Minnesota Fringe Festival

schedule

Show reviews by M. L. Hedgmon

In Another's Size
I loved it! by M. L. Hedgmon
Rating: 5 kitties
It was a coincidence that I saw I two productions by teens in one night. Sometimes, the universe has a strange sense of humor. I walked into the show resigned but not committed to it and left thinking that the show topped my list of Fringe Faves so far. The acting by the students amazing. The difficulty of playing dual roles, keeping enough of the individual elements that even without costume changes you know who was who the whole time, was handled superbly. Kelly's character of the lunch lady as narrator, music teacher, biology teacher, and coach was excellent. This show appealed to all ages because I heard the little girl in front of me laughing and she couldn't have been more than 4 years old.

Two Bowls of Cereal and Some Bacon
Amazing by M. L. Hedgmon
Rating: 5 kitties
I saw the youtube preview and immediately knew this was a not-to-be-missed show. Each short vignette was woven into the next, seamlessly knitting together different places and times but all connected. Mahmoud's use of the whole space made the transition from one story to the next so clear. He had the ability to make you believe that a metal chair was so much more, that it could be a bull or an NES. This show topped my list of best-of-fringe and I would go see it again if he ever chose to revive it in the future.

Bard Fiction
AWESOME!!! by M. L. Hedgmon
Rating: 5 kitties
You have to see this show! The place was packed and the energy was high. What I loved was that the actors played this piece seriously, though there were so many funny lines.

Food Shelf Follies
Moved Beyond Words by M. L. Hedgmon
Rating: 4 kitties
From the first strains of violin music to the last thud of canned food, I was hooked. The story of Lane's journey was one that I wish I could convey to my students in as eloquent a way as he did. The assumption that people on welfare are not 'working' as hard as others is a gross misconception and just highlights how ingrained the bootstrap myth is in our culture. I think this piece handled it with a strength and grace that many with they had. The music and juggling were these interludes that never took away from the denseness of the spoken words. They added a moment of levity that only enhanced the words that followed, offering an emotional respite that created a space to be filled. The show balanced laughter, tears and information and I came away thinking of ways I could help.

Slow Jobs: Servicing America for $12 an Hour
Laughter is the best medicine by M. L. Hedgmon
Rating: 4 kitties
I left this show feeling good even though I had to go to work later that night. I laughed at the strange turn of events that put the characters in the jobs they have. The actors were engaging and the material was something that many could relate to. We all wish there were moments when we could stand on a chair and hold up a sign, yelling "Union" at the top of our lungs. One of the highlights of the show was the tornado warning alarm that went off. The actors didn't miss a beat and even commented on it humourously. I'm glad they got into the Encore show. If you wanted to see it, here's your chance.

A Cynic Tells Love Stories
It was like watching my younger self by M. L. Hedgmon
Rating: 4 kitties
On the subject matter: It's funny how the same mistakes of love and loving and the ups and downs of exploration and revelations when it comes to matters of the heart, never seem to change. Glover captured the essence if not the details of the many common pitfalls individuals experience when falling in and out of love. I laughed and misted over as her poignant style brought me into her story even as my own stories surfaced. I saw this show on the second day and though there were rough spots I thought the hesitations and stumbles made it more genuine. I would highly recommend this show with two major considerations: 1) Don't go see this with the person you thought you were over being in love with, even though it's been months and you both are trying to be friends. You might find the bitter taste in your mouth overwhelms your ability to make pleasant conversation afterwards. 2)Don't call or text your ex and suggest they see the show, because any ulterior motives become blatantly obvious within the first 20 minutes.

Cigarettes for Jesus
Can I get an Amen! by M. L. Hedgmon
Rating: 4 kitties
This show made staying awake for 24 hours worth it. From the unrehearsed 'Amen' at the beginning to the respectful, palms up and heads bowed reception of our tiny boxes of candy cigs, "Cigarettes for Jesus" was a good time. Actor Ann Rice was the stand out role in this show, and not just because she was the calm, sane, and less than creepy voice of reason but because she made the fervently religious make some sense. Her character had a subtle gender critique of organized religion and poked fun at its fundamentalist self. The smooth delivery of lines and the exaggerated body movements by Breisemeisster's David conveyed that kind of tongue in cheek, mocking tone that is often present when one pokes fun at fundamentalists. If my interest and time was a tithe amount I would give about 20%.

Thank You and Have a Nice Day
Good Dancing by M. L. Hedgmon
Rating: 1 kitty
The highlight of the show was the interaction between the dancing customers and the speaking staff. The rest of the show was painful. The premise was a good one, but the delivery left much to be desired. The lines were stumbled over and for the most part it was hard to hear or follow what the characters were saying, let alone how it all fit together as a satire. It wasn't clear who the protagonists were or what the issues addressed were beyond the very broad umbrella of homosexuality. There were strong lines delivered by a number of characters but it seemed so out of context that I think the powerful impact they could have had was lost. For example, Alyssa who states that she's one of the few white people working there was an important point but because no context was established that highlighted the how race was present in the store made it seem out of place. Jackson's line about how he thinks he might be gay, would have made a larger impact if it had been clearer that he was playing the 'role' of straight guy though everyone else could see he wasn't. I liked the dancing but everything else left me unmoved.