Ash Land was selected as a "Keeper" by the Star Tribune, is one of "Ten Solid Bets" on MPR's State of the Arts blog, and is a Show to be Excited About on TCDailyPlanet!

The creators of Fringe hits Red Resurrected (2011 - Winner of the Encore slot) and Ballad of the Pale Fisherman (2010) are back with an innovative imagining of the Cinderella story.

Using their signature style of physical storytelling, this gifted ensemble breathes life into the arid landscape of the Dust Bowl.  Inspired by economic hardships past and present and scored by old American spirituals and new compositions on slide guitar, Ash Land is a story of love and self, lost and found.

Transatlantic Love Affair specializes in imaginative, movement-based, and collaboratively created theatrical storytelling.  Ash Land will feature core members Isabel Nelson, Allison Witham, Adelin Phelps, Derek Lee Miller, Willie Gambucci, and Heather Bunch, as well as actor/singer Peytie McCandless, LeCoq-trained performer Eric Nelson, and musician/slide guitarist Harper Zwicky.

Praise for Ballad of the Pale Fisherman:

Winner of Outstanding Production, Outstanding Direction, and Outstanding Female Performance (Anna Reichert) on FringeFamous.com!

"Director Isabel Nelson and a fine ensemble give this haunting tale a lyrical, almost balletic retelling that rarely takes a false step." -Lisa Brock, Star Tribune

"...offers something that few other local theater companies dare to put on stage: no-frills storytelling that relies purely on the skill of the company’s actors to create a visible world on an empty stage." -Sophie Kerman, AisleSay Twin Cities

Praise for Red Resurrected:

Voted Outstanding Production, Outstanding Direction (Isabel Nelson), Outstanding Female Performance (Adelin Phelps), and Outstanding Male Performance (Derek Lee Miller) on FringeFamous.com!

"This extraordinary show establishes Nelson as one of the Twin Cities' most exciting up-and-coming artists to watch."--Jay Gabler of Vita.mn

Cast + crew

Diogo Lopes
Role: Director
Diogo Lopes studied at the Academia Contemporânea do Espectáculo in Porto, Portugal, and at LISPA (London International School of Performing Arts). He has been performing, devising, teaching, and directing Physical Theatre and Clown since 2001 in Portugal, Spain, France, UK and USA. In the Twin Cities he has performed with Live Action Set’s “The Happy Show”, for the Minnesota Fringe Festival with “The Ballad of the Pale Fisherman” and "Red Resurrected", the Children’s Theatre Company’s production of “Babe”, “The King Is Dead” directed by Jon Ferguson, and Theatre Novi Most's "Picnic on the Battlefield". He’s interested in finding a pure theatrical language through the discovery and implementation of the Clown state, where playfulness is paramount. Along with Isabel Nelson, he is a co-artistic director of Transatlantic Love Affair.

Isabel Nelson
Role: Ensemble/Mary Stone
Isabel Nelson is a performer, director, and theatre creator in the Twin Cities. She received her B.A. from Macalester College in Theatre and Religious Studies, and a certificate in Creating Theatre at the Lecoq-based London International School for Performing Arts (LISPA), where she completed both the Initiation and the Advanced Courses. As co-artistic director of Transatlantic Love Affair, she also conceived and directed Ballad of the Pale Fisherman and Red Resurrected. Her directing credits include work with Black Dirt Theater and Macalester College. As a performer, she has worked with Live Action Set, Jon Ferguson Theatre, and Four Humors, among others.

Isabel is thrilled to be treading the boards with the ensemble in Ash Land, and is ever grateful to her family, friends, and this incredible artistic community for all the inspiration and support they provide.

Adelin Phelps
Role: Ensemble/Ellie Stone
Adelin Phelps is elated to be involved with the Minnesota Fringe Festival again this year! She is honored to be performing with such a terrific ensemble, and to be a founding and corps member of Transatlantic Love Affair for a third year. Graduating from Coe College three years ago, with a B.A. in Theatre, Adelin has done work with the Minnesota Shakespeare Company, the Brazen Theatre, the Workhouse Theatre, the American Shakespeare Repertory Theatre, Jon Ferguson Theatre, Freshwater Theatre, and Walking Shadow Theatre. This Fall she will be performing Cordelia in Park Square's production of King Lear. She’d like to thank the cast, the amazing Fringe folks and her loved ones. And to Diogo Lopes and Isabel Nelson, thank you for everything.

Allison Witham
Role: Ensemble/Mr. Olson/Dynamite Salesman
Allison Witham is a local Twin Cities performer, author, teacher, and deviser. When not in the rehearsal room, Allison teaches high school English and Reading for Intermediate District 287 in alternative learning settings. Originally from a suburb of Chicago, she ventured up to MN for the U of M where she received BAs in English lit. and theatre arts and a MEd. in English education. Allison is a core and founding member of both Transatlantic Love Affair and Theatre Forever, sits on the board of Theatre Novi Most, and is a collaborator with the various factions of 1419. Additionally, Allison has been honored to have worked with Black Label Movement, Live Action Set, Jon Ferguson Theater, and Freshwater Theatre. Most recently, Allison's piece, "Elegant Carnage" was published in Freshwater Theatre's Dirty Girls Come Clean anthology, which is currently available on Amazon, and will be appearing with Transatlantic in Ballad of the Pale Fisherman at the Jon Hassler Theater next.

Derek Lee Miller
Role: Ensemble/John Stone
Derek is an actor, puppeteer, designer, writer and musician who earned a BFA in acting and technical theatre at Millikin University in Decatur, IL. During his time there, he founded the Last Chance Theatre, an underground experimental black box space and was awarded the school’s McNabb Prize for Outstanding Contribution to Theater.

Since then, Derek has toured nationally as a puppeteer for Madcap Puppets in Cincinnati, OH and regionally as an actor/educator for Twin Cities companies National Theatre for Children and Teatro del Pueblo. He was awarded two residencies at Yaddo Artists Colony in Saratoga Springs, NY for playwriting and was voted Best Male Performer of the 2011 Minnesota Fringe for his role in Red Resurrected. He was last on stage as a puppeteer in the Chinese shadow play There's Nothing to Tell.

