A Girl Scout’s Guide to Exorcism

Excellent :)

If you’re looking for a show where the humor is well-timed, the choreography is on point, and the 2000s nostalgia is poignant, this is the show for you! Melancholics Anonymous has done it again - creating a lovely story that expertly weaves comedy with a call to action on climate change from an oft-forgotten feminist icon. You don’t want to miss this show!!!

pain from laughing

The humor was so constant, I was laughed OUT. I loved everything about the performance, idea, execution, all of it.

Well Rehearsed and Very Funny

Delightfully silly and smartly staged. A well done production with a solid script and some great performances. I'd see it again!

Rosalie Barrow Edge would be proud

Some shows are great Fringe shows, and that's lovely. This is a great play. Full stop. Get ready to laugh, of course, but also to learn?? And to feel moved towards better climate action??? I've said too much already. It's fantastic. Just go! (And get there early, the sell out risk is REAL).

One of the funniest shows I've seen in a while

I'm always hesitant going into a Fringe show, as I've seen some pretty rough shows there. I'm happy to say that this was not only enjoyable, but extremely well-written, directed, and acted. Wonderful comedic timing from all, and the hawk puppet was excellent! This is a must-see at the Fringe Festival this year.

The best show we’ve seen!!

Just a spectacular show, all the way around! Hilarious, well written and well acted.

Highly recommend, did not find scary

What people have already said. Great show! For all those that saw the tag "horror" and worried if the show would be too scary--I avoid scary things in general and loved this. Did not find scary.

Entertaining!

Really funny and entertaining show!

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!

Clever and Creative!

Another hilarious production from Melancholics Anonymous. Don't miss this funny, suspenseful, and nostalgic flashback to 2008! Terrific acting, charming choreography, thoughtful direction, and a gorgeous hawk. Bravo to all involved!

Comedy, Substance, Jonas Brothers!

This hilarious show is a nonstop train of laughs! The classic setting of a summer camp in 2008, mixed with the gradeschool girl scouts and the fawning over Camp Rock and the JoBros was a HUGE hit of nostalgia for me. The Melancholics Anonymous have this clever way of making a show with uproarious comedy and sneaking in some actual plot and issues of substance too, like environmentalism and feminism. Do yourself a favor and put this on the top of your list!

Silly & Oddly Relatable

Unfortunately, I was never a supernatural-obsessed girly but I saw them at previews and wanted to show up for the opening song alone. It's a unique story line and nostalgic aspects and humorous scenes. I would recommend if you liked or hated summer camp, remember the hardships or growing up or love 4th wall-breaking narrators.

Incredibly Fun

A very well done show from a younger group of performers. Great use of space, excellent hawk prop, and a positive message to boot! Quite possibly my favorite show overall as of my viewing (2nd Thu @ 5:30).

Don’t skip this one!

This show has everything you’d want in a fringe fest production: leans into the quirk, pokes fun at its own absurdity and campiness easily and often, GREAT puppetry, and surprising/shocking moments! Pure fun.

TOP SHOW: Get a reservation NOW!

We saw the penultimate show and it was a sellout. So get your tickets now for the last show on Sunday evening. We are typically not Fringe comedy fans since much of Fringe comedy is overly silly for our tastes. But this a super funny, and holds some great messages about friendship. Shout out to the hawk and his caretaker!!

Yes, I did have a "crush" on Kevin Jonas

There aren't enough words to properly convey the brilliance that is "A Girl Scout's Guide to Exorcism!" I was fortunate enough to see this wonderful show twice and BOTH times I left with a side ache from laughing so hard. From the delightful musical number that starts the show, to the well timed references to "The Exorcist," the Jonas Brothers, and all things 2008, moments of queer joy, masterful puppetry, and a story that is incredibly well written, this show just has it all. Every single actor has created such authentic characters that, in addition to flawless comedic timing, find just the right moments to highlight some of the show's more emotional themes. Melancholics Anonymous consistently has some of the most grounded acting and smart yet creative directing that I have seen in a long time. This show is a must see.

Simply sublime!

Expertly executed comedy by the ensemble, the perfect helping of 2000's references and charm from the playwrights, and an ominous hawk puppet lingering in the shadows. A winning cocktail if you ask me. Not only were these characters hilarious, but I found a surprising amount of depth in their relationships and I was left with a reminder of the aching pain of changing friendships and growing up. As someone who was a Girl Scout myself in '08 (and threw a roaring Camp Rock premiere party) I felt eerily seen. Bravo!!!

Indescribably Wonderful

I laughed, I screamed, I got a little gayer. Believe all the 5 kitty reviews you read, because this show said (and sang) everything I didn't know I needed to hear!

Beware the Hawk!

Entertaining presentation of an off the wall premise. Acting is good. Clever and humorous. Enjoyed the laughs. Shout out to the Hawk!

