Good to Momma

Medea + Jason: Rubicon Waltz presented by The Flower Shop Project

2011-10-13T19:17:00.000-07:00

Did she or didn't she? As the recent Casey Anthony trial demonstrated, questions of filicide still capture our collective attention. In Medea + Jason: Rubicon Waltz, playing at the Bryant Lake Bowl, playwright Matthew A. Everett (aka the Twin Cities Daily Planet's Single White Fringe Geek) navigates Euripides' tale of Medea. Everett humorously explores this "messy, supernatural business" from the differing perspectives of each player. Unreliable narrators all, each character insists on their own point of view. "This is the story..." they insist.

Joy Dolo, regal in the title role, passionately states her case. She makes you believe in her version of the story. And Zachariah Delventhal as Jason convinces the audience that he is a callow young hero. Hera, Queen of the Gods, (Laura Wiebers) playfully reminds us at every point of time that she is indeed, Hera, Queen of the Gods. And the Oracle (Victoria Pyan), with the voice of Sesame Street's Prairie Dawn high on ethylene fumes, calls it as she sees it. These light character touches balance the carnage and the violence of the story.

The show often shifts to a video to explain the unseen adventures that propel the story forward. (It is a Greek tragedy after all. If all of the plot points were shown, it would be a six hour cycle). While this expository information is helpful, the shifts back and forth to the animated are often abrupt.

As the characters make intertwining choices the show feels like a witty adult dark Choose Your Own (Ancient Greek Tragedy) Adventure.

Fringe Encores: Super Spectacular!: To Opera with Love, 7 (x1) Samurai, You Only Live Forever Once and Yarrrh!

2011-08-14T08:05:00.000-07:00

The 2011 Fringe has one day left. So much to see! The 8:30 Encore shows have been announced. Here are some suggestions:

Super Spectacular!: To Opera with Love at the Augsburg Mainstage. I didn't see this one-but Chris and Tommy caught yesterday's performance. I trust my sources, and they loved it. Great comedy, great singing. At home Tommy gave me a dramatic re-interpretation of the opera Salome, singing Coldplay while portraying the head of John the Baptist.

I did see 7 (x1) Samurai, and I am thrilled that it earned the Encore spot. Writer, director, and performer Daved Gaines has gifted us with his very entertaining interpretation of the Seven Samurai (with a lot of The Magnificent Seven thrown into the mix). It's unique and funny.

You Only Live Forever Once is the goofiest show I saw this year. I still catch myself singing the cheesy theme song throughout the day. The shadow puppets, cardboard props, and comic book acting combined to made the show a campy delight.

And finally, Yarrrh! The Lusty Busty Pirate Musical is playing twice today-1:00 and the 8:30 encore. I can confidently speak on behalf of writer and lyricist Dan Pinkerton and composer Chris Gennaula (my man) that they are thrilled to have the encore spot.

Scientist Turned Comedian at the 2011 Minnesota Fringe Festival

2011-08-13T13:39:00.000-07:00

I am not a scientist, nor do I play one on TV. But Scientist Turned Comedian's Tim Lee, is a scientist, and should play one on TV. The guy needs a sitcom. Syfy should ditch the wrestling and come up with a nerd comedy block.

Lee uses Power Point, usually a diagram or a chart to set up his jokes. He takes a scientific concept, for example dissolution, and converts it into a joke about athletes, wives, bimbos, and money. A handful of the jokes are dated (we all know Pamela Anderson has big breasts), but I do recommend this show.

Tommy's Picks Minnesota Fringe 2011 Part 2

2011-08-13T09:50:00.000-07:00

Disney Dethroned - This show mashes up all the Disney princess movies to create a parody of them. After Princess Disney, who is pretty much all the Disney princesses in one, gets dumped by Prince Charming for Princess Pixar, she sets out on a quest to remain single until her next birthday. The humor is hilarious, and the songs are good. Overall, it's definitely worth seeing.

Scientist turned Comedian - This is a stand-up comedy show from scientist-turned-comedian (and YouTube sensation, with over 4 million views) Tim Lee. The science charts (and resulting pop-culture comparisons) are downright hilarious. The in-between jokes? They weren't as funny for me. Still, the show is funny enough to get a spot on this list.

You Only Live Forever Once - This is a show that parodies the James Bond formula with puppets, Mouse Trap board games, and a cat-like villain. The puppets are hilarious (especially an obnoxious one named Dudley) and the action scenes are very creative. Overall, if you've seen a James Bond movie (or two....or three....), you will really like this show.

Hamluke - This show combines Star Wars with Hamlet to hilarious results. While I don't know as much about Hamlet (never seen it) as I do Star Wars, I still loved the show. Hilarious jokes include the Jawas doing a play ('The Death of Darth Maul'), a scene which does the 'I am your father' scene word-for-word from Star Wars, and that freaky (but hilarious) Yoda puppet. Make sure you see Star Wars or Hamlet first, though - you'll have no idea what's going on otherwise. Still, it's an absolute must-see.

Macbeth: The Video-Game Remix - This is a show that hilariously combines Macbeth with World of Warcraft to good results. One good joke involves a 'free trial version' that strips down everything in the full game to an absolute minimum. Overall, even if you don't play video games or have never seen Macbeth, you'll still like the show.

Buckets and Tap Shoes - Favorite Pick of Fringe 2011 - Wow. That's the one word that describes this show. Wow. The show dazzles, visually and aurally, with so much relentless energy that it leaves you amazed long after the last note. The music is a joy to listen to, and the tap dances are absolutely amazing to watch. It's not everyone's cup of tea - it's REALLY LOUD, so you might want to bring earplugs - but I absolutely loved it, and it successfully joins the ranks of other genius Fringe shows from past years.

Now that we've gotten through the top ten, it's shameless plug-in time: a shout out to YARRH! The Lusty, Busty Pirate Musical, which my dad wrote the music for. While it would have been on the list, I felt that it wouldn't be fair to include my father's show on it.

Tommy's picks Minnesota Fringe Festival 2011 Part 1

2011-08-12T10:45:00.000-07:00

Tommy has started his annual wrap up of the Fringe. Here is part one:

Hi, everyone! This is Tommy Gennaula here, giving you my picks for the ten best shows at the Fringe this year. Please note that, unlike previous years, I will not be ranking them from 10, 9, 8 all the way down to 1. Instead, I'm just going to select 10 of the best shows I saw at the Fringe this year and give you my pick for the best one(s). Also note that, since I am a teen now, I was able to see some shows that were rather adult and not suitable for children. So without further ado, my picks for this year's festival!

The Duties and Responsibilities of Being a Sidekick - This show is about a sidekick named Barrel Man, sidekick to Gentleman Li, a famous superhero who likes to use his fame to attract the women. Barrel Man is a great crime fighter, possibly even better than Gentleman Li himself, but he's kind of awkward when it comes to women. Like, really awkward. The show is very funny, the actors are great, and the action scenes are awesome, but I can't help but feel that the story is kind of predictable - they give one too many clues about a major plot twist, and it isn't anything that you haven't seen before. Still, it's charms far outweigh it's faults.

Damn You Auto Caress! - This is a show about (fictional) teenagers' lives being affected by Auto-Correct, that annoying pain-in-the-butt feature that seems to be on every cellphone these days (hence the auto-corrected title). The show's main focus is on a focus group talking to each other about how their lives have been ruined by Auto-Correct (to quote the preachy counselor, "I am powerless against the Auto-Correct"). The teens' stories feel bitter (the good kind, but still not my type), but the little bits that are in-between stories and a sequence involving an Auto-Corrected narrator are genius. Overall, it's worth seeing, even if you aren't a big fan of the bitter humor of the show.

The Smothers Brothers Grimm - From Joshua Scrimshaw and Levi Weinhagen, creators of the Fringe hit 'The Harty Boys' comes this wonderful comedic gem. On the eve of his grandfather's funeral, Milton's parents come to tell him some fairy tales, but he ends up telling the stories himself - Grandpa's way, which is old-school comedy such as Bob Newhart, Laurel and Hardy, and Buster Keaton. Even if I've never seen - only heard of - an episode of 'I Love Lucy', it was still immensely enjoyable. The 'Hansel and Gretel' sequence, the 'Bob Newhart being a 911 operator to the 3 little bears' scene and the lovable drunk uncle (just wait until you see the smart-ass alarm) are absolute genius. Overall, it's another great show from Scrimshaw and Weinhagen - just as good as 'The Harty Boys', if not more.

Brain Fighters - This show is the story of 3 people from a world that is similar to ours, except for the bad words in their world that are perfectly okay in ours (e.g. gelato, diorama, and the worst one of all, pants) and the fact that their citizens can use 'brain magic' - the ability to become something by imagining it. When the actors turn into something, the really become the object in question - whenever it's a T-rex, a rubber duck, and one of those inflatable balloon people that randomly blow around in the wind. All and all, it's a downright hilarious and very imaginative show that is absolutely worthy of your attention.

