Sun Tzu's, The Art of War
presented by No Refunds Theatre Co.
Showtimes
Sun., Aug. 3 @ 10:00 p.m.
Tue., Aug. 5 @ 8:30 p.m.
Thu., Aug. 7 @ 7:00 p.m.
Fri., Aug. 8 @ 8:30 p.m.
Sat., Aug. 9 @ 10:00 p.m.
Show details
Venue: U of M Rarig Center Proscenium
Duration: 60 minutes
For ages 16+
Adapted by Charlie Bethel
Website: http://www.norefundstheatre.com/
Genres: Comedy, Political
Overall rating
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User reviews
Honorable review
by Brian Watson-Jones Follow this reviewer
Rating 4 kitties
Hilariously irreverent, yet Sun Tzu's relevance shines through. There's a lot of brilliance in what the Book says, and if brilliance presented by ninjas shouting Superfriends phrases as kiais is wrong, I don't want to be right.
Also, I think John Middleton should wear a tux with tails everywhere he goes. I think he can pull that off.
Bravo
by Bryan Logan Follow this reviewer
Rating 4 kitties
A lot of fun. I think they could have done more with the physicality. Overall, great show.
Ninja Mambo Theater
by Fringivitis Vulgaris Follow this reviewer
Rating 3 kitties
I like Sun Tzu's book. Ninjas are amusing. The Fringe blurb was clever-and-a-half. The actors were having fun, and in the final show the Narrator broke character as he suppressed laughter. Bonus points for a pink Care Bear and a Transformer! But... This show was much too small for the stage it was on. 4 people need more props or more energy to make use of that much empty space.
I Love Ninjas!
by Heather Baldwin Follow this reviewer
Rating 5 kitties
I found myself chuckling throughout this whole show. It featured some excellent physical comedy, and the premise was clever and well-executed. I especially enjoyed Kiseung's nonverbal acting, which was impressive despite the lower half of his face being covered. And John was dryly hilarious as the narrator. It's a fun play, and I highly recommend it.
No Such Thing As Too Many Nut-Punches
by phillip low Follow this reviewer
Rating 4 kitties
A really remarkable success, since it's really nothing more than an animated lecture. For the most part consistently funny throughout, although the joke does begin to drag towards the end of the show. Full review available at the Twin Cities Daily Planet.
Fun Concept, Terrific Playbill
by Dave Romm Follow this reviewer
Rating 4 kitties
Except for the beginning and ending bits, this is read directly from Sun Tzu, with ninja demonstrators and a mambo to break things up. Who knew that Stooge Fu was invented by the Chinese 2500 years ago? While episodic and slow moving at times, it's authentic and you might learn how to defeat your enemy. Almost a whole kitty goes to the playbill and Fringe website write-up. A Shockwave Radio Theater Review.
Longer reviews with pictures at Baron Dave's LiveJournal.
Hilarious!
by Courtney Miner Follow this reviewer
Rating 5 kitties
What a joy! I laughed heartily throughout this production. And what a great concept! John Middleton is by far one of the most engaging actors I've seen. The ninjas were so funny and so good at what they do. I loved it!
five creepy kitties
by BN DR Follow this reviewer
Rating 5 kitties
I am always afraid of adaptations of beloved books, but I can't think of a way that this production could have been better.
A Narrator & 3 Ninjas
by dixie treichel Follow this reviewer
Rating 4 kitties
Clever and witty. We wonder how art & war can be used in the same phrase. Ancient proverb says, "We wish the living would get a clue." Maybe they would if they valued art more than war.
Go See
Entertaining and Educational
by Bill Teska Follow this reviewer
Rating 4 kitties
"The Art of War" is one classic that I had crossed off my bucket-list, so I was glad to find out about its content in such a gloriously entertaining way. The terrific physicality of the ninjas, of course, is the whole concept. The combination of mime and martial art is itself comical, and the inventions for depicting the text's ideas were hilarious.
I could easily have watched another hour, although at the speed of the action, I'm not sure the cast could have provided it!
How about some more like this (Caesar, Thucydides?)
