The Mistress Cycle
Mistress: A woman who illicitly occupies the place of wife. No male equivalent. Intimate musical tale The Mistress Cycle explores the choices and consequences of 5 women historical and fictional. Engaging, enticing.
In this mosaic song cycle, the lives and loves of five mistresses over the ages are woven together. There's Tess Walker, a modern day woman who struggles with success in her career and failure with men; Ching, a 14-year-old girl in 12th century China who is sold as concubine to a wealthy older man to save her family from poverty; Diane de Poitiers, the lifelong mistress of Henri II, King of France in the 16th century; Lulu White, the most famous bordello madam in 1900's Storyville New Orleans; and Anais Nin, the world renowned diarist and sexual dynamo whose exploits were legendary.
As they unfold their stories, we explore what it means to be a mistress. To come second to a wife. To be considered a vixen, adultress, enchantress, kept woman, homewrecker, gold-digger and whore. Their actions are neither celebrated nor condemned.
Even though each woman's circumstances and vernacular are vastly different, their experiences and emotions are universal. Despite a mistress appearing to have a privileged existence, there is pain, struggle and loss. The women speak from the heart, and their words are very visceral. The Mistress Cycle is a rare piece with five strong female roles, written not just for the female voice, but also the female spirit.
"A unique and fascinating blend of song cycle and book musical with beautiful songs" (Stephen Schwartz, WICKED)
"A ground-breaking, beautiful, original piece..." (Maury Yeston, NINE)
The Mistress Cycle, created by Beth Blatt (book/lyrics) and Jenny Giering (music), premiered at the 2005 NY Musical Theatre Festival. Producer and music director Mindy Eschedor teams with director Perrin Post to bring the show to the 2008 Fringe.
The 5 mistresses are played by: Jen Burleigh-Bentz (Tess), Kathleen Hardy (Lulu), Andrea Leap (Anais), Sara Ochs (Ching) and Karen Weber (Diane).
(Photo by Pat Carney)
The cast
Jen Burleigh-Bentz
Role: Tess Walker
Jen is ecstatic to be involved with the Minnesota Fringe and to be working with such incredible ladies! Jen's national credits include Broadway's Mamma Mia! (Tanya, u/s Donna & Rosie) and a National Tour of Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story (female swing, u/s Maria Elena). In the greater Twin Cities area, she has been seen in The Wild Party (Queenie) - Fitzgerald Theater; Beyond the Rainbow (Garland & Judy) and Hormel Girls (Meredith) - History Theater; Into the Woods (Florinda), Bingo! (Patsy) and Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story (Ensemble, u/s Maria Elena) - Ordway Center for the Performing Arts; Annie Get Your Gun (Annie) - Minnetonka Theatre; Anything Goes (Bonnie) - Ashland Productions; Honk! (Ida) - Jon Hassler Theater; and Legendary Ladies and Monsters, Witches & Freaks - Buffalo Gal Productions. A Wisconsin native and graduate of UW-Eau Claire, Jen lives in River Falls, WI where she and her husband, Tommy Bentz, singer/guitarist of the Tommy Bentz Band, own and operate Brickhouse Music, a full-line music store. Jen is a proud member of Actor's Equity. "Many thanks to Mindy and Perrin, much love to M&D, G&G, BW90's and Tommy."
Kathleen A. Hardy
Role: Lulu White
Kathleen has been an actress, singer, on-camera and voice talent in the Twin Cities for many years. Her performing has taken her across the United States and to Europe. Kathleen's various local and regional credits include Minneapolis Musical Theatre, Illusion Theater, Theatre in the Round, Starting Gate Productions, Troupe America, The Jon Hassler Theater, The Phipps Center for the Arts, and The Minnesota History Center, where several years she performed the one-woman show "Lifting As We Climb: African American Women Working for Change". Kathleen has also had the honor of singing at the University of Minnesota for two Presidential Inaugurations, the University's 150th Anniversary Celebration, the Roy Wilkins Stamp Dedication and numerous graduation ceremonies. She is the soloist and narrator for The Minnesota Sinfonia, which performs yearly for thousands of children in the Twin Cities. Kathleen attended Macalester College in St. Paul and graduate school at the University of Minnesota. This is her first Fringe show, and she's excited to be performing with such talented artists.
