The Wickie

Delightful and so smart!

Best thing I have seen in awhile. I wish my kids had been with me! What a genius piece of theater and physical comedy. Hilarious and delightful!

come for the ocean, stay for the striptease

MN Fringe is SO lucky to have Richie’s expert clowning and character work on display this year. Cannot recommend enough to anyone who is looking for some merry marine merriment.

Less is a LOT more!

As others have noted, the plot of this show is very simple. But physical comedy flourishes when it is given room to breathe. And Richie is brilliant: physically expressive, and aware of his effect on the audience in a good way -- he played us like a violin. The audience (myself included) laughed a lot, and though there was some mild audience participation, it was only for the front row (so now you know where to sit or not sit!). This is brilliant in its precise, controlled goofiness. Did I say you'll laugh a lot? SEE IT.

An absolute delight!

Comedic brilliance at work, the star made an amazing and hilarious show out of a ladder, a beard, and a shoe. Great physical comedy, fun and cute audience participation bits, and a delightful script, better than any other lighthouse-based media I’ve seen! Highly recommended, a really lighthearted show that I loved.

Ridiculously good

I wish I could erase my memories to see this for the first time again. Too many high points to name, but wow - timing, crowd work, clowning, story, character. This is the whole package! Felt my soul levitate at the needle drops.

Damn you, O'Shan!

Oh yeah, this is masterful stuff. From the first moment Richie clops his foot down onstage — and the second moment he does it, and the third — it’s clear we’re in for a treat. This is a Must-See show, according to PiPress critics: https://www.twincities.com/2025/08/05/fringe-review-the-wickie-is-physical-comedy-at-its-finest-from-a-master-clown/

Made me feel like a kid again!

I was howling at how funny all of the clever bits were! I also couldn’t stop admiring Richie’s incredible clowning and physicality!

An art form I had not yet O-seeen

This show was amazing; I think what struck me along with the range of the actor’s movement was the ease and confidence with which they sat within their own performance. I think this show used pauses amazingly well, amongst all the other things. The anticipation in the room was palpable during each of them. That the crowd work was so integral to the show in a way that showed great confidence. The space work was done very well, and was very funny. I thought the show had some poignancy amidst the laugh. It also achieved the rare Fringe feat of a one person show which had nothing to say about the performer’s own trials. I feel like I’ve learned more about clown this Fringe than I knew before. I like that fact, and it’s been revelatory.

Truly fantastic!!

So hilarious and heartfelt—even if you have nightmares about clowns, you’ll love this show!

Clowning Comedy Gold

I cackled, I giggled, I gasped, I had to take off my glasses and wipe my eyes because I was laughing so hard, I went "oh no 😲," "ooh 😮," "aww 😟" and "aww😊"

A riot from start to finish

Loved this silly show. It kept finding new ways to make the audience laugh. The artist behind the show has been performing this for a while and the hard work shows in the precision of their performance. Hope they continue performing this piece for a long time to come.

Character Comedy

At the start this show struck me as being a little light weight for all the tremendous reviews it’s getting. It’s starts slowly, not slow, but slowly and the magic wasn’t apparent to me . However, as it went along I slowly began to understand the layers of wit happening on stage at different levels and the TRUST the creators of this show had that the audience will “get” what they are presenting. This is sophisticated material presented as simple character driven storytelling. Yes. The solo actor tells a story, in a way like I have never seen. Here is a sophisticated presentation that at no point plays down to the audience and I loved it for that!

Ahoy mateys (maties?)

Perfectly playful. Richie's performance is classic good clowning. Clearly thought out. Well constructed, fun use of props, the right amount of earnest but mostly just a GOOD time. This is one to see.

The Light(house) of Fringe!

An absolute delight! From the physical comedy to the crowd work — this show was a blast. Well acted and well timed. The comedy allowed the audience into the world and story in a way that was fun and refreshing!

Ended the Fringe with an Oceanic Performance.

