Never question a lady's taste without being prepared to defend the insult with your life. Such is Countess Kielmannsegg's predicament when she is impertinent enough to question Princess Pauline de Metternich's skill at arranging flowers. 

Set in 19th century Vienna, this comedy of wit and manners examines the curious rivalry between the Princess and the Countess.  A rivalry that creates such a tempest their only recourse is to cross rapiers to salvage their honor. 

This original play is inspired by the true story of the first emancipated duel between women.

Cast + crew

Alison Anderson
Role: Princess Pauline Metternich

Alison has been acting since she was 12 years old, both in theater and in film. She has participated in the Fringe Festival a couple of times before, although this is her first time working with Fell Down the Stairs. Other theater groups she has worked with in the Twin Cities include, the Park Theater Company, Theatre Terra Firma, Bloomington Gallery Players and Stages Theatre Company. She looks forward to working with Fell Down the Stairs again, as well as future Fringe Festival productions.

Emma Ottoson
Role: Countess Anastasia Kielmannsegg

Emma recently graduated with a BFA in Musical Theater from Minnesota State University Mankato and is absolutely thrilled to be a part of this show and the Fringe Festival. This show has been a blast to be in and she is so grateful to be part of it. She would like to thank her friends and family for their endless support and love.

Sue Gerver
Role: Baroness Lubinska

Sue Gerver is an actor who is a recent transplant from Des Moines, IA. She is thrilled to perform in her first Twin Cities Fringe Festival and feels much gratitude toward Marc, Tracy, and the cast for a wonderful experience. Her most recent credits include: The Prioress in Edith Stein (Open Window); Anna in Clear as Day (Eat Street); Ethel Gumm in Beyond the Rainbow (Des Moines Playhouse) and Mrs. Gottlieb in Dead Man’s Cell Phone (StageWest). Sue also has experience in commercials and film, and is a member of the Actor’s Workout at The Guthrie. She graduated from Simpson College in Indianola, IA, with a B.A. in Theatre Arts (Acting). In her spare time, Sue loves to spend time with her family and go fishing.

Robie Hayek
Role: The Servant

Robie Hayek is a theatre artist who has recently relocated to the Twin Cities from Lincoln, Nebraska where he worked with several theatre organizations as an actor, director, and teaching artist. Hayek received his MFA in acting from the Johnny Carson School of Theatre and Film at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Robie is also a graduate of the Professional Training Program at the Dell Arte International School of Physical Theatre in Blue Lake, California. Recent acting credits include: Clown #2 in The 39 Steps for the Nebraska Repertory Theatre, Stanley Happy in Happy Hotdogs with Dangerous Productions, Bilbo Baggins in The Hobbit with Open Window Theatre and Dr. Caius in The Merry Wives of Windsor with the Cromulent Shakespeare Company. Remember - when you don’t know what to do with your time… see another Fringe show. Thank you for supporting the arts community.

Jena Young
Role: Fight Director

Recognized in a women’s restroom as a “local actress,” Jena hopes to break into regionals in 5 years. Her most consistent gig is playing the dozens monthly at the Bryant-Lake Bowl in the loosely improvised local favorite “Vilification Tennis.” She can also be found weekly co-hosting the Apropos of Nothing podcast with fellow vilifiers Matt and Salsa. Jena has written, directed, produced, performed, choreographed stage, sketch, film, improv, stand up, spoken word, and storytelling, dance, and combat. She’s an actor combatant at the MN Renaissance Festival, and has been known to belly dance and breath fire. In her spare time, she does publicity, design, and web programming. You can see Jena perform in Fringe Orphans (which features her fight scene choreography and directing, as well) and Stop Talking.

Marc Weber
Role: writer/director

Marc is a Fringe veteran, writer, and long-forgotten standup comedian. Unable to grasp the implications of live performance, he still thinks most of this can be fixed in post-production. He consumes excessive amounts of coffee and lives in Minnetonka with his cat, Milton.

Tracy LaChance
Role: writer/producer

Tracy is a video producer, writer, and published poet. She has been rescuing animals for the past 10 years and encourages you to spay and neuter your pets. This is her first foray into the madness that is Fringe, and she couldn't be more thrilled to work with such an incredible group of talented actors.

