Sub-Total
2023 Audience Reviews
Member Reviews
The following reviews were submitted by Fringe Member: Brooke Magid Hart
Company: Pat O'Brien
Show: "Starved": The Astonishing True Story of the University of Minnesota Starvation Experiment
Venue: Augsburg Mainstage
No kidding that this is an astonishing story
I'm so glad that this story is being told. I had never known about this "experiment" and not too many people had. This play is performed by such professional and capable actors, and the script is excellent. The numerous scene changes occur with complete fluidity, with no need to move props. So much is learned from the story even as it entertains. This is a very strong dramatic work.
Company: Juliana Frick
Show: FLOAT
Venue: Augsburg Mainstage
Goes without saying ...
This was a stellar performance and script. I'm not sure I can add more to what has been written by others, but Juliana Frick should be playing to sold out audiences every performance (and it is only because of the pesky pandemic that she is not). While this is a show about grief, we laughed throughout, and to find out when it was over (spoiler alert and someone else already revealed this in their review) that she is deaf just makes this show even more amazing and Juliana incredible. If you only have one show left on your multipass, choose this one.
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Company: Rippling Stories
Show: Against the Odds: Rachel Carson and the Writing of Silent Spring
Venue: Augsburg Studio
Incomplete portrait
As others have stated before me, the acting was good, Carson is compelling, but I would not say that I was at all moved by this show. In fact, the "advertisement" shown on the big screen before Rachel came on stage was far more moving and compelling, causing most of us in the audience to gasp and shake our heads in disgust. But the portrayal of Rachel Carson caused nothing like that that I could tell. I think that Katie Knutson is a good storyteller, but either she needed to breathe more personality into Ms. Carson, or Ms. Carson did not exude much personality. I did enjoy the Q and A at the end, particularly when Ms. Knutson discussed her own journey in learning about Rachel Carson. I am in my 60's and read Silent Spring in high school in the 70's and don't recall a time when I wasn't aware of Rachel Carson and her significance, so I found it interesting that Ms. Knutson and audience members did not know of her at all until recently. I, and my cohorts (I grew up on the east coast) still wonder at all of the bald eagles we see now and take delight in each one that flies by because when I was a child, eagles were almost wiped out by DDT and we never saw them. We credited Rachel Carson with helping to save the eagles.
Company: Jason Schommer
Show: 1992: Mistakes Were Made!
Venue: Rarig Center Xperimental
So much fun!
All of us can recall either being bullied or being the bully, and some can probably claim both. Jason approaches his experience with lots of humor and a wonderful delivery. This show had me laughing throughout, even as I could relate to the trauma of being bullied for so many years. This was a great hour spent at the Fringe!
Company: Jason Schommer
Show: 1992: Mistakes Were Made!
Venue: Rarig Center Xperimental
So much fun!
All of us can recall either being bullied or being the bully, and some can probably claim both. Jason approaches his experience with lots of humor and a wonderful delivery. This show had me laughing throughout, even as I could relate to the trauma of being bullied for so many years. This was a great hour spent at the Fringe!
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Company: EnCompass Theatre
Show: Funny, Like an Abortion
Venue: Rarig Center Arena
Can I give this 6 kitties? I want to.
This show was outstanding. Serious and timely topic, done with enough humor to make it accessible to even those who might not want to indulge in this subject matter. Very well acted and staged. And if anyone thinks that our post-Roe world is as bad as it gets, well, everyday it continues to get worse and it will until all of the voices of the pro-choice rise up and act.
Company: Melancholics Anonymous
Show: A Girl Scout’s Guide to Exorcism
Venue: Rarig Center Arena
Hilarious
Only went to this show tonight because I was already at the Rarig and that was where I was going to be for two other shows this night, but what a delightful and hilarious romp it turned out to be. Great script and fantastic cast. Even the costume details were spot-on. This one was almost sold out and I would expect it to be at each of its showings. Wonderful!
Company: David Graham
Show: The Spell of the Yukon
Venue: Rarig Center Arena
Wonderful storyteller
Poetrytelling storytelling at its best. David Graham was the characters that he was speaking and he kept his audience captivated. Highly recommend this one.
Company: Kurkendaal Barrett Presentations
Show: Climbing my family tree
Venue: Rarig Center Thrust
Too bad this show is over
Too bad that Les is going back to LA tomorrow and won't be doing this show at the MN Fringe again this year, so that more people can see it. It was a great romp through his new-found family tree. Les's storytelling is great and this story is really compelling. Just wish he had some way of figuring out what his grandpa did in return ...