Andrea Leap
Role: Anais Nin
A versatile singer, Andrea has performed in Italian restaurants, German cathedrals, Ohio elementary schools, Parisian piano bars and Midwestern bowling alleys, as well as with Michigan Opera Theater, Toledo Opera, the Brevard Music Center, Voices Choeur International and the Paris Choral Society. Recently, Andrea participated in Light Opera Oklahoma's productions of Into the Woods and The Pirates of Penzance, Duluth Festival Opera's production of Side by Side by Sondheim, and played harpsichord as Julia Melville in an extended run of The Rivals at The Jungle Theater in Minneapolis. She has also been seen locally singing Musical Minnesota! at the Minnesota Historical Society and on the Bach's Lunch Series at MacPhail Center for Music. As a recipient of the Harriet Hale Woolley grant, Andrea spent a year in Paris studying, creating and singing cabaret concerts, which she has since performed at various venues across the U.S., including the St. Paul Schubert Club, the Tulsa SummerStage Series, and the Michigan Art Song Festival. In 2007 she received a Jerome Emerging Artist Grant and participated in the New York Mills Artist Retreat program, creating cabaret concerts on the themes of crime and punishment. Andrea has been on the voice faculty at MacPhail Center for Music since 2005.
Sara Ochs
Role: Ching
Sara is elated to be part of The Mistress Cycle! An adopted Korean actor and singer, Sara recently returned to the Twin Cities after nearly two years of living in Seoul, South Korea. Since returning home, she has appeared at the Ordway Center's McKnight Theater in Mu Performing Arts' production of The Walleye Kid: The Musical and with the Actors Theater of Minnesota in Song of Singapore. Last summer, Sara returned to the U.S. to participate in the first-ever National Asian American Theater Festival in New York, performing in Happy Valley at The Clurman Theatre in Theater Row. Other area credits include Mu Performing Arts (99 Histories, New Directions), Park Square Theatre (Pacific Overtures), Minneapolis Musical Theatre (Sunday in the Park with George), Skylark Opera (The Chocolate Soldier), Steppingstone Theatre (The Great Family Tree), The Gilbert and Sullivan Very Light Opera Company (Patience, Theatre in the Round (The Mikado), Nautilus Music-Theater (Rough Cuts series), The Playwrights' Center (Many Voices), and History Theater (Rough Cuts).
Karen Weber
Role: Diane de Poitiers
Karen is thrilled to be appearing in The Mistress Cycle. She has worked over the last thirteen years in various venues, locally, regionally and nationally. In the Twin Cities area she has performed with History Theater, Ordway Center for the Performing Arts, Park Square Theatre, Minneapolis Musical Theatre, Bloomington Civic Theatre, The Plymouth Playhouse, Troupe America, Actors Theater of Minnesota, Theater Latte Da, Theatre in the Round, Gremlin Theatre, The Playwrights' Center, The Empty Space Collective and Nautilus Music-Theater. Favorite roles include Charlotte (A Little Night Music), Lucy (Jekyll & Hyde), Eva Peron (Evita), Phyllis (Follies), the Witch (Into the Woods), Suzy (Wait Until Dark), Fiona (How the Other Half Loves), Nellie Bly (Fireball), Rosa (Burning Patience), Carolette (A Christmas Carole Petersen), Jessica (Communicating Doors), Meredith (Bat Boy, the Musical), Rosie (Simpatico), The Beggar Woman (Sweeney Todd), and originating the role of Maureen (To All Men Named Jackson).
