"The Last Days of Commodus" by Four Humors Theatre at Strike Theater

Four Humors Theatre brings their thoughtfully ridiculous interpretation of history and/or literature to the Roman Emperor Commodus, a by all accounts horrible ruler who brought an end to the era known as "Pax Romana" - no more peace and stability for Rome under this egotistical tyrant. Playwright and company member Matt Spring sets the story as a play-within-a-play, which allows for commentary and exposition around the story that's being told, breaking down all the complicated history into a palatable 90-minute story. It's the type of zany fun I've come to expect from Four Humors, perhaps with a bit of social and political commentary if you look past the silliness. The Last Days of Commodus continues through next weekend only at Strike Theatre in Northeast Minneapolis.

"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.

Fringe Festival: "11:11"

Day: 1

Show: 3

Title: 11:11

Category: Drama

By: SaMi Productions

Created by: Sara Pillatzki-Warzeha

Location: Rarig Center Arena

Summary: A series of vignettes about the big and little moments in life that can change everything, framed around the creator's life-changing experience of a car accident.

Highlights: Sara's moving story about how her car accident changed her life begins and ends this piece. The accident reignites her grief at the loss of her grandfather, whose car she was driving (does everyone's grandpa know how to catch flies, or just Sara's and mine?), and ultimately the loss of the feeling of safety and security in life. Each of the other three performers (Yvonne Ingrid Freese, Jason Garton, and Jill Damaske Iverson) wrote a scene, along with a few other authors. Some of the scenes are more effective than others, some funny and some tragic, but all are open and honest and real. Other than the main story, I was most affected by Jill's moving performance in a piece she wrote about the loss of an almost-friend. As a whole, 11:11 is perhaps a big disjointed, but it's moving, poignant, thought-provoking, and brought tears to my eyes. I call that a Fringe success.