Minnesota Fringe Festival

schedule

Show reviews by Katie Knutson

Slow Jobs: Servicing America for $12 an Hour
Their best show yet! by Katie Knutson
Rating: 5 kitties
If you have liked the dynamic duo of Curt and Laura in the past, you will LOVE this show! They take their usual intelligent, awkward, hilarious style and mix in some theatricality that brings whole new levels to their stories. In short: two very talented and funny individuals telling some awesome stories. A must-see!

My Sinking Ship
An incredible storyteller! by Katie Knutson
Rating: 5 kitties
Allison is a very talented writer and performer. The stories are well-told, with a lot of humor. Definitely see this show, especially if you haven't seen Allison perform much in the last year! If you have seen her perform, you will probably hear some of the same stuff again, but listen for the subtle changes that will keep you on your toes. I had heard most (if not all) of the pieces, but still enjoyed myself - the sign of a great performance. Also, huge props go out to Marlow, who made two great appearances on stage! The transitions are very contrived and obvious ways to attempt a bridge between the pieces she wanted to include in the show, but when she embraces that, it adds to her charm. Example: "Hmmmm... I wonder what's in this raft... oh look! A music stand!"

A Cynic Tells Love Stories
Phenomenal! by Katie Knutson
Rating: 5 kitties
Wow! I have always enjoyed Katherine as a performer. (She always bounces on to stage, letting us all know how excited she is to be performing.) But I was blown away by this show! It is easy to be swept away by Katherine's stories of love, like, sex, commitment, and so much more told in a genuine and vulnerable way. I spent a few moments wondering how all of these random stories tied together, and then she would start another story, and I would forget what I was thinking. She did things that truly talented storytellers do - she brought us up and down, to the dark and light, and left us all in a good place. And when you're in a great story like that, you can't help but see the mirror to your own life. Katherine has grown so much as a storyteller - this show is on-par with Nancy Donoval (who is arguably one of the best storytellers in the Twin Cities). I cannot recommend this show enough! See it! See it! See it!

Pathos, Punchlines & Painkillers
A truly gifted storyteller by Katie Knutson
Rating: 5 kitties
This show is well-crafted, combining poetry and story, humor and heartache, and a lot of love. I cried tears of sadness and of joy. I don't want to give too much away, because this show really will surprise you... Chris does a great job of relating to the audience, letting us know that, yes, this does sound crazy, but we still decided to try it anyway... Beware the word "not." He will take you on an emotional rollercoaster, but there are times when he sets up an ideal world, and then says "NOT," and tells what really happened. I stopped trusting him when something good happened because I was waiting for the "not." When you see it (and you should be lining up to see it), try to forgive this and trust him, because it's worth it. This is an excellent show - one of the best of this year's Fringe!

Two Bowls of Cereal and Some Bacon
Well told! by Katie Knutson
Rating: 5 kitties
I didn't know what to expect going into this show. Mahmoud and I worked together years ago at a children's theater company, but I had never seen anything he had written or performed alone. I was pleasantly surprised! This show was well-crafted and told. Mahmoud deals with some really difficult subjects without making it sound like a therapy session. Well done, friend!