Cinderella's Fella at the Minnesota Fringe Festival

2011-08-12T10:12:00.001-07:00

Cinderella's Fella! by Top Hat is a mild recommendation. There is some really nice singing, and Samantha Feinberg and Evan Boyce as Cinderella and her Fella are charming. It is always fun for kids to see kids do theater. But after two years of successfully moving out of their comfort zone with the dramatic Dracula's Castle and the witty Robin Hood the Musical, this show returns to the school recital format of adding characters so everyone can have a part, even if it makes no sense. Why have two stepsisters when you can have three. Why have one prince when you can have four? How about a fairy godmother and a fairy godfather?

The musical throws in a storyline about duchess and a girl named Olive who got lost at a zoo in Virginia and somehow ended up in the story. It's an interesting idea, but it can't be developed in a 50 minute show.

It's so messy that anyone who isn't related to a cast member might miss what is really cool about Top Hat-these young people are learning to be joyful performers. They are developing a healthy Broadway style vocal technique and they sing in tune.

Kids' Fringe Final Weekend and Anansi, Br'er Rabbit and Other Wily Creatures,

2011-08-11T13:34:00.000-07:00

It's Friday (Friday, gotta get down on Friday, everybody's lookin forward to the weekend, weekend.) You are welcome.

So much fringing left to do, so little time to do it. I have seen 21 shows so far, most of them were for kids and/or teens. It takes a village to raise a theater-goer, so do your civic duty and bring a kid to a show this weekend. You will be the coolest mom/dad/aunt/uncle/big sibling/neighbor ever.

My top picks for young kids are Buckets and Tap Shoes (see my blog entry here), Our Freaking Kids Show (here) and Anansi, Br'er Rabbit and Other Wily Creatures (and here is a link to the Black Storytellers Alliance home page). If you have never seen the the Black Storytellers Alliance make sure you get to this show, whether or not you bring along the children. An evening of signifyin' and testifyin', these master storytellers use wit, humor, an gentle audience participation to deliver a well-earned moral lesson. We went on Monday night. The teenagers in the audience were as captivated as the seniors. Don't miss it.

Buckets and Tap Shoes is playing tonight at 8:30 and tomorrow at 10:00 PM. Our Freaking Kids Show only has one show left-tonight at 8:30 PM. I would suggest going online to reserve tickets for this one. Anansi's final show is tonight at 7:00.

Three very good family shows I would also recommend are Smothers Brothers Grimm (read my review here), Brain Fighters (here) and The Duties and Responsibilities of Being a Sidekick (here). Sidekick has some sexual innuendo that may or may not fly over young kids' heads.

Deadline at the Minnesota Fringe Festival

2011-08-09T11:11:00.000-07:00

Deadline: A Choose Your Own Adventure Story is an improvised adventure for all ages. Just like the books, the audience chooses the direction of the story so every performance is different. It's oodles of fun. The Sunday afternoon audience chose teacher for the hero's occupation. The two actors, James Rone and Jake Scott, began with a music teacher and a gym teacher in a copy room and ended with Scott transforming into the missing link between apes and humans. The two actors have a great chemistry and really listen too each other. They were able to make teaching a more action packed occupation than being an astronaut.

Fletcher and Zenobia Save the Circus at the Minnesota Fringe Festival

2011-08-09T09:19:00.000-07:00

With so much buzz surrounding Fletcher and Zenobia Save the Circus, I ventured over to the Mill City Museum train shed. I was also curious about the unique venue.

The actors were giving it their all-perhaps too much. The intent may have been whimsy but came off as forced charm. The sparse story felt stretched too thin. The venue was underutilized. The best sections were the few times the action moved vertically into the space.

I enjoyed the open air ambiance and the serenading accordion. However, this just wasn't my cup of tea.

Our Freaking Kid Show at the Minnesota Fringe Festival

2011-08-09T08:02:00.000-07:00

Well acted and well written, Our Freaking Kids Show is freaking funny. Kids who are actors and actors who act like kids join forces in a show within a show. Madcap shenanigans ensue. A small theater company is broke so they naively cook up a scheme to fill seats by writing a kids' show. They anchor their cast with an Ivey Award winning child actor (Tucker Garborg, who probably will bring one home some day) with the craziest stage Mom ever (Rita Tredal Black, who channels the crazy day-after-Thanksgiving Target lady). The other two youth actors are spunky Lexi (Lexi Johnson, perfectly spoofing the over the top Disney child star style) and adorable and dangerous moppet Sophie (Sophia Feller, the youngest cast member, who holds her own with the veteran cast).

Kendra, the troupe's playwright (Kendra Ryan) is at her wit's end because most of the adults are more childish than the kids. The cast is frustrated with Kendra because she changes the script constantly. And director Greg (Greg Eiden) feels no stress because everyone keeps him supplied with bottles of special "European" water. And Dan Hetzel as the bad guy Uncle Lonnie, king of local kiddie theater will do anything to foil his rivals.

The show is listed for ages 7+; I would recommend this to anyone, even if they don't bring a kid.

Disney Dethroned:Snowcahontas and the Tangled FrogBeast at the Minnesota Fringe Festival

2011-08-09T07:03:00.000-07:00

Tom Reed (Parry Hotter and the Half-Drunk Prince, Bite Me Twilight) is back with Disney Dethroned: Snowcahontas and the Tangled FrogBeast, another one man send up of a pop culture darling. Whether you see Disney as a juggernaut atrophying the imaginations of children everywhere or a as a lighthouse of happiness beaming joy to families everywhere, you will enjoy Reed's show. (FYI, I skew towards the latter. Lighten up! )

Reed gently skews the Disney princess canon of "Snowcahontaserella-asmine, Arielmulanpunzel, or Problematic Feminine Stereotype" by splitting the story into sections. Our heroine, Princess Disney, is heartbroken because Prince Charming left her for Princess Pixar (She's in 3D!) Each section is told in the style of the story of a different princess with quippy dialogue, puns and songs. Reed is an excellent musical theater singer. Michael Erickson on synthesizer was an equal and important partner in the storytelling. His original songs and incidental music captured the Disney sound. But I did not like some of the thicker orchestrations on the synthesizer in the Mixed Blood space.

The show is well suited for ages 9+. There is a little bit of innuendo.

Buckets and Tap Shoes at the Minnesota Fringe Festival

2011-08-07T22:02:00.000-07:00

Buckets and Tap Shoes is mesmerizing. We saw Buckets and Shoes way back in 2004. A joyful, kinetic explosion of sound, the show is better than ever, and and it's this year's best bet for the whole family. It's also a great opportunity to take your kids to see guys dance. Watch the video above and read dance wizard John Munger's review here.

Brain Fighters at the Minnesota Fringe Festival

2011-08-07T20:53:00.000-07:00

Brain Fighters presented by Joking Envelope is an original kids' show that uses a bare bones set and simple costumes to create an entirely new world. In this world, people can use their brains to transform into whatever they want. They have their own method of naming its occupants and even its own "bad" words-terrible words like gelato, pants, and diorama.

We were fortunate enough to sit in the balcony of the Rarig Thrust for the show, where the elegance of David Mann's direction was clear. Watching Mo Perry (Baggage), Randy Reyes (Cupcake), and Joseph Scrimshaw (Tool) use their bodies and voices to transform was fun.

A few of the sequences are a bit long. The second half bogs down with too many ideas packed together. Is the moral of the story about seeing others' perspectives, the desire to be a bold exciting hero, or to use the power of your brain for good? I'm not sure. But I'm nitpicking-because the kids in the audience loved this show.

Smothers Brothers Grimm at the Minnesota Fringe Festival

2011-08-06T21:18:00.000-07:00

I would say Smothers Brothers Grimm was a smart comedy, but as I learned from this valentine to those who make us laugh, that would be condescending. As the play points out, no one ever says "that was a smart string quartet." (To which I say as a musician, of course not. They say "that was an interesting string quartet". But I digress.)

The Smothers Brothers Grimm visits young Milton (Andrew Moy) on the eve of his Grandpa's funeral. Milton is a kid who sleeps with a rubber chicken and spends a good deal of time trying to figure out the old slipping on a banana peel trick. His Grandpa loved comedy, and passed it on to Milton.

Milton's mom and Dad (Shanan Custer and Levi Weinhagen) are worried because Milton isn't grieving in a conventional manner. He is goofing around and reading fairy tales, Grandpa style. We get to see Hansel and Gretel in the style of Laurel and Hardy, the Three Little Bears phone call to 911 operator Bob Newhart, and Lucille Ball as Rapunzel (Happy 100th Birthday Lucy!) The kids enjoy all of the silliness, and the adults enjoy reliving the classic comedy bits we grew up watching on television.

I would say I learned something important about the love families share. But the deeper message is that banana jokes are funny.

Lot O' Shakespeare at the Minnesota Fringe Festival

2011-08-06T20:05:00.000-07:00

Thursday night we zipped across town to see You Only Live Forever Once at 8:30 at the Bryant Lake Bowl. After one detour, four spins around the block to find parking, and 20 minutes waiting in line, the show was sold out. Lesson learned, we decided to stay put. We ventured a few doors down to Jackson's Coffee and drowned our sorrows in gelato.

