(because I am a completionist, a recap of closing day yesterday)
Sunday, August 16, 2026
#mnfringe show 50 - So Bright, The Night: intriguing to see updated script set during US's 1930s Mexican Repatriation in context of our current battles over immigration and deportation; strong cast; wild plot twists; my brain got a bit tangled in the double/triple-crossing going on - 4.5 stars
My Returning Favorites write-up on this show
#mnfringe show 51 - A Confluence of Magical Arseholes: wacky, bizarre slice of literary "not-quite-history" where names big and small battle for supremacy in their secret societies, because we all long for a non-toxic 3rd space to hang out in; everyone dialing it up to 11; well done - 4.5 stars
My Returning Favorites write-up on this show
#mnfringe show 52 - Casa Bde-Maka-Ska: is it possible to satirize Operation Metro Surge by repurposing the film Casablanca and swapping out the Nazis for ICE? And have it actually be funny while also respecting both the source material and our recent community trauma? Surprisingly, yes! - 5 star
My Returning Favorites write-up on this show
#mnfringe show 53 - The Local Music Scene: the band, Boobless; the improv comedy team, fired up to take interview and song lyrics from the musicians and turn them into comedy; dinosaur DNA experiments, reckless drivers, 7 yr old co-opting lives of adults around them, etc; good fun - 4.5 stars
My Returning Favorites write-up on this show
#mnfringe show 54 - Foshay! You Know The Tower - Now Hear The Story: very full (and enthusiastic) house for penultimate slot; great voices, some sly lyrics and tunes; weird in current moment being asked to root for rich men of influence to get pardons for convicted fraud scheme; (eesh!) - 4 stars
My Returning Favorites write-up on this show
#mnfringe show 55 - Empty Nest: Laura Zabel and Levi Weinhagen turn their complicated feelings about life now that their daughter has left home for college into an endearingly goofy comedy show about parenting mistakes and new stages of life; great way to end my Fringe this year - 5 stars
My Returning Favorites write-up on this show
You can find reviews of other shows in these links to my listings of 5 and 4.5 Star Shows (VERY Highly Recommended) and 4 and 3.5 Star Shows (Highly Recommended). Here's a link to a list of all the coverage of returning favorite artists from past pre-Fringe Top 20 lists of mine that are part of this year's Minnesota Fringe Festival. And here's links to the 2026 versions of my pre-Fringe Top 10 list and Top 11 through 20 for the 2026 festival.
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