Derek is a member of Sandbox Theatre, where he most recently served as Project Lead for The Mad Trapper of Rat River. Upcoming projects include playing Jack Kerouac in Sandbox's Beatnik Giselle in October, 2012 and a remount of Transatlantic Love Affair's Ballad of the Pale Fisherman at the Jon Hassler Theater in September.

Eric Nelson
Role: Ensemble/William Craine
It occurs to Eric that his Fringe debut was in another variation on the Cinderella story (Keane Sense of Rhythm's "If the Shoe Fits" (2010)). He trained at the London International School of Performing Arts and has worked with Black Dirt Theater, Pauper's Theater, In the Heart of the Beast Puppet and Mask Theater, and playwright Kristine Holmgren. Now he's very happy to be working with Isabel, Diogo, and friends in Transatlantic Love Affair. Eric is very proud of his family—and expresses his thanks to his partner Robin for giving up so many evenings together so he could spend this time in Ash Land.

Harper Zwicky
Role: Musician
Harper last shared the stage with Isabel Nelson in the seventh grade, in a devised play about "Gender Issues" set to Lesley Gore's Greatest Hits. They've come a long way since then.

Heather Bunch
Role: Ensemble/Abigail Stone
This is Heather's third show with Transatlantic Love Affair, and she is very honored to be a member of this ensemble. A native of North Texas, Heather immigrated to Minnesota in 2001 to receive her degree in theatre from Macalester College. After working in the Twin Cities theatre community for several years as an actor, teacher, technician, and musician, she moved to London, where she studied and graduated from the London International School of Performing Arts. Her Twin Cities credits include Interact, The Illusion Theatre, Stages Theatre Company, Off-Leash Area, and Frank Theatre. Heather is grateful to be creating and producing work in the abundant theatre scene of the Twin Cities.

Peytie McCandless
Role: Ensemble/Ms. Walker
Peytie McCandless recently graduated from Macalester College with a B.A. in Theater and Music. While there she performed in 12 Ophelias, Cabaret, Marat/Sade, and Threepenny Opera. Outside of Macalester she worked with director Rachel Perlmeter on The Dvorak Project and all three parts of The Ballets Russes Project. Peytie works with youth and children at Ashland Productions as a coach for their youth leadership team, and as a director in their A.C.T. program and summer camps. She is absolutely thrilled to be collaborating with the amazing artists in Transatlantic Love Affair for this year’s Fringe Festival. She would like to thank the cast for being so welcoming and inspiring, and her family for their constant love and support.

Willie Gambucci
Role: Ensemble/James Craine
Willie is proud to be making his third appearance at the MN Fringe with the Transatlantic Love Affair. He graduated from Macalester College this spring with a minor in Theatre, and has appeared in Mac productions of 'Tartuffe', 'Accidental Death of an Anarchist', 'Cabaret', and '12 Ophelias'.

Write a review

You will be able to write a review for this show during the festival.

User reviews

Encore! Encore!
by Helene Phelps
Rating 5 stars
So pleased that the public supports this amazing group of talented actors!
Transatlantic Love Affair embodies the wholeness of the human condition. They tell us stories that are universal, lovely, and deeply felt. They offer simple integrity and truth. And I can't wait to see what they do next! Bravo TALA! Bravo....

Best show in the Fringe this year
by Greg Abbott
Rating 5 stars
Everything works with this show. It really deserves all the attention and raves.

Unique but...
by Rochelle Eastman
Rating 3 stars
After hearing all the buzz I chose this for my last show Sunday. Obviously I am in the minority here but it didn't grab me. It was interesting, well staged, well performed, but the script seemed a little thin and it just wasn't my kind of show. Although I could appreciate the dance like movements, the people as props trick that was initially intriguing, later felt like a game of charades. "Oh look, he was a pig, now he is a door..." The actors were wonderful, and I appreciated the political "win-win" commentary, but I was expecting much more.

Haunting, lovely, fluid motion
by Lesli Randall
Rating 5 stars
Quite frankly the best thing I saw at Fringe this year. Beautiful in spirit and execution, it was the magic one lone musician made with a single instrument that took my breath away--truly the heartbeat of the performance.

The Ensemble brought heart and soul to Ash Land's people. Within ten minutes I fell in love with a family and a way of life I've never known, all by merely observing fluid motion transformed into cattle, a porch swing, a water pump, and a field of grain.

Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Simply Lovely - Again
by Ell Phelps
Rating 5 stars
We loved Ashland as we have loved the other fringe entries of this remarkable ensemble. Ballad of the Pale Fisherman, Red Resurrected, and now Ashland were all beautifully conceived, creatively developed, and wonderfully performed by this talented group of actors and musicians. As the other reviews so clearly acknowledge; this is really lovely theatre.

Cry count? Three.
by Dwayna Paplow
Rating 5 stars
An intensely-human take on Cinderella. The Dust Bowl comes to life through subtle live music and a versatile ensemble of actors. Unlike many other shows, there are no scene changes in this show. The scene changes are the scenery. Movement, vocals, and imagination trump stage clutter and plot-stopping black-outs. The story blends the hardship of life on the Dust Bowl, the pain of watching both your land and family disintegrate before your eyes, and the realization that hope may be lost, but it also returns and reblooms. Hard to describe but wonderful to experience. (Don't forget to turn off your cellphone, or you'll break the spell.)

Beautiful Vision
by ian felton
Rating 5 stars
and well-performed.

The best
by Marcus Downs
Rating 5 stars
Yep. Best show I saw this year. Kudos to Diogo and his cast.

All together
by Peter Erickson
Rating 5 stars
Drama, mime, art, and a touching Depression-era story all in one beautiful package.

Lovely
by Publius McGee
Rating 5 stars
Beautifully stylized, well-rehearsed, nice singing, compelling story, and they actually blocked it for the Thrust.

Not my favorite
by Cato Brutus
Rating 5 stars
but this show was still a pretty clear five. I did get a little misty-eyed near the end, but then again I am a big ol' drama queen.

