Minnesota Fringe Festival

schedule

Show reviews by Dave Romm

Parry Hotter and the Half-Drunk Twins
"Who wants to do the Chosen One?" by Dave Romm
Rating: 5 kitties
Faithful adaptation, with enough changes to avoid legal hassles. Hysterically funny most of the time. Tom Reed is superb mugging his way through all the characters, ably assisted by Andrea Olson on keyboards. Read ALL the books first, or have major plot elements spoiled. A dash of Naughty Language should keep the small kids away, but pretty much any intelligent kid who has made it though the series will enjoy it as much as their parents. Really four and a half kitties, rounded up by magic. A Shockwave Radio Theater Review. Longer reviews with pictures at Baron Dave's LiveJournal and snarky comments on Facebook.

Jurassic Dork
"It's all a flea circus" by Dave Romm
Rating: 5 kitties
John Skelly recreates all the characters, all the dinosaurs and all the special effects from the movie based on the book. The first half of the show is little more than a recitation of the best lines and reminders of the best scenes: Lots of fun but just quoting. Then he takes a break, listens to his iPod, gets a pep talk from a professional actor, and really turns up the heat. Four and a half stars rounded up for a strong finish. A Shockwave Radio Theater Review. Longer reviews with pictures at Baron Dave's LiveJournal and snarky comments on Facebook.

Best Little Crackhouse in Philly (...or Crackwhore: The Musical!)
My favorite show at the Fringe (so far) by Dave Romm
Rating: 5 kitties
Okay, I can well understand why some don't like this show: It's offensive, perverted and disgusting, showing the downside of laissez faire capitalism. But the grime and the crime are all used to great effect. The marvelous singing and dancing are a bouncy counterpoint to the wretchedness of their lives. The plot spares no one. Heck, the necrophiliac is the closest thing to a hero. And the ending is just perfect. I was deeply affected. Some rough edges don't take away much: Out of 17 fringes I've seen so far, this is the only true Five Kitty show. A Shockwave Radio Theater Review. Longer reviews with pictures at Baron Dave's LiveJournal and snarky comments on Facebook.

The Traveling Musicians
Almost an opera by Dave Romm
Rating: 5 kitties
A terrific cast uses the Nomad Bar to perfection. The animals each have their own personality, and each are a little bad in their own way. The songs are all original, and the story of the animal band is brought to life through the music. You will be singing and clapping along. Beer and pizza available at the bar, too, just the thing for busy fringers with little time for dinner between shows. Another sassy musical gets a true five kitty rating. A Shockwave Radio Theater Review. Longer reviews with pictures at Baron Dave's LiveJournal and snarky comments on Facebook.

An Intimate Evening With Fotis Part III
"Life annoys me" by Dave Romm
Rating: 5 kitties
If you liked his previous shows, you'll love this one. As before, curmudgeon Fotis just sits there, reading, with a bass accompaniment, as if Mr. Wilson finally got so pissed at Dennis the Menace that he ran away to become a beat poet. He tells three stories, each funnier than the last. Each story rambles a bit, then winds up in a more comfortable space, like a nude hike down the Appalachian Trail winds up in Argentina. This year, he was even more intense. He stumbled over his words in his haste so really gets four and a half kitties, but I have to round this up to five in case I start writing like him. A Shockwave Radio Theater Review. Longer reviews with pictures at Baron Dave's LiveJournal and snarky comments on Facebook.

Death Camp Diaries
A personal journey by Dave Romm
Rating: 5 kitties
A self-described "devoutly agnostic secular Jew" discovers he's a member of the tribe whether he wants to be or not. He goes to places in Europe made infamous by the Nazi death camps to see for himself just how people could do that to each other. He has no answers, and has only slightly better questions. This show is not for everyone; if you've already made up your mind, in either direction, stay away. Remembering the evil of the Nazis is relevant to the evil being perpetrated today, and if you care you will remember too. This narrative is beyond ratings. I want to give it neither a zero nor a five, I just want it to be. For the sake of the Fringe website, I'm giving it five kitties, and feel I'm cheapening the experience. A Shockwave Radio Theater Review. Longer reviews with pictures at Baron Dave's LiveJournal and snarky comments on Facebook.