We got in line early for Timothy Mooney's Lot O' Shakespeare. I wouldn't have chosen a show of consecutive Shakespeare monologues for a thirteen year old. Fears of a guy in tights spitting all over the audience ruining the Bard for Tommy creeped into my mind. But Tommy was up for the challenge, so we went on in.

I'm glad we did! Mooney was fantastic, animating each character with energy. It was exciting. You can't help but sit back and be dazzled.

The event was framed as a bingo game. The audience received an IAGO (BINGO) card when they stepped into the theater. Each monologue had a corresponding number. When Mooney pulled a number he would perform the listed speech. After the bingo game was complete, he took requests. Tommy requested Romeo and Juliet because he enjoyed seeing it at CTC a few years ago.

As far as Kids' Fringe-I wouldn't recommend it to anyone under thirteen.

Damn You Auto Caress at the Minnesota Fringe Festival

2011-08-06T09:57:00.000-07:00

We never miss the Youth Performance Company's fringe shows. They are consistently some of the best offerings of theater for teens by teens. With some guidance, the youth create an entire musical from scratch-producing, writing, designing, etc. Sometimes these kind of productions feel like a pedagogical recital. Damn You Auto Caress rises above the genre of educational theater to make an engaging dark comedy with music that makes truthful observations about our technology driven world.

Damn You Auto Caress should really be called Damn You Steve Jobs, the title of the opening song. The large cast takes turns delivering funny lines similar to the site damnyouautocorrect.com. Skits about auto-correct mishaps ruining the characters' social lives get darker and funnier as the show goes on. Whether or not it is intentional, there is a bit of Godspell in this show. A dark, twisted Godspell with Jesus as a cell phone.

There is quite a bit of salty language and double entendre in the show, which the cast delivers with glee. The artists' page lists it as 16+; I would rate it PG13.

Audience members also receive a 50% off coupon for YPC's next production Mean in October.

The Duties and Responsibilities of Being a Sidekick at the Minnesota Fringe Festival

2011-08-06T06:57:00.000-07:00

The Duties and Responsibilities of Being a Sidekick is the inaugural production of the Barkada Theater Project. It is fun family show that humorously depicts the life of Barrel Man and his fellow disgruntled sidekicks. However, the villain is telegraphed too early; I would have liked to have been surprised. But the show as a whole is a hoot.

The performance of Randy Reyes as Barrel Man anchors the show. Barrel Man is the sidekick of Gentlemen Li (Allen Malicsi) , a boss who does none of the work but gets all of the credit. Like many people these days, Barrel Man is grateful to have a secure job but would like a little respect, or at least a Superheroes ALIAS union card with health insurance coverage. And just like Peter Parker, he wishes he was smoother with the ladies.

The show is listed as "For ages 12+. Contains violence and strobe lights." But the violence is of the comic book zap-boom-bang style. There is also quite a bit of sexual innuendo. Again, it is of the cartoonish variety. I would feel comfortable bringing a nine or ten year old.

Fringe 2011:Today's the Day

2011-08-03T18:20:00.000-07:00

We are gearing up for the Fringe. We are stocked up on sandwich supplies so we can get out of the house for 5:30 shows. I have a pocketful of coins for meters in case we don't snag on-street parking and some singles for the pesky parking ticket machine at Mixed Blood. That's about it for preparation-my guys are teenagers now; so the days of stage managing a family day at the Fringe are over.

Warning: shameless plug ahead! Yarrrh! The Lusty Busty Pirate Musical, created by Dan Pinkerton and Chris Gennaula (my husband) doesn't open until Sunday at 1:00 at the Gremlin (which, by the way, has luxurious amounts of free parking across the street at the US Bank.) Chris is the composer and music director. They are in rehearsal so we won't see much of him for the next few days. Yarrrh! is raunchy, bawdy, and saucy. It is definitely not for children (it's rated ARRRH!). We haven't decided whether or not we are bringing Tommy. We probably won't make up our minds until Sunday morning. It's one thing to watch a naughty musical; it's another to sit next to your Mom in the audience knowing your Dad wrote it.

The Fringe website www.fringefestival.org has added more bells and whistles for 2011. Many artists have contributed video trailers this year. Just click on videos and go. My favorite new feature is the user-friendly wish list. Many of the 3 minute Fringe-For-All performances are embedded on individual show pages.

Tommy and I will be fringing solo for the first three days. We haven't set our schedule in stone, but Tommy likes improv, sci-fi, and sword fighting. I gravitate towards musicals, opera, and spoken-word.

Here are some shows on our schedule:

Brain Fighters from Joking Envelope A family friendly show written by Joseph Scrimshaw, who wrote the brilliantly squirrely "An Inconvenient Squirrel" a few years ago.

Entwined written and performed by Rockstar Storyteller Amy Salloway. A work in progress at the 2010 Fringe, I am looking forward to seeing this show expand.

Callahan and Lingo: The Last Ditch More Rockstars-I think I'm officially a groupie. I had never heard grown-up storytelling until I started attending the Fringe. Days after finding out they received a last minute slot in the Fringe, Callahan and Lingo were fantastic at Fringe-for-All #1.

Rambler Family Ramblers Final Christmas Reunion Spectacular Best play description "They play, they sing, they hate each other's guts...They're family." Lion in Winter meets the Partridge Family?

Hamluke presented by the Nerdyard Shakespeare+Star Wars. Need I say more?

Balls Out! presented by Late Night Menu Starring the a cappella group Six Appeal. Out of the 60 shows represented at the 2 Fringe for All showcases this year these young men had the tightest....harmonies.

Tommy's 2010 Fringe Top 10

2010-08-13T13:12:00.000-07:00

Once again my 12 year old son Tommy is blogging his Top 10 list. Tommy "only" saw 15 shows this year because we had family commitments. This is his 10th year of fringing (although he doesn't remember much from the year 2000).

Hello! This is Tommy writing, and I'm about to give you my 2010 Fringe Top Ten! Here it is!

10. Princess Jessica and the Kingdom of Boogers

This play, about an ordinary boy named Squats who goes on an adventure to save Princess Jessica of Tissuetopia from the evil Emperor Snotso, ruler of the Kingdom of Boogers, was a very good, funny show. It has a unique sense of humor, but there weren't as many jokes as I thought there would be.

9. Paul Bunyan: An Unlikely Beginning to a Tall Tale

What if Paul Bunyan was a computer programmer in 1986? This show answers that question with well made puppets, workplace jokes, and a morning routine done over and over again throughout the course of the show. I have no criticism for this show, it's just that there are so many good shows this year at the Fringe that I couldn't give this a higher spot.

8. Fartosaurus Rex

Who knew that there was such a thing as smart poop jokes? This show, about a dinosaur who switches to eating veggies after eating just about everyone in the world(with VERY stinky results), is best seen with an audience filled with children and has Muppet-style puppets to tell the story with.

7. Benny the Illusion

Benny the Illusion is a fine magician with well-done magic tricks, a good sense of humor, and a warm friendliness. This guy is very comfortable with performing his tricks in front of an audience. If you're looking for some magic, and only magic, then this is the show to go to.

6. Untold Lies

Now let me get this out of the way: this is more dramatic and adult than some of the other shows on this list, so if you do bring your kid to this show, he might be bored. But I like to watch this type of stuff from time to time, and let me tell you this: this is worth your time. With excellent singers and a good story, this is a show that you'll like from beginning to end.

5. Waiting for Biffy

Remember that Silent Poetry show and it's sequel that I talked about in previous Fringe Top Tens? Well, you may as well call this Silent Poetry 3 because for one thing, it's done by the same people and it's done in the same style as those other two shows. The best skits are TGIF and the titular skit. My only criticism for this show is that the ToonCon skit lasted longer than it should have.

4. Story Time Time Bomb

This is a show about two people named Chris and Tim, who write books for children. Tim decides to use a theater so that the audience can create a book. He hires actors to act out the story being created. The audience creates the story, and most of the time the kids tell their the ideas for the story, which are then used. All of the people in the cast are excellent improvisers. Children will like this show because they'll use their imagination often. So, go see this show and make sure that you bring the kids.

3. Open and Affirming Fairy Tales

This show tells four stories which all have the same message: just be you. The stories are all well told and have a lot of funny moments spread through them. My favorite is The Frog Princess. The show has lots of funny gags that will keep you laughing. Some of the adults in the show played the kid characters, and they acted like kids without making fun of them. Overall, you should see this show.

2. Kill Will

All right then, let me get this out of the way: THIS SHOW IS NOT FOR KIDS. IT IS MORE SUITED FOR TEENAGERS. Now, onto the actual thoughts on the show: This was downright excellent. I picked this show because I like Shakespeare. The couple that did this show were excellent. Basically, they do all of the death scenes from as many Shakespeare shows as they could possibly fit in the running time. Some of the scenes contain audience participation, and they are masters of it. I was able to participate in one of the bits, and it was fun to do. On top of that, you get a free T-shirt if you do participate. Overall, this is a downright must-see.