Outstanding
by David Woolley
Rating 5 stars
Fine performances, a compelling story, and some of the most inventive staging I've ever seen. I'm very glad I made this show part of my Fringe itinerary this year.

100% Awesome
by Andrew Troth
Rating 5 stars
Beautiful, touching performances and amazing movement work. TLA wows again.

Alway enjoy their shows
by Bradley Johnson
Rating 5 stars
A Cinderella type story told in their unique fashion. Very well done. If it makes the encore, you should see it.

Good, but not great
by luann monahan
Rating 4 stars
I'm sorry. I'm going to be the negative Nellie in this series of reviews. I thought this show was good, but honestly don't understand all the rage. The use of the actors as the props was clever but the pantomime got old in a hurry and some of the time I didn't understand what they were supposed to be. The story itself was mediocre at best and the acting solid but not outstanding. I've seen better during the festival.

Thank you.
by Sara Avelsgaard
Rating 5 stars
Last night, I watched drama unfolding right in front of me. It wasn't scripted or rehearsed (okay, I KNOW technically it was). This show is alive and I consider myself most blessed to have had the opportunity to be there. Thank you so much, I'll never forget it.
--peace
Sara

Clever
by Brooke Hart
Rating 5 stars
I have not seen this group before, but definitely want to look for them again. Beautiful story, but so much more than that. The ways in which they used sound and motion to depict non-human objects and feelings was so unique. Very interesting staging. This was my first Fringe of 2012, and now have seen many more, it is still one of my favorite of this season.

Wow
by Jill R
Rating 5 stars
I'm so happy I was finally able to catch this group. It did not disappoint. Fantastic performance!

Not What I expected
by Thomas Vasecka
Rating 5 stars
I dont know what I was reading, but was not expecting this. But thirty seconds into it I knew that I was going to be taken on a ride. Never being a farmer it gave me a true understanding and appreciation of the natural drama and devastation the weather or lack there of can bring. My vote is best in Fringe for this abstract dramatic story. Great job!

The Sound of Rain
by Kathryn C Johnson
Rating 5 stars
A perfect production for this parched, ferocious summer! This ensemble moves as one (tree, cloud, dust storm, growing crop), and their subtle sounds (not music, not language) transport the audience into a world of harsh poetry. A wonderful story, movingly and beautifully brought to life with nary a prop. Kudos!

Masterful
by Kenneth Hanf
Rating 5 stars
Understandable that this show sells out. Powerful presentation of a poignant story. The performers do a masterful job transitioning from characters to porch swings. Very well acted and flawless. Good voices, too.

refreshing. beautiful. magic.
by kalere payton
Rating 5 stars
From the moment the lights went up, they engaged my heart, mind, eyes and ears.

Everything is right about this production- get your ticket NOW, okay?????

Gorgeous, lyrical, unusual
by Anna Amyx
Rating 5 stars
This entire show is staged without a single prop, but it's not because it's a pared-down Fringe show. It's because amazing things happen in the hands of this director and company when the actors use their bodies to create the props, sets, and sound effects. This approach creates a dream-like, dance-like, surreal environment that is completely engaging. Beautiful. See it.

Beautiful
by Sheila Smith
Rating 5 stars
Interesting and sensitive staging makes this a must see. How do you make it sound like rain?

nice but not quite enough
by Amy Sheppeck
Rating 4 stars
There were hoards of adoring fans at Friday night's sold out performance. It was a sure be they would get a standing ovation and I was anticipating I would be moved to rise myself. But as beautiful and moving as this piece was, I just wasn't that bowled over. I read a lot of historical novels and am adept at using my imagination to create scenery in my mind. When I go to the theatre I want a little more. Don't get me wrong. I loved what this troupe did...I just would have liked a little more. Maybe sophisticated lighting to invoke the dramatic weather changes...not much, just a little more.

God Bless the Rains Down in Rarig Thrust
by Maggie Sotos
Rating 5 stars
The Transatlantic Love Affair has become the "Pixar" of Minneapolis Theatre Companies, insomuch as they continue to produce a unique and high-quality brand of visual theatre and story telling that is paralleled by none.

While this particular re-imagining of Cinderella-turned-Okie might not utilize the company's full breadth of talent, nor is the plot as seamless as in past productions, Ash Land is still a solid show with talented performers. When Ellie (Adelin Phelps) turns over the mirror and sees her "reflection", the whole audience gives a small gasp. And the cast's creation of "rain" is a joy to behold.

I am excited to see "Ballad" and "Red" remounted!

Wow!
by Lonnie Ebertowski
Rating 5 stars
Beautiful, original and intricate. Just wow!

Beautiful!
by Lahti Tina
Rating 5 stars
Simply beautiful, I was blown away. See it if you can.

Beautiful physical storytelling
by Fringivitis Vulgaris
Rating 5 stars
One more time, this company brings an intense story of family, community, trying times, and redemption. The performers shape landscapes and hearths with only their bodies and their voices. They use the folk and gospel songs of American traditions to bring the viewers into the story and carry it forward. Truly a moving performance from an exceptional ensemble.

Spellbound
by Nannette Montgomery
Rating 5 stars
I just wish to add my bravo! to many other voices. I found the performance stunning.

Most Artful
by milli manchester
Rating 5 stars
The use of movement of the cast rather than props was amazing and able to elicit strong emotions. The story was original as the format. In my previous fringe shows I have not seen anything like it.

moving and lovely
by Robin Nelson
Rating 5 stars
SO many beautiful moments in this show. I was particularly moved by the scenes with Ella's mother - so tender.

Exquisite
by Hannah Steblay-Olson
Rating 5 stars
Cinderella re-imagined by a company who understands movement, story arch, and how to immerse their audience inside the lives of their characters. Immaculate and tugging art. Could not be more highly recommended- if you can even get a ticket!

Worth the hype
by Frayed Edge
Rating 5 stars
This is a beautiful piece of telling a compelling story through outstanding acting, music, and direction.

The cast forms the set and properties, and their use of mime and other actors as scenic furniture is brilliant.

I'll be seeing this one again.