Write a review

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

User reviews

On the differences between two ladies
by Tim Como
Rating 5 stars
High class insults + chicks with swords = a really fun show!

Needs practice
by Cato Brutus
Rating 2 stars
It felt like the script could have worked, but it didn't. The actresses barely moved and their stiff, unsure delivery of their insults meant that everything leading up to the Big Fight felt like marking time.

Unfortunately, once the Big Fight started, it seemed the same problems emerged again. The fighting was stiff, unconvincing, and at one point the actresses forgot what they were supposed to be doing, leading to some rather awkward flailing.

This show really needed more time spent on it. It could have been an affecting show, but it was just disappointing in the end.

sadly disappointed
by Amy Sheppeck
Rating 2 stars
This could have been a groundbreaking materpiece; Instead it broke my heart.

The leads show more character on the postcard than through the entire performance. Rediculously long musical interludes before and between scenes was uncomfortably boring. The costumes, props and most of the acting made me think I was sitting through some High School production of a play written for trained actors. Dialogue was stilted as though the actors were speaking (turn-of the century) English as a second language. The fight scene was well staged but obviously cursorily rehearsed.

I wanted to like this...darn it! I was SO hoping for a winner. Instead I was embarrassed for everyone including the audience. Too bad...I'm sad.

Witty entertainment
by Michael Merriam
Rating 4 stars
Witty exchanges between the characters make this show sparkle. Solid acting and clever set dressing add the overall positive effect. The duel itself was awkward at times, but I think given the characters involved, they would be awkward duelist. My only complaint was that the music went on too long between set changes. Still, a fine show and well worth seeing.

Huh?
by Eric Salo
Rating 2 stars
I went to this show mostly due to the large number of strong reviews for it, and left wondering whether I'd accidentally gone to the wrong place. This show is just not very good. The music was horrible. Of the actresses, only Sue Gerver looked truly comfortable in her character. I suspect the really villain here is simply a bad script; there were a few good insults sprinkled here and there but it was mostly lackluster. Robie Hayek's character had an amusing first scene but was then wasted.

And the climactic duel was unconvincing. (It looked like something different and interesting might happen following the first crossing of blades, but unfortunately it did not.) All in all, highly disappointing.

Awesome Duel!
by Angela Emerson
Rating 4 stars
Loved it! Loved the servants facial expressions throughout, loved the Baroness and my heart jumped at the sword .... oh no spoilers.

Loved it!
by Earle Johnson
Rating 5 stars
Went to the Wednesday show and loved the wicked banter and the sword fight! The whole cast is wonderful and works well as an ensemble. Story is tight and the dialogue biting, yet very funny. Worth checking out!

I loved this but...
by Frayed Edge
Rating 3 stars
This is a lovely period piece with a very well crafted script, great costuming and solid performances. The fight scene is delightful.

The music is painful and scene transitions awkward. Where an harpsichord piece could have set the scene, a bad synthesizer drags on well past when the clever set changes have been completed. It was annoying enough to drop a star.

You should still go see this.

Disclosure: I know someone affiliated with the show.

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.

Funny, smart and entertaining!
by Leslie Shaw-Halverson
Rating 5 stars
This play has lots of laugh-out-loud moments and clever insults with polite wording that's so refreshing in today's world! The sword fight was very entertaining with some clashes drawing audible gasps from the audience. While the actors were all quite good, the performance I saw did have its share of hesitant lines and scene changes were a little long, but these are minor points that didn't detract. All in all, a very fun and entertaining show.

Beaujolais Nouveau
by Jacqueline Dutton
Rating 5 stars
This show is one of the best examples of why I love to go to Fringe: the excitement of seeing a fresh concept come off the pages of the script onto the stage for the first time. Marc and Tracy wrote a bold, witty, and highly intelligent script. As actors become more comfortable with performing, the lines will come off more naturally and the subtler notes of humor with present themselves. I was at the opening, so don't dock for minor flaws; I rather like them. Alison's staging needs work; the flower stroking and fanning felt stiff. Emma was AMAZING. She owned that dialog, and I truly believed her character. Sue and Robie's characters were truly memorable and funny. Can't wait until this rich concoction ages a bit!