1.Can Michael Come Out and Play?

This show is awesome, and has joined the ranks of excellent Fringe shows from previous years. It is a tale of self-realization, with enough humor and charm to keep you interested. I love a good story myself, and the guy who does it is an excellent storyteller. If you can only see one show in the Fringe this year, it should be this one.

Honorable Mentions and Worst Shows

Honorable Mentions

The First Five Minutes Are Slow: A very fun, imaginative show. It gets better the more I think about it.

If the Shoe Fits: A fun-to-watch modern version of Cinderella told through dance.

Mismatched: A nice, fine show. Has some very good audience participation moments.

Dracula's Castle: I wasn't able to see this show to the very end(I wasn't feeling well but I recovered quickly), so I'll just give this an Honorable Mention. What I saw was very good, though.

Worst shows

Status Update: The plot is kind of weird: numerous boarding school students get sucked into Facebook and have to get out before time runs out. The main problem is that a romp through Facebook should be fun, but the show ends up becoming an anti-Facebook statement. Something tells me that whoever directed this hates Facebook.

Garage Band: There are numerous problems with the show. The story never went in the direction I wanted it to go. The music is meh. I wanted to like this show, but I just could not like it at all.

Waiting for Biffy

2010-08-09T16:59:00.000-07:00

Waiting for Biffy is a show for listed as For ages 7+ Clowning/mime, Comedy. Don't let the word "mime" scare you. My children look forward to these shows each year. Last year, Dean Hatton and Kirsten Stephen's show "Silent Poetry 2" was #4 on Tommy's top 10 list. Mime is cool.

This year's show is fresh and fun. The classic bits are there-the chase, the escalator, the "mime hits a wall". But the addition of Renee Howard allows for more play. Trios and duos alternate with solo works. Using their bodies and faces and every bit of the Jungle stage they told stories of porta-potties, uncertain love, and learning to fly. Stephens' solo romp through the sensory-overload of the State Fair. (I'm convinced that it was the Great Minnesota Get-together. ) Howard as a bird hatching was beautiful. Stretching and contracting, dancing and arching, speeding up and slowing down, she became the bird.

"There is no such thing as an empty space or an empty time. There is always something to see, something to hear. In fact, try as we may to make a silence, we cannot." -John Cage

If the Shoe Fits

2010-08-09T13:25:00.000-07:00

If the Shoe Fits is an energetic piece of theater for kids, by kids. My 12 year old liked this show a lot. There was a three year old sitting near us having the time of his life. Cute as a button, I think the little guy thought he was in the show.
The story is a loose interpretation of the Cinderella story told through dance. The cast is made up of boys and girls from about kindergarten age through high school students. The pacing was very uneven-there were huge gaps between scenes and the story didn't always come through clearly. There was a fairy godmother type character who changed her costume a lot and a young man (the prince?) who was expected to play football but wanted to dance. (Fact: We have seen 3 kids' fringe shows with a boy who doesn't want to play football.)
I was really glad to see a dance group step out of the recital format and try something new. The strength of the show is the dancing-especially the tap numbers. There were so many talented young people in this cast. I hope to see what they do in the future.

Fartosaurus Rex

2010-08-09T13:03:00.000-07:00

Fartosaurus Rex is a smorgasbord of scatological humor. Aimed at the Captain Underpants set, the show is packed with puppets, poop jokes, and a big green Tyrannosaurus. A quick 35 minutes long, this is a good choice for "first Fringe show". Don't overthink it. (Vegetarian Diets led to global warming and the mass extinction of dinosaurs? Really?) Just enjoy the performance of Fartosaurus Rex himself, and the best fringe mascot cameo ever.

The First Five Minutes are Slow

2010-08-09T12:11:00.000-07:00

The First Five Minutes are Slow is a quirky show for older children and adults. Kathryn Jorgenson is Mary, a bedraggled office slave. Everything after that is open for interpretation. Mary's daydream takes her on an adventure where she comes into contact with a strange bird, dead fish, battling squid, guys singing the strangest version of Danny Boy, and an annoying guy who spoils the ending to movies. She rides a train, toils through the desert, and enters the coolest cave ever. The cast of 3-Jorgenson, Brant Miller, and Mark Rehani rely on pure imagination and a few props from Office Max to invent a wacky world. I would recommend it for ages 10+.

Story Time Time Bomb

2010-08-09T08:24:00.000-07:00

Story Time Time Bomb is whiz-bang fun. With plenty of help from the audience, the cast creates a story to present to "The Publisher" (William Marth) at the end of the show. Artist, writer, and show co-producer Christopher Jones (Chris) sketches the story from just outside of the audience's sight line. His writing partner Tim Wick (Tim) works the audience for ideas and narrates the story. Chris and Tim trade silly banter back and forth, resulting in giggles.
Actors Jen Scott and Matt Allex, along with the unseen hero "Sound Guy" (Butch Roy) improvise a silly adventure to feudal Japan. Our audience-named heroine Carrie (played by Scott, who ad-libs, "But I wanted to go to the prom!) and her tiger friend travel through toxic mist and caves and evil goldfish and Pokemon jokes to battle evil Toyotas. For all ages.

Open and Affirming Fairy Tales

2010-08-07T07:22:00.000-07:00

Tommy and I kicked off Fringe Day #1 with Open and Affirming Fairy Tales: The FaBUlous Fables of RainBeaU Bay . AWOL productions has created a playful, traditional piece of children's theater with an open heart. Although the show proves that GLBT-friendly kids' theater is not an oxymoron, that isn't the focus of the show. It isn't preachy or precious. It's for kids. Yes, it's about valuing all families. But most of all, Open and Affirming Fairy Tales is about having the courage to be yourself.
The show is divided into four short stories-three classic fairy tales and one new one. Each tale is told by adult actors with simple props. In Fisher and the Fish, a parachute becomes a pond, a cap with a stuffed fish transforms an actor into a fish. The Frog Princess, who happens to have two Dads, meets a new friend. A boy finds the Golden Goose and wins the attentions of the prince. And the Queen lets them go on a date. The new tale, The Mayor Who Outlawed Jellybeans, introduces a pompous Mayor who makes ridiculous proclamations that affect the whole village. The children are the heroes who must find a way to make things right.
At the end of the show each child is given a button withe the letters B. U.. Kids love swag, and it is a nice souvenir of a fun afternoon at the Fringe.

Fringe 2010

2010-08-06T08:49:00.000-07:00

The 2010 Fringe has begun. Tommy (my 12 year old "hardcore" fringer) and I already have four shows under our belt. There are 10 "official" shows for kids this year; however, there are many more that are certainly appropriate for older children. For the first time we won't be able to see everything that captivates their interest. It isn't possible.

Here are my Top 10 Picks for Family Friendly Fringing (remember-the beauty of the Fringe is that is an unjuried festival; I have not seen these shows in their entirety).

1. Princess Jessica and the Kingdom of Boogers Because of this video. Brought to you by the guys from Lick, perhaps the last year's most juvenile adult show.
2. Story Time Bomb Improv for kids. My favorite 3 minutes of Fringe-for-All 2 at the Ritz.
3. Open and Affirming Fairy Tales Tommy and I saw this last night at the Rarig. Loved it. Traditional, playful kids theater with an open heart. Full Review to follow.
4. Can Michael Come Out and Play Mahmoud Hakima, who brought Two Bowls of Cereal and Some Bacon to the Fringe last year is telling stories for all ages this year. This was Tommy's favorite artist at the Kids' Showcase.
5. Dracula Presented by Top Hat Theater, a kids' fringe institution. They have evolved from an entertaining group of kids doing theater for kids into a strong musical theater troupe that does original work. The cast is led by professional singer-actors Josiah Gulden and Angela Walberg.
6.Waiting for Biffy We saw this last night. The only reason it isn't higher on the list is that I know not all kids can sit through a silent show for 50 minutes. Full blog post to follow.
7. If the Shoe Fits at the Southern. We also saw the show last night so I can guarantee it is suitable for all ages. There was a three year old sitting near us having the time of his life. Cute as a button, I think the little guy thought he was in the show. An energetic example of theater for kids by kids.
8. Benny the Illusion We enjoyed this young man's magic tricks and interactions with the crowd at the Kids' Fringe Showcase this year. He also defeated the noisy cappucinno maker at the Woodbury library. As an added bonus, this show is at Bryant Lake Bowl. Come early or stay late for some bowling.
9. Fartosaurus Rex It has farting AND dinosaurs. What more could a kid ask for?
10. Kill Will (12 and up) "Murder. Revenge. Suicide. Cannibalism. The new Tarantino movie? No, it's Shakespeare! A riotous romp through the canon that asks, "How many characters can you kill in one hour?" It doesn't sound like a kid's show, but I have older kids. Their artist's page describes the violence level as "“The Three Stooges” with swords." Like hiding vegetables in your children's artificial canned ravioli-like lunch product, Kill Will slips some Shakespeare into their theater diet.