Scale:
0-Terrible
1-Tell your friends not to go
2-A bad fringe show, below par for the festival. Don't Bother
3-Worth seeing, don't go out of your way.
4-Good to Great. Make time for this show.
5-Absolutely outstanding. A great show, festival or otherwise.

quiet delight
by Linda Breitag
Rating 5 stars
How many ways can soul-quieting wind in grass/trees/crops be evoked? Lots. This prairie girl felt right at home in the flow of hands and arms, haunting spare guitar, and harrowing song. Mesmerizing, opening the heart like the best meditation. Like others here, I sometimes wanted a more nuanced (but not wordier) story, one without clearcut good and bad guys, one whose depth and mystery matched the movement. But nitpicking aside, TLA is on my radar for keeps. Can't wait for the next show. And then the next.

Incredible
by Laura Bidgood
Rating 5 stars
Without repeating what the majority of reviewers have said. I just want to say, "Ditto!"

This show is a gem and a treasure and not to be missed.

This is what Fringe is all about.

If you miss this, you will kick yourself
by Julia Brown
Rating 5 stars
Granted, if this show goes the way of Ballad of the Pale Fisherman and Red Resurrected, you'll get a chance to see it in expanded form later. But don't wait.
Transatlantic Love Affair, with every performance of every production, answers the question "why theatre? Why live bodies in space? Why go out of your way to see human beings move in front of you?" The answer is hard to put into words, but if you've seen the show, you know what it is.

And Lash
by Brian Watson-Jones
Rating 4 stars
Gorgeous human landscape pastoral. These performers do a wonderful job of forming all that's needed from themselves, and the transition between characters and scenery clearly and seamlessly. The story is lovely, everyone feels real, and nothing feels false or forced. My only complaint is that, more so than Red Resurrected or Pale Fisherman, this story needs more. A whole third act conflict is set up, prepped, perfectly placed, but then everything just gets resolved. I wanted just one more big obstacle to getting Ellie home again once she leaves. The story as is, though, is lovely; the image that sticks in my mind is how rain striking the ground looks when the ground is actors. Lovely.

A visual delight
by Eve Adam
Rating 5 stars
This show is simply beautiful and beautifully simple.

Beautiful
by Nicholas Downs
Rating 5 stars
MASTERFUL! ARTFUL IN EVERY SENSE! It's hard to separate any one aspect of this play without realizing how seamless the whole thing is. Great story that captures your attention the entire way through.

Dustbowl Cinderella
by Rick Treece
Rating 5 stars
Go ahead and pay for a reservation to this striking and moving production. It's selling out (a 10-pm slot and a Monday!) in Rarig Thrust, which is a huge house, so I can't even imagine what it will be like at decent weekend times.

The steel guitar is a fine choice, but I miss the rich choral singing that we enjoyed last year with "Red".

God Moves On The Water
by Eric Elefson
Rating 5 stars
This incredible play puts you right into the middle of the dust bowl. The cast uses movement, shape, sound, and music in such a way as to immerse the audience in a dusty, poverty-stricken world. A terrific story told by a talented cast, "Ash Land" is everything theatre should be!

Dust Bowl Over
by Holly Quinn
Rating 5 stars
The Best of Fringe from the theater mind of Transatlantic Love Affair. They never fail to amaze, and again, Isabel Nelson, Allison Witham, Adelin Phelps, Derek Lee Miller, Willie Gambucci, Heather Bunch, Peytie McCandless and Eric Nelson breathe life into the soul of a world of The Dust Bowl and all the miseries and joys life at that time can complete. The music underscores the mood, the physicalness of the actors tugs at my heartstrings. If you see just one, yes one show at Fringe, let it be Ashland.

O Brother, Where Art Thou meets Fringe
by Jack Silverman
Rating 4 stars
O Brother, Where Art Thou comes to Fringe. Dust bowl, farmers in trouble. Really liked this show. Beautiful staging, solid cast, good script, great accompanying music. My only critique was that the story seemed to drag a little, maybe could have been 10 minutes shorter. Well worth seeing probably one of the best productions at this year’s Fringe.

The Style of Simplicity
by Jon Skaalen
Rating 5 stars
There is nothing onstage but people and a musician. Yet what they create! A Depression, drought-era story in which we see the raindrops, taste the grain, feel the wind, hear the creaking gate. This company deserves its growing reputation. The only excess was the director telling us to write a review. Let the work stand on its own because it does. Bring a friend.

One of my very favorites
by Gene Bard
Rating 5 stars
There is a lot to like in this production: A rather simple but nice story, good acting, creative use of the actors, original, etc.

This one will stick in my mind primarily because it is done in a way that was original and clever to me.

I think most will enjoy this production.

Good, but deus ex machina
by Randy Holland
Rating 3 stars
Touching performances with creative choreography reminded me of the classic Dust Bowl documentary “The Plow That Broke The Plains.” However, I was disappointed with the script. If you're willing to believe ghosts and god fix all things, you'll overlook the deus ex machina that saves the main characters and provides cliché redemption for the evil stepmother and banker's son. But for those who want happy endings earned, they'll be disappointed at what the story could have been.

Riveting Stagecraft
by Mark Mikula
Rating 5 stars
The distinct style and approach to storytelling that typifies Transatlantic Love Affair's work is in full effect during this mesmerizing production. Very few troupes consistently transport you to another time and place like this one does. They do the work. Much like the laborers they portray, they make all of their heavy lifting seem effortless with no wasted movements. It's a very graceful and moving story that bears the weight of some heavy themes. And I have a whole new appreciation for actors in swing roles. Sorry, I couldn't resist. And you shouldn't resist seeing this either.

Good
by Mark Long
Rating 4 stars
If you enjoy movement theater, you will love this. It is less and less my thing, or I am becoming rather picky in my Fringe choices.

Words Do Not Do Justice
by Brigid Kelley
Rating 5 stars
Do not miss this show. It's the next day and I'm still moved at how beautiful it was. This is the kind of theatre I want to be a part of as an actor, but also as an audience member. In the audience, I felt as though I was a part of something special. Beautiful. Moving. Go see it.