Monty Python meets Sun Tzu!
by Nathan Curland Follow this reviewer
Rating 3 kitties
Clever, entertaining (mostly) and absolutely silly. But if you don't know about Sun Tzu, this a good painless introduction. Apply it, in your mind, to our current situation and you will enjoy.
Going To War
by Richard Shields Follow this reviewer
Rating 4 kitties
This show is worth considering if you want to see the book that inspires it come to life. Also, if you want to fill a time period or if you want to make your mind work a bit go to this one.
John Middleton has a stage presence that fits his assignment in this piece well, while the three ninjas offer us a combination of a little three stooges with a bit of action film star tossed in.
The show could use tweaking but if you want a piece that presents ideas to you go to this production.
Three ninjas and an emcee
by Don Shuler Follow this reviewer
Rating 4 kitties
Sun Tzu's Art of War comes to life as three ninjas explain the ins and outs of what a wise general will do in different scenarios. The lively action, the interwoven humor, and the fluid storytelling makes this a truly enjoyable evening.
PS. I loved the "You're Welcome" at the end of the show! So kind!
3 Ninjas almost 4 kitties
by dm engum Follow this reviewer
Rating 3 kitties
Similar to old school Disney Documentaries, I enjoyed this presentation quite a bit. If you simply don't find kicks to the groin funny though, avoid at all cost. I found it a bit monotonous, so one more mambo-styled intermission would have bumped me over into 4 kitty realm. Definitely worth seeing if you are in the mood for light comedy with a dash of politics.
Another Ninja Show!
by Ben Thietje Follow this reviewer
Rating 3 kitties
Maybe it was the 10pm time slot, but it got a little long.
War for Dummies
by Florence Brammer Follow this reviewer
Rating 4 kitties
So clever! Loved the Alistair Cookesque tuxedoed narrator; the sight gags (though some were repeated too often); and the good-natured but spot-on parallels between an ancient Chinese war manual and our own 2008 military policies and practices. It could have used a bit of editing as it became a bit tiresome in the last 15 minutes or so, but maybe that was just because it was my seventh show of the day!Definitely worth one of your Fringe hours.
5 and 3 make 4
by Nick n Rosie Heille Follow this reviewer
Rating 4 kitties
An energetic Ninja mime show with dialogue. The mimery was a strong 5 while the dialogue was a weak 3. On average, a 4 for the show. (Note: The reader of Sun Tzu was so energetic an audience member next to me fell sleep.)
A long war
by paulino brener Follow this reviewer
Rating 3 kitties
This is a long war...unlike other unnecessary current long wars "Sun Tzu's, The Art of War" is very funny. Even though the ninjas are very creative and funny the use of a "Reader" does get a little tiring. Luckily the Mambo scene comes to the rescue. I know we are all more enlightened now by hearing a true ancient text I think the show would have benefited by more adaptation and shorter scenes. But in any case is a show worth seeing!
Like "Masterpiece Theatre" with ninjas!
by Hazen Markoe Follow this reviewer
Rating 4 kitties
No Refunds Theatre once again tackles a literary classic in Chop-Sockey fashion with this rather wacky take on Sun Tzu's dry lessons in the Art of War. Narrated by John Middleton in all his tuxedoed glory, three rather off-the-wall ninjas illustrate Tzu's classic lectures, using everything from stuffed animals to silly hats in grand fashion. Despite the overall silliness, however, the script (most of which was actually taken from the book) brings up valid points that ring true with today's war-torn times. Overall, this is a hilarious show that basically just aims to entertain and succeeds in fine fashion. (Even the program is funny!) You may never look at ninjas in quite the same way again.
Chop Saki Theater!
by David Rust Follow this reviewer
Rating 4 kitties
So what if Sun Tzu was Chinese and the whole production is "narrated" by silent, Japanese Ninjas? It's incredibly funny and entertaining! I've heard about this show from friends, so my presence at their Sunday night appearance was a foregone conclusion. The neat thing is, I found it really fascinating as well as entertaining: the quotes from "The Art of War" (illustrated, expertly, by prat-fall Ninjas) were really educational and interesting.
The only thing keeping this from 5 kitties is, well, towards the final act, things slowed down a bit and kinda lost me. I still really enjoyed this and will recommend it to everyone, but there is a bit of a lull you should expect towards the end.