Oh Samoa Good

A delight all around. Great acting, tight script, funny, well staged, a scary bird. Wow

Nostalgia

Former Girl Scout troupe 23 member (for 7 years) and also a Camp Lakamaga attendee (I grew up minutes from there!) - this brought out such a wave of nostalgia and forgotten memories for me. Somewhere deep in the recesses of my brain were the songs and pledges that I had said so many times in elementary school. But, back to the show. Besides all the nostalgia - the acting was fantastic. Each character felt very well rounded and the storyline moved along well. The physical acting was great too - special shout out to the Hawk and Chenoweth's Maia on that. And even the transitions were fun. I missed one moment with Badger due to blocking, but unfortunately there's no real way to avoid some of those things in an arena setting. Overall, absolutely loved it. Highly recommend. This is sure to be a Fringe favorite!

Cute Creepiness!

Well, no one warned me that this was a horror show! And it is.....but it is also cute and nostalgic. I had a wonderful time! Fantastic acting! If you want to see this one, get a reservation, the last one should be sold out!

Just What You Want it to Be

M.A. does it again with another fantastic production. Just the right amount of nostalgia, weirdness, singing and adult humor to make this a perfect show. Only one minor technical issue of the volume of the background music during the first narrator part, which made it really hard to hear the actor, but we didn't have that problem any other parts of the show.

Coming of age story of friendship

I loved this show! As a former Girl Scout, it was nostalgic to hear the pledge and “make new friends but keep the old” song. They whole cast was hilarious and the story wrapped up nicely. How the scouts completed the exorcism was creative and also touching!

Hilarious, heartfelt horror

So much to love in this one! The actors are fantastic and are excellent with both drama and comedic timing. The script is strong and clever, with references that clearly resonated with former Girl Scouts while still making non-scouts feel included in the fun. Lights, sound, and special blood effects amplified the horror scenes very well, and matched the strong movement instincts of the actors. Claire Chenoweth and Jeffrey Nolan in particular pulled off some very creepy physical movement that sold the supernatural elements of the show. My only complaint is that I wanted more -- hopefully a good problem to have! -- it felt like the show hit its climax a few minutes earlier than I'd expected, and some plot threads wrapped up a little too quickly after that. But I already loved what we got very much: this is one of the best shows of the festival and well worth everybody's time!

Best out of 7

This was my 7th show of the festival, and it’s the best I’ve seen. Phenomenal writing that is simultaneously hilarious and insightful. Electric cast chemistry. I can’t recommend this one highly enough.

You'll Laugh, You'll Cry, You'll Scream

This show was an absolute delight to experience with a sold-out crowd. The script, written by Melancholic's founders Rachel Ropella and Timothy Kelly, is tight, hilarious, and balanced. The cast is bursting with some of the best up-and-coming talent Minneapolis has to offer. Multiple actors nail their multi-faceted roles: Claire Chenoweth is a standout - absolutely devastating as the anxious Maia (I teared up) and performing fantastic body horror that rivaled "The Exorcist;" Samantha Miller is hilarious as both the closeted tween and chain-smoking narrator versions of Fudge; Bee Davis as Badger is hilarious as always and balances their gory horror moment (no spoilers) with fantastic nuance. Aerin O'Malley is entirely believable as the Jo-Bro fanfic obsessed Britt, Meredith Enerson is great as the God-fearing, rule-following Roxxy, and Anneliese Garner is perfectly case as the mean girl with a tragic backstory, Samantha. And no one can forget Jeffrey Nolan as The Hawk - a mostly silent but entirely eerie puppetry performance, always lurking. The detailed costumes and props, done by Mady Smith, were a hilarious throwback to middle school in the late aughts. If you want to laugh, sing camp songs, be shocked, or just remember the time when all we had to worry about was which Jonas Brother was the cutest, definitely be sure to get your ticket in advance - they'll be selling out for their last two shows, guaranteed.

More Kitties 👏

Where does one start ? Flawless singing and dancing. Great ensemble performance .Stays true to the Girl Scout life: summer camps, mottos and even the ever popular Thin Mint. How about tossing in an 👿 spirit and and an ever present hawk for good measure ! Please, Please don’t miss this play! Reserve your tickets right now!

Wears a G for Great Show!

This show was so much fun! The dialogue, the exorcist crawl, the hawk, all hilarious! The Kevin Jonas line had me feeling personally attacked.

Perfect for the Fringe

Go to this show! It's got early 2000s nostalgia. It's got queer awakenings. It's got horror. It's got a red-tailed hawk. It's everything that one could want from a Fringe show, and it's spectacularly entertaining. So far, it's my favorite show of the six that I've seen at the 2023 festival.