The Harty Boys in The Case of the Limping Platypus
"This is no time to act your age" by Dave Romm
Rating: 5 kitties
Supremely silly with lots of local references. The Harty Boys are a little more than a children's show, but not by much. The kids are important, the fourth wall smashed, the wrong lessons learned. Four and a half kitties rounded up for simultaneously hewing to the child detective genre and bending all the rules. Oh, and the platypus costume. A Shockwave Radio Theater Review. Longer reviews with pictures at Baron Dave's LiveJournal and snarky comments on Facebook.

Like a Virgin
A more effective bee by Dave Romm
Rating: 5 kitties
Jimmy Hogg is as frenetic as Craig Ferguson: bouncing around the stage, talking to imaginary people, interacting with the audience, swiping at moths. It seems his younger self didn't know quite how to deal with girls, and he revels in embarrassing stories. Judging by the high pitch of the giggles, the women found it funnier than the men. And we found it pretty funny. Four and a half stars rounded up for filling the hour at a 10 o'clock show. A Shockwave Radio Theater Review. Longer reviews with pictures at Baron Dave's LiveJournal and snarky comments on Facebook.

Untitled Duet with Houseplant
Ignoring the fourth wall by Dave Romm
Rating: 5 kitties
Some performers break down the fourth wall. Noah Bremer just ignores it. Or goes under it. Or lets Tom Jones take a thwack. Or something. Untitled Duet is a masterwork by a Fringe favorite. Four and a half kitties rounded up for sheer inventiveness. A Shockwave Radio Theater Review. Longer reviews with pictures at Baron Dave's LiveJournal and snarky comments on Facebook.

Sideways Stories from Wayside School
"Do your homework" by Dave Romm
Rating: 5 kitties
Hilarious, silly, scary, touching and whimsical all in one package. The acting and stagecraft are flawless. The story of the 30th floor of the Wayside School touch adults and kids on different levels. Whether a synchronized *gasp* or being turned into an apple, the kids' comedic timing will have you in stitches. The adults are in charge of this strange world, and not always on the side of the kids. A Shockwave Radio Theater Review. Longer reviews with pictures at Baron Dave's LiveJournal and snarky comments on Facebook.

Was my brother in the battle? SONGS OF WAR
A strong voice and a strong narrative by Dave Romm
Rating: 5 kitties
I can only hear "And the Band Played Waltzing Matilda" so many times a year. David Gompper and Steven Swanson do powerful versions of anti-war songs originally conceived in anger at the remarkably poor media coverage of Operation Iraqi Freedom. They will never be on Fox or CNN. A few brave musicians cover Tom Lehrer; fewer are brave enough to cover Charles Ives or Flanders and Swann. I look forward to listening to the CD... after a time. A Shockwave Radio Theater Review. Longer reviews with pictures at Baron Dave's LiveJournal and snarky comments on Facebook.

Crescendo
Weaving a story by Dave Romm
Rating: 5 kitties
Allega Lingo takes the dog for a walk, reflecting on life, Daedalus and her writing career, with Aaron Copeland providing the music. She is an expert at weaving the threads of her narrative into one story, and the emotion and humor emerge unforced. A terrific, brave, performance. Four and a half stars rounded up for hitting all her music cues on the money. A Shockwave Radio Theater Review. Longer reviews with pictures at Baron Dave's LiveJournal and snarky comments on Facebook.

The Morning After the Summer of Love
Controlled cacophony by Dave Romm
Rating: 5 kitties
The lilt of Irish poetry combines with bongo rhythms in this examination of the peace movement and the civil rights movement then and now. A dash of audience sing-a-long spices up the show. Four and a half kitties, rounded up for the CD and to encourage them to come back to the Minnesota Fringe. A Shockwave Radio Theater Review. Longer reviews with pictures at Baron Dave's LiveJournal and snarky comments on Facebook.

AfterLife
Three connected stories by Dave Romm
Rating: 4 kitties
Candy Simmons effortlessly puts on three characters to tell their interesting stories from the first person. Each story stands on its own, and together they form a strong narrative. A Shockwave Radio Theater Review. Longer reviews with pictures at Baron Dave's LiveJournal and snarky comments on Facebook.

Bard Fiction
Kill Playbill by Dave Romm
Rating: 4 kitties
Too many years have passed for me to catch all of the Pulp Fiction references, but I retained enough to follow along. Even if you haven't seen the movie, much works. A clever idea well handled. A Shockwave Radio Theater Review. Longer reviews with pictures at Baron Dave's LiveJournal and snarky comments on Facebook.