See This
by Phillip Schramm
Rating 5 stars
My words can not even come close to the beauty of this show. The music is wonderful, the way everything is created on stage is beautiful, and the story is very touching. Make sure you see this production.

Almost as Lovely
by David Leussler
Rating 4 stars
Ash Land gets a 4 from me only because it is not quite as lovely as "The Pale Fisherman" seen in previous years.

Transatlantic Love Affair's magical, movement-based theater is testimony to the power of action in acting. Not a finger-twich nor a head nod go wasted as actors become backround when not part of the fore.

I would have like to see the company take better advantage of the lighter moments of this story. A narrator might have been useful for keeping a greater sense of fairy-tale and enabling the audience to immediately recognize the humor present in the wonderful,human-body-based set pieces. Fleshing out characters (especially the step-mother) near the top of the piece could have added depth to the final scenes. See it!

Rich, vibrant, and rewarding
by Anthony Rydberg
Rating 5 stars
Ash Land is a rich testament to creative collaboration. A beautiful performance that requires - and receives - the full commitment and honesty of each ensemble member. This is a show that stays with you when you leave; your soul will be fed.

Just go.
by Max Wojtanowicz
Rating 5 stars
Everything everyone's been saying is true. They're totally magic. Do not miss it.

Stunning and moving
by Aaron Greer
Rating 5 stars
Words fail me when trying to describe how beautiful this production is. The movement work is superb, the characters heartbreakingly well realized, and the production moved me to tears without making me feel like it took any cheap-shots to get there.

SEE THIS!

Stunning Simplicity
by David Rust
Rating 5 stars
"Ash Land" is beautiful and tells a story of hope against one of the bleakest settings of all time in American history: the Dust Bowl. This stirring tale of a young woman, her father, and family on their farm moved me. There is a simple scene in which Ellie puts on a dress from an old chest and looks at herself in the dressing mirror that elicited a gasp from me at how lovely and powerful simple pantomime can be.

You often hear the statement "let the ingredients speak for themselves" these days; "Ash Land" proves that it's more than an aphorism.

With only a few body movements, the cast is able to impart the vast, waving fields of the farm before it fell into ruin and the vast, open spaces when the winds rise and dust covers everything.

Tour de force
by Roy Close
Rating 5 stars
A top-flight show, as good as anything you're likely to see at this year's Fringe. Diogo Lopes's cast of eight actors, ably assisted by a slide guitarist, play all the characters in this Dust Bowl drama as well as all the props, ranging from squeaky pumps to doors to porch sliders to motor vehicles to fields of wheat. The miscalculations (such as Mother's cough: Uh-oh, she's gonna die!) are few and minor; the visual pictures, even from the balcony, are splendid.

Dust Bowl Cinderella
by Dave Romm
Rating 5 stars
Yet another astonishingly moving show from Transatlantic Love Affair. Without props and with only a slide guitar for accompaniment, the troupe creates the entire dust bowl experience, including animals, farms, dry water pump, bank office, wind… and a fairy godmother. A little rough around the edges at times, but that's part of the emotional impact. Five stars, easily. A Shockwave Radio Theater Review.

Lovely
by Robyn Hendrix
Rating 5 stars
Gorgeous. Plotline doesn't seem to go quite as dark & mysterious as their previous works, which left me wanting a bit more, and the end seemed slightly anticlimactic because of that, but it was still fantastic and still tugs at the heart.

Beautiful and creative
by Marie Simpson
Rating 4 stars
I thoroughly enjoyed this show. The creative use of actors as props and actor's movements and sounds to create the mood and tell the story was delightful. Highly recommended.

Unique and lovely
by Florence Brammer
Rating 4 stars
As with their previous productions, this company presents something very unique and memorable with their inspired and skillful creation/use of sound and movement. Just lovely to look at and and listen to. The balcony of the Thrust was opened for this show, and I recommend the first row of the balcony -- it's a great vantage point.

Beautiful.
by Abigail Rogosheske
Rating 5 stars
Another beautifully-told story by Transatlantic Love Affair. Although I would have been content with a slightly more subtle storyline, I really can't give this show anything less than 5 stars. What a rich experience.

Creative
by Bill Huntzicker
Rating 5 stars
Hard to describe, highly original and creative. The actors themselves provide not only the characters but also the props, the set, and the music. The slide guitar supplies additional music, sound effects and dramatic emphasis.

Sublime
by Flannery Clark
Rating 5 stars
The short version: believe the buzz! This show lives up to the amazing reviews.

This is the third Transatlantic Love Affair show I've seen, and they've each been stunning. This one cuts right to the heart, and despite the Depression era setting, is strikingly timely.

I still have tears in my eyes. Bravo to Transatlantic Love Affair!

Perfect Landing
by Thomas Von Hanks
Rating 5 stars
Everyone has to like this show...and so do I. Go figure. The Hit of Fringe!

Yeah - another five star review
by Windy Bowlsby
Rating 5 stars
Seriously people - just go see it. It's not overrated, and it really is that good. Breathtakingly beautiful and inventive.

Simply Brilliant!
by Douglas Abbott
Rating 5 stars
Phenomenal! This is why I love fringe. The artistry and methods Transatlantic Love Affair employ to enlist my imagination in co-creating the details of the props, set, and narrative are astounding. This is a performance you should NOT miss. Seeing this performance was sheer enjoyment!

Intelligent, innovative and artistic
by TL RJ
Rating 5 stars
This performance is so intelligent, innovative and artistic. It was obvious that every detail was carefully thought out. There are no props or sound effects other than a steel guitar. Instead, the actors use their bodies as props and to make all the sound effects. I'm not sure anyone else could have done this as well as TLA. There wasn't a single moment where I didn't know exactly what they were trying to do--amazingly well done. The entire performance was such a beautiful piece of art. Beyond the artistic element, the plot was simple but also very enjoyable.

totally inspiring.
by Amber Bjork
Rating 5 stars
Transatlantic Love Affair's work is clean, simple, and sensitive. They always hit the mark, both on stage and in heartstrings. They use nothing but themselves, and I am always anxious to find out how they will surprise me next.

The mirror scene is so beautiful.
The symbol of the working hands made me gasp.
And they use sound in a way that makes you see things that are not really there.

