wields. Until one woman stands up on the Senate floor (the only woman on the Senate floor) to condemn his actions. It was a rough road, but eventually, this personality faded into disgrace and history as quickly as he rose. Yesterday's marches are incredibly inspiring, as is this story, providing hope that our collective conscience will win out against forces attempting to erode our democracy. And it's a beautifully told story, succinct and to the point in under two hours, with a fantastic four-person cast bringing these historical figures and their heroic (or not so heroic) actions to life. Conscience, a last-minute season replacement in Theatre in the Round's 74th season, runs through April 19 and couldn't have come at a better time.