Still trying to figure out the best way to navigate social media platforms that are increasingly full of garbage. No longer using the site formerly known as Twitter, giving BlueSky a try (a lot fewer Nazis). So that’s where the posts on the fly during the festival will be posted (https://bsky.app/profile/matthewaeverett.bsky.social), and then I’ll gather them here at the end of each day for the snapshot of my daily festival travels from show to show, with longer reviews to follow.
MN Fringe update: There's going to be a lot more running around on this, the last 7-show marathon day of the Fringe. Timing, luck, and the new slightly more laid back attitude toward latecomers on some shows/venues will all have to be working to make this possible, but we'll give it a go :)
MN Fringe show #43: The Show Must Go On - this “backstage” puzzle game in the Phoenix Theater lobby was a lot of fun (made good time, 41 min.); tip: shows are sell out risk because it’s just 8 people each, but unless it says sold out, there’s still tix, go for it! - 5 stars
MN Fringe show #44: Dolly Who’s Holiday Horror Show - Destiny Davison’s cartoons are adorably goofy, and creating a new holiday improv-style as a crowd amidst her established bits was a great communal experience; joy is in short supply so this was a real tonic :) - 5 stars
MN Fringe show #45: The 4 Ws and The H of Murder - so many questions; if this is serious why is no one calling the cops? if this is comedy why isn’t it funnier? tone, logic and reality all over the place; no podcast works like this; there’s a dead queer person and no one cares (yikes) - 2.5 stars
MN Fringe show #46: Shrieking Harpies: Period Piece - online poll chose American frontier for this improvised musical so we got twins, prostitutes, girl raised by wolves who wrote an opera, and a pivotal tin of crackers; mind-boggling that the keyboard and singing all come outa nowhere - 4.5 stars
MN Fringe show #47: Rec League - a whole team of first-class improvisers hilariously pretending to play softball all over the theater; while also working out their personal issues in the dugout and the outfield; crazy funny rolling bits cascading over one another; plus wild sound cues - 5 stars
MN Fringe show #48: Insomnia Dogs - not at all what I thought it’d be, in the best way; personal dynamics of a group of 5 female college friends experimenting with sleep deprivation to enhance their creativity; inventive new play, clever staging; happily embraces fluidity of sexuality - 4.5 stars
MN Fringe show #49: Delete Later - surprisingly stirring way to end long day of Fringe; YPC's Young Artist's Council assembled a killer group of vocalists performing inspiring/funny/thoughtful songs and monologues about...well, life these days; opens and ends w/a bang, strong throughout - 5 stars
Here’s some handy links to coverage of 5 Star and 4.5 Star Shows I've Seen (VERY Highly Recommend), 4 Star and 3.5 Star Shows I've Seen (Highly Recommended), Other Shows I've Seen (3 Stars or Less), as well as my Fringe Top 10, Top 11 to 20 and Returning Favorites lists for this year, and all the coverage of this year’s Minnesota Fringe Festival.
As I’m sure many artists are, I find myself struggling with the idea of
just “taking time off” (what a luxury) and submerging myself in a whole
lot of theater for 11 days while the world is on fire so… I’m going to
put some phrases and links down here (and at the end of each post going
forward) and if you find yourself compelled to explore one or more of
them, so much the better. There’s a lot going on, and it can be easy to
get overwhelmed and tune out, but as Congresswoman Sarah McBride
recently said, “If everybody shows a little courage, nobody needs to be a
hero.” I freely admit this list and these links are hardly
exhaustive. It's just something to get started. Do what you can, where
you can, however you can. Let’s help one another get through this.
Contacting your elected officials about the issues that matter to you (and protesting as necessary)
Starvation in the Gaza Strip
Immigration raids around the United States
Ukraine fighting off invasion by Russia
Trans rights
Climate change action
Housing shortage and the unhoused
Reproductive Rights
Voting rights, and running for office
The courts, from the Supreme Court on down to the local level
Don’t forget to laugh - even gallows humor is still humor
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