I suspect if you're a fan, you've already seen this show. And if you haven't seen it, it's about time you did. And become a fan yourself.

Fringe 5 Star
by Jesse Villarreal
Rating 5 stars
Beautifully crafted. Every actor in this play worked together amazingly. If I had to have anything negative to say it would be that the plot was predictable, but you should not see the show for the writing, it should be for the experience.

Imaginative & moving
by Daniel Pinkerton
Rating 5 stars
I love this company and I loved this show. The idea of retelling Cinderella in a Dust Bowlsetting is a stroke of genius, and everything about the show --- the movement, the dialogue, the use of classic American song, the amazing slide guitar --- lives up to the premise. By turn, it's stark, tragic, whimsical, witty, poetic, despairing, and hopeful. In additon, every single member of a large company is used intelligently --- the director clearly respects and values them all, for they do beautiful ensemble work and each has an individual moment to shine. This is the future of theatre. See this show or live a life of regret.

Great staging, so-so script
by Diane Carter
Rating 4 stars
As so many others have commented, the staging and performances are stunning. You should see this show for that reason. Too bad the writing doesn't match up. The plot's predictable and the characters (evil banker, manipulative stepmother, etc.) all too stereotypical.

Exquisitely executed
by Jim G.
Rating 5 stars
A performance that is so inventive and exquisitely executed as to way more than make up for the cliche filled storyline. Sidebars to the body of the performance, such as sound effects and the occasional invididual or group song, which could have received only "that's good enough" attention in rehearal, are so well done as to add depth instead of what could easily have descended into corniness.

If you go, try to get a performer level seat, not the balcony --- this show views better with the performers at eye-level.

Amaized
by Lily Michaels
Rating 5 stars
This was an amaizing peice of art. I've loved everything this group has done. Go see this show!

Ash Land
by Lisa Kramer
Rating 5 stars
A piece where the magic of theatre truly comes to life. Each member of the ensemble helps create a rich and vivid landscape that makes you feel heat, sadness, fear, love, and anger as you follow a girl's growth into fighting for what she believes in and finding herself. I love shows where the performers give the gift of imagination to the audience. Definitely a must see!

They've done it again!
by Vicki Joan Keck
Rating 5 stars
OMG, for the 3rd year in a row, TLA has produced a breathtaking piece of theatre. I won't attempt to describe it - just see it!

yes
by Ariel Leaf
Rating 5 stars
Thank you. That was beautiful. It tasted like hope born of tears and allowed me to get completely lost on it's simple beauty and masterful ensemble work.

The show to beat for encore!
by Evelyn Blum
Rating 5 stars
This is what I would say theater strives to be. A full package, piece of art. It was tight, and fully fulfilling! Its one I would see again. I think this is the show to take that friend, family or date to, if you want to show off what Fringe really is. The range of audience attraction would run the full spectrum.

Beautiful reworking of a classic tale
by Stephanie Kobbe
Rating 5 stars
Imaginative and pertinent adaptation of Cinderella -- Ash Land uses the story we all know as a jumping off point without being too obvious or cloying.

The ensemble is tight; the show is well-performed all around.

I agree with some reviewers that some parts feel too rushed. That's what happens when you only have an hour (or less!) to put together something so intricate. Still, a beautiful, solid show. I'm glad I got to see it twice.

Riveting, evocative and magical.
by JP Fitzgibbons
Rating 5 stars
A beautiful example of the power of storytelling. The simple soundtrack of slide guitar was enhanced from time to time by the performers themselves, adding not only their voices in sound and song, but offering their whole beings into creating scenery, scenes and sensations. This glimpse into a time-gone-by was recreated adeptly by this true example of ensemble craft. The costumes and lighting in their appropriate simplicity served to make this story not only an aural and visual delight, but also a wonderfully visceral experience.

Nearly Great!
by Patrick Pfundstein
Rating 4 stars
I knew going in that Ash Land would be one of the coolest shows to see in the 2012 Fringe, and it is all of that. Creative physical theater meshed with live music, beautiful set pieces, and poignant singing. The mirror scene was one of the loveliest moments I’m likely to experience in a theater this year. However, there were other key pieces - the banker/son confrontations and the central romantic scenes - that played pretty flat for me, hence the 4 stars. Still highly recommended, though, despite my quibbles!

Inspired Storytelling
by Nathan Schilz
Rating 4 stars
Isabel Nelson and co. put on another beautiful show. If there is a Minneapolis aesthetic, it is groups like these who are forging a path to make a lasting impact in the greater theatre community. Well done. A must see show.

ASHLAND
by Laurice Jamieson
Rating 5 stars
Just saw Ashland and want to highly recommend it. It is beautifully done. A talented ensemble created a moving piece of work with beauty and humor. You should not miss it!

wow
by Jess Lindgren
Rating 5 stars
If you only see one show this year, let it be this one. You really have to experience it. I laughed, cried, and sat completely spellbound for an hour.

I've never seen anything by Transatlantic Love Affair. I won't be missing anything else of theirs moving forward.

Beautiful
by Anna Weggel
Rating 5 stars
The thing I look for most in fringe shows is heart - and this one has a huge heaping dose of it. The sound effects and the visual pictures the actors make are stunning, and unbelievably creative. You can see how much effort the cast put into perfecting this production, and I REALLY appreciated that as an audience member.

Sheer beauty
by Diane Mountford
Rating 5 stars
The company has created another thing of beauty with Ash Land. The "fairy godmother" sequence just took my breath away.

Still Amazing
by William Marth
Rating 5 stars
The Rarig Thrust definitely has its advantages and disadvantages for Transatlantic's style. It can blow away a larger audience, but many of the pastiches lose some luster when seen from the side or from above.

Doesn't matter. This was still a beautiful show that should not be missed.

Very Beautiful
by Anna Wakefield
Rating 4 stars
I was very upset with myself for having missed Red Resurrected last year, so I made it a point to check out Ash Land. I was extremely impressed with TLA's physical work and beautiful storytelling. However, and I might be the only one, I sometimes wasn't sure what they were miming (furniture, farm implements, etc). Perhaps it doesn't matter, because the narrative was pretty clear. The singing and slide guitar, as well as the vocal sound effects, were particularly helpful in conveying the settings. I would also have liked to see a bit more Cinderella in this story...just sayin'.

