Minnesota Fringe Festival

schedule

Show reviews by Rob Callahan

Axed! (The Rockstars' Remix)
Rockstars Doing What Rockstars Do Best by Rob Callahan
Rating: 5 kitties
Dave Mondy launches immediately into his cool, mellow and lyrical cadence as he recalls the story of two barely-pubescent bffs and their spelunkery into the dark depths of first true love, and the inherent misdirected angst that follows. Courtney McLean recalls with frantic ardor the tale of a young heroine pushed over the edge and off the grid as Thelma & Louise fist fight deep within her protagonist's psyche in a tale of love growing ever more paranoid until the brutal, bitter end. Her bright energy shrouds the hidden darkness within the story, covering it while it sneaks up on the audience and takes them by surprise. Rik Reppe juxtaposes the soft, sympathetic sensibilities of his story against his own quick, gritty style as he builds a world in which true happiness can be (and sometimes actually is) found, pulling the listeners in like a siren's song before dashing them hopelessly against the cold, jagged rocks of lost love. All three stories are pretty good on their own, but each reaches greater heights with support from the other two. Expect three drastically different stories, told by three very different voices, segmented and mixed together in the trademark style of the Rockstar Storytellers.

The Rise of General Arthur
Shocking and Awesome by Rob Callahan
Rating: 5 kitties
low's epic storytelling style is well-suited to the epic vision he portrays within his audience's hearts and minds. Against a Gulf War backdrop, the Arthurian legend is retold with modern language, themes and characters. Augmented by lighting, sound and costume, the narrator's pace and inflection drive the story ever onward with the force of its own Mythical heroes, reborn as G.I.s, questing across the desert sands. Surprisingly serious and true to its source. A well-done piece of storytelling.

Crescendo
One of the best I've seen by Rob Callahan
Rating: 5 kitties
Reboots classic Greek Mythology, interweaving the storyteller's take on Daedalus and Icarus with modern commentary and humorous, often touching autobiography. Beginning dramatically in complete darkness and ramping immediately up, Lingo's polished showmanship dances gracefully alongside the complex use of sound and lighting to transport the audience to her settings. A well-written and moving performance.

Tragedy of You
One of the best I've seen by Rob Callahan
Rating: 5 kitties
Sets the stage and tells the Shakespeare-inspired story of a fantasy world based on the life of a random audience member. Lampooning every trope in The Complete Works, Fringe Veteran Scrimshaw keeps the audience engaged and laughing as the tumultuous treachery and tragedy of [you]land unfold over five acts. Part Mad-Libs. Part Which Way Books. All entertainment.

A People's History of Love
Clever and Witty by Rob Callahan
Rating: 4 kitties
Follows the evolution of dating, commitment, devotion, breaking up and settling. This minimalist production brings the audience to the Stone Age, Civil War, Victorian Age, Golden Age, Present Day and the Dystopian Future surprisingly well despite of the lack of any costumes, sets or props. Plenty of laughs and some subtle, poignant moments as well.

The Frog Prince: A Splashy New Musical!
Best Show for the Kids by Rob Callahan
Rating: 4 kitties
An all-ages musical with a large, colorfully-clad ensemble cast. While aimed at children, the rampant cuteness and occasional Pixaresque joke for the grownups will entertain most parents as well.

The Tenth Muse
A Fun Show by Rob Callahan
Rating: 4 kitties
Tells eight stories with accompanying songs, within the larger story of a muse in training and a struggling singer/songwriter who work together at honing their talents. A funny, quirky and well-paced performance.

Drinking Stories
Comfortable and Engaging by Rob Callahan
Rating: 4 kitties
Delivers poems, puns and storytelling in an intimate atmosphere while Zalar mingles with and entertains the audience. This mature, fun production feels less like going to see a show than it does hanging out at the bar with your funniest, most charismatic friend.

Squawk
All Around Great Show by Rob Callahan
Rating: 4 kitties
A buddy story about two Army officers, one of whom happens to be a penguin. The small cast's playing it straight and the superb puppetry combine to bring the audience in to a world where the story and setting are almost believable. Liberally paced with subtle and not-so-subtle humor, and with understated parable-like commentary, the show sparks some thought as well as entertains.

Slow Jobs: Servicing America for $12 an Hour
Wonderful Storytelling by Rob Callahan
Rating: 4 kitties
Reminds those among us unhappy in our vocations just how much worse it could have been. Curt Lund and Laura Bidgood play off of each other's energy and wit as they share tales of office politics, romance, firings, quitings and the dream jobs for which the little kid in all of us still sometimes pines.

Habitat: A Documentary Theater Project
Not a Feel-Good Show by Rob Callahan
Rating: 4 kitties
Actors converse with lines scripted directly from the words of Duluth's homeless population and those involved with the issue. A somber, eye-opening experience that will appeal to those inclined toward social conscience.

A Cynic Tells Love Stories
Clever and Witty by Rob Callahan
Rating: 4 kitties
Pokes frustrated fun at the many ways in which the heart can break. Glover shares some universal dating phases with an appropriately-matched disposition and a personal story from her own past, summing up the ways in which the heart misleads the mind and body with such astuteness as, âMy emotions have such bad taste!â

Schrödinger's Cat Must Die!
Best Suspension of Disbelief by Rob Callahan
Rating: 4 kitties
Immerses the audience in Dr. Volt's Mad Scientist Training Program. Set and performed in an actual classroom at North Central University, this funny, educational and kid-friendly performance features washed-up villain Dr. Volt reminiscing over his glory days of cartoonish super-villainy while teaching physics and world domination. His Hyde-like clone pantomimes physics demonstrations in the style of Mr-Wizard-Meets-Harpo-Marx as the setting and character work together to make the audience forget that they're actually at a show, and not a seminar on mad scientistry.

My Sinking Ship
Sinking Ship? Try Rising Star. by Rob Callahan
Rating: 4 kitties
Broeren is silly and fun from the moment the lights go up. Pacing laugh-out-loud zingers, subtler chucklers and eyebrow-raisers between build-ups, she maintains the attention of her audience throughout the show, keeping them enthralled with her high level of energy and quickly-paced delivery. Odd, non sequitur interludes fill the gaps between stories of a pretty normal girl driven to the edge of sadistic indifference by the careless, self-destructive weirdos around her. Her straight-faced delivery of the occasional gross-out joke adds to the humor of it.

Thrower of Light
Impressive, but a little slow by Rob Callahan
Rating: 4 kitties
An hour of ballet, modern and interpretive dance set to some unusual musical choices. Dancers create or supplement the music using their own bodies and mouths as percussion. Peppered with a couple of upbeat, energetic numbers, most of this impressive athletic display seams to be meant for fans of the avant-garde.

Sodom, Gomorrah and Adam
Unmet Potential by Rob Callahan
Rating: 3 kitties
A musical revue reminiscent of Queen and other epic seventies rock acts, mixed with fun and poignant stories, most of which take a light-hearted look at the performer's past struggles with addiction. The music is good and the storytelling is enjoyable, but the production suffers from painful and abundant tech problems that diminish the overall experience.

The Nightmare Man
The Writing Was Lacking by Rob Callahan
Rating: 2 kitties
An edgy, albeit clumsy, script redeemed in part by the efforts of its actors; notably Matthew Kelley's audience engagement and Michael J. Sielaff's commanding, emotive expressions. The troupe have the chemistry to become future Fringe mainstays, if they can tighten up their writing.