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Superlatives of Excellence: A Jamboree of Breviloquent Masterworks by Josef Evans

Scrumtrulescent!
by Mark Long
Rating: 5 kitties
The most ridiculous, absurd, weird, crazy, funny, awesome thing I have ever scene. As nonsensical as the most bizarre episode of anything on Adult Swim. I assume the script was crafted on the walls of an insane asylum with the lunch gravy.

Seriously, it takes near genius to pull off such a spectacle. The show is the silly plays of a stunted half-genius, halfwit staged in his grandparents garage. The cast does a wonderful job of making their transitions from musician to devil to Russian spy to God's housekeeper.

I really enjoyed it and laughed so hard I started crying during the "slideshow."

This is Fringe!

Princess Jessica and the Kingdom of Boogers

A Lesson And It's Funny? Yes!
by Mark Long
Rating: 5 kitties
I wish I had been able to bring my nose-picking nephews to this show. Maybe then they would have listened to Princess Jessica and realized that every booger DOES need a tissue.

The story is funny. The cast is great. Both adults and kids were laughing. What more do you want?

Underneath the Lintel

Wonderful
by Mark Long
Rating: 5 kitties
I am so glad I got to see this show with a full audience that appreciated Pat's performance and hung on each phrase as if the mystery might be solved.
The show is just a wonderful telling of our lives. "We are here because we are here." There is no solution to the mystery of life; just enjoy the journey.

Great show!

Mortem Capiendum

THAT'S HOW YOU SELL CHOCOLATE!!!
by Mark Long
Rating: 5 kitties
I loved this show from the great one-liners to the entire mood and presentation. Good people of Hennepin County do yourself a favor and see it. If you have an advice-dispensing racist in your family and through therapy, you can now laugh at it, you are in for an extra treat.

Sideways Stories from Wayside School

SO CUTE AND FUNNY
by Mark Long
Rating: 5 kitties
Being called "cute" is probably not what many Fringers strive for, but it fits Sideways Stories. I was not familiar with the book series, but I LOVE the Four Humors. The clever and inventive way they tell this story is matched by a great cast. Definitely fun for adults and kids.

Horace Greeley the Lesser: On the Isle of Misfit Toys

Absolutely Brilliant!
by Mark Long
Rating: 5 kitties
I can't say they everyone will like or "get" this show, but it is a great story, well-told, with fantastic weavings of other movie plots intertwined. The songs are clever, as are the different instruments and props.
Really, anyone that can link Rudolph, Misfit Toys, Apocalypse Now and others together is absolutely brilliant.

Bite Me Twilight

Twilight Outsider LMAO
by Mark Long
Rating: 5 kitties
I was one of the lucky few who got to see Parry Hotter. Tom is great, and I will enjoy seeing whatever he continues to do.

The show is hilarious, but I laughed almost as much at the audience as I did at Tom. I did not read the Twilight books, but obviously a lot of the audience did. What a bunch of dorks! They actually held their collective breathe a few times waiting for Tom's punchline. So funny!

Reserve a ticket today because this show will sell out.

The William Williams Effect

Expertly Cut Gem
by Mark Long
Rating: 5 kitties
This is one of the Fringe shows that you see and forget it's a Fringe show because it feels so professionally done, and you learn something.
A well-written, well-acted piece of forgotten Twin Cities' history.
It could be a fantastic full-length play.

Show Goons

Geek Fanboy Loved It!
by Mark Long
Rating: 5 kitties
I had no idea what to expect from this show, and I was blown away. It was funny, well-written, well-rehearsed, had great music and singing and had one of the hottest super-villainesses ever to grace the pages of a comic book.
It made me feel like an awkward teenage geek fanboy again.

Despite the warning, I think the sexual references are tame enough for 13 and up. I would have exploded with joy if I had seen the show at that age. Bring your superhero-loving young adult.

Nice job everyone!

A Sad Carousel

My Fringe Button Gets Me Discounts?
by Mark Long
Rating: 5 kitties
High Karate is a bad cologne from the '70s people, laugh at it next time.

