"Scapin" by Ten Thousand Things

This spring, Michelle Hensley left the company she founded 25+ years ago, Ten Thousand Things, through which she nurtured a new kind of theater. The kind of theater that thinks first about the audience, makes the storytelling accessible to everyone, and brings theater to people who may never have experienced it before. I think we were all a little worried about the future of TTT without their esteemed leader, but never fear. Michelle has taught us well, and left the company in great hands - those of new Artistic Director Marcela Lorca, as well as adapter/director of the first post-MH show, Randy Reyes. This fun and wacky adaptation of the Moliere comedy Scapin is very TTT, and an absolute delight. Long live Ten Thousand Things!

"The Imaginary Invalid" by Combustible Company at Gremlin Theatre

Their opening night was cancelled in the Great April Blizzard of '18, but a little (or a lot) of snow didn't stop Combustible Company from delivering a funny, clever, relevant, and really well-done version of Moliere's The Imaginary Invalid. When I finally made it to Gremlin Theatre two days later than planned, I found myself thoroughly entertained for two and a half hours by this delightfully odd mixture of humor, music, social commentary, bright costumes, and pharmaceutical ads. The play may be over 300 years old, but this clever new adaptation (by Oded Gross and Tracy Young) brings out all the relevance to 2018 in this story of a hypochondriac struggling with health care issues, as so many are today. The modern references make the play feel fresh and current, while still keeping a tie to the original, and the consistently fantastic cast plays up the comedy to a hilt, without losing sight of the humanity of the characters. (Playing through April 28, click here for info and tickets.)

"Tartuffe" by Wayward Theatre Company at the James J Hill House

I love seeing theater in non-traditional theater spaces; it shakes me out of the usual and allows me to see theater in a different way. These days, it's becoming a necessity for the many nomadic theater companies in town to look outside the box when planning to mount a show (see also Frank Theatre's Good Person of Setzuan in an abandoned Rainbow Foods). Happily, the James J. Hill House seems to be quite amenable to hosting theatrical events; I've seen three plays there in the last six months. It's a gorgeous and historic building, and lends itself quite well to a variety of projects, from a comic opera like Marriage of Figaro, to a creepy horror tale like Bluebeard's Dollhouse, to a 17th Century French comedy. The latter can currently be seen in the grand surroundings on St. Paul's Summit Avenue (once the home of more millionaires than any other street in the country), in the form of new-to-me Wayward Theatre Company's innovatively imagined and well-executed Tartuffe. I can't help thinking the Hill family would be thrilled to know people are experiencing wonderful theater in their home.

"The Misanthrope" at Bryant Lake Bowl

Misanthrope: noun, a person who dislikes humankind and avoids human society.

Such is the title character of 17th century French playwright Molière's most popular comedy The Misanthrope. In a new adaptation by the show's director Adrian Balbontin, based on the translation by Robert Cohen, this cantankerous character is re-imagined as a New York fashion designer. The play opens, at the informal setting of the Bryant Lake Bowl Theater, with a fashion show. Musicians accompany the fashion show and provide interludes between the five short acts of the play. All of this adds to Molière's biting social commentary, heard in delicious rhyme, to create a thoroughly entertaining evening and a great way to jump into the 2015 theater year!

Alceste is the titular misanthropic designer (Sam Pearson, appealing in a Benedict Cumberbatch sort of way) surrounded by a group of characters he barely tolerates, being too quick to point out the faults in everyone, including himself. He's an idealistic man who expects the best in people and society, and is constantly frustrated when they don't live up to his high standards. But despite himself and his ideals, he can't help but love Celimene (a charming Devon Cox), a flighty and flirtatious gossip with many suitors (of all genders and persuasions). Celimene assures Alceste that they mean nothing, and he's the one she truly loves. But he can't believe her, and when given proof of her dalliances, he's devastated, but then forgives her and begs her to leave this world and live with him away from distasteful society. When Celimene is unwilling to leave the life and society she loves, Alceste walks off into the sunset, alone.

This clever adaptation name-drops designer such as Louis Vuitton and Isaac Mizrahi, and feels subtly modern. The talented young cast handles the difficult rhyming dialogue with ease and makes it sound natural, with occasional winks at the audience when it stretches for the rhyme. It's all done in a mostly light-hearted manner, except for a few tense scenes when Alceste's anguish at his predicament is palpably felt.

I'm not sure what genre of music combines a ukulele and mandolin with a trumpet and bongo drums, but the result is quirky and whimsical and wistful, setting a perfect tone for the show. Joe Scheller (who introduces the show and occasionally interacts with the cast) and Maya Elena Baglien add their lovely vocals, and there's a fun interplay between cast and band, as Alceste (or one of the other characters) snaps his fingers to call the band to play when the conversation is over.

When you're setting a play in the fashion world, wardrobe is important, and costume designer Jenna Rose Graupman rises to the task. Each character has a specific style, from Alceste's neat suit to Philinte's hoody, from Eliante's mousy look to Celimene's series of pretty party dresses you might see on [insert name of current female pop star], creating an eclectic mix that's a feast for the eyes, as the music and dialogue is a feast for the ears.

This delightful Misanthrope continues to spew his discontent through January 17 at Bryant Lake Bowl, with 7 and 10 pm shows lasting a perfect 90 minutes, and full menu and bar service during the show (which personally I find a bit distracting, but does contribute to the fun and relaxed atmosphere).