Flawless performance
by Roger Rosvold
Rating 5 stars
A "must see" for this festival line-up. Strong achievement in every aspect: clear presentation of themes and imagery, well rehearsed ensemble, excellent pacing and focus control. Amazing combination of music, sounds, and action.

Worth seeing twice.

Astounding
by Larry Ripp
Rating 5 stars
The theater group has a style unlike anything usually seen around here. Actors as objects has been done of course but their sheer brilliance and imagination in the use of the technique to advance the story and illustrate both plot and emotion is staggering. Saturday night a couple hundred people sat absolutely spellbound by this show from beginning to end. Thank God it's being done in a large capacity theater. NOBODY should miss this show!!

Wonderful
by Kassie Church
Rating 5 stars
It is just a beautiful show. Everything is wonderful, the songs, the music, the acting, the story, everything.

Shouldn't be missed.

Transport yourself
by Annie Rollins
Rating 5 stars
Not that you need another person to tell you to go see it, but here it is.

Go see it.

I promise promise you, you won't be disappointed.

Brilliant!
by Marjorie DeJongh
Rating 5 stars
I am not a dance fan and this does not qualify as a simple dance performance but it is what I had always hoped to see. Good actors moving in rhythm and harmony as set, characters and props. Lines delivered with depth and feeling that reached to the back of the balcony. I wish I could see this again and every other performance this group creates. An absolutely amazing close to my weekend. I will be talking about this for years to come.
Both the performance and instramental accompaniment are elegant it's deceptive simplicity.

does what theater does best
by Carin Bratlie
Rating 5 stars
tight ensemble that let us in and tells a lovely story. Engaging and unified.

Poignant and Dynamic-A Must See
by Jon Dahl
Rating 5 stars
In a time when droughts and property rights are real problems for many, this retelling in the dust bowl was far more contemporary than at first glance. This show inserts tenderness into an (entirely ensemble-created) desolate landscape with seeming ease, all without dwelling too much on the same old story of true love.

From the tiniest creak of a squeaky door to the fullest harmony, this ensemble was simply riveting.

You can't miss it.

Worth Every Minute
by Compost Dreamboat
Rating 5 stars
This production will make you feel. The plot isn't too unique or intriguing, but you will barely notice after getting lost in the beauty of the performance.

The stirring, somewhat haunting yet beautiful music by Harper Zwicky was the icing on the cake. The steel guitar's sound sets a certain mood and gave the stage an otherworldly (and other-timely) feel.

Put this one on your "Must See" list.

Flawed but beautiful
by Olivia Starkie
Rating 4 stars
I had high hopes for this show, especially after last summer's 'Red Resurrected,' which blew me away. Unfortunately, 'Ash Land' seems less tight in terms of plot: conflicts are presented but never fully resolved, making for a muddled/rushed feel. The show also relies heavily on character tropes that can feel lifeless and uninspired.

Still, the actors are beautiful, vibrant and talented as ever, and this saves the show. The use of the body as prop and voice as music/sound effect is still surprising and lovely, and many of the elements I loved in 'Red' are present here. I was especially taken with the songs, which literally gave me goosebumps. And who could resist the leading lady's doe eyes? Kvetching aside, well worth a view.

Gorgeous!
by Eleanor Trenary
Rating 5 stars
Ashland takes a generic plot line and creates an elegantly beautiful production. The creativity of the sounds and movements on stage was completely visually engaging. The theme of drought speaks to current struggles throughout the US, making the story line relevant and poignant. Great show!

Fringe Love!
by Tristine Miller
Rating 4 stars
TLA is the belle of the ball with their creative, artful performance of the story of Cinderella. Clever use of movement and sound catapults our senses into the scenery. However, the story didn't move me the way Red Resurrected captured my heart, but the whole cast is the most professional, thoughtful, and talented as you can find on stage this year. Do not miss this show!

Mesmerizing!
by David Norris
Rating 5 stars
This is the kind of show you hope to see at in the Fringe. From lights up to the finish Ash Land had me thoroughly engaged. I love theatre that uses the whole actor and the imagination to tell a story, and even without props I always had a clear idea of where we were, who the characters are, and what was happening. Even in the silences there was action. This was incredible, intentional and masterful storytelling, with beautiful, poignant stage images throughout. This is one that you absolutely must see!

Night Capper
by Margarite Dante
Rating 5 stars
Glorious.
Stunning.
Beautiful.

Professional.

I felt uplifted, enchanted and walking on water by the end of the show.

Might just be Fringe at its Best!

Always amazing
by Eric Wentling
Rating 5 stars
This theater company has done retellings of Red Riding Hood and the myth of the Selkie in the past, and this year do a version of Cinderella that takes place in the Dust Bowl era. The company does the whole show using a combination of singing, acting, and mime that is so immersive that you can't help but be transported to the world they are describing. I can't even explain it. First night, a standing ovation...in Minnesota! See this now!!

Haunting, beautiful, moving
by Pro Fringer
Rating 5 stars
TLA does it again with Ash Land, creating a world that is compelling and relevant. Being vitally connected to one of the regions being besieged by sand mines, this was an especially personal story for me. TLA integrates story,music and movement in a most sensitive and accessible way. Must see.

Don't Miss This One!
by Mary Lundberg-Johnson
Rating 5 stars
What a way to start our Fringe viewing! We had been told that this group was excellent, and the standing ovation at the end proved this to be true. A wonderful combination of acting, singing, musical accompaniment, and pantomiming everything from dying fields of wheat to the old pump to the squeaking screen door of the farm house. A moving story told in a manner that I had never experienced before.

Beautiful in So Many Ways
by John Potter
Rating 4 stars
The cartoon mime work was beautifully done, well executed and imaginative. The vocal sound effects were spot on and added another level to the physicality making it come alive for the home audience. The company's precision carries you away! The minimal props, costumes, lighting, ect enhanced the story's bleek setting in a time of drought and depression. The storyline became a little predictable at parts, but all in all and strong mixture of drama, comedy and fantasy! See this show! You will not be disappointed.