Idiosynchronicity

Nerdy Fun, Great Storytelling For All
by Mark Long
Rating: 5 kitties
Rob works the round of the Arena stage wonderfully. He has crafted his stories to be engaging for all, but with special treats for Sci-Fi nerds.
Anyone who is a fan of great storytelling will appreciate the cadence and style--very enjoyable.

And, the music is nice, too.

Speech!

Funny Show. Great Cast.
by Mark Long
Rating: 5 kitties
Is Mike Fotis actually a middle-aged loser whose wife sleeps around on him? I'm beginning to think so.
Can Joe Bozic be taken out with one slap? Obviously, yes.

Is Speech funny with a great cast? Yes.
Everyone is quite good in it with a special geek smile for Matt Spring playing the toughest guy in the ensemble. Yes, you heard that right. Love it!

Great job all! Highly recommended!

Tragedy of You

THE MASTER
by Mark Long
Rating: 5 kitties
Joe Scrimshaw once again shows why he is a master storyteller. He is so quick and clever on the fly, but it seems that less than half of the show has a script. I'm certain you could see all five performances and see five fairly unique, but very funny shows.

An Adult Evening of Shel Silverstein

Tight, Bold, Intense, Great!
by Mark Long
Rating: 5 kitties
Like everyone has said and will say, they are a perfect duo. They feed off each other and raise the stakes for each other. These are intense, sometimes uncomfortable vignettes that are performed wonderfully.

Rachel Teagle Believes in Ghosts

Great Storyteller
by Mark Long
Rating: 5 kitties
Ghost stories aside, Rachel is a great storyteller. It can be a difficult task to keep people awake at a 10 PM show at the end of a long Fringe weekend, especially in a dark and quiet theater, but Rachel can do it because she is interesting, has excellent timing and knows her pacing.

This was a treat with which to cap off the weekend.

See You Next Tuesday

Wow, That Was Good
by Mark Long
Rating: 5 kitties
What all the other good reviews said, plus, Leigha steals the show which is nearly impossible given how good everyone else was.

The Big Four Oh: 40 Jokes, Poems and Stories by Brian Beatty

What Maria Bamford Said
by Mark Long
Rating: 5 kitties
Brian was very funny and bold enough to leave us on a...well...interesting story note.
I pray I don't see someone eating a sandwich in a Fringe line.

Fruitcake-Ten Commandments from the Psych Ward

Best Way To Present Tough Psych Stories
by Mark Long
Rating: 5 kitties
If someone were to just tell you stories of people in a psych ward, it would get old and sad after 10 minutes. But, Rob does a great job of spinning the stories through his rhyming and rhythmic brain before he tells them.
Yes, his accent is a little heavy for some, but you should be able to tune your ear to it within minutes.
The stories are sad, horrifying and funny. I don't think anyone wants first-hand (pun intended) knowledge of what goes on in a psych ward, but getting them second-hand through Rob is engaging and interesting.
I am eager to see him return to the Minnesota Fringe.

O(h)

Exceeds The Hype
by Mark Long
Rating: 5 kitties
Casebolt and Smith certainly were one of the most talked about performances from last year's Fringe, making them a hot ticket for this year.
For someone like me who is reluctant to see a "dance" performance, this is the best possible show. They immediately engage the crowd, and their movement is just one of many aspects of the show.
They are beautiful, talented, funny and seemingly humble. The show exceeded my expectations by a mile, and now Casebolt and Smith will forever be on my must-see list.

The Damn Audition

Quit Ripping Joe!
by Mark Long
Rating: 5 kitties
I'm not sure the "12 plus" age designation is appropriate, maybe more like "16 plus."

But, for everyone ripping Joe for writing like Joe and acting like Joe:

Don't See A Joe Scrimshaw Play Then!

I finally saw this production on Saturday, August 14, and it lived up to the hype that has been flowing all week. It's funny, slightly evil, skewers Hollywood, Minnesota, actors and directors, and it was original.

Great stuff!