Tech Support: The musical
We can relate by Dave Romm
Rating: 4 kitties
The plot is slight but the laughs are genuine. We can relate. The story has more to do with customer service (or lack thereof) than tech support and a Google search would have cleared up most of the miscommunication, but hey. What really makes the show is the singing. Every vocalist is great, the ensemble singing is exceptional, and the counterpoint songs are wonderful. A Shockwave Radio Theater Review. Longer reviews with pictures at Baron Dave's LiveJournal and snarky comments on Facebook.

The Red Tureen
Starving Irish can still sing by Dave Romm
Rating: 4 kitties
Marvelous ensemble singing transcends a thin story. The reality behind the Irish Potato Famine, and English complicity in starving out the locals, is complex and feels stuffed into the Fringe hour. The actors range from good to very good and the singing ranges from very good to great. Four and a half stars rounded down due to sound problems. A Shockwave Radio Theater Review. Longer reviews with pictures at Baron Dave's LiveJournal and snarky comments on Facebook.

Animal Cracker Genocide
"... severe penalties if you're late." by Dave Romm
Rating: 4 kitties
Of the Rockstar Storytellers, Ben San Del is the best stand up comedian. He draws you into his world until he becomes part of the audience. The material jibes perfectly with his timing and delivery. He's comfortable within his own skin, and you get to share the best parts. A Shockwave Radio Theater Review. Longer reviews with pictures at Baron Dave's LiveJournal and snarky comments on Facebook.

Pipa
Boneless by Dave Romm
Rating: 4 kitties
Tamara Ober isn't so much a dancer as a contortionist. She moves her body in and around the minimal set in ways you have to see to believe. The story is serious but slight: A girl with no sense of direction gets lost. She wriggles through to an emotional finale. Four and a half kitties reluctantly rounded down. A Shockwave Radio Theater Review. Longer reviews with pictures at Baron Dave's LiveJournal and snarky comments on Facebook.

The Twisted Grin-Assorted Tales to Amuse and Alarm
Wish Evaporation by Dave Romm
Rating: 4 kitties
I suspect your enjoyment of this show will depend on how much you sync with Barthelme's sense of humor. I'm not really a big fan, but the actors gave the stories life, and by the end I was caught up in his askew world. The artwork and characterizations round this up to four kitties. A Shockwave Radio Theater Review. Longer reviews with pictures at Baron Dave's LiveJournal and snarky comments on Facebook.

This Show Will Change Your Life!
"Life Lessons In 50 Minutes" by Dave Romm
Rating: 4 kitties
Two years ago, a similar theme was presented in "The Opportunity". This year, the message has been honed down to the comedic nub: Motivational speakers that make too much sense. Very funny, though the audience interaction doesn't quite work. They had me at Bess... Four and a half kitties rounded down for a weak ending. A Shockwave Radio Theater Review. Longer reviews with pictures at Baron Dave's LiveJournal and snarky comments on Facebook.

Re:Trace
Places you don't normally think about by Dave Romm
Rating: 4 kitties
Very fringy and highly recommended. Six women wordlessly explore several levels of converted warehouse space. They writhe on the floor, climb walls, create shadows, run though the crowd. All viewpoints are unique. Precisely what they're doing and why is never explained, but you won't look at office space in quite the same way again. A Shockwave Radio Theater Review. Longer reviews with pictures at Baron Dave's LiveJournal and snarky comments on Facebook.

Where Egos Dare: The Musical!
Shakespeare Rehearsal: The Musical by Dave Romm
Rating: 4 kitties
Alumni and campers join together and strut their stuff. Everyone wants to be the star, and everyone goes off-script to show how talented they are. Breaking into inappropriate songs at appropriate moments is hard to get right, and this show does very well, though the songs are often just a line or two. The actors draw their characters well. The singing is fabulous. Lots of ego trips, though there isn't enough time to really develop all six storylines. Still, I don't think I'll ever watch the death scene from Romeo and Juliet in quite the same way ever again. A Shockwave Radio Theater Review. Longer reviews with pictures at Baron Dave's LiveJournal and snarky comments on Facebook.