Mindy Eschedor
Role: Music director / Producer
Mindy is an active Twin Cities collaborative pianist whose engagements regularly include vocal coaching/accompanying, chamber music and theater work. The Mistress Cycle marks Mindy's second endeavor as a Fringe producer. Her first foray into producing was the 2005 Fringe hit Soundtrack for the Common Man, which enjoyed a nearly sold-out run. Mindy has served as Musical Director and pianist for such Twin Cities companies as Nautilus Music-Theater, Bloomington Civic Theatre, Theater Latte Da, New Breath Productions, Theatre in the Round, Skylark Opera, Minneapolis Musical Theatre and the Twin Cities Gay Men's Chorus. Since 1999, Mindy has been on the staff as a Music Director for Nautilus' Wesley Balk Opera/Music-Theater Institute, a summer training program for singer-actors. She has music directed three full productions for Nautilus (the 2006 IVEY Award-winner I am Anne Frank, The Last Five Years, and Goblin Market), as well as the 2004 Fringe Festival production of john & jen and numerous pieces in the monthly Rough Cuts series. Mindy has been principal staff accompanist at MacPhail Center for Music since 1999.
Perrin Post
Role: Director
Perrin is pleased to be back "fringing" with The Mistress Cycle. This October, Buffalo Gal Productions will bring Broadway's Legendary Ladies to the Ordway Center's McKnight Theater. Broadway's Legendary Ladies achieved success at the Loring Playhouse and toured 13 states to sold-out crowds. Broadway's Legendary Ladies is only one of the original concept shows for which Ms. Post has become known in the Twin Cities. Other original shows include Hormel Girls (History Theatre), Monsters, Witches & Freaks and Martinis, Girls & Guns (Loring Playhouse), Vixens (Loring Playhouse, Fringe Festival) and Ten Years Later (Hopkins House), as well as directing and producing The Spitfire Grill (Loring Playhouse, Jon Hassler Theater) and Zombies from the Beyond (Bryant-Lake Bowl). Ms. Post directed and created (with Holly Schroeder) the opening numbers for the IVEY Theater Awards in 2006 and 2007. Ms. Post's acting credits include Chanhassen Dinner Theatre, History Theatre, Troupe America, Mixed Blood Theatre, Penumbra Theatre and Minnesota Festival Theater.
Showtimes
Thu., Jul. 31 @ 8:00 p.m.
Sun., Aug. 3 @ 8:00 p.m.
Fri., Aug. 8 @ 6:00 p.m.
Sat., Aug. 9 @ 12:00 p.m.
Sun., Aug. 10 @ 4:00 p.m.
Show details
Venue: Bryant-Lake Bowl
Duration: 75 minutes
For ages 18+
Written by Jenny Giering & Beth Blatt
Website: www.buffalogalproductions.com
Genres: Musical theatre, Drama
Warnings: Adult language, Smoke, Sexual Content
Overall rating
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User reviews
Not real impressed
by Brian Woods Follow this reviewer
Rating 3 kitties
I got the last ticket to Sunday's show, anticipating a moving experience, based on previous reviews & word of mouth. I was disappointed. Despite strong performances by all the actresses (particularly Leap & Weber), the show itself is weak, especially musically. New-agey, Sondheim derived, interchangeable songs just didn't work. The songs didn't differentiate the characters, except for Lulu's songs, with their subtle blues inflections. I think this show has great promise, and a great premise. With some weeding of the book (getting rid of the cliches) and new, more powerful music, I think it could really be something.
The Female Equivalent of "Kept Man"
by Dave Romm Follow this reviewer
Rating 5 kitties
Of the shows I've seen, The Mistress Cycle is easily the most professional -- and least Fringy. Five women slip in and out of historical characters to chronicle their lives, loves and loves lost. The acting is superb, the singing operatic. The script manages avoid preaching while telling stories from a uniquely female point of view. Kudos to the piano player as well, as the music is nearly continuous. A Shockwave Radio Theater Review.
Longer reviews with pictures at Baron Dave's LiveJournal.
I like the idea
by Kim Lee Follow this reviewer
Rating 3 kitties
Wth some work this can go beyond the usual chick theatre kinda thing (sorry)
Wow
by Kris Man About Fringe Follow this reviewer
Rating 4 kitties
I'd bet any sum of money that this show will see a revival somewhere outside the Fringe. THe show I saw was packed so get there early or wait until it undoubtedly plays elsewhere.