Pop Goes the Cherry

Enjoyable, But Not For Everyone
by Mark Long
Rating: 4 kitties
If you are someone who needs their plot spelled out in capital letters and spoon-fed to you, this is not your show.
Candace takes an idea and hovers around it like a butterfly for 40 minutes. There are no great revelations or finality. It is just Candace musing on Prudishness and Sexuality through vignettes, and I think she does a nice job.
I generally hate to use the word, but "ethereal" comes to mind.

Pants on Fire!

Fun Storytellers' Concept
by Mark Long
Rating: 4 kitties
I am annoyed that I got 2 stories-lies wrong. I thought I knew each of their "tells." Harrumphhh!

Courtney was a standout.

Good job all!

Story Time Time Bomb

Great Fringe Fluff
by Mark Long
Rating: 4 kitties
The show is exactly as advertised--fun, silly story-making with audience participation.

It's very enjoyable and a nice break from anything else you are seeing at Rarig that is too loud, too weird or too depressing. Calling it the "Rarig Sorbet" course for the unchildrened is not an insult; I love all of my meal courses equally.

dont u luv me?

Not For Me, But I Should Have Known That
by Mark Long
Rating: 4 kitties
I'm given the show 4 Kitties (instead of 2) since it was my own fault for thinking I might want to care about teenagers' lives. It turns out I don't.
Since I don't have any direct stake in today's kids. I'm not in the demographic for this show.

If you are a parent, teenager or pre-teen this is your show, and you almost will certainly like it. The show is a little clunky in some spots with too much texting and too much music. But, shame on you if you haven't talked to your kid about dating, over-possessiveness and abuse.

A Nice Guy's Guide to Awkward Sex

Guys, Pause For The Applause!
by Mark Long
Rating: 4 kitties
This is a 5 Kitty show. No question.

I gave it 4 Kitties for 2 reasons.

1. Please, guys, just pause for a moment and give the audience a chance to laugh/applaud and catch up. We're not as slick and fast as you.

2. My little review is meaningless in the Fringe sphere. This show should and will sell out its remaining performances because it's great.

Breaking Down in America

Engaging and Fun
by Mark Long
Rating: 4 kitties
Patrick tells a great story about an adventure many of us wish we had done: hitting the road with very few rules or responsibilities. He uses the pictures and video just enough to keep us aware of his situation. It's a fun and interesting time, and he does a great job.

Communopoly

Cute and Enjoyable
by Mark Long
Rating: 4 kitties
This type of show is the reason I enjoy the Fringe Festival. There is no big revelation about Capitalism vs. Communism; it's just a nice, large cast playing out an enjoyable twist on the world of Monopoly. They are eager and entertaining, and the set is rather clever.

2 Sugars, Room for Cream

Funny and 2 Sugars Sweet
by Mark Long
Rating: 4 kitties
Carolyn and Shanan present a funny and sometimes serious string of vignettes that flow with coffee. From uncomfortable family B.S. to the ridiculousness that is the "Twilight" craze, they charm the audience with their quirky talent.

Fartosaurus Rex!

Silly, silly fun
by Mark Long
Rating: 4 kitties
You get puppets and a dinosaur that farts. That is enough for me and apparently all of the children in the audience. Silly, enjoyable fun.

FW: RE: Mom Update

Very Well Done
by Mark Long
Rating: 4 kitties
A very well written and nicely acted show. The content is tough for anyone who has dealt/is dealing with a declining parent. But, there is enough humor to keep the show from getting depressing, and the cast does a great job with the timing and the staging.
It's well worth seeing to remind you that everyone has to deal with getting old.

Do Not Kill Me, Killer Robots!

Post Robotocalypse Fun
by Mark Long
Rating: 4 kitties
Ben tells a funny story and the post-apocalyptic props are hilarious.
Worth your trip to the Playwright's Center.

Best Little Crackhouse in Philly (...or Crackwhore: The Musical!)

Ha! The Fringiest!
by Mark Long
Rating: 4 kitties
This would have been a Five Kitty if it was about Meth and the men spoke/sang louder.
OH NO! You were offended at Fringe show? I'm sorry.
DID YOU READ THE TITLE?!?!
You didn't learn anything about addiction?
YOU REALIZE YOU ARE SEEING A FRINGE SHOW RIGHT?!?!
Support this show, and let's keep pushing the envelope.