Storm Still
Probably brilliant by Dave Romm
Rating: 4 kitties
As is often the case with the Nonsense Company, understanding is less important than letting the sound and images wash over you. Ignore the description. It's sort of about King Lear or about the play King Lear or about people playing characters in the play King Lear. Among other things. More choreographed than acted, the sound and lighting design is integral to the plot. If there is a plot. Perhaps they are communicating with their communication skills. Perhaps whatever is going wrong can be cured by hydrotherapy. The unique venue both adds and subtracts from the experience. Steel yourself for a long show at the end of a long evening. A Shockwave Radio Theater Review. Longer reviews with pictures at Baron Dave's LiveJournal and snarky comments on Facebook.

Alice Unwrapped
One woman aria by Dave Romm
Rating: 4 kitties
Alice is the 15-year-old child of a soldier MIA and a mother who's losing it. She's a rebel, wearing combat clothes despite the ostracizing in school and the admonishment of her 8-year-old sister. A one-woman show sung as much as spoken by Jill Anna Ponasik, accompanied on piano by Michael Pierce Donley, the performance is affecting and feels real. When she complains of helmet hair or her sister wails, "I want a normal family", the lot of our fighting forces comes home. Only 35 minutes long, it still deserves four kitties. A Shockwave Radio Theater Review. Longer reviews with pictures at Baron Dave's LiveJournal and snarky comments on Facebook.

Comedy of Errors
Shakespeare. Outside. Bedlam. by Dave Romm
Rating: 4 kitties
What more do you need to know? Good costume design helps us keep track of the characters. A Shockwave Radio Theater Review. Longer reviews with pictures at Baron Dave's LiveJournal and snarky comments on Facebook.

Squawk
"SEALS ate his mother." by Dave Romm
Rating: 4 kitties
Pleasantly absurd story of a penguin who wants to rise in the military and doesn't let anything get in his way. A fine cast and some great puppeteering. Needs tweaking: You really mean ANTarctic circle. A Shockwave Radio Theater Review. Longer reviews with pictures at Baron Dave's LiveJournal and snarky comments on Facebook.

Comedy Go!
"Allow me to remain an enigma to you" by Dave Romm
Rating: 4 kitties
I saw this right after "Death Camp Diaries", and it made me laugh anyway. Improv is always a bit uneven but Ferris McSpeedy and a female guest star did pretty well. They took one suggestion from the audience and then rattled on for fifty minutes, nonstop. Three and a half kitties, rounded up for never letting it sag for long. A Shockwave Radio Theater Review. Longer reviews with pictures at Baron Dave's LiveJournal and snarky comments on Facebook.

Holding Patterns
Fluidity of motion by Dave Romm
Rating: 4 kitties
I didn't understand much of what the dancing was trying to say, but even the parts I didn't get were gorgeous. The more obvious (to me) messages were well constructed. The two main dancers from Milwaukee were joined by a third local dancer, and all were graceful and fluid in movement.. A Shockwave Radio Theater Review. Longer reviews with pictures at Baron Dave's LiveJournal and snarky comments on Facebook.

casebolt and smith: Speaking Out!
Too many pauses by Dave Romm
Rating: 3 kitties
Three great pas de deux, all of which expand the vocabulary of dance, in a clunky presentation. The dancing is superb, and I'd normally round this up to four stars, but missed cues and long waits in the dark took their toll. A Shockwave Radio Theater Review. Longer reviews with pictures at Baron Dave's LiveJournal and snarky comments on Facebook.

Dream Time Down Under
"Fresh off the Roo bar" by Dave Romm
Rating: 3 kitties
Interesting stories about looking for gold in the Australian outback and the friends he makes, and what happens to some of them. The guitar songs were okay, but I would have liked more didgeridoo. A Shockwave Radio Theater Review. Longer reviews with pictures at Baron Dave's LiveJournal and snarky comments on Facebook.

Your Lithopedion
"I love 80s rock" by Dave Romm
Rating: 3 kitties
Ann Landers said something like, "relationships are made in heaven when the rocks in his head match the holes in her head." In this case, the rocks are really rocks, and the calcified baby that is the title character (look it up) is a serial killer and his wife is alternately a harpy and an enabler. Some clever bits of stagecraft and good acting don't really help the script, which is interesting but doesn't go anywhere. In many respects, this is the counterpoint to the Fringe show June of Arc, but that's a different discussion.. A Shockwave Radio Theater Review. Longer reviews with pictures at Baron Dave's LiveJournal and snarky comments on Facebook.

