Sub-Total
2023 Audience Reviews
Member Reviews
The following reviews were submitted by Fringe Member: Nissa Nordland Morgan
Company: Rogues Gallery Arts
Show: My Only Hope for a Hero
Venue: Southern Theater
I loved it.
Duck is a seasoned professional in the TC community and wow does he shine in this solo performance. First, the script is well crafted. The topic of heroism in another’s hands could have easily gone too far in one direction- too sentimental or dry discussion. But no. Duck’s script is endearing, inviting, honest, risky, funny, thoughtful, and heart breaking. Second, Duck supports his beautiful script with a charming and skilled delivery. He has a sense of play, he’s earnest, he’s excited to share with us, he’s committed to helping others, and he allows himself to get caught up in his emotions in front of us. Jena’s direction is great, I loved the use of the stage and the flow of the show. Y’all, I have seen a lot of solo shows about folks’ personal experiences over the years, and damn, this is one of the best. Please go see it.
Company: Viet Nguyen
Show: Reincarnation Soup
Venue: Southern Theater
I hope the ocean carries my name back to you
So, I’m a word nerd, and this show had lines, like the title of this review, that made my little heart sing. Beautiful. On top of that, Viet is a fantastic character actor. Each character’s story was a pearl delicately strung on a necklace. I also loved the moments of stillness and silence. Thank you, Viet, for bringing this show to Minnesota! I would love to see more of your work.
Company: Imaginary Podcast Network
Show: Let Me Say This About That
Venue: Rarig Center Xperimental
Let Me Say This About “Let Me Say This About That”
First off, I love this improv format. I haven’t seen anything like it. Timely and inventive. Second, I love these performers. Heather and Danna have CHEMISTRY. This is my first time seeing Raffi and they are so charming. Third, stars aligned at today’s show. There was an audience suggestions of a Spooky Stories podcast . Heather had in Fringe storage (not on stage!!!) a just-in-case light up Halloween mask! So she grabbed it from storage and made it a part of the scene! Magic! A favorite moment: Raffi collects potential “podcast ads” from the crowd prior to Heather and Danna coming on stage. They then put them in a hat, and inbetween podcast scenes, Danna and Heather pull suggestions from the hat and improvise an ad. Heather said something like “when I’m hungry, there’s only one thing that fills me up” she opened the suggestion and read “Ghosts”. I died. She then continued to say that ghosts are satisfying because they enter your body and you are filled up by them. Another favorite moment, this one from Danna! Danna was talking about her current dating situation and described it simply as“I guess it’s not really dating, it’s more like car stuff”. Improvisers of this caliber are always amazing to watch. A must see!
Company: The Shrieking Harpies
Show: The Shrieking Harpies
Venue: Rarig Center Arena
Always see the Harpies
Y’all, if the Harpies are performing, get your butt over there and watch. It’s pure magic. I don’t know how they do what they do, it’s so beautiful, hilarious, surprising, heart warming and always satisfying. Musical Improv at its finest. I find it amazing how they are able to create a never before seen musical in moments AND the songs are catchy AND beautifully harmonized. They make it look effortless. But you know there is a lot of craft in it. On top of that, the characters they make. Taj Ruler’s swamp creature uncle had such great physicality you’d think she’d been rehearsing it for a few weeks. Hannah was performing dance routines as 1,000 crickets. Lizzie was a hilarious cheese stick eating teenage boy with a bad attitude. I just love them. Go see them. Trust me. You will not be sorry.
Company: Mike Fotis Productions
Show: The Windblown Cheeks Of Lovers
Venue: Strike Theater
Bone Tower
Rita, Tim and Mike are comedy gold. The Windblown Cheeks of Lovers felt like a love child of Christopher Guest mockumentaries and the Simpsons and I am ON BOARD. All three are fantastic character actors and I loved meeting each persona. I didn’t know about the media elements of the show beforehand and I felt they enhanced the “documentary” or “behind the scenes” element of the show, which really gave a bump of theatricality I appreciated. Plus I love when folks take risks in tech. These folks are masters of their craft and I highly recommend you see them and laugh till you almost pee your pants. A joy. A delight. A bone tower. NOTE: if you’re worried about leaving the fringe hub DON’T BE. Strike is like 6 minutes from the main hub and has free parking. I was able to go between the Rarig and Strike quickly and still had time to chat with artists before the show.
Company: Allison Broeren
Show: Fire in My Veins: Blazing through Life with Invisible Illness
Venue: Strike Theater
Spoonies Unite!
Allison’s show sold out its original run for a reason, y’all. She is one of the best storytellers in the Twin Cities — delivering a well written piece about her extremely personal experience in a dynamic and non-preachy way. Relatable. Funny. Honest. Powerful. I personally have a chronic autoimmune condition, and it’s so rare that our stories are amplified. Thank you, Allison, for making your invisible illness visible. For all of us out here. Use one of your spoons to see this show. It will be worth it.
Company: Kurkendaal Barrett Presentations
Show: Climbing my family tree
Venue: Rarig Center Thrust
Climb this tree!
I love genealogy stuff. I find it absolutely fascinating, not only about myself, but about others. (I have been known to watch “Finding My Roots” on PBS.) I have found myself going down rabbit holes of ancestor names till 3am more times than I can count. So of course I was down for Les’ show. I happen to be a Facebook friend of Les, and I saw when this saga began! Which honestly, really added to my excitement of seeing this show. What a wild, funny, beautiful journey that leads to a universal truth. Les has a unique storytelling style all his own that keeps me, and others, coming back for more.
Company: Chrisdavisdoesstuff
Show: CHRIS DAVIS DOES STUFF
Venue: Strike Theater
Comedic Relief
What a delight it was to see traveling artist Chris Davis on Sunday! Of the solo shows I’ve seen, this was refreshing as it was like watching a live stand up comedy special. A respite from the intense (but also wonderful!) personal storytelling I have seen this weekend. Chris is also an improvisor and I enjoyed how he incorporated these moments into the show. He was laid back and charming and really rolled with whatever any one suggested. Insightful and hilarious. I hope this is the beginning of seeing Chris Davis at MN Fringe regularly. (Also, I mean, I could talk about butter anytime, so bonus content star.)