Sub-Total
2026 Audience Reviews
Member Reviews
The following reviews were submitted by Fringe Member: Austin Wallace
Company: Combustible Company
Show: Machinal
Venue: The Southern Theater
Strong Directorial Debut
Seconds after the show began, I felt an intriguing "what are they doing?" sensation that carried with me the whole performance. Here plot is delivered largely without connective dialogue and is impossible to anticipate in an exciting way. The movement and physical storytelling were hypnotic and indicative of how cohesive this ensemble is. What I wished for was total immersion- yet this was consistently broken by technical choices, especially concerning sound design. The use of stock music that started and ended abruptly took me out of the show and caused me to notice scene transitions that should have been seamless. Cast and crew should remain proud; putting on this show was undoubtedly a feat and is the "fringiest" I feel I've seen among six shows so far.
Company: Albino Squirrel Productions
Show: It's-a-Me, a Musical!
Venue: Rarig Stoll Thrust Theatre
E is for Effort
This is a solidly good show. There was simply no 'wow' factor for me. It features a solid script, studious performers, GREAT costumes, and earned comedy. If you're interested in the IP check it out.
Company: David Alan Berger
Show: A Woman's Place is in the House
Venue: Rarig Kilburn Theatre
Preaching to the choir (and the wrong audience)
I entered this show hoping to learn of four influential Minnesota women and left learning practically nothing about them or new. A hearty amount of this show is a mock DLF style rally that traps audience participation and preaches boilerplate liberal ideals and appeals to common decency. I feel this fine for a performance. . . just maybe not to a crowd full of the metro's most passionate theatre freaks and geeks. I doubt any hearts or minds were changed here. This show's full potential to teach and reach across boundaries was not reached, but it will make audiences feel great if they agree with show's values. There were solid performances throughout, and the incorporation of local activist groups and politicians is an endearing touch.
Company: C.J. Heehaw
Show: The One About the Rabbit in the Snow
Venue: Rarig Kilburn Theatre
More Drafts Needed
A piece seemingly done by family and friends that has heart meanders too much, even for absurdism. It apes a ton of the spirit and setting of Waiting for Godot without the profoundness. The George and Lenny-like relationship of the two leads was one-sided by meanness and caused me to dislike both, one for only being unkind and the other being a wet towel. I extend grace to all performers given this script, especially the lead stepping in for two performances. The young performers who delivered plot devices was very excited to be there and was thus hard to understand, but has a bright future if they keep going! I'm glad to have seen the breadth that Fringe offers and hope this company keeps working on their craft.
Company: Hannah Wydeven
Show: Leave Room for Jesus
Venue: Barbara Barker Center for Dance
A Hoot
My group saw this on a whim during it's 10 o'clock set and witnessed the LUST sermon. The after dark comedy was riotous and the improv song-making was an impressive feat. (The spiritual number "It Ain't My Fault Your Husband Wants to F*ck Me" has been an earworm since.) As with improv, some transitions felt forced and the folks were playing catch-up with each other, but quite well at that. Somehow the songs that were scripted, or at really seemed to be, were the lowest points of the show. The Spirit is strong with this one!
Company: Third Space Theater
Show: BE NOT AFRAID
Venue: The Southern Theater
Stellar Physicality and Design
My feelings of this show may be biased having grown up in Central ND and seeing the ripples of the oil boom throughout the state. I visited distant family on their extremely rural farm during some hot summer, much like the setting depicted. I remember questioning why everything was so dry and dead-looking on the long drive home. I was totally immersed by the set and movement numbers. Transported to that summer and those feelings. The recreations of oil pumps using only human forms and poles was deeply affecting, especially the number in which a desperate man becomes and is destroyed by the work. The light play caught me off guard and gave me chills. I'm deducting a half star as the characters largely felt archetypal and merely became exaggerated rather than evolved throughout the narrative. This may be due to the hour constraint. Do not be dettered by this- the script is excellent and motives and stakes are clear and compelling. If you seek emotion, paranoia, and innovation, this is a must see. It is some of the best I've seen from my limited Fringe exposure.