Citation Needed
Women to watch by Dave Romm
Rating: 3 kitties
Uneven but fun, proving once again that the Fringe is the recreation of vaudeville: A place young performers go to hone their craft. Mary Cait and Lisa invent some really clever skits (and a few so-so ones) around the concept of improvable Wikipedia factoids, all without any props. The two have much talent, and I hope they're around for next year. Three and a half kitties rounded down for a 35 minute show. A Shockwave Radio Theater Review. Longer reviews with pictures at Baron Dave's LiveJournal and snarky comments on Facebook.

Rumspringa the Musical
Amish electricity is 1337 by Dave Romm
Rating: 3 kitties
Geeky musical that mostly respects the Amish (but not entirely) and mostly respects the conventions of science fiction (but not entirely). A fun little show that's in exactly the right space. Three and a half kitties rounded down for mediocre singing and acting by some in the cast. A Shockwave Radio Theater Review. Longer reviews with pictures at Baron Dave's LiveJournal and snarky comments on Facebook.

Seasons in the Sun
Love is a dish best served cold by Dave Romm
Rating: 3 kitties
I've never been a fan of Rod McKuen's poetry, but I've always liked his song lyrics, especially the translations of Jacque Brel. The show never mentions any names, but follows the journey of one lonely man who sings about and with his lost loves. Unfortunately, he doesn't quite have the chops necessary to carry the songs. Fortunately, she does. While much of the performance was affecting, they massacre "If You Go Away" and and don't quite understand that "Seasons In The Sun" is a solo paean. A Shockwave Radio Theater Review. Longer reviews with pictures at Baron Dave's LiveJournal and snarky comments on Facebook.

My Sinking Ship
Stories of vengeance by Dave Romm
Rating: 3 kitties
The autobiographical stories were fun: She spent time on two continents and experienced leftover sex detritus, scuba diving, bats, sharks and more. Sometimes, the show seemed like an excuse to tell old stories, and I've seen her tell these better. Good stuff but uneven. A Shockwave Radio Theater Review. Longer reviews with pictures at Baron Dave's LiveJournal and snarky comments on Facebook.

Livelihood
Went on for too long by Dave Romm
Rating: 3 kitties
Monty Python did this sketch in five minutes. The two actors are terrific and sustain a slight idea for a long time, but alas the material starts to get old about halfway through. Great attempt and much is very funny, but neither the characters nor the writing rise above the original premise. A Shockwave Radio Theater Review. Longer reviews with pictures at Baron Dave's LiveJournal and snarky comments on Facebook.

June of Arc
Pseudo-feminism doesn't work by Dave Romm
Rating: 2 kitties
An attempt to bring June Cleaver to life by exploring her days before marrying Ward and having her tv family. The recreation of 50s tv commercials were the best part, but there was little attempt to connect the whitebread facade of the era with the dark inner workings of a repressed housewife. June is complicit in her sitcom life, and no stressor is presented to break her. Some good ideas aren't fully realized in the 35 minute show. A Shockwave Radio Theater Review. Longer reviews with pictures at Baron Dave's LiveJournal and snarky comments on Facebook.

Mansion of Dust
Good opening, poor follow through by Dave Romm
Rating: 2 kitties
The first few minutes are fun, as two dusters with outrageous accents challenge each other and then duel with dusters and mops. But the rest of the show doesn't go anywhere. I expect a lot from a Scrimshaw show, and this didn't deliver, alas. A Shockwave Radio Theater Review. Longer reviews with pictures at Baron Dave's LiveJournal and snarky comments on Facebook.

The Actor's Nightmare
Why we do improv by Dave Romm
Rating: 2 kitties
The show was written nearly thirty years ago. It doesn't feel dated, but it does creak. Someone -- we never find out who -- is put in a position where they should know their lines and don't. Pretty embarrassing, but almost any actor who has any improv training would rise to the job better than this guy. As a writer/actor I felt his pain, but laughs were few and forced. The cast is okay, the writing is literate but doesn't coalesce into a play. Two and a half kitties rounded down for a forty minute show. A Shockwave Radio Theater Review. Longer reviews with pictures at Baron Dave's LiveJournal and snarky comments on Facebook.

The man who turned into a dog/Poet in New York
"Bow wow wow" by Dave Romm
Rating: 1 kitty
Slow moving and very short -- 30 minutes. Some good material and okay acting don't make up for the a script that doesn't go anywhere. A Shockwave Radio Theater Review. Longer reviews with pictures at Baron Dave's LiveJournal and snarky comments on Facebook.