Tommy's Top 10 2009 Part 2

2009-08-09T08:44:00.001-07:00

[Today, Tommy will be the guest blogger for the second part of his Top Ten List.]

5. Hogg and the Humors

'Hogg and the Humors' is, in a word: hilarious. Done in the style of a late-night talk show(with guests included), the show has lots of great comedy. There was one point in the show where they did a 'preview' of a show ('Afterlife') and the guys did it completely based on the description! Oh, and by the way, it is NOT FOR KIDS.

4. Silent Poetry 2

'Silent Poetry 2' is beautiful. Very beautiful. Remember that 'Silent Poetry' show I raved about last year? This sequel of sorts doubles everything about the first 'Silent Poetry': the stage, the size, and even the performers! The skit 'The Chase' shows lots of mime illusions, and the hilarious 'One Sunday Morning' skit is back - and expanded.

3. The Harty Boys and The Case of the Limping Platypus

'The Harty Boys and The Case of the Limping Platypus' is an awesome parody of adventure books. They spoof everything from left to right: the girl in trouble, the big 'plot twist', and the suspect that seems like he did it but didn't. You must see this show, especially of you love books like 'The Hardy Boys' or 'Nancy Drew'.

2. Sideways Stories from Wayside School

'Sideways Stories from Wayside School' is an excellent trip through Memory Lane. Having read the books about a year ago, I must say that the people who did this have excellently captured the weird scope of the books. All of the classic stories are there: From Ms. Gorf, the teacher who turns her students into apples, to Ms. Zarves, the teacher who doesn't seem to exist, the show is hilariously well-polished. You must see this show if you've read the 'Wayside School' books.

1. Jurassic Dork

'JURASSIC DORK'. IS. AWESOME. A one man version of the film 'Jurassic Park', the show conveniently mocks - and endorses - the film for which the show was inspired. There are seemingly endless jokes about the film. Overall, is absolutely deserves first place on my Top 10 list this year.

Also, the shows 'Alliteral Selection: The True Tale of a Wayward Wallaby' which had an interesting topic but suffered from slow pacing, and 'Untitled Duet with Houseplant', a funny solo show where there are great jokes, including a...'duet' with a houseplant, deserve an honorable mention, as I saw them after I conceived this list. 'Wayward Wallaby's run has ended, but Untitled Duet With Houseplant still has one more showing today at 7:00. 'Harty Boys' still has a showing at 5:30, as does Mutant Squad and In Another's Size. Two Short Operas has also landed a Fringe Encore at 8:30. Alas, the runs of all the other shows have come and gone, so a big hurrah to those who saw them!

And this is where it ends.

Wallabies, Misfit Toys, and a Houseplant

2009-08-08T09:43:00.000-07:00

Whew! Only two days remaining. I'm exhilarated from seeing so many shows but sad that I can't see everything. There is no possible way I will collect an entire set of "Rockstar Storyteller" trading cards. I will miss about five musicals that I really wanted to see. We never made it to the Ritz! Oh well. Chris and Tommy are going to see Jurassic Dork this afternoon while I catch up on my blog backlog. (Tony is devoting his afternoon to video games.) Tonight-Crescendo, Slow Jobs, and maybe Rumspringa the Musical!

Friday night we began with Alliteral Selection: Tales of a Wayward Wallaby. Tommy found the subject interesting. He was glad he saw it. But I found myself watching the clock cruelly placed on the wall just to my left. I could hear the voice of the old Wednesday night Roundtable at the Playwrights' Center : "Don't tell us, show us!" 75% of the play is a woman at a desk reading newspaper articles. The true story of Wally and Wanda the Wallaby and their adventure in Zumbrota has the potential to be many things-a great tale for a one person storytelling show, a folksy Prairie Home Companion style multi-character play, or a family musical . Of course, now I'm breaking the PWC's other rule: "Give comments-not rewrites".

Next up was Horace Greeley the Lesser: On the Isle of Misfit Toys. This dark and twisty picaresque adventure back to the isle of Rudolph fame is one of my fringe favorites this year. There is only show remaining this afternoon at 4:00 PM. It is one of those shows that the adults will enjoy just as much as the children. Packed with literary and movie references from the likes of the Wizard of Oz, Clockwork Orange, Winnie the Pooh and Gulliver's Travels to mention a few. The original songs could stand alone but also keep the story moving forward. The opening song which states "I am and I am not what I thought" is a laundry list of contradictions :"I'm a meat-eating vegetarian" , "I'm an expired infinity".

J. Roth who also wrote the show, played Horace and the army of characters that inhabit the story. He also played many instruments along with the indispensable Paul Cameron and Ryan Murphy. Percussion instruments, tin sheets, trumpets, washtub bass. But basically, Horace is a one man storytelling show with music. Sometimes sweet, sometimes silly, always sharp, Roth takes the audience on a great ride.

After two shows at Augsburg we hiked across the street to the Rarig for Untitled Duet with a Houseplant by Noah Bremer. Tommy chose this show after seeing Bremer play the hilarious gym teacher in Sideways Stories from the Wayside School. Tommy loved every moment of Houseplant. Bremer inhabits the body of the world's tallest eleven year old. Plus, he handed out free snacks. What's not to love?
Bremer told the audience he didn't have time to finish his fringe show. I believed him-the first half of the show meandered. Although charming and playful, the games were beginning to wilt when he got to the meat of the show, the promised "duet with a houseplant". This is when the shenanigans began to germinate into a full-fledged show. We left the Rarig with a smile.

Tommy's Top 10 2009 Part 1

2009-08-06T08:17:00.000-07:00

Tommy (age 11) has seen 15 shows (including Wayside School twice). I am handing my blog over to him this morning.

10. The Nightingale

'The Nightingale', while not perfect, is good and worth a look. The acting is very good. The ensemble does a very nice job. They are good actors and they are great dancers. Also, the Nightingale can really sing. However, the story has some slow pacing, but that's easy to overlook.

9. Keiko Kasza's A Mother for Choco

'Keiko Kasza's A Mother for Choco' is the most charming show I've seen in a while. While it's more for the little ones, it's still appealing for a kid like me. However, it sometimes feels like the songs, while nice and cute, are only there to get the show to the Fringe time limit. Overall, it's a great way to introduce your little ones to theater.

8. Two Short Operas: Mr. Berman's Bath-Size Bar and There's a Mastodon In My Backyard

'Two Short Operas: Mr. Berman's Bath-Size Bar and There's a Mastodon In My Backyard' is....well duh, two short operas! Going to the first opera, 'Mr. Berman's Bath-Size Bar', I am glad to say that it was hilarious. The plot is about a man who checks into a hotel and....becomes upset because they won't stop giving him three small bars of soap when he's brought his own bath-size bar. And that's only the beginning. The plot is utterly ridiculous, and that's the best thing about this opera. The second opera, 'There's a Mastodon In My Backyard' about a woman who finds mastodon bones in her backyard, relies on the catchiness of it's melodies rather than a ridiculous plot, isn't as good as 'Mr. Berman'. (I still can't get that melody out of my head, though.)

7. In Another's Size

'In Another's Size', which is about high schoolers switching bodies, is hilariously fun. Directed by Joseph Scrimshaw of last year's 'An Inconvenient Squirrel' and produced by Stepping Stone students, the show has some great quality. Brian Kelly does a great job as the school's lunch lady (yes, lunch lady) and the other teachers at the school. Also, you never really get confused about who switched into who's body, and that's a great accomplishment. The students themselves are also very good actors - playing two roles in one show is a big feat, and they aced it.

6. The Mutant Squad

'The Mutant Squad', about a group of teenagers trying to take down a mutant, is funny. Oh, and it's borderline for kids, but it's perfect for teens. They have some hilarious jokes (the ending joke is laugh-inducing but it's too inappropriate to describe). I liked the mutant himself - he acts like a nutto, but in a good way. Overall, 'The Mutant Squad' is an absolute must-see.

Okay then, since I'm quite lazy right now, I'm going to end Part 1. (Part 2 will come tomorrow!)

TNG out!

The Comedy Hypnosis Show

2009-08-04T13:46:00.000-07:00

The Comedy Hypnosis Show featuring certified hypnotherapist Katie Knutson was our fourth show of the day. Tommy and I are split on this one-I think that the majority of the twenty volunteer "stars" were hypnotized to various degrees. Tommy is more skeptical. He also isn't remembering all of the details. Which makes me wonder if he didn't slip into a state of deep relaxation too.

I was fascinated by the process. Knutson is very positive and gentle. She reassures her volunteers that they are "stars" and that any laughter is supportive. Everyone on stage seemed to be enjoying themselves. The comedy comes from the unpredictability of the "stars" responses. It reminded me of an improv show. Each performance will be completely different.

The highlight was a giant "America's Got Talent" style talent show. She suggested to a few stars that they were celebrity judges. One gentleman thought he was Lindsey Lohan, a woman thought she was Mr. Spock, and another thought she was Elton John. And I was glad to see that one of the guys from "Lick" was able to find his belly button before the next show.