Bosom Buddies
by Joel Thingvall
Rating 5 stars
Okay -- when this Baroness lady mentions that a duel should be fought without tops, I was suddenly wondering why this isn't front and center in the publicity material. Ends up being ladies clad in their undertops...which is probably all that I, as well as servant Robie Hayek (a killer role) could stand. Two ladies, played by Alison Anderson and Emma Ottoson, duel in their own way with words before drawing swords. A play of words, parried and brandished about, under the one-eyed guidance of Sue Gerver. All three ladies are exceptional in form and language. At times, I wanted them to push their lines and chew scenery even more. But as is, pure enjoyment. Typical Fringe blackout problems. But this is Fringe! Go see & enjoy the s-word play.

Just as great the 2nd time
by Connie LaChance
Rating 5 stars
I saw the show for the second time tonight and enjoyed it just as much as the first. Tighter scene changes helped the timing but the music in the beginning is still unnecessary. It was fun to put my focus more on the side action this time. Don't miss the servant and Countess' silent interchange in the last scene before the dual. Worth seeing twice!

Dull Swords
by Thomas Von Hanks
Rating 3 stars
Women and swords don't mix. Liked the on with one lens. But the other two...much ado about nothing after listening to too many dropped linea and hesitant cues. Bodices never rising!

A bit uneven, but overall worthwhile
by ... ...
Rating 4 stars
First night performance had a few less-than-smooth lines.

Some of my questions about context got in the way of enjoying the show; they could have been addressed and the relationships made more clear at the outset.

Some character's reactions to statements didn't feel plausible. On the plus side, enough of the dialogue was witty and fun enough to keep me engaged throughout.

Would I have gone if I knew then what I know now? Yes.

A Gratifying Diversion!
by Stephen Korth
Rating 5 stars
I didn't know quite what to expect from this show, but superior acting and a tight script deliver intelligent humor in a delightful comedy of 19th-century ladies settling their differences. The purple prose (carrying over into ironic theme music) is humorous unto itself, though its subtlety risks this comedy being misinterpreted as "drama." Amusing intrigue propels the story to an entertaining and satisfying culmination. Recommended!

Excellent.
by Jeff Conklin
Rating 5 stars
The writing was witty and hilarious and All four actors delivered wonderful performances. The crowd I saw the show with on Sunday certainly laughed a lot!

The duel was impressive. My friend and I were both wrapped up in it enough to be worried for the welfare of the actresses. Judging by the audible gasps of the audience members around us, we were not alone.

All in all, I can heartily recommend this show. I have to wonder what some of the other reviewers were watching, as it clearly wasn't the same show I saw.

Fantastic fight!
by Elena Chase
Rating 5 stars
The dialogue clearly explains that these women are not supposed to be master swordswomen. They are society ladies who took a few fencing classes as part of their society education.

Both actresses did a wonderful job of blending that relative inexperience with the genuine desire to hurt that the characters were feeling. I especially liked Alison's portrayal of proper Princess Pauline. She starts out hurt & proud, dueling out of "necessity." Then she gets caught up in the excitement and sport of the fight and is positvely reveling it by the end.

I won't say who wins the duel, but judging from what the ladies learn about themselves and each other, I'd say they both do. And we get to come along for the ride. Lovely.

True Story, Sharp Ladies
by Zander Lee
Rating 4 stars
The fact that this is based on a real incident makes this interesting.
Performances of this show to me were pretty on to me.
The duel itself is pretty good, but its the journey there thats the most interesting part of this show. Writing is uneven in certain places. Scene changes slowed down certain transistions, but it happens in Fringe. Music a little stodgy.
The performance I most enjoyed was Alison Anderson as a Princess seething with rage under her veneer of dignified feminimity that has to be contained for the time and place she's in. Sue Gerver can tone it down some. 2 stars for acting, 1 for subject matter, 1 for delivery

Girl-fights
by Ashley Reese
Rating 4 stars
Girl fight double header at the Gremlin on Sunday. Based on the reviews, I didn't know if I was seeing a drama or comedy and expected this show just to be a bunch of insults exchanged back and forth so I was surprised (and kind of liked) the commentary about self-acceptance, but at what cost. Emma Ottoson is absolutely charming as the bratty Countess who refuses to accept who she is. Alison Anderson does a nice job as the dignified Princess with a bit of bloodlust. Supporting them are Sue Gerver (though she's probably a lead too) and Robie Hayek. They are both really funny. Some time-padding with the scene-changes affected pacing, but I had a good time at this witty show. Jane Austen's fight club, indeed.