Terrific!
by Jon Mikkelsen Follow this reviewer
Rating 5 kitties
This show is top notch all the way around. 5 very talented actors/singers sing about playing the role of "mistress" The cycle of songs is superb and the singers are fully committed every second of the show. This was especially fun to watch in the tiny BLB space. You could tell every one of the performers has the chops to play much bigger houses and it was a delight to see them shine up close.
Perrin Post and Mindy Eschedor are to be commended for producing and directing a top level show.
Five kitties aren't enough
by Florence Brammer Follow this reviewer
Rating 5 kitties
I can't praise this show enough: the best of my 2008 Fringe so far, by far. Simply a gorgeous show -- great music, great performances, great direction & staging. Top-shelf all-around, no shortcuts taken. Make reservations: only a fraction of the long line wrapped down the entire length of the bowling lanes at BLB at Sunday's show got in.
FABULOUS!
by Ben Krywosz Follow this reviewer
Rating 5 kitties
Wonderful performances by five strong singer-actors mark this theatrical song cycle about women as âsecond choiceâ -- historical and fictitious characters mingle in a fluid setting, as four mini-narratives help âTessâ (the closest the piece has to a lead) sort through her ambivalence about a possible tryst with a married man -- nicely directed by Perrin Post, with minimal props and the occasional scarf or robe offering dramaturgical clarity -- the songs are engaging and structurally innovative, without deviating too far from musical theater conventions -- full emotional commitment from all performers and solid support from music director and producer Mindy Eschedor make this a must-see, but make reservations and get there early!
WHO'S NUMBER 2 !?!
by Rick Treece Follow this reviewer
Rating 5 kitties
Well, certainly not this piece, despite its characters declaration of their second-class status. When youâre ready for a break from self-conscious performance art, self-referential musicals, and self-absorbed solo acts, head to the Bryant-Lake Bowl for solid singing, engaging acting, and five compelling women drawn from history. They interact and interweave their stories dramatically and musically, each situation seemingly more poignant than the last. Jen Burleigh-Bentzâs commanding portrayal of Tess Walker creates a silver setting in which the other stories are sparkle like jewels. To my thinking, the best work Iâve ever seen from Kathleen Hardy and Karen Weber. Spend the extra $2.50 and get a reserved seat, or youâre likely to miss out.
Outstanding!
by Chet Taylor Follow this reviewer
Rating 5 kitties
Very moving piece with some incredible performances and beautifully staged in a very challenging space. I'd echo the other reviewers on this: Make reservations! It's a small house, and a VERY popular show. Many were turned away on Sunday, and apparently the same thing happened on the first performance.
Totally engaging
by Dave Blaisdell Follow this reviewer
Rating 4 kitties
I was pretty much into this show from start to finish. Felt some of the humor fell flat and a few cliches strewn about but overall worth seeing. My girlfriend loved it even more and already has bought tickets to see it again with a friend.
Beware of Long Lines...
by Brian Madigan Follow this reviewer
Rating 3 kitties
The concept for this is an interesting one. The cast gave a very good performance but the beginning and ending songs (This Is How It Starts and All Your Life) ruined it for me. The lyrics of them were awful and totally put me off. It was hard to believe they were a part of the rest of the "cycle." There were a couple of other points in the music that were clichéd and could have been left out. So that knocks off two 'kitties.'
The best thing about this show that makes it worth seeing for anyone is Sara Ochs. Her singing and acting blew me away.
Thank You
by Terry Lynn Carlson Follow this reviewer
Rating 5 kitties
To everyone involved with this artfully delivered piece.....Thank You for sucking the air from my lungs and then filling my soul with the resonant beauty of these stories. Love, Beth & Terry
Beauty in Art
by Celeste Black Follow this reviewer
Rating 5 kitties
What an exquisitely crafted and executed ensemble piece. There's not a weak link in the chain as an objective light is cast on women who illicitly occupy the place of wives.
Working in the restraints of a tiny space these women do an amazing job of pacing a well written show. Not to be missed.
Don't Miss This One
by Richard Heise Follow this reviewer
Rating 5 kitties
A poignant musical drama with islands of humor. Excellent performance. If you like musicals this is a must see show. Get there early or make reservations, I was at their initial performance and it was a packed house.
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