A Mother for Choco, The Nightingale and Two Short Operas

2009-08-03T23:29:00.000-07:00

This year's contribution from Gustavus Adolphus is another piece of quality theater for kids. Keiko Kasza's A Mother for Choco (and other mother stories) is a darling show for the little ones. The preschoolers in the audience were enchanted by the experience. Strong singing and colorful puppets enhance Amy Seham's lovely adaptation of Kasza's children's book. Thoroughly engaging and only 45 minutes long, this would be a great first theater experience. It plays three more times this week-Tuesday and Friday at 5:30 and a Saturday matinee at 2:30. You can introduce a young one to theater and have them home by bedtime.

The Nightingale, written and directed by Judy Cooper Lyle and based on the tale by Hans Christian Anderson, offers some joyous singing, particularly Mari Harris as the sexy nightingale. Andrew Brown-Thomas is very funny as the overwhelmed Prime Minister to the King. The ensemble (Samantha Miller, David Lee, and Penny Masuku) tells much of the story through dance. It is beautiful to watch them dance. However, the show is bogged down by slow transitions and too much "monologue-ing". And much of the production was difficult to hear. It isn't all the artists' fault-I have seen 3 shows in the Proscenium and all three have had sound difficulties. But as Mama Rose and fellow blogger Matthew Everett like to say "Sing out Louise!".

Next we grabbed our car and zipped over to the Playwrights' Center for Two Short Operas: Mr. Berman's Bath Size Bar and There's a Mastodon in My Back Yard presented by the Dead Composers Society. (Although the composer of both pieces, Stephen Houtz, is certainly not dead.) I'm glad we didn't stop for lunch first because the show sold out quickly. There are three shows remaining; I would strongly urge you to reserve your tickets.

The first short opera, Mr. Berman's Bath-Size Bar, is a laugh riot. As Tommy says, "The plot is absolutely ridiculous. I loved it." The second opera, There's a Mastodon in My Back Yard is equally absurd. In between the two operas we were treated to an entr'acte by local singer/actress Jennifer Eckes. She sang the cabaret song "I Want Them Bald".

Musically, all five performers fill the tiny theater with beautiful sounds. But their willingness to embrace the silliness of the moment makes the performance wonderful. The skillful music direction and accompaniment of Andrew Fleser allows the performers the foundation and the space to really inhabit their characters.

The Frog Prince and the Harty Boys

2009-08-03T20:24:00.000-07:00

The Frog Prince! A Splashy New Musical leaps through eighteen songs and fourteen scenes in fifty minutes. The songs are catchy, the young performers are exuberant, and the costumes are exceptional. Young children will enjoy the eight pretty princesses and the silly dancing frogs. Older children will enjoy seeing their peers having a good time. The original score skillfully tells the story through many different styles of music-a little jazz, a little pop, and some old-fashioned Broadway showtunes. But there are so many characters that the show becomes unnecessarily labyrinthine. The Frog Prince is a ninety minute musical crammed into fifty minutes. Still, the music and the performances make this musical a top choice for the family Fringe.

After a stop at the Equal Exchange Booth where we split a silky giant dark chocolate bar (for only $3-those babies are $5.50 at Lunds) we went to see The Harty Boys in the Case of the Limping Platypus. No question, this is my favorite show so far (I have seen 15.) The parody is written and directed by Levi Weinhagen and Joshua English Scrimshaw, who also play the title characters. The crackerjack script is faithful to the spirit of the Hardy boys books. There is a real mystery to be solved. But familiarity with the books is not necessary to enjoy the show.

The action is set throughout Minneapolis. These gentlemen could write for CSI: Minneapolis-the Sitcom! They also poke fun at the subtle misogyny of the books. Sulia Altenberg ( the same actress that so convincingly played the bullied tween camper in Mutant Squad!) and Leslie Ball bring on the "girl power" as the boys' chum Becca and their mother, forensic criminologist Dr. Lana Harty.

Hogg and the Humors

2009-08-01T20:17:00.000-07:00

Fringe Day 3, Part 1

We started our day at 1:00 with Hogg and the Humors. It might have been a tad too raunchy for my youngest who is 11(the promotional material said 12+). That said-he loved it. The show is part improv, part late night variety show, and part Fringe-for-All. It is like being a live studio audience member of an old time late night talk show. Hogg is a generous and natural host.

For one of the sketches, three fringe show cards were pulled out of a hat. The audience voted on which show the cast would present. The cast, along with special guest Mike Fotis, proceeded to make up their own goofy interpretation of the winner, AfterLife.
The Dramaturkey segment, which was inspired by a bad script competition in Montreal, had the cast cold read a dreadful script. They enjoyed every line of stilted dialogue and overwrought angst. It was wicked funny.

Sigal Shoham from Sure to Cure: Dr. Amelia's Medicine Show was the special musical guest. She played banjo and sang two clever original songs. I hope to see her whole show.

Silent Poetry 2 and Jurassic Dork

2009-08-01T18:25:00.000-07:00

Friday-Fringe Day 2

We only made it to two shows tonight. I didn't plan on the lost cell phone, the dysfunctional ATM at the Science Museum of Minnesota, and the 25 minute wait to exit the SMM parking lot. Fortunately, the show we missed (The Frog Prince) has another show tomorrow that slides into the only blank spot in our schedule.

Silent Poetry 2, Mime inspired by Marcel Marceau, was at the top of Tommy's list the day the 2009 schedule went live. Dean Hatton's 2008 solo show was one of his favorites last year. This year Hatton is joined by Kirsten Stephens. The duo is brilliant . I don't have the technical vocabulary to describe what they do; I only know that it amazes me. During the five different vignettes the pair took us through the spectrum of human emotion using only their bodies and faces. We saw a high speed chase, a light saber battle, a dancing corpse, and "Jackass the Mime". But at times there was also a stillness, a space that had more feeling than mere words can express. Stephens' anguished prayer in "One Sunday Morning" was achingly beautiful.

The show is listed as for ages 0+ but I would wait until a child is old enough to sit relatively still.

Tommy also found some of the team's work on you tube this morning. Check out this one!

The second show was Jurassic Dork at the Gremlin in St. Paul. It was easy to get there from Rarig. Parking is free and easy across the street at the US Bank. While I have enjoyed many of Gremlin's productions over the years, I hadn't been in their new space until the Fringe for All.

Jurassic Dork was a lot of fun. John Skelley did more than re-enact the movie Jurassic Park, he created an original experience. Using minimal props, Skelley plays all of the characters, including the dinosaurs. He out-Goldblums Jeff Goldblum. I enjoyed the fringe show more than the movie. Jurassic Dork isn't listed as a kid's show but I would highly recommend this as a family fringe outing.

Mutant Squad

2009-07-30T20:55:00.000-07:00

Mutant Squad, presented by the Young Artists Council of the Youth Performance Company, is a fresh take on the "for teens by teens" category. Nick Clark's script is original and quirky. The plot has surprising little twists and turns. And the origin story of the Mutant is a hoot. Mutant Squad is a funny, witty comedy that never talks down to its audience.

The ensemble work is strong. All four members of the Mutant Squad play well off of each other. Axl (the role is double cast; I'm not sure which actor we saw tonight) is the ad hoc leader of the mutant hunters. He wants to be the hero and save the day. The actor does a good job of showing the vulnerability behind the swagger. Winona (Kiana Adams, with excellent comic timing) is the goth girl with the heart of gold. Walter(Koby Feldman) is the funny best friend. The fourth squad member, Po (Kaitlyn Andrews), is a Japanese or Japanese-American 6th grade boy who speaks with a broken English accent.

I did not understand why Po was played by a girl. Yes, the nerdy Japanese boy was a stock 80's character. Yes, I understand that the intent is to satirize the 80's, not the Japanese. But the cross-casting and cheesy accent made the execution of that intent murky at best and offensive at worst.

The trio of toughs were just as funny as the mutants.

The costume design adds a lot to the show. I don't want to spoil the wonderful weirdness of the Mutant costume so I won't describe it here. The late 80's/early 90's period costumes (I feel old!) helped define the characters.

FYI, the show, recommended for ages 10 and up, is loaded with language and innuendo (and a penis joke) that might make some ten-year-olds (and their parents) uncomfortable. The bullies do a lot of crotch grabbing and name-calling. My eleven year old had no problem with it. He laughed throughout the entire show.

By the way, Mutant Squad is playing at the Theatre Garage, which is being sponsored by Play by Play theater book Store and opening night gifts. They have tables set up. Check out the books and gifts and enter the drawing.

In Another's Size

2009-07-30T19:28:00.000-07:00

In Another's Size, a play created and performed by the students of Stepping Stone Theatre's year long training program with Joseph Scrimshaw, is an inventive interpretation of the age old battle of the High School Stereotypes. The framework of the story is simple: each teen (at John Hughes High!) knows their individual role in the social order. An incident in the cafeteria leaves them "Freaky Friday-ed" and chaos ensues. Like any good 80's sitcom, they learn something about themselves in the process.