Guh.
by Alex Yang
Rating 5 stars
Isabel Nelson simply turns and faces the audience, and your heart just breaks.

Brilliant as always
by Scott Gilbert
Rating 5 stars
This is the 3rd show that I have seen by this group. Each has been a fabulous retelling of a classic story. There seemed to be even less talking in this one, but it tied into the feeling of barrenness. However this production is far from unproductive or unfruitful. It was visually lithe, lyrically sonorous and emotionally incandescent.

Oh My! See this.
by David Trudeau
Rating 5 stars
Standing ovation ran over time as this was last show of the night. What a brilliant execution of seamless dance, song, mime and acting that is totally the actors - nothing else- and tells the story as only theatre can. I laughed, I cried, I suffered, I rejoiced, I hated the villan, and loved the young lovers and felt redeemed at the end. Every bit as good if not better than "Red Revisited. Great art and great craft - the preparation and energy of the cast is apparent.

Tremendous!
by Caroline Toll
Rating 5 stars
I will now go to anything these guys do, forever. They are that good.

Transatlantic Love Affair does it again!
by Anna Knaeble
Rating 5 stars
A beautiful story of love and hardship. There is just no better time at the Fringe than in this audience. Best of Fringe!

Exceptional but...
by Will Weisert
Rating 5 stars
I love what this troupe has done in the past and this performance does nothing to change that. On it's own, this show easily will prove to be one of the best of this Fringe but, when compared to past performances, it is just a bit below par.

One of their performance 'signatures' is the fluid movement of through transitions. This time around, many of those transitions, while maintaining the troupe's visual style, seemed a bit labored.

A minor criticism and certainly one that doesn't detract from the overall quality of the staging and performances.

Transatlantic Lova Affair Does It Again!
by Shawn Koval
Rating 5 stars
Yet another moving, beautifully somber work by this innovative company. If you haven't had a chance to see this group perform, do yourself a favor and see this production - it will inspire you to rethink the possibilities of the naked stage. As a regular theater goer, I highly suggest checking out Ash Land, as it reinforces the classic "less is (often) more" maxim on stage (I would elaborate but "no spoilers").

Their productions have been the highlight of the Fringe Festivals for the last two years for me because of their balanced ensemble-driven approach in adapting traditional stories to new settings and contexts. Transatlantic Love Affair's Fringe winning streak continues with Ash Land. Bravo!

Beautiful ensemble work: however...
by Alana Horton
Rating 4 stars
This was beautifully crafted show. Its stage pictures and creations left me wowed, particularly a scene in which the ensemble created a car. Their grass/prairie creations were also breathtaking, playing out alongside some haunting live music.

However, I found parts of the story and the characters within it to be not quite so compelling. Tropes abounded through the narrative, leading into a party scene that I personally found to be somewhat over hashed.

Still, the show is filled with many poignant, beautiful images, and some amazing acting. I'd say it's certainty worth a view. Transatlantic Love Affair has brought back much, if not all, of the magic which made me love their show "Red Resurrected" so much last year.

Vivid and moving
by Aseem Kaul
Rating 5 stars
If the mark of a great performance is that it makes the nearly impossible look easy, then Ash Land is hard to beat. Every scene in this performance has the vividness of great cinema; every still moment the intensity of a Dorothea Lange photograph. Just watching the performers move on stage is mesmerizing; add to that a story that is part Steinbeck part Judy Garland, a handful of rousing musical numbers with some superb musical accompaniment, and some of the finest acting you're likely to see in or outside the Fringe, and you have a show that is not just unmissable, it's probably worth going back to see a second time.

Tremendous
by Kelly Rosenthal
Rating 5 stars
What I've come to expect from Transatlantic--creative and well written with great performers. Hopefully, this is another one that they'll expand for a remount!

uplifting, beautiful, spare, must see
by Suzanne Sharrock
Rating 5 stars
This is beautiful, spare and haunting, and even funny. The combination of the Dust Bowl tale of extreme hardship with gorgeous folk melodies and, and the happy-ending story, plus the wonderful and innovative human stage sets was just perfect. Who knew people could portray water pumps, sinks, porch swings, doors (just to name a few items ) so believably and somewhat humorously. A romantic and hardstory with a happy ending. My favorite of their three shows I've seen over the last few years (and I liked them all).

Blew My Socks Off/Will Blow Yours Off 2
by Jeanne Burns
Rating 5 stars
Once again, Transatlantic Love Affair has transformed an old fairytale into something fresh and exciting and definitely worth seeing more than once. Not only do they transform the story, they present it in a way that lets the audience see it with new eyes. Don't miss this one.

If you see only one Fringe, see this one
by Steve Smith
Rating 5 stars
Beautiful from concept through execution. Except for a tiny bit of too-easy stereotyping during the party scene, this show was perfect. In six years of Fringing, this is one of my top three shows, period.

Go see it.

omG
by Claire Avitabile
Rating 5 stars
captivating.
breathtaking.
stunning.

but would i expect anything less from these artists?

nope.

Go ahead, cry in the first act!
by Dave Stagner
Rating 5 stars
Transatlantic knocks it out of the park again with another extraordinary show! If you see ANYTHING at Fringe, see this. For those who have seen their previous shows... this is more direct and less subtle emotionally than Red Resurrected. They really wear their hearts on their sleeves here. It suits the Dust Bowl Depression setting well, though. There's more dialog than before, more technical sophistication (great use of light cues, almost like another performer), and the best use of live music yet - not as plaintive as Ballad of the Pale Fisherman, but more cinematic. Original, heartfelt, and superbly crafted.

Exquisite.
by Eric Salo
Rating 5 stars
Simply delightful. Shows like this are why I go to Fringe.

Raining creativity and heart
by Bill Hensley
Rating 5 stars
Wonder-full staging and soulful, physical storytelling. Unlike anything else you'll see this Fringe. Transatlantic has deligains again. HIGHEST recommendations.