The Harty Boys in The Case of the Limping Platypus

Like An Awful Afterschool Special
by Mark Long
Rating: 4 kitties
The Harty Boys is a funny telling of a stupid story and will remind adults why shows from your childhood should stay there, only to be occasionally brought out and lampooned. Perfect for adults and kids. Becca, Sulia Altenberg, is a standout--Great job.

10.10 Post 9.11: Laughter in the Aftermath

This is why I Fringe
by Mark Long
Rating: 4 kitties
The show is very funny most of the time. The low points are managed by the eagerness and abilities of the cast. My Fringe would not be complete without an over-the-top political show, and this doesn't fail.

Dubya Quixote could have his own sitcom--Pathetically funny!

Nevermore is a fascinating spin on Poe from the head of the scared suburban soccer mom--Relevant, creepy, funny.

Ballad of the Pale Fisherman

Beautiful Combination
by Mark Long
Rating: 4 kitties
It was wonderful to end my Fringe with a nice play with movement, storytelling and singing.

This show should have been 5 Kitties--a few things could have been tightened up, and I would have liked one full-on ballad sung to the accordion.

I loved that the story was kept simple--not tons of dialogue, no props, (mostly) graceful, slow movements. Very nice.

Axed! (The Rockstars' Remix)

Courtney Bad. Rik and Dave Brilliant.
by Mark Long
Rating: 3 kitties
See Courtney in the Sideways Stories, she was barely present for this performance. Rik and Dave delivered riveting rants of very interesting and compelling stories.

Flops! A New Musical Revue

I didn't know they were serious
by Mark Long
Rating: 3 kitties
I guess I should have realized that they would be earnest in singing songs from Broadway flops. Their voices are great, but the songs aren't. Hopefully, there are Broadway historians among Fringers.

The First Five Minutes Are Slow

Fine
by Mark Long
Rating: 3 kitties
I love the actors, but the show is a little weak. I know they are capable of more, so my expectations are quite high. It's enjoyable, but I wouldn't go out of my way for it.

The Tiki War

Not Bad, But Not For Everyone
by Mark Long
Rating: 3 kitties
The dialogue is good, and acting is mostly good, but the background music distracts and ruins any tension there may be.
I'll ignore the plot-hole with the boy being 10 years old and hope they tighten everything up a little.
Not bad.

Couch Aliens vs. the False World

Fine, But Not Brilliant
by Mark Long
Rating: 3 kitties
Proceeding from a nicely absurd premise, the cast does a fine job with a sometimes clunky script. Some of the staging and lighting could be tightened up to help with the flow.
If your expectations are realistic, you won't be disappointed by using this show to help fill your Rarig lineup.

Mike & Matt

Funny Enough
by Mark Long
Rating: 3 kitties
I can relate more to Mike's story than to Matt's.
3 Kittens because this is becoming a cut-throat year for awesome shows at the Fringe.
See Speech!

Batmama

Foxy But Lacking
by Mark Long
Rating: 3 kitties
A larger, drunker crowd would have been a great help for this silly show. I think they needed one more good bit to sell the concept.
It's fun and oddly sexy, but not fabulous.

The Princeton Seventh

Not Terribly Engaging
by Mark Long
Rating: 3 kitties
I thought the acting was good, but the story was not that interesting.
Yes, it's 2 scenes, one imagined, one actual, but I didn't care that much.
Yes, there's a twist, but not that revolutionary a twist.

I would have given it 4 Kitties, but it was hyped by so many people, my expectations were too high.

The Jack Chick Plays

An Okay Effort
by Mark Long
Rating: 2 kitties
The show is somewhat clunky and creepy, and definitely not for everyone.
Although their tongue is firmly in their cheek, the plays fall short of solid religious lampooning.

How to Fight Like a Girl

Their hearts are in the right place
by Mark Long
Rating: 2 kitties
But, the script isn't. The politics of the show have nothing to do with it's failings. The show suffers from a weak script and uneven acting. This could improve with more performances, but instead why don't you just get politically active.