Because of the body swap, each young actor plays two different roles. The cast does an excellent job using their gestures, voices, and bodies to create clearly contrasting characters.

The show is anchored by Brian Kelly, the only adult in the show, as the nameless, under-appreciated Lunch Lady. Think Julia Child, the Church Lady, and Professor McGonagall rolled into one funny person. (He also plays bit parts as the health teacher, gym teacher, and the choir teacher.) His catch phase "Did you? Did you?" has already entered our family lexicon.

This show is a great choice for 6-12 year olds who enjoy the Disney Channel/Nickelodeon tween sitcoms. I felt the show deserved a bigger audience-5:30 Thursday evening is a tough time to get to a family show. But there are still 4 shows left!

Fringe For All 2009-Part 1

2009-07-20T12:21:00.000-07:00

Fringe for All #2 is tonight at the Ritz Theater. The box office opens at 6:00. The price of admission is a $4 purchase of a snazzy new 2009 Fringe Button (with a picture of the newly christened "Wobbles the Cat". )

Kids' Fringe and Musicals were well represented at Fringe for All #1 last week. During the intermission I was regretting that I did not bring the boys. When the lights came up on part 2, the cast of Best Little Crackhouse in Philly (or Crackwhore!:the Musical) made me feel better about my choice.

The show opened with Youth Performance Company's The Mutant Squad. This is theater by teens, for teens. They performed a rap that introduced the mutants. I look forward to seeing this show. Also, check out the added content on their artists page.

Four Humors Theater's adaptation of Sideways Stories from the Wayside School has been on our list since the schedule went live. Tommy read the book and is curious about how they "turn it into a show." The excerpt was very funny, but you don't need to take my word for it. The entire three minute performance is on their artist's page.

More to come!

Robin Hood the Musical

2008-08-07T13:11:00.000-07:00

Robin Hood the Musical! succeeds at "the Musical" but fails at "Robin Hood". Strong performances and skilled singing save the show from a formulaic story.

The goal of the script seems to be to ensure every cast member is given a moment in the spotlight, whether it has any bearing on the story of Robin Hood or not. Crammed into the fifty minute Fringe time slot, most of the plot is rushed through. The transitions are abrupt, and all of the problems are solved in about sixty seconds during a sudden wedding scene. There isn't enough action. This would be fine for a class show that was being presented for friends and family. But a ticket holder spending $12 a ticket to see a musical about Robin Hood will be disappointed.

That said, my son really enjoyed the show. The ensemble shines. The kids in the show radiate the joy of theater. Everyone on stage is having fun and it transfers to the audience.

The are many strong performances in the show. Larry J. Evans as King Richard lends gravitas to the proceedings. Basso profundo John-Scott Moir is a deliciously evil Prince John. Little Sophia Russell as "Kid" is cute as a button. Martino Mayotte and Siri Hellerman as Alan A. Dale and his love Alice could have sustained their own show. Mayotte has a lyric soaring voice and Hellerman has sharp comic instincts.

Robin Hood(Grant Hauptman) and Marian(Valerie Roder) have a moving eleventh hour love duet. Roder's voice has a beautiful shimmer and easy top notes.

Snip, Snap, Snute

2008-08-04T18:57:00.000-07:00

The message I took away from Snip, Snap, Snute: A new musical for children is be fearful of people you don't know. People who wear matching red wool vests are good and trolls with messy hair and dingy clothes are bad. If you are red vest person, like the farmer, who gets stuck with a messy-haired, dingy-clothed daughter, make sure you make her feel like a loser. Even though she is smart and spirited tell her she can't do things because she's just a girl. By the same token, if you are a troll-ma, be certain to let your sweet-voiced daughter know that she is worthless because she can't burp like a troll. The two young girls-the changelings- get a "happy" ending that is telegraphed the minute you first meet their characters.

Musically, the show is engaging. John Mattesich on guitar and Russ King on keyboard kept a firm foundation under the singers and kept things rollicking along. I enjoyed the vocal writing as well. "Goat for Supper" and "Human Bean for Supper" were sharp and witty. The quartet of trolls (Cory Anderson, Nikolas Soll, Johnny Charon, plus Daniel Olson as the troll ma) were hilarious.

Unfortunately, I could not get past the message of the show.

Tommy's Top 10

2008-08-04T12:24:00.000-07:00

Every year Tommy compiles a list of his favorite shows for the fringe website. This year he has broken his personal attendance record. He has seen eleven shows in four days. He only has two official kid's shows to see-A Royal Birthday Mess, which opens tonight, and Ars Longa, vita brevis. So here is Citizen Journalist Tommy:

"Thanks, Mom. I'm going to do a top ten list(as the title informs). Most of these are kid's shows, by the way, so you take the kids along too."

10. Maggie's Magical Cat and Other Catastrophes

"Clearly, this is a girls show. All the actors are girls, there's girl themes, yada yada yada. Overall, it's a fun experience, but I clearly recommend this for girls. Plus, did I mention that all of the cast shares memories of grade school?"

9. PieRats: The Crusade for Peaches Cobbler

"This play ranks a little over the middle. The story is okay, with good plot twists, but doesn't have enough humor(although there are lots of gags, most of them are running gags of shutting up Clueless Willie) Overall, it's a 'just for fun' show."

8. Frizzabelle and the Circus

"The show's climax, which is the circus performing, is one of the best scenes I've seen at the Fringe. The story and acting is good, there's good comedy, and it's, overall, a great show.

7. The Legend of Little Bad: Not Her Father's Fairytale

"This is one of those shows where everything is great! The only scene that lags is one about two 'not-so-handsome' princes, but everything else gives a smile."

6. Shakespeare's Land of the Dead

"I....WANT....MORE....ZOMBIES!!!!! This show, about an occurrence of the fictional Elizabethan Zombie Plague, is funny, a little scary, and filled with....duh, zombies! However, this show is NOT FOR KIDS."

5. The Supercilious Ways of Walter Wading

"This show, aimed at the little guys, has simple all over it. Simple fun, simple story, simply great! The acting is superb, the scene at the beginning is excellent, and it's extreme fun. Go see it, NOW!"

4. Silent Poetry - A Tribute to Marcel Marceau

"Shhh....it's Silent Poetry, and it's GREAT! Hilarity and heart are present in the show, with humorous bits such as 'Jack*** The Mime', 'The Creation of the World' and my personal favorite, 'A Day at the Church'(you'll see why) Young kids may not understand what he's doing. Recommended for ages 9+."

3. Robin Hood The Musical

"The best musical I've seen at the Fringe! Great songs fill up the show, and it gives a smile in your face. Also, Robin Hood has a girl who's kind of like a daughter, and she's just cute! There are a few cons, though. The story's a bit mashed, the sound system had problems, and songs come and go a little too fast. Still, this is a must see!"

2. An Inconvenient Squirrel

"This....is PURE COMEDY! Excellent story, excellent acting, excellent humor. The costumes are funny as well. You should GO SEE IT NOW!!!!!!"

1. Fools For Love

"Best....Fringe....Show....EVER!!!!!! This is FLAWLESS!!!!!!!!! Humor, heart, acting, story, fun....IT'S PERFECT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sunday-Fringe Day 4

2008-08-03T17:55:00.000-07:00

We took the light rail train to Bedlam (Fringe Central) today. We saw two shows and Mixed Blood and then walked to the Rarig for the third. We headed back to Bedlam where we enjoyed the Best Ice Cream Sandwiches Ever! Then we hopped back on the train and came home.

Our first show was Silent Poetry-a Tribute to Marcel Marceau. Dean Holt is amazing. I don't have the vocabulary to describe mime from a technical standpoint. I just know that we enjoyed every moment of this show. It was fifty minutes of pure storytelling-without words. Definitely a five kitty show.

Next we saw PieRats:The Crusade for Peaches Cobbler. Although the script was clever the production felt under-rehearsed. There were transitions where you could see the cast thinking "what comes next?". Kyle Conner as the pie maker frequently broke character. The story had some great bits. William Bradshaw as Blind Bart with his "evil pocket dog" Jolly Rodger-Rita" had the audience in stitches.

I also question the wisdom of opening the show with an off-color joke: A pirate walks into a bar with a steering wheel down his trousers. The bartender says "do you know there's a steering wheel down your trousers" to which the pirate replies "it's drivin' me nuts!"

I'm no prude. My kids are older and I have no problem with it. The joke is funny. But I don't know many familes who take their pre-schooler to a pirate play to hear jokes about men's junk.

Our final play was John Heimbuch's Shakespeare's Land of the Dead. This is not a show intended for kids but Tommy really wanted to see this one. He enjoyed it but much of it flew over his head. He wanted more zombie action.

I loved it. The script was witty and tight and the cast was superb. I would love to see this play extended to a full-length show. If anything, I think the zombies should be more terrifying.

We are taking tomorrow off from fringing. I still have 3 shows left to review.