At the previews, I knew I had to see this comic storyteller! It was the final show I went to on the last day of the MN Fringe. It was an oceanic performance. Thanks so much!

The sea is a fickle mistress indeed...

My timbers? Shivered. My jaw? Agape. The Barbara Barker Center for Dance? Transformed. I could feel each gust of wind and taste the salt in the air. Giggles and guffaws await any who attend!

damn good clowning

The plot is light, the audience is occasionally encouraged to partake, especially the front show. Good fun, they do a good job messing up in a fun way, arguing with the crew working the lights, then getting back to the story. I volunteered to help with one bit and he criticized my performance, in a very funny way. My face hurts a little from smiling and laughing for so long.

Absolutely Delightful!

This show was incredible! The character, commitment to the bit, and the physicality was excellent! There are shows that feel very Fringe and then there are shows that feel like pure ART. This one was the latter!

Physical Comedy at its Finest

I LOVE slapstick and physical comedy and don't feel we see enough of it locally, and this show definitely scratched that itch for me in a big way. Hilarious throughout, it was immediately clear we were in good hands, with each section meticulously planned and expertly executed. Even the crowd participation, which I usually don't enjoy, worked for me in a big way. I hope this wonderful clown comes back and does more theater in the Twin Cities.

Super fun time

Show was brilliant - physical comedy, great audience interaction, lovely pacing.

“Wickie” is Wicked Good

If you’re a fan of the film “Hundreds of Beavers” you’ll love “The Wickie” and it’s ridiculously inventive slapstick in an old-timey setting. Whitehead so thoroughly embodies the grizzled lighthouse keeper I was shocked his beard wasn’t real. Great use of the Barbara Barker Center’s endless darkness and a needle drop you wouldnt guess if I gave you 1000 guesses.

Best Comedy at the Fringe??

INCREDIBLE clowning work. Richie had the audience hooked from the first synchopated strut on that stage. An absolute must see

Now I Know What a WIckie Is!

When I was in line for this show, someone asked me what it was about and I replied that I had no idea. I saw "clowning" and "physical comedy" in the show's description and that's all it took to lure me. This is clowning at its finest! Richie goes deep into his character and the result is an utterly delightful and hilarious performance. (For those of you averse to audience participation, don't worry - it's fun, non-threatening, and a critical element of the show!)

All hail the Wickie!!!

Wow wow wow. This show was so deeply funny, playful, and exciting I was literally bouncing in my chair like a kid. Richie has amazing timing and builds such a playful report with the audience (oahshawn) that you are all cheering for him. Plus extremely well executed production design. Fav of the fringe so far.

So MUch Creativity in one actor

Great FUN. Ditto all comments above. See last show on Sunday

I'll never hear the word "ocean" the same again.

Go see it.

Putting the SHOW in one person show

Only 1 person on stage but still, quite a show. The staging, costumes, props, effects, and lighting, came together creating a more theatrical experience than I ever would have expected. The Wickie was funny, engaging, and entertaining. The 4th and best show I’ve seen in 2025.

HARK, TRITON, HARK, FOR THIS SHOW BE FANTASTIC

This show feels tailor-made for me, as Minnesota's favorite deep-sea horror, but also as a lover of physical comedy and clowning, and this is a prime example. Simple concept and great execution!

Guaranteed laughs or you'll lose your left shoe

First night show, Sat 5:30pm. Full house, highly intelligent physical and interactive humor, laughs at a mile a minute. This is as safe a bet as any for a good time. Read other reviews for further details, I'd only repeat all the good things. -Tri, Apsara the Musical performer

A very funny physical comedy! Go!

Physical comedy, good physical comedy, is not easy to do. Richie makes it look easy and proves he is a master at it. His commitment to his character is impressive. I especially loved his use of light and interaction with the audience. It was a good house for the 1st show and lots of laughter had by all. Do yourself a favor and go see this show.

BEST SILLY GREAT AMAZING YARRRR

Masterful clowning and game playing. Every moment the audience was honey in his hands.