Girl Scout Approved

Leah here, reporting from Troop 2494. Former Camp Lakamaga and Rolling Ridges (I don’t think they even exist anymore) camper and had visceral flashbacks to 2008 queer summer camp activities. Have I ever been disappointed by Melancholics Anonymous? No. This show is so different from what they’ve typically done in the past, and it’s my favorite yet. Chenoweth as “Maia” and Miller as “Fudge” had the audience lingering after every line. Nolan’s puppet work and hawk screeches were committed and brilliant. The set and props were divine and the staging was brilliant. The dramaturgy was well done and the the passion and playfulness was so strong throughout this wonderful piece. Ropella & Kelly are such dynamic storytellers and know how to tap into very honest emotions snd themes that hit you RIGHT in the nostalgia. I wish it were longer! I wish there was more! Overall, I would rate this 5 out of 5 trefoil cookies.

Humor, pathos, and horror!

Not a lull in the script or performances. Casting was outstanding -- really felt the synergy between performers. Although my tween years are far past, I work with those kids every day and this show captured those challenging years perfectly. I really felt for those poor kids navigating independence, friendship, and parental expectations. Just the right touch of horror with lots of laughs.

The Last summer to be a kid….

This gem boasts a great script, imaginative staging, thoughtful costuming, and a HAWK. So many glorious details, and so well-rehearsed! But I particularly enjoyed the raw human preteen-ness of it all, the ache of first disappointment that never got lost in the camp. Excellent all around!

Totes-my-goats amazing

As a former Fringe Festival actor and attendee, it's one of the best shows I've seen. Ever. Comedy, drama, horror, queer content, and a freakin' bird. It has it all! Utterly hilarious, I can't get over the writing and how well it was put together. So entertaining and brilliant in weaving together completely disparate subjects of environmentalism, girl scouts, and exorcism. Amazing writers and a cast with incredible chemistry. Thoroughly impressed.

Spirit of the Fringe

High energy, funny, nostalgic, and unpredictable. All of the actors have great charisma, and the story of great. The hour flew by!

Goofy Good Time!

This was great! Relatable! I'd have loved to have seen more demonic physicality but overall this was hilarious! Epitome of Fringe! The hawk was a truly fantastic touch!

Awesome show!

Some of the best writing at the festival, plus awesome special effects and sheer perfection in the acting department. Congratulations!!

A rocking camp experience

This show was very funny and unlocked forgotten childhood memories. Brought out buried girlscout songs. I felt like I had met the characters before.

Tough Cookies vs Force of Nature

A fun show with several serious messages.Transitioning to adulthood, environmental themes, female bonding are some delightfully delivered messages. Fun show. Bad ass hawk attempts to steal the stage and does at several points, but girl power united will always prevail! Go to this one.

Unique and creative

Such a well written show, good timed jokes and nostalgia with hints of real tween angst peppered in. Sit near the front if you can, I had trouble hearing all of the actors and they often spoke over each other. Overall would recommend wholeheartedly!

This is why we love fringe festivals

Funny, smart, crisply paced, this “horror comedy” shines with quirky energy. Playwrights Ropella & Kelly capture the passions and politics of giddy early 2000s tweens with a cascade of pop culture references that fly by. While the ensemble makes every minute of this performance count, a couple of players stand out. Claire Chenoweth’s Maia takes the story line on some raucous turns. Samantha Miller as Fudge/Narrator peppers the experience with wry humor. Puppeteer Jeffrey Nolan brings a vigilant hawk to life as a fully engaged character. Can I just say… theatre needs more puppet/human interaction. It might have been where I was sitting, but the only minor issue I had with this staging was that the swirl of crosstalk at a couple of points made it tricky to decide which bit of the action to follow. All in all, a definite “must see” brought to the stage by the reliably entertaining Melancholic Anonymous.

Happy Camper 🏕️

This show was a riot! It had so many of my favorite flavors; nostalgic, queer, bright and hilariously spooky. There were so many fun details in the costuming, props and overall design (the iPod shuffle on the backpack strap 🎶 The butterfly clips 🦋) and I also loved the goofy, gory elements. The cast complimented each other well and gave a very committed performance. The puppetry was a pure delight! This show even had me researching Rosalie Barrow Edge post performance, what a babe.

Reserve your seat for Sunday!

Quite possibly the best Fringe show I’ve ever seen. Hilarious, great acting, clever writing. I really enjoyed this one. Go and earn your badge!

More Like A Girl Scout's Guide to Go See This Show

I was blown away by this show. On the surface, there's aces choreographed numbers, a fascinating profile of a truly ride-or-die historical conservationist, spooky spooks, a little gore, and the coolest hawk puppet I've ever seen (the puppeteer even cocks his head and stares unblinkingly at the cast, like the real animal). More than that, it's so grounded in a specific time, not just the early 2000s but what it feels like to be a preteen. The archetypes are all there - kids who don't know they're queer yet, kids with oppressively religious parents, kids who are trying to process growing into adolescence by writing fanfics - and most importantly, two friends whose deep connection is in jeopardy at the heart of the show. None of the production values would matter very much if the story wasn't so sincere, and often painful, and something fundamental all of us have been through. The conclusions this story draws about friendship ended the show on a great note. Thanks, scouts!