The Legend of Little Bad:Not Her Father's Fairy Tale

2008-08-02T22:17:00.000-07:00

Tommy (who is 10) was concerned that he might be to old for "The Legend of Little Bad: Not Her Father's Fairy Tale". Not to worry. The clever script kept him entertained for the full forty-five minutes. Closer to the spirit of the original Grimm's fairy tales than the Disney versions, this fractured fairy tale picks up the story with Little Pink (Red Riding Hood's daughter) and Woofie (the big bad wolf's daughter) running off into the forest to change their story . Little Pink doesn't want to be naive and stupid and Woofie doesn't want to have to eat her friends. Archie, one of the three little piggies, tags along. Silliness ensues. The children in the audience enjoyed being invited to participate. Even the adults had a howling good time.

Fools for Love and An Inconvenient Squirrel

2008-08-02T20:12:00.000-07:00

It is 10:15 PM Saturday night and mijos are getting ready for bed. Once again, I'm missing my opportunity to wear my tiara. (Yes, I have one). All of my cousins had a quince, but not me. Pobrecita.

I can't complain. We have seen eight shows and not a single rotten tomato. But the best of the crop were Fools for Love and An Inconvenient Squirrel.

Fools for Love is extraordinary. Chris and I regretted not taking the boys with us to see Fishbowl at Jeune Leune before it closed. Fools for Love has restored my faith that the fresh, innovative commedia dell'arte lives on. It is in our water, like mercury and antibiotics. It has spread to the children. The show, directed by Noah Bremer, was created by an ensemble of Hastings High School students between the ages of fourteen and eighteen.

Beginning with a joyous entrance as a rag-tag marching band, the ensemble seamlessly glides from one vignette to another. There is broad physical comedy and poignant acting. The actors use their faces, bodies, voices, and fingertips to create strong individual characters. There is a funny airplane ride, a joyous penguin ballet, and a heartbreaking dance with red feathers.

I recommend this show to everyone, but especially to those who are missing good old-fashioned jeune-leuny imaginative theater. Don't worry..they're here.

On to my other "must-see"-An Inconvenient Squirrel. Where else can you meet "passive-aggressive squirrel" (well, at first I didn't like my name but now I'm okay with it) and "eeevill genius squirrel". My favorite insight came from Socially Awkward Squirrel-"Being weird isn't awkward for me-its awkward for everyone else!" Tim Uren, Dan Rooney, Reid Knuttila, and Joseph Scrimshaw are brilliantly squirrelly. Like the great Warner brothers cartoons, the adults are howling with laughter alongside their children.

The message comes through clearly-don't label yourself with one role to play. It is more important just to be. (Oprah would approve!) But unlike many shows for children it never condescends; it never goes into after-school special territory. This show doesn't play again until Thursday, don't let it get lost on your schedule.

Maggie's Magical Cat and Other Catastrophes

2008-07-31T21:00:00.000-07:00

Maggie's Magical Cat and Other Catastrophes takes an entertaining but truthful look at the difficulties of peer pressure. The play begins with a group of college women studying. When Maggie, the younger sister of one of the students, bursts in to declare "fourth grade sucks" the women proceed to tell Maggie a story. The women assume the roles of Maggie's peers.

Magdelena Morrow shows us that Maggie's transformation from an invisible nobody to a top girl does not come without a price. She anchors the show with an honest portrayal that never turns into a stereotype.

The title and promotional materials suggest a "Ramona Quimby" or "Diary of a Wimpy Kid". ( Maggie and her magical cat playfully engage with audiences to explore the sometimes painful, often comical world of grade-school politics, unconventional families, adoption & other "what-ifs?" of the universe.) But the content is much more mature than that. Maggie's cat Magic (Amy Veerkamp) is an expert in clique warfare. She's definitely not cute and cuddly. Veerkamp also does a nice turn as queen bee Lindsay.

I would not recommend this show to anyone under 9 years old. But that is what makes it a good show for a "tween" or older. All shows shouldn't be for all ages.

The Supercilious Ways of Walter Wading

2008-07-31T20:53:00.000-07:00

Oh fer cute! The Supercilious Ways of Walter Wading is an adorable show for the preschool/grade school set. Walter Edward Wading III (K. Thomas Whitby) is a pompous theater professor who is reawakened to the joys of "staring at the stars and playing silly games". The simple story serves as a canvas for all kinds of mayhem.

Walter Wading encounters three woodland beings (their true identities are revealed later). Movement, mime, and slapstick ensue. These three "sprites"(Betsy E. Mills, Melissa Alness, and Corey Mills) decide to perform "A Midsummer Night's Dream". Walter Wading is horrified by their misinterpretation (which includes the African jungle and a monkey fairy).

The very young audience was enthralled but the adults seemed to be having just as much fun. My ten year old loved the show. He saw "A Midsummer Night's Dream" at the Guthrie-his first Shakespeare play-in April. He felt smart that he "got the joke".

I strongly recommend this show. If you know a child who you think might enjoy theater this would be the perfect first experience. The show is engaging and energetic and about 40 minutes short. Plus, SPARK is so welcoming towards the young and squirmy that the director, (Betsy Mills) put the following in their program: Parents, Now I know that my blood pressure can start rising if my child or children are wiggling and/or vocalizing in these types of settings. No need to worry! While we want to encourage good audience skills (sitting and not talking), we also want children to feel welcome, enjoy themselves and be eager to return to the theater. We invited all ages to come and we are glad that you are here! I know that when my boys were younger I would have appreciated such a statement.

So there you go. Grab your preschool child, niece, nephew, or neighbor kid (OK-ask their parents first) and take them to the fringe.

Kids Fringe

2008-07-29T21:00:00.000-07:00

Our schedule is set-Tommy and I are going to see 13 shows in the first 6 days of the fringe. This year the kids' schedule is a dream. The majority of the shows are in the West Bank/UM theater zone. So even though we have to take Monday night off (piano lessons!), we can still see all 11 kids' offerings. Our other two choices are Silent Poetry (as previously mentioned) and My Hovercraft is Full of Eels.

Here are our "Top 5 Best Bets for Kids", in no particular order. Remember, we haven't seen them yet!

Maggie's Magical Cat and Other Catastrophes by SPACT. This is the same collaboration of Gustavus Adolphus and St. Peter area students who presented the lovely "Miranda's Amazing Adventure" last year.

An Inconvenient Squirrel-A Scrimshaw show for kids. If you have been attending the fringe for as long as we have, this is either a sign of the apocalypse (like when Madonna was on the cover of Good Housekeeping) or that we are all getting old (also like when Madonna was on the cover of Good Housekeeping.) Either way, the title alone would put this on my list.

Snip, Snap, Snute. Russ King, keyboardist for The New Congress, anchors the instrumental accompaniment of this new musical comedy about trolls.

Robin Hood the Musical! by Top Hat. Theater by kids for kids.

Fools for Love by the Hastings Drama Club. Theater for kids by teens. The show promises a parade, dinosaur impressions, and a penguin ballet.

One more plug-the festival is sponsoring a family ice cream social on Saturday August 2 at Bedlam from 12-3. We will be there between shows.

Preview

2008-07-16T21:00:00.000-07:00

The two week countdown to the fringe begins. We are beginning to sketch out our family schedule. I am thrilled that the Rarig Center complex will be hosting shows again this year. Those venues, along with Mixed Blood, the Southern, and Bedlam are all within walking distance. Plus, it is easy to find a nice outdoor spot to enjoy a packed lunch between kids' fringe shows. We always make our way to Jimmy John's at least once.

Tommy, now 10, is determined to see all of the "official" kids' shows this year. Unlike last year, it is humanly possible. He reminded me that his favorite show last year was NOT a kids' show. It was "Around the World in 80 days in under 60 minutes".

After the first fringe show case at the Ritz I added one more for our family. Silent Poetry-Mime Inspired by Marcel Marceau by Dean Hatton. Under 5 are not permitted. Hatton's three minute snippet was brilliant. I want to see more. Plus, 6 weeks into summer vacation I would like to emphasize to my boys the power of silence.

Top Hat Theater's Robin Hood The Musical! was the only Kids' Fringe offering at the showcase. Two young actors sang a Broadway style pop power-ballad with strong clear voices. When my children were younger Top Hat's shows were among their favorites. The shows follow a set formula and are earnest and irony-free. That is their strength. I highly recommend this as a "first fringe show" for a younger child.

More to come.

Fringe for All #1

2008-07-05T21:00:00.000-07:00

It's advent season for fringers. The first candle is this Monday night at the Fringe-for-All #1. The second opportunity to work on wish lists will be Wednesday night July 9. Bryant Lake Bowl is hosting The Rabbit Show's extravaganza Dance Shows That Got Into the Fringe .

The full schedule is up on the official website. Attending these previews is an easy way to sample what the artists' have to offer. Bring a pencil and take notes.

In the past, my official "beat" has been kids' fringe. My "extreme fringer" is now 10. He came along for 10 shows last year and is aiming to crush his personal record. Last year I added musicals. I build my schedule around those 2 genres and then fill in the blanks with whatever strikes my fancy.

Merry Fringemas!