All in the timing -not!
by David Trudeau
Rating 2 stars
One star for OK actors and one star for some OK sword work. The most dreadful music imaginable all but kills this play - and the otherwise too many scene changes are stretched out to accommodate the horrid dirges that are apparently also composed by the author and director, and do nothing to say "this is funny." Comedy is all about timing: bright colors, snappy music and above all pacing. This attempt lacks those essentials.

Rapier Wit
by David Allison
Rating 4 stars
I guess the opening night jitters had passed by Sunday's show as I thought it was a very solid performance. Whereas the Fringe Festival is often given to gimmick, it was interesting to see a play in the classic style of "She Stoops to Conquer" and "School for Scandal". The witty repartee made the show fun and people were laughing throughout. It was sort of a Vilification Tennis with flowers and a bloodier scoring system. I'm afraid it's not much of a history lesson, but it's definitely some good entertainment.

Sharp wit
by MN Wacks
Rating 5 stars
Clever story and excellent casting and acting. Although I'd have liked to have seen at least one goat... Bonus includes original music.

wit and humor
by Edward Doud
Rating 5 stars
The cast is great and the script biting and fun. Attended with my tween daughter and we both loved it! Oh, and great sword fight at the end!

Disappointing
by Sharon Kahn
Rating 3 stars
This production had more than its share of opening night glitches: extremely long scene changes and way too many flubbed lines from such experienced actors. Those things will probably improve with subsequent performances. Unfortunately, the glib and shallow writing will not improve. While some of the repartee is amusing, the characters are the thinnest cardboard and historical context is completely lacking. Is it supposed to be surprising and shocking for women to duel? For a low-born countess to challenge a princess? For women to be hard-bitten battlefield physicians? Or is this story taking place in some alternate reality where such goings-on are commonplace? Impossible to tell, and ultimately hard to care.

Tight story, great act
by Laurie Goldberg
Rating 5 stars
Fun premise, witty script, and well-acted throughout. They seemed like they were having a good time delivering the witty barbs. The duel was spectacular!

enjoyable treachery
by Mark Swenson
Rating 5 stars
Loved all 4 performers in this fun little drama. The dialogue between Emma and Alison (the Countess and the Princess) is biting yet exceedingly polite. Robie and Sue are great comic relief with Robie getting the most laughs as the over-worked servant. It all ends with a great duel between the 2 determined ladies. A fun, tight 45 minutes!

I laughed till I cried...seriously.
by Mary E Newman
Rating 5 stars
I was lucky enough to see the opening night of 'On the Differences...' First, I must mention the music, at one point, just before the duel, is a great instrumental piece reminiscent of Issac Hayes' Shaft. Completely out of context, but done with a tongue firmly in cheek. The show is filled with delightful Purple Prose that makes catching the jokes a delight.
The premise is facinating, about the first Emancipated Duel between two women (apparently a true story)! And filling in the gaps on history is no easy task, but Marc Weber and Tracy LaChance worked clever words into a delightfully hilarious, but elegantly subtle show.

Great fun
by Brian LaBounty
Rating 5 stars
I was very surprised by the delightfully witty dialogue throughout the performance. Entertaining from start to finish. Don't miss it.

Great insults.
by Donna Byrne
Rating 4 stars
Wonderfully bright and funny insults. The snarky remarks in the first scene set up the tension that flows through the production. The scene change music complements the action and helps maintain the tension during the breaks. I really enjoyed this play.

Where Art Thou Going
by Margarite Dante
Rating 2 stars
Emma Ottoson is magnificently gorgeous and Alison Anderson is the amazonian princess who cut thru classical banter with words and swords. A humorous drama, all mini pomp and pagentry. And Sue Gerver is the wizened pro who outacts everyone, considering what she has to work with in a script that is directionless.

Look Out For The Old Lady
by Holly Quinn
Rating 3 stars
Sue Gerver shines as a Minnesota version of Cloris Leachman. Nearly steals the show from two blade wielding vixens. Maybe the whole mess gets too talky, and tries to be too much of a